70 Hints on Landscape Gardening 



ham, which really leaves nothing to be desired 

 in this respect and may be recommended to all 

 strangers for study. But as far as pleasure-ground 

 plantations go, the well-known architect, Mr. 

 Nash, has only recently, in my estimation, pre- 

 sented the right way, and in the Gardens of 

 Buckingham Palace, the new palace of the King, 

 and also in Virginia Water, has established one 

 of the most magnificent examples. In passing, I 

 may say that I consider Windsor Park, with the 

 new grounds of Virginia Water, one of the most 

 perfect examples in England. In its extension 

 and variety it forms a complete and splendid 

 landscape. Castle and park have become, by the 

 munificence and splendor of the late King, the 

 worthiest seat for the most powerful monarch 

 on earth. 



It is a pity that, at the time of my visit, ac- 

 cess to the finest part where George IV resided 

 was so difficult to obtain ; however, the liberality 

 of the present King will have surely changed all 

 this. His late Majesty so shunned the eyes of 

 strangers that in many places, where an indis- 

 creet glance might possibly penetrate, a second 

 and even a third story of boards was erected and 

 nailed to the wooden fence which surrounds the 

 park. Whoever did not have the personal ac- 

 quaintance of His Majesty, or had not special 

 connections, or who did not care to spin out a 

 kind of intrigue, could not approach Virginia 

 Water. For the garden-lover this was doubly to 

 be deplored, because the King was not only, as 



