24-6 Notes on Gardens and Country Seats: — - 



sand, in endless interchange. There are two large pieces of 

 water : one of these, called Milford, covers between twenty and 

 thirty acres of ground ; it is nearly surrounded with natural 

 wood, in part of which, on a steep slope, are some very large 

 beech trees. The other lake is called Dursmere, and, though 

 not so much varied in its contour as Milford, is yet surrounded 

 by beautiful scenery." 



In proceeding from Newbury to Highclere, the road passes 

 through a richly cultivated country, having in some places a 

 parklike character. In one part, the effect of the trees and 

 turf, on both sides of the road, lead the traveller to believe 

 that he is passing through a park. Advancing a little, we come 

 to a mansion intended for Gothic ; and we cannot help feeling 

 regret that a builder of so little taste should have been at work 

 in such a scene. The road continues in rather a grand style 

 for a cross country road, passing a curious corner clump of larch 

 trees, which, we were informed, constitute the remains of a nur- 

 sery, and which are now 50 ft. high : these trees, small and 

 naked in the stem, look like a gigantic crop of oats, rather than 

 larches ; and present a striking example of how much the cha- 

 racter of a tree may be changed by the circumstances in which it 

 is grown. Shortly beyond these larches, and apparently forming 

 the termination of a straight line of the road, appears the arch- 

 way, which is the main entrance into the park of Highclere. 

 The general effect is exceedingly good ; but the architectural 

 details are objectionable, pilasters being used, not at the angles 

 as supports, but in the middle of the wall as ornaments. After 

 passing the arch, we find that the first part of the approach 

 road leads through a thick wood of oaks, hollies, and beeches ; 

 as we advance, the eye penetrates to a deep and wild glen on 

 the right; shortly after, the scenery opens to the day, and a 

 sequestered glade, of three or four acres, surrounded by wood, 

 appears to the left : advancing onwards, the wood thickens, and 

 gradually approaches close to the road on the left, while the 

 scenery opens to the right ; and, the road making a gentle turn, 

 the upper part of a circular temple, surrounded by a colonnade, 

 and surmounted by a dome, appears on a knoll at a short dis- 

 tance across a woody vale. The road advancing among park 

 scenery, in which exotic trees, such as hoary-leaved limes, 

 cedars, &c, begin to be introduced, we see the same temple 

 crowning the summit of a bold promontory, to which we gra- 

 dually ascend. The effect of this temple is exceedingly good, 

 not only from the approach, but from every other part of the 

 grounds. Its architecture is faulty, inasmuch as its colonnade is 

 interrupted, and the wall which supports its dome is not shown 

 above the entablature ; but these faults are lost in the feeling of 

 gratification experienced on observing .such an object placed 



