Chester— Eaton Hall. 47 



The keeping of the garden was qnite to our idea of what 

 it should be. The turf was of the richest verdure, (which 

 in our chmate can perhaps never be equalled, though it may- 

 be far superior to what is generally seen) closely shaven, and 

 so firm as to have the appearance of having been laid down 

 more than eight years. The walks were full of gravel, hard 

 and well rolled, and the edges of the turf not disfigured by 

 a deep raw cut. The dug beds for plants were all slightly 

 raised in the centre, and not a weed was to be seen, the whole 

 surface being smooth and neat, without the appearance of hav- 

 ing just been freshly raked. These are points of manage- 

 ment which have long been advocated by the late Mr. Lou- 

 don, and many places which we visited, showed that his ef- 

 forts were successful. Mr. H. Shepherd, the curator, is a bot- 

 anist as well as a successful cultivator, and the pleasure of 

 our visit was greatly enhanced by the attentions which he 

 showed us. 



Chester, Aug. I5th. — This old town is situated about fif- 

 teen miles from Liverpool, and is easy of access, by rail-road, 

 from Birkenhead, on the opposite side of the river Mersey. 

 The country between Liverpool and Chester is not highly 

 cultivated, and as it was the first visit we had made into the 

 interior, the impression it made on us was unfavorable. The 

 hedges were unpruned and straggling, and vegetation had 

 not that vigorous appearance we had expected to find. As 

 we approached Chester, we passed through an extensive nur- 

 sery, which we ascertained to be that of Messrs. F. & J. 

 Dickson, and which we afterwards visited. Chester is the 

 only town in England around which there is now standing a 

 complete wall ; we were desirous to walk round it, but were 

 prevented from want of time. 



Eaton Hall. — The day was at the meridian when we ar- 

 rived at Chester, and we immediately procured a conveyance 

 to Eaton Hall, the residence of the Marquis of Westminster. 

 The park gate is but little more than a mile distant from the 

 town, though it is nearly four miles to the house. Just 

 beyond the old wall we crossed the beautiful river Dee, on a 

 bridge of a single arch, and in a few minutes were before the 

 entrance to the park avenue. This is a splendid gate and 

 bdge in the Gothic style, and its imposing character at once 



