532 Notices of some Gardens and Country Seats 



the whole of this imitation of an old castle ; and said that it would 

 have been more effective in realising the proposed effect, if built 

 in imitation of a castle in ruins. We may add that it might 

 be partially ruined now, or, which would be the best improve- 

 ment, covered with ivy. We intended to visit this place a 

 second time on our return from Plymouth, in order to correct 

 or confirm our first impressions, as, from the unfavourable state 

 of the weather, we did not see the place so thoroughly as we 

 wished, but time would not permit. 



In p. 494. we have stated that we had only seen " perfect 

 high keeping in Devonshire at Luscombe and Endsleigh :" but we 

 had not then seen Bicton, which is as highly kept as any place 

 we ever saw in any country; and that not only in one department, 

 but throughout the whole. 



Oxton House ; J. B. Swete, Esq. The grounds are laid out 

 with great taste by the proprietor, who is an excellent artist in 

 landscape architecture and figures. The style of art in the 

 grounds is picturesque throughout ; the scattered trees are 

 judiciously disposed and well grouped ; and we were particularly 

 gratified by the appearance of a piece of water, in imitation of a 

 wild neglected lake, which we could hardly have known to be a 

 work of art, had we not, when walking round it, with difficulty 

 discovered the head or dam. 



P&wderhdm Castle ; the Earl of Devon. The fine magnolia 

 trees and other exotics here are sadly neglected ; the branches 

 are unpruned, the stems covered with lichens and moss, and the 

 plants choked up in many places with the commonest trees and 

 shrubs. The house is being altered by Mr. Fowler, a guarantee 

 to our minds that the general effect will be simple and grand. 

 Some walled-up banks along the approach appeared to us 

 much too common-place for the vicinity of a castle. Had there 

 been rocks to penetrate, as at Warwick Castle, the case would 

 have been different ; but here the walling mode seems to 

 have been adopted as a matter of choice, or for the sake of 

 economy. We would have brought down the ground with a 

 gentle slope, and had 3 or 4 feet of perfectly level surface on 

 eiich side of the road, which, as it is at present, has a cramped 

 appearance. To make this subject clear, however, would re- 

 quire more room and time than we can at present spare. 



Sept. 8. — From Exeter, by Luscombe, Dawlish, Teignmoutk, 

 and Babbicombe, to Torquay. We set out in an open carriage 

 with elevated seats, so as to see over the high fences, which 

 every where border the roads and lanes. The day, like almost 

 every other while we were in Devonshire, was fine ; and the 

 country and the sea rich, varied, and altogether delightful; 

 all the corn carried; the turnip fields covered by luxuriant 

 leaves; the rank pastures well stocked with red oxen and sheep; 



