’ CHISWICK HOUSE 
western side of the lake; it is a lovely woodland walk, and from 
the bank we catch charming glimpses of the grounds on the opposite 
shore, and of the dome, and stately north front of the house. The 
west front of the little Ionic temple by the pool, with steps descend- 
ing to the water, is visible from the lakeside, but the steps are 
partially hidden by a picturesque overgrowth of reeds, and water 
plants. 
Time and weather have made serious gaps in the broad cedar 
avenue at the south front, and one or two splendid old trees have 
had to be shored up; but on the north side, the most magnificent 
group of these stately trees which I have ever seen, remain. They 
are still in their prime, and are certainly superior to any at Kew or 
Sion.* Farther east, between the north avenue and the Italian 
flower-garden, are some fine beeches, and delicious it is in the early 
autumn mornings to cross beneath them, over the carpet of fallen 
leaves which, red-brown, or golden, rustle and scatter beneath one’s 
feet, revealing an understratum of bright green moss of perennial 
beauty. 
Three diverging avenues radiating from a common centre, 
was a favourite device of Kent’s in garden-planning ; he adopted 
it on both sides of the lake at Chiswick. Each walk terminated 
m an arbour, a statue, a grot or a pavilion. On the western 
side, a handsome obelisk with a finely carved classical panel below 
it, marks the spot towards which three paths once converged ; 
only two now remain, the third would seem to have lost its way 
in a maze of shrubbery and undergrowth. 
Apparently the same thing happened on the eastern side of 
the grounds, where two avenues out of those which once spread 
fan-like in three directions, have disappeared. One led to a 
pavilion, another to a temple of the Corinthian order, and the third 
of yew—which still exists, leads to an arbour in which is a bust 
of Napoleon. Hence the avenue is known as the “ Napoleon 
Walk,” although Kent, of course, died twenty years before Napoleon 
first saw the light. Its conversion to a memorial of the great 
Corsican, is significant of the political leanings of the fifth Duke 
of Devonshire and of his Duchess, the beautiful Georgiana ; just 
as a similar bust in the gardens of Holland House, is of those of 
_* The finest of all was unfortunately blown down in the great gale of March, 1916, when 
sixteen other trees were also laid prostrate. 
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