Ixxxii PEOCEEDIKGS OF THE 



new to him. The trim and neat appearance by which Paxton 

 was always distinguished, combined with his great intelligence 

 and genuine manliness of deportment, made such an impression 

 upon the Duke that in 1826 he engaged him to superintend the 

 gardens and plantations at Chatsworth. 



Mr. Paxton had now ample scope for his abilities, and yery 

 soon fully justified the Duke's discernment in selecting him. 

 Under his hand, as a writer has observed, the wild Derbyshire 

 region in which Chatsworth stands became the wonderful place 

 which drew visitors from far and near, and set the example of 

 that princely development of grounds and plaisances which now 

 marks the country-seats of our great English families. Its foun- 

 tains and Italian terraces, its rich woods, laid out and managed 

 with such marvellous skill and care, its vast range of hothouses, 

 where the Victoria regia was first induced to blossom, and the 

 Great Conservatory, the precursor of the Crystal Palaces of Hyde 

 Park and Sydenham, all now familiar objects of admiration, were 

 in great measure created by his genius. 



Thus attentive to and successful in the performance of his 

 duties, it is no wonder that Mr. Paxton became more and more 

 valued by the Duke ; and the skill and abilities he displayed in 

 regard to some financial arrangements induced His Grace to en- 

 trust him with the general superintendence of his large estates in 

 Derbyshire. In 1838 he accompanied the Duke abroad for an 

 entire year, during which time, having traversed Switzerland and 

 Italy, he visited Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, Malta, Spain, and 

 Portugal. 



In 1850, however, it was that Paxton's name became almost a 

 household word, in consequence of the unexampled success of his 

 daring plans for the erection of the first Great Exhibition Build- 

 ing in Hyde Park, the history of which is too well known for me 

 here further to refer to it, or to his subsequent connexion with 

 the present Crystal Palace at Sydenham, in which he took so 

 prominent a part, and which, together with the beautiful grounds 

 laid out by him, will long remain a monument of his enterprise 

 and skill. 



Sir Joseph Paxton was an industrious writer on horticultural 

 and botanical subjects, and one of the founders of the ' Garden- 

 er's Chronicle.' 



In 1854 he was returned as Member of Parliament for Coven- 

 try, which borough he continued to represent up to his death on 

 the 8th of last June. 



