498 LETTERS FROM ENOLAND. 



the Diite of Devonshire is a "bachelor"; that it is a principle with 

 him to expend the most Of his enormous income on his estate, and 

 that gardening is his passion. He is the President of the London 

 Horticultural Society, where he is, amopg enthusiastic amateurs, the 

 most enthusiastic among them all. He sends botanical collectors 

 to the most distant and unexplored countries, in search of new plants 

 at his own cost. He travels, with his head gardener, all over Eu- 

 rope, to examine the finest, conservatories, and returns honie to build 

 one larger and loftier than them all. He goes to Italy, to study the 

 effect of a ruined aqueduct, that he may copy it on a grand scale in 

 the waterworks at his private country-place ; and he takeg down a 

 whole village near the borders of his park, in order; to iinprove and 

 rebuild it in the most tasteful, comfortable, todpictiiresque manner; 



But it is not only in gardening, that the Buke of Devonshire dis- 

 plays his admirable taste. Chatsworth is not less remarkable for the 

 treasures of art collected within its walls.' Ite picture galleries, its 

 library, its hall of sculpture, its Egyptian antiquities, its stores»>of 

 plaite, eaoh'is so remarkable in its way, that it would make a repu- 

 tation for any place of less note. In his equipa,ge, though often 

 simple enough,' the Duke has an individuality of his. own, and we 

 remember reading a description by that excellent judge of such* 

 matters, Prince Puckler Muskau, of the Duke's turn-out at Doncaster 

 races^a coach witK six horses and twelve outriders, which in point 

 x)f taste and effect, eclipsed all competitors, even there. 



But this is of little moment to our readers, most of whorp, 

 ■doubtless, relish more their Maydukes, than anecdotes of even the 

 i2oy«? 2>Mte themselves. But there is a, certain satisfaction, even 

 !to lie humble cultivator of a dozen trees, or plants, or a little plat 

 ai ground, in feeling that his dearest hobby — gardening is also the 

 favorite resource of one of the wealthiest and most cultivated Eng- 

 Msh nobles. It is, perhaps, doubtful whether the former does not 

 gather with a stronger satisfaction, the few fruits and flowers so 

 carefully watched and reared by his own hands, than tbe Utter ex- 

 periences in beholding the superb desserts of hot-house growth, 

 which ev«ry day adorn his table, but wliich he does not know indi- 

 vidually and by heart — which others Jiave reared for him — thinned, 

 watered, and shdded-— watched the sunny cheek redden, and the 



