ioo GLEANINGS ON GARDENS. 



of the hat, after the manner of the ancient pilgrims. 

 The right-hand cavity, which opens to the river by 

 means of a small window latticed with iron bars, it is 

 said contained the Poet when he composed some of his 

 happiest verses. It is impossible to leave this sub- 

 terraneous abode without a sympathetic recollection of 

 the following apposite lines : 



' .... lo ! tli' Egerian grot 

 Where nobly pensive St. John sat and thought, 

 "Where British sighs from dying Wyndham stole, 

 And the bright flame was shot through Marchmont's soul.' 



At the extremity, next the garden, is an inscrip- 

 tion cut on white marble : 



' Secretvm Iter 

 Et FalUntis semita Vitce.' 



In another grotto which passes under a road to 

 the stables, and connects the pleasure grounds, there 

 are three beautiful busts of Sir W. Stanhope, his 

 daughter, and the late Lord Chesterfield, cut in Italian 

 marble ; opposite each a Roman urn of exquisite work- 

 manship is placed in a niche formed in the wall ; 

 around are scattered huge masses of stone in imitation 

 of rocks ; wild plants and hardy forest trees that 

 delight in bleak situations are also planted on each 

 side to give a sylvan rudeness to the scene. From 

 this, after visiting the orangery, &c., &c., the stranger 



