588 Shepherd's Lecttires on 



inches of projection. This wall forms an elegant sweep, and is bordered by a 

 broad gravel walk. The ground outside of this wall, towards the bay, falls 

 abruptly down a slope, which is richly furnished with healthy and beautiful 

 trees ; not in thick masses, but sufficiently so to form a proper foreground to 

 intercept the over-magnificence of the light reflected from the beautiful ex- 

 panse of water which forms the front of the background on the opposite 

 shore, and which becomes the second distance in the landscape. All the 

 polished scenery below will be in connexion with this situation, branching off to 

 the rio-ht and left through ornamental lawns and polished shrubberies, furnished 

 with choice trees and plants from England, China, the Mauritius, the East 

 Indies, North and South America, and from Moreton Bay, Norfolk Island, 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and other places. In a few years, therefore, the 

 beauties of Elizabeth Bay will appear unrivalled. 



" At the extremity of this beautiful shrubbery and mowed-grass lawn, wood 

 walks will commence, winding through thickets of trees naturally grouped 

 among picturesque rocks. Here, also, rustic chairs and rustic caves are 

 placed; and the river is seen from them through a rich foreground of natural 

 trees and beautiful creepers. Walks descend from the dwarf wall to a carriage 

 road, which leads to the river, where a convenient wharf has been constructed 

 for enjoying marine excursions. 



" Crossing the coach road, you enter through a lattice-work bower, covered 

 with the passion flower, into the botanic garden, laid out in beds and borders 

 of exotic flowers, with elegant sweeping walks, and bowers of lattice-work. 

 These are tastefully arranged, imitating Nature in her loveliest forms, and 

 creating sensations of exquisite delight in the mind. In walking among these 

 lovely trees, you view, on the one side, an amphitheatre of lofty woods ; and, 

 on the other, you view a large expanse of water, with ships, small vessels, and 

 boats passing up and down the harbour. The kitchen-garden, pits for pro- 

 ducing pine-apples without fire heat, gardener's cottage, vineyard, and terraces 

 sloping to the north, sheltered from the south, and bearing abundance of 

 grapes, follow in succession, and require no particular description. 



" This description, which I have given to show gentlemen how much may 

 be made out of the roughest materials nature furnishes, will teach them what 

 may be done on ground favoui'able for the purpose. If I might be allowed to 

 make any suggestion, it is, that, to complete Elizabeth Bay in a style of the 

 first magnificence, there should be an aviary erected, and particularly a con- 

 servatory, at a little distance from the house, close to the hill which backs in 

 the mansion ; and a good pinery, with grape vines to produce early grapes. I 

 would recommend an ornamental summer-house, to be placed at the most 

 conspicuous point upon the promontory, on the right hand side of the bay, 

 with a covered-in summer-house, to preserve parties from excessive heat, or 

 from rain. These improvements, which, probably, it is the intention of the 

 respected proprietor to make, would, in my opinion, render Elizabeth Bay one 

 of the most finished residences to be met with in any country. 



" There is another fxj'st-rate edifice, the grounds of which have been laid 

 off with great attention to the principles of landscape-gardening, Lyndhurst, 

 the seat of Dr. Bowman, to which I shall direct your attention, with a view to 

 enlighten the proprietors of land on the capabilities of their estates. 



" This residence is situated on the south side of a branch of the river of 

 Port Jackson. The ground contains fifty acres of land, and is bounded by 

 church land, a new road, and the estate of John Betts, Esq. This estate will 

 have an imposing effect, both internally and externally. The house has three 

 fronts, open to a mowed grass lawn, of considerable extent. The site is placed 

 upon a flat piece of land, about 200 yards from the river: the situation is 

 commanding. The offices are enclosed within a high wall at the back of the 

 house, and are well arranged. A tank, of large dimensions, has been sunk in 

 the back yard, supplied by pipes from the roof of the house; and is built 

 with brick, and covered with cement, with a drain at the bottom. The coach- 

 house and stables are built out of sight of the house, park, and pleasure- 



