Dropmore, Cliefden House. 5 



beauty when arrived at maturity. At present, they may average 

 about 25 ft. or 30 ft. in height, and are backed up by a plantation 

 on each side. 



As a matter of taste, perhaps some may think that, in some 

 parts of the grounds at Dropmore, the transitions are too sudden, 

 from those which are in high keeping, to those which are rough 

 and nearly in a state of nature ; but this could be easily remedied, 

 should it be thought desirable. In the kitchen-garden, Mr. 

 Frost has begun to try his skill at pine-growing, in which, I think, 

 there is but little doubt of his succeeding, as his small young 

 stock is in a fine healthy state, and promises to make fine plants 

 for fruiting. I regretted much that the day was so far spent as 

 to afford much less time than I desired, not only for viewing the 

 premises, but also for conversing with Mr. Frost, whom I found 

 very intelligent, and not less kind in his attentions. He has a 

 nice little library, which augurs well. 



Cliefden House. — The approach on the Dropmore side to 

 Cliefden House, the seat of Sir George Warrender, is by a 

 lodge; after passing which the road curves to the right, sheltered 

 by treexs on each side, for about a hundred yards ; when it enters 

 the grand avenue, and, with a turn to the left when it reaches 

 the centre, proceeds in a straight line of about a quarter of a 

 mile to the iron gates, on each side of which there is an iron 

 palisade, attached to walls built at right angles, and extending 

 on either side towards the extreme wings of the mansion. These 

 walls, together with the house and palisades, form a large qua- 

 drangle, which may be considered as the court of honour. The 

 avenue, with its broad road and wide verges, or rather slips, 

 together with the mansion and court of honour, cannot fail to 

 produce a striking effect on the visitor when entering on that 

 side of the premises. The walls on each side of the quadrangle 

 form parts of the boundaries of two gardens detached from each 

 other, in which are carried on the forcing and growing of fruit, 

 vegetables, &c. The lawn on the terrace side of the mansion 

 (described in Vol. IX. p. e'i^B.), and intended to be laid out as a 

 flower-garden, remains iu statu quo. Mr. Dodds retains his 

 ardour as a florist as well as a gardener, and, apparently, excels 

 in both. His pines were in fine condition ; and he showed me a 

 fine light-coloured seedling dahUa, which gained the first prize at 

 the Englefield Green show, on the following day. On leaving 

 Cliefden on the Taplow side, the road leads down, and winds 

 through a woody glen, where there is a small lake, and some 

 dressed ground. The trees here look fine ; and Mr. Dodds has 

 made some improvements in enlarging the water, 8cc. One thing 

 struck me with regard to Cliefden; namely, that, to make a place 

 of such a character complete, there should be at least two or 

 three hundred acres of park attached to it. I observed, on a 



B 3 



