194 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



ciation here. The estate derives its name from Gen. Montgomery, the 

 hero and martyr of Quebec (whose portrait, among other fine family 

 pictures, adorns the walls of the mansion). Mrs. Montgomery, after 

 his lamented death on the heights of Abraham, resided here during 

 the remainder of her life. At her death, she bequeathed it to her 

 brother, the Hon. Edward Livingston, our .late Minister to France. 

 Here this distinguished diplomatist and jurist passed, in elegant 

 retirement, the leisure intervals of a life largely devoted to the service 

 of the State, and here still reside his family, whose greatest pleasure 

 seems to be to add, if possible, every year, some admirable im- 

 provement, or elicit some new charm of its extraordinary natural 

 beauty. 



The age of Montgomery Place heightens its interest in no ordi- 

 nary degree. Its richness of foliage, both in natural wood and 

 planted trees, is one of its marked features. Indeed, so great is the 

 variety and intricacy of scenery, caused by the leafy woods, thickets 

 and bosquets, that one may pass days and even weeks here, and not 

 thoroughly explore all its fine points 



" Milles arbres, de ces lieux ondoyante parure 

 Charme de 1'odorat, de gout et des regards, 

 Etegamment grouped, ne"gligemment epars, 

 Se fuyaient, s'approchaient> quelquefois a la vue 

 Ouvraient dans la lointain un scene impr^vue ; 

 Ou, tombant jusqu'a terre, et recourbant leurs bras 

 Venaient d'un doux obstacle embarrasser leurs pas 

 Ou pendaient sur leur t&te en festons de verdure, 

 Et de fleurs, en passant, semaient leur chevelure. 

 Dirai-je ces forets d'arbustes, d'arbrisseaux, 

 Entrelac.ant en voute, en alcove, en berceaux, 

 Leurs bras voluptueux, et leurs tiges fleuries ?" 



About four hundred acres comprise the estate called Mont- 

 gomery Place, a very large part of which is devoted to pleasure- 

 grounds and ornamental purposes. The ever-varied surface affords 

 the finest scope for the numerous roads, drives, and walks, with 

 which it abounds. Even its natural boundaries are admirable. 

 On the west is the Hudson, broken by islands into an outline un- 

 usually varied and picturesque. On the north, it is separated from 



