ki 
West Park and Kew , 1841-1865. 
construction of main walks for the accommodation of large 
crowds of visitors, and of subsidiary ones leading to the 
various plant-houses, and the designing of extensive geometric 
flower-beds in character with the Palm House, the gates, and 
other great structures, demanded the genius of a professional 
landscape gardener, and Mr. Nesfield of Eton was selected for 
the purpose. The conditions to be met presented many 
difficulties, the views in all directions were dominated by 
conspicuous insurmountable objects, the imposing entrance 
gates, the Palace, the Orangery, the campanile, the Pagoda, 
the Temple of the Sun, a piece of water, and two large 
artificial mounds crowned with classical temples. The result 
has proved satisfactory, its main features called forth no 
adverse criticism, and remain to this day almost as they were 
planned upwards of-half a century ago. 
As these works were progressing, Her Majesty, accom- 
panied by the Prince Consort, in 1843, paid her first visit to 
the Gardens. They were pleased to express their approval 
of all they saw, and were especially interested in a model 
of the Palm House, then about to be erected. They sub- 
sequently sent the Royal children on several occasions that 
my father might point out to them the more interesting plants 
in the houses. The Prince Consort paid several subsequent 
visits, and took a keen practical interest in all that was doing 
in the Pleasure Ground, which was separated from the 
Botanic Gardens by a light wire fence, and in the Deer Park 
beyond. He took the finer trees under his especial pro- 
tection and forbad the cutting down of any without his 
sanction. The Deer Park he declared should never be built 
upon, and he approved of my father removing the wall that 
separated it from the Pleasure Grounds. 
Now that I am in duty bound to introduce Royalty into 
a sketch of my fathers life it. would be disloyalty, as well as 
ingratitude, to pass over the life-long connexion of the late 
Duke of Cambridge and his family with Kew. The gardens 
of Cambridge Cottage abutted on the Royal Botanic Gar- 
dens, and for a great part of the year the family resided 
