GLEANINGS ON GARDENS. 101 



is led to a small obelisk erected by Pope to the 

 memory of his mother. On the base of it is the 

 following motto, at once descriptive of the piety of 

 the son and the virtue of the mother : 



' Ah ! Editha 

 Matrum Optima, 

 Mtd'ierum, Amantissima, 

 Vale/' 



The groves around it, which are of a circular form, 

 lead into each other by means of narrow alleys ; the 

 whole is in the taste of Queen Anne's reign, and in 

 regard to the design, remains exactly as when first 

 planted. Notwithstanding the uniformity of the 

 ground plan, it must be acknowledged that the cypress, 

 yew, and laurel, with which this part of the pleasure 

 grounds abound, are planted in such a manner as to 

 give a more mournful and expressive appearance to 

 the scene than could have been easily achieved by all 

 the boasted effects of modern gardening. 



