420 



JOUENAL OF HOBTIOTJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GA.BDENER. 



[ November 39, 1877. 



Prom the house past these lawns and shrubberies a road 

 termed the Terrace Drive winds along the face of the steep 

 slopes of the mount, which tower high above it and Bweep 

 downwaids to the Bea, at some places precipitously and at 

 others in a series of irregular undulations, along under the 

 shade of lofty trees — very lofty trees shutting in the drive like 

 an avenue at some places and at others opening out into glades 

 down which are charming views of the sea ; past Fern-clad 

 banks and grasey openings fringed with an undergrowth of 

 Bhododendrons, the pleasant greenery of which is seen on all 

 sides among the trees. Fresh features come into view in quick 

 succession as we drive past all too quickly : here above us 

 towers a steep precipice with Ferns and treeB clothing its face 

 right up to the top, yonder down by the water is a fort 

 nestling picturesquely among the trees, and not at all grim- 

 looking ; and now we enter an avenue of Ilex lofty and dense, 

 with more Ilex clustering above them on the upper Blopes, not 



a formal avenue, but with occasional breaks and openings 

 through which the sea comes fully into view far down below, 

 and the thought involuntarily arises, Are we in England or 

 in Italy ? for Burely in no other part of the world has this 

 bright scene its counterpart, except it be on the shores of the 

 Mediterranean. The precipitous mountain side, the Ilex avenue, 

 the soft balmy air, the blue flashing waves alive with white 

 sails of ships and pleasure yachts, and above all the clear 

 bright sunny sky, all were in keeping with Buch an idea, which 

 was strengthened as we drove onwards through a Pine grove 

 consisting entirely of Pinasters — grand old trees with clean 

 straight boles branchless from the base upwards almost to the 

 top, presenting the aspect of just so many stately masBive rugged 

 columns, most of them probably fully 80 feet high, and many 

 of them 4 or 5 feet in diameter. Very few of them are quits 

 erect, almost every one leaning more or less ; but then none 

 are prostrate, and they will yet weather many of those fierce 



Fig. SI. — Milton's temple — mount edgcombe. 



storms and sweeping gales that they have hitherto withstood 

 to stoutly. 



In the Pine grove, which extends along the slopes for a con- 

 siderable distance, the road branches downwards to a pretty 

 cottage in a snug nook by the rocky shore, and upwards through 

 the trees to the open park, where upon the very summit of the 

 mount and on the verge of its cliffs stands the picturesque 

 kiosk. We enter and find an appropriate climax to our drive 

 in the glorious view which bursts upon us as the shutters are 

 opened. Bight down below is the famous breakwater with its 

 lighthouse and fort. Yonder lies Drake's Island, and acrosB the 

 Sound is Plymouth, with an irregular rugged shore and high 

 cliffs at many points. Outside the breakwater is the open Bea, 

 and in the distance is a dark object standing up, dimly and 

 indiBtinct, in a bank of mist that is stealing over the water, but 

 even that faint glimpse is sufficient to rivet the attention, for 

 we know that it is Eddyetone. Many other objects were there, 

 all contributing to the life and beauty of the general effect ; but 

 on these I must not dwell, nor had we much time tolinger over 

 the enchanting ecene, for in the most absorbing moments that 

 six-something train which we had to catoh over the water at 

 Plymouth would keep coming to mind, and so away down the 

 famous zigzag walks — not driving now, right down the face of 

 the cliffs amoDg the trees, pausing for a few minutes to look 

 at a curious little garden made in a snug nook apparently 



excavated out of the face of the hill, rich in choice exotios — 

 Mimosas, Camellias, Fuchsias. Olives, Aralias, and an Euca- 

 lyptus full 30 feet high, all flourishing in a state of semi- 

 wildness, and oertainly forming not the leaBt striking feature 

 of this wonderful place. Dowd, down among the trees till we 

 are close by the sea, and along a pleasant walk which leads to 

 the amphitheatre, a vast prmieircle of lofty trees with a temple 

 dedicated to Milton (fig. 81), containing a bust of the poet and 

 an appropriate inscription from the fourth book of " Paradise 

 Lost" — 



" Overhead np grevf 

 InBnpFrable heights of loftiest shsde, 

 Cedar, and Pine, and Fir, end bram-hiDg Palm — ■ 

 A ^Ivan scene ; and ae the raDks ascend, 

 Shade above sbftd«, a woody theatre 

 Of stateliest view." 



The inscription is truthful in its application to the spot, and 

 is as appropriate as is the temple itself, for although so near 

 the sea and in Bight of the terraces of Plymouth, yet there is 

 an air of quiet eeclusion — of BtatelinesB that grows upon one 

 as we pause to contemplate the ^singular ecene, for the trees are 

 all of extraordinary size, and impress us as being perfectly 

 gigantic as they range upwards " shade above shade " on the 

 steep hillside. 



These notes of Mount Edgcumbe must not be regarded as 

 at all exhaustive or complete. My inspection was necessarily 



