Reclleaf, near Penshtrst. 



363 



the London approach, 

 were not the trees disposed 

 along it in the direction d, 

 e,f, which shuts out the 

 great north-western val- 

 ley, except near the en- 

 trance approach ; where 

 the eye may detect be- 

 tween the trunks of some 

 large trees just as much 

 of the commencement of 

 the valley as to set the 

 imagination at work to 

 guess its extent. As the 

 wood is now disposed, 

 the stranger, whether he 

 arrives from London by 



Seven Oaks, or from 1 un- HCcd***-*^ *-«- 



bridge Wells by Penshurst, drives up to the house, admiring the 

 finely scattered groups of oaks, thorns, and hollies, on the rising 

 grounds on one side of the approach, without being aware of 

 what is concealed by the plantation on the other side. Entering 

 the house, from the bay of 

 the drawingroom at g, he is 

 struck with astonishment at 

 the extent of the prospect, 

 and at the fine reach of the 

 river at h ; beyond which, up 

 the valley, he can see nearly 

 as far as Godstone, where 

 some trees on the summit of 

 a hill above that town mark 

 its situation. If, from the 

 centre window, he turns his 

 head to look through the 

 window on his right hand, 

 he sees the whole range of 

 the Redleaf rocks ; and if he 

 turns to the left-hand window, he sees another reach of the river 

 appearing beyond a wood. The surface of the water of the river 

 is probably 200 ft. below the level of the drawingroom floor 

 from which it is seen ; the chain or causeway of rocks, i i, 100 ft. 

 below it, and the cottage I, and wood m, rather lower. 



The effect of the woodman's cottage at Z, which may be 

 described as one of the aboriginal cottages of the country, is 

 exceedingly good, as seen from the drawingroom, by the strong 

 contrast which its humble appearance and the associations con- 

 nected with it, afford to the richness and high art displayed in 



