ANTWERP. 99 



goda at Kew, this proved the finest structure of the kind 

 which any of us had seen. In the lower apartment are four 

 niches, which we found to be concealed doors ; one lead- 

 ing to the staircase, and the others to presses, where books, 

 tea-equipage, &c. may be kept. On the ceiling, over the 

 arches of the stair-case, a group of celestials is represented, 

 looking down on us mortals below. As the light which 

 falls on the painting above is powerful, and as the specta- 

 tor sees it as it were through a tube, the effect is very 

 striking. As we ascended, we paused at various succes- 

 sive balconies, the prospect of course increasing in extent 

 as we gained height. From the summit we had a view of 

 the country for about twenty miles in every direction. 

 Antwerp was distinct, and in a clear day the spires of Ma- 

 lines are seen. A large reservoir at the top is said to be 

 capable of containing 100 tons of water : this feeds various 

 fountains below, some of which are, as usual, contrived to 

 give the inquisitive a wetting. The ornaments of the high- 

 est part are fantastical : the whole is surmounted by four 

 large brazen, or at least gilded, serpents, intertwined ; and 

 the apex is formed by a fruit of the ananas. The ex- 

 treme height is 120 French feet, or somewhat more than 

 100 English. 



The water in the neighbourhood of this Chinese temple 

 is truly ornamental, forming a natural sweep, and being 

 occasionally overhung by weeping-willows scattered along 

 the margin. In some places the banks are open, and a re- 

 ceding lawn presents itself, chequered only by a detached 

 cedar of Lebanon, or a tulip-tree. In one place is a Chi- 

 nese bridge, of considerable span, harmonizing excellently 

 with the pagoda, and producing a gay and airy appear- 

 ance, finely contrasted with the dark shadow cast upon 

 the water, which, though pure, seemed motionless, unless 

 where disturbed by the slow approach of the stately swan. 



