LONDON 509 



From this we proceeded to Ditton Park; the seat of Lord 

 Montague ; but it being late when we arrived, we saw no- 

 thing of the grounds that night. 



Oct. 11. — Next morning we walked around the new gar- 

 den at Ditton. The soil is very good : as an evidence of 

 this, the young trees against the walls, though only of a 

 few years standing, already reach to the top. The walls 

 are only 11 feet high, which is too low where there is 

 so good a soil, and particularly when trees are trained in 

 the fan mode. There is a good greenhouse here, and a 

 vinery having fixed sashes. In the park, there are some 

 fine old oaks, and some shells of oaks, and English elms, 

 of great dimensions. One decayed English elm measured 

 28 feet 3 inches in circumference, another 23 feet 9 inches 

 in circumference ; the remains of an oak 27 feet in circum- 

 ference. A deciduous cypress was 7 feet in circumference, 

 and equal to any we had seen in the Low Countries. Lord 

 Montague, when he understood we intended going to Wind- 

 sor, very obligingly gave us a letter of introduction to Ge- 

 neral Taylor, Secretary to his Majesty. 



On going to Windsor, we saw General Taylor, who fur- 

 nished us with a pass-key, and permitted us to walk over 

 the grounds around the Castle at pleasure. We walked 

 by the lower terrace, along a fine bank of trees,, which has 

 been much neglected. They were just thinning them out ; 

 it would have been much more in their favour, if this had 

 been done sooner, and very gradually. Some beautiful 

 views are obtained from this terrace. Thomson has not 

 said too much in praise of " imperial Windsor." 



From Windsor we went to Frogmore, a pleasant residence 

 of Queen Charlotte. The hot-houses, however, did not com- 

 mand much attention, I got from the gardener a fruit of 



