a7id other Suburban Gardens. 479 



studded with ornamental trees, with an undergrowth formed entirely of 

 sweetbriar and other roses, would have a fine effect. We did not enter 

 the gardens, Mr. M'Intosh not being at home. 



Esher Place, J. Spicer, Esq. — This was the first place we saw of those 

 described in Whately's Observations on Modern Gardening ; and the name 

 of it, or the appearance of the entrance gate at a distance, always raises 

 in our mind sublime emotions. Having the Observations almost by heart 

 before we left Scotland, the first thing we did, after our arrival in London, 

 in 1804, was to make a walking excursion to see as many of the places 

 described in the Observations as we could. The first place we called at 

 was Esher Place, the next Claremont, then Pain's Hill, next Oatlands, 

 then Southgate, and so on to Blenheim, and ultimately to Hagley, Enville, 

 the Leasowes, Fisherwick, Piercefield, &c. The neighbourhood of Esher 

 is, therefore, to us classic ground, and more especially Esher Place, 

 which, in point of natural beauty, we greatly prefer to Claremont, though 

 we like Pain's Hill far better than either, 



PairHs Hill, Wm. Cooper, Esq. — Considerable improvements have 

 been made here since it came into the hands of its present proprietor. 

 The public road has been widened, and a new bridge, on the suspension 

 principle, thrown across it, to connect the ground on both sides, in lieu 

 of the old wooden one, formerly used for the same purpose. The effect 

 of this bridge is exceedingly good in various points of view ; for, even if 

 there were very little ground on the other side, the bridge conveys the 

 idea of the two sides being the same property, and thus strengthens the 

 impression of extent. We had only time to look at the new conservatory, 

 which has been added to the house, and to mark the very judicious man- 

 ner in which the elevation of the latter has been improved, and yet its 

 original simplicity of style preserved. There are here no half or three- 

 quarter columns, or entire columns, without real usej three faults in 

 architecture, that we are in constant dread of meeting with in the works 

 of most modern architects. The conservatory is well stocked; as are 

 the flower-beds in its neighbourhood and in front of the old conservatory. 

 We missed the four beautiful therms and busts which used to decorate 

 the piers between the windows of this venerable garden building, and 

 hope they are carefully preserved somewhere. Every part of this place 

 which came within our observation in this huri-ied glance was in the highest 

 keeping and order : only two faults obtruded themselves on our notice, 

 which we mention, because they may be easily remedied. The first is, 

 that the terrace walk in front of the house branches off in an awkward 

 manner, on the west side, nearly opposite the conservatory, whereas the 

 whole line ought either to be straight, or of one uniform sweep ; this 

 being required by the character of grandeur and art which ought to be the 

 object aimed at immediately in front of the mansion. The second is, that 

 the suspending chains of the bridge rise abruptly out of the green turf, 

 without the slightest architectural preparation, than which we know 

 nothing more offensive to a cultivated eye. This can never be the work 

 of an architect or engineer ; it must have been done by one of the very 

 commonest workmen employed in putting up the bridge. The chain 

 ought to proceed from the centre of a proper basis of hewn stone, and 

 that basis ought to be of a peculiar kind, to suit the apparent strain upon 

 it. We hope, in the course of the summer, to take a more extended view 

 of this, in our eyes, by far the most delightful and most instructive of all 

 the places described by Whately. 



Godalming, July 3. — We proceeded a few miles' distance to a very old 

 family mansion, in the Elizabethan style, the proprietor of which was 

 desirous of consulting us professionally. We were much delighted with 

 the old buildings and gardens, and especially with a magnificent grassy 



