100 Notes on Gardens and Country Seats : — 



place it is, taken altogether. On entering the grand hall, we 

 were struck by the long vistas through doors to the right and 

 left; and also by the view through two doors to the lawn in 

 front : on turning round, and looking towards the bridge, the 

 long straight avenue passing over it, and having in its centre, 

 at a certain distance, the lofty column crowned by the statue 

 of Queen Anne, completes the impression of dignity and gran- 

 deur. This avenue was formerly continued in a straight line 

 for six or eight miles through the Ditchley and Heythrope 

 demesnes, including the mansions of each in the line of the 

 avenue. There is something very grand, and at the same time 

 very sociable, in the idea of thus connecting three magnificent 

 residences. We see from these straight lines, right angles, and 

 lengthened vistas, how well Vanbrugh understood grandeur of 

 effect, both in architecture and in the principal features of its 

 accompaniments. The architecture at Blenheim has trifling 

 faults of detail ; such, for example, as the combination of the 

 obelisk and the pilaster with the recesses cut into the latter at 

 the side entrance ; but, taking the pile altogether, we know 

 nothing like it either ancient or modern. Some attempts were 

 made, during the late duke's time, to improve the terminations 

 of the towers; and even the present duke has tried an expe- 

 riment of this kind : but, if it is allowable to make an attempt 

 to improve one part, why not attempt to improve the whole? 

 But this would be absurd ; because the palace would then no 

 longer be the work of Vanbrugh, or the national monument 

 raised in honour of the first duke. In justice to the memory of 

 both the great architect and the great warrior, we think every 

 thing removed, either by the late or the present occupier, ought 

 to be restored ; and no farther liberties taken by the present or 

 future possessors. Indeed, there must be something defective 

 in the arrangement by which the heirs of the great Marlborough 

 hold this property ; otherwise neither these alterations could 

 have been made, nor the lake and the building have been 

 suffered to be so much injured by neglect as they now are. 



After seeing the house, by the permission, of the duke we were 

 shown through the private garden. Much has been said re- 

 specting this garden, but there is, in truth, nothing remarkable 

 in it; and the duke can only wish it to be kept private, in order 

 to prevent his walks being intruded upon by the numei*ous 

 visiters, who, every day in the year, come to see the house and 

 grounds. Those who have seen Blenheim before this private 

 garden was fenced off, will recollect the bank of lawn, commenc- 

 ing at the library front of the house, and extending to the cas- 

 cade. They will also recollect the portion beyond the cascade, 

 partly below it, containing some fountains ; and partly above it, 

 where there used to be some old mutilated statues. The lawn 

 in front of the library, and these two portions of the grounds, 



