146 Whately's Ohservations on Windsor Castle > 



portion, always retains an air of magnificence ; the appro- 

 priation of distinct apartments to the several great officers of 

 state, and the extent of the domains appendant on the castle ; 

 the groves in the Great Park, of eighteen miles in circum- 

 ference, and the hills of the forest retiring to a distant 

 horizon; are additional circumstances to distinguish this from 

 all other royal residences, and concur to attract particular 

 attention to it. 



But the habitation is supposed not to be agreeable, because 

 every contiguous spot is open to public resort. The defect is, 

 however, not irremediable; for the terrace is certainly no 

 thoroughfare, and perhaps, upon enquiry, the path through 

 the Little Park to Datchet will appear to be held by suffer- 

 ance, not by right ; or, if otherwise, the return of tl>e court 

 to the castle would be so advantageous to the inhabitants of 

 Windsor, that they would willingly consent to the necessary 

 condition of turning the way. The Little Park might then 

 be converted into a garden ; and, as a garden, the extent 

 would be considerable, the whole would be retired from the 

 public eye, and parts of it out of sight of the castle. 



It is full of large trees ; and such of them as are ranged 

 in straight rows are so fortunately situated that much de- 

 vastation among them would not be necessary. They are 

 chiefly near the verge of the park, and of use to conceal the 

 boundary. Various plantations might be contrived within 

 them, to break their regularity from every point where it 

 could be offensive ; and a thicket might fill the space between 

 them and the wall. Along the avenues thus preserved entire, 

 a private road might be carried, which would lead to different 

 outlets towards the Great Park, Old Windsor, Datchet 

 Bridge, and Eton Bridge, without once touching on the town 

 of Windsor. 



The space these avenues enclose divides itself into three 

 great parts, requu'ing so many different styles of disposition. 

 The declivities of the hill towards Frosmore and Datchet 

 are comprehended within one of these divisions. The level 

 from the foot of the hill towards Datchet constitutes the 

 second, and all the plain which borders on the Thames from 

 Datchet to Eton Bridge is included in the third. 



The straight lines which cross either of them cannot re- 

 main ; but many of the trees now in the rows may be saved ; 

 and these combined with such as are already detached, would 

 prevent any poverty of wood while the younger plantations 

 are growing. In the first of these divisions, however, no 

 regularity interferes ; and a finer subject than that hill cannot 

 be desired for a garden. 



It has height sufficient for the most abrupt falls, and extent 



