(j(>2 Summary View of the Progress of Gardening, 



sidered as dating from the time of Mr. Nash's architectural 

 alterations on the exterior of the Opera House, which com- 

 menced about IS 13, and the formation of Regent Street imme- 

 diately after, from which the stimulus thus given lias been 

 continued by the attempts to dignify architectually the public- 

 houses of the metropolis, by the improvements of the shops 

 which shortly after took place, and, lastly, by the noble ex- 

 ample;- of architectural and engineering works exhibited along 

 the different railways. The improvements in the metropolitan 

 parks, which were begun after the peace of 1815, enlarged the 

 taste of the Londoners for rural walks and landscape. The 

 establishments of Professorships of Architecture in the two 

 London Colleges cannot fail to be attended with the happiest 

 effects ; even if nothing more were to be gained than educating 

 the eyes of amateurs. The formation of public parks and gardens, 

 by the government and by patriotic individuals, will contribute 

 to the same desirable end, and, in addition, will draw closer the 

 bands which unite the different classes of society. Even the 

 manner in which Her Majesty travelled and was received in 

 Scotland deserves notice, as indicating ajuster estimate of what 

 constitutes the dignity of royalty. The queen was treated 

 by her Scottish subjects like a rational being, instead of being 

 worshipped like a goddess. How great the improvement since 

 the days of Queen Elizabeth, who, when she visited the Earl of 

 Leicester, at Kenilworth Castle, in July, 1575, was presented 

 with gifts by persons representing the heathen gods, Sylvanus, 

 Pomona, Bacchus, Neptune, Mars, and Apollo ! She was 

 amused with masks and other buffoonery, and with the barba- 

 rous sports of boxing and bear-baiting, and complimented by 

 stopping the castle clock, that time might appear to stand still 

 during Her Majesty's visit. The greatest honour, as we think, 

 paid to the British queen of the 19th century was at Tay- 

 mouth, where Her Majesty was asked to plant a tree in comme- 

 moration of her visit. 



Public Gardens. — The Royal Gardens at Kew, since they 

 have been put under the direction of Sir W. J. Hooker, have 

 been very greatly improved; and, as they may now be con- 

 sidered to belong to the department of the Woods and Forests, a 

 Report to that body of what has been done will doubtless soon 

 be published. A new kitchen-garden is being formed at 

 Windsor, which, we suppose, will also be reported on. The 

 botanic garden in the Regent's Park is in an advanced state, 

 and already forms a delightful and instructive promenade. The 

 most interesting circumstance which has taken place in the 

 public gardens about the metropolis, in the course of the present 

 year, is, the naming of the trees and shrubs in Kensington 

 Gardens and St. James's Park. The labels are of cast and 



