422 Gardens and Country Residences 



other things better adapted for the kitchen-garden. The 

 greatest fault, however, that I have to find with Belvoir gar- 

 dens is, that they remain stationary ; for, notwithstanding the 

 many very ornamental plants that have been recently intro- 

 duced to and spread over England, I scarcely saw any of them 

 here ; which, in such a place, is what we would of all circum- 

 stances be least inclined to expect. As far as neatness and 

 keeping go, they are in good order, and do Mr. Buckwell, 

 the gardener, the greatest credit. 



The park is of great extent, and contains very thriving 

 plantations. I saw some young oaks remarkably fine. The 

 views from the castle are extensive and various. 



I was favoured with a sight of the interior of the castle ; 

 but here my description must ever fall short ; for my imagin- 

 ation had not dared to form the most distant idea of the mag- 

 nificence and splendour of its furniture and decorations. In 

 the picture gallery there is an extensive collection of valuable 

 paintings. Among the celebrated masters who have con- 

 tributed to this invaluable collection are Poussin, Carlo Dolci, 

 Guido, Claude Lorraine, Salvator Rosa, Murillo, Rubens, 

 Teniers, and Reynolds. 



Taking Belvoir as a whole, when we consider its most 

 romantic situation, upon an abrupt eminence on a kind of 

 natural cliff, forming the termination of a peninsular hill, well 

 turfed by nature and art, and varied into terraces of different 

 elevations ; the upper partj as before remarked, formed into 

 neat and elegant flower-gardens ,* the lower abundantly co- 

 vered with forest trees to a great extent ; the views com- 

 prehending the whole vale of Belvoir, and the adjoining 

 country as far as Lincoln, including twenty-two of the Duke 

 of Rutland's manors ; the castle itself^ with the splendour and 

 magnificence of its interior, and its admirable collection of 

 paintings t I say, these things considered, it presents the 

 person who possesses the smallest portion of taste or dis- 

 crimination with such a treat as few places in England can 

 supply. 



Laund Abbey ; Mrs. Sivipson. — In a sequestered spot on 

 the borders of Rutlandshire, once a priory of canons of the 

 Augustine order. There is a small chapel attached to the 

 house, in which lie the remains of Gregory Lord Cromwell, 

 to whose memory there is a monument. The original burying 

 ground, now an ornamental shrubbery, is occasionally used 

 for interment ; the kitchen-gardens are very good, and contain 

 what every garden ought to do where practicable, a good supply 

 of water. There are several very excellent glass houses, in 

 which the grape vine is cultivated in the greatest perfection. 



