BOOK IV. PUBLIC GARDENS FOR RECREATION. 102D 



part, generally round). Many of the continental cities have a species of equestrian pro- 

 menade within their boundaries, which is deserving of imitation. These are broad roads, 

 accompanied by rows of trees, near the margin of the city, originally formed on the 

 ramparts, or surrounding fortifications, and completely encircling it. They are highly 

 interesting promenades, especially to a stranger, to whom they give an idea of the topo- 

 graphy and most remarkable points of the scene in the most agreeable manner. The 

 boulevards at Paris, Vienna, and Moscow, are particularly to be admired in these 

 respects. 



7316. A promenade might be formed in the margin of London, of a very interesting 

 kind, by continuing the street called the New Road through Hyde Park, entering close 

 to where Kensington Gardens leave off, proceeding thence across the Serpentine River, 

 and coming out exactly opposite Sloane-street : then along this street and part of the 

 King's Road, to the road leading to Vauxhall Bridge ; from this bridge along roads al- 

 ready formed, and as may be seen by the map, well suited to lead to Blackheath ; then 

 turn towards London through Greenwich Park, so as to display the best views of the me- 

 tropolis over Greenwich Hospital ; form a viaduct or road, on a cast-iron colonnade, across 

 the river, sufficiently high to admit ships in full sail to pass under : descend this, and 

 join the City Road, which joins the New Road, and completes the circle. This course 

 which, with the exception of the bridge, might be formed at no great expense or de- 

 rangement of property, would give a grand view of the metropolis, and by now and 

 then deviating from the direct road and returning to it, Kensington Gardens, Hammer- 

 smith Nursery, the King's Road Gardens, Chelsea Garden, the garden of Loddiges' at 

 Hackney, the Regent's Park, Highgate, Hampstead, and all the most interesting gar- 

 dens, scenery, and objects close to London, might be rapidly glanced at in one day. 



7317. Mountain promenade. One of the finest equestrian promenades that can be 

 imagined might be formed on the hill of Arthur's Seat at Edinburgh. From the base 

 at Holyrood Park, let a road ascend winding round the hill, including the appendage 

 of Salisbury Craigs, and the knoll to the east, if desirable, to the summit, at a rise not 

 greater than two inches in six feet. Having arrived at the summit, let it wind down 

 again at a similar slope, intersecting the other road, and arriving also at Holyrood Park. 

 Then let or sell the ground to individuals to build on or plant, each according to his 

 taste. The slope of the road would be found so gradual that a two-wheeled chaise 

 might be driven up or down at a trot, which can be done on the Simplon road, 

 where the slope is 2| inches in six feet. Taking the height of the hill from the park 

 at 700 feet, this would give less than five miles of ascending promenade, and the same 

 number descending. By the formation of these two roads, hundreds of the finest situa- 

 tions in the world, for summer villas and cottages would be formed, and probably in 

 time let or sold, so as to cover much more than the expense, both of purchasing the hill 

 as it now is, and forming the roads in the very best manner. 



7318. Public gardens, or pedestrian promenades. These, with very few exceptions, 

 have been in all ages and countries laid out in the geometric style. The Academus at 

 Athens is an ancient example. The summer garden at Petersburgh, a modern one. 

 Even in China, where irregularity in gardening is so much desired in general, Ellis 

 (Journal of the Embassy of 1816) informs us, that " the Fatee gardens at Canton, the 

 resort of the fashionables, consist of straight walks." And however much our garden- 

 ing has been praised and copied by private persons on the continent of Europe, yet, with 

 the exception of Count Rumford's walk at Munich, and the late Earl of Findlater's at 

 Carlsbad, almost all the others are very properly in straight lines. The object of public 

 gardens is less to display beautiful scenery than to afford a free wholesome air, and an 

 ample uninterrupted promenade, cool and shaded in summer, and warm and sheltered 

 in spring and winter. In a limited extent, these must be attempted in one principal 

 walk, which, for that purpose, should as much as possible be laid out in a north and 

 south direction. In more extensive scenes, certain covered walks may be devoted to 

 summer, and certain east and west open walks, to spring and winter. The broad open, 

 and narrow covered avenues of the ancient style, are valuable resources on a large 

 scale ; these conjoined and laid out in a south and north direction, give in the 

 centre an open, sheltered, sunshine walk in mid-winter ; and a close or covered avenue 

 being lined out along each side of the open central one, will afford shady walks for 

 summer, and occasional places of retreat from casual showers in spring. Oxford and 

 Cambridge afford some fine open and covered avenues, though far inferior to many on 

 the continent. 



7319. Public squares, of such magnitude as to admit of being laid out in ample walks, 

 open and shady, are almost peculiar to Britain. The grand object is to get as extended 

 a line of uninterrupted promenade as is possible within the given limits. A walk 

 parallel to the boundary fence, and at a short distance within it, evidently includes the 

 maximum of extent ; but if the enclosure is small, the rapid succession of angles 

 and turns becomes extremely disagreeable, and continually breaks in upon the pas 



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