210 
THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
of water apparently falling 500 or 600 yards perpendicular, when it is 
only a succession of broad steps that it falls over from the top of a hill 
some 200, or thereabouts, feet high, being supplied with water from a 
reservoir of sixteen acres on the top. The water is amply sufficient, and 
falls with great force, occupying about three minutes in reaching the 
bottom from its first appearance at the top, and disappearing at the 
bottom as if by magic, being conveyed under ground. 
Now we arrive at what will be the wonder of wonders—it is not yet 
finished, the new conservatory, situated in a secluded spot surrounded by 
magnificent oaks, which sheltering it from the winds, do not shade it from 
the sun. I cannot describe it—the centre is finished, and consists of one 
oblong oval dome, 60 feet high, 360 feet long, and 140 wide; with two 
wings, each 100 feet long, entered through an arch of rockwork as if 
going into a cave, but the entrance large enough for a carriage to drive 
in, and a carriage-drive goes actually through the whole. The plants are 
all to be planted in the soil, no pots; and some idea of its size may be 
formed, when I tell you the pipes for heating it would form a line six 
miles long ! I never saw anything so magnificent; when we drove into 
the park, the sun was shining on it, and William took it for a sheet of 
water surrounded by hanging woods: it is so far finished, that the centre 
large dome will be filled with plants this autumn. The carriage-drive 
through it will be paved with wood pavement. Our time has been so 
taken up with this immense conservatory, that we shall only have time 
to see the water-garden on our road to the house. This garden consists 
of weeping willows and other trees, collected together in a clump in a 
little secluded spot, which on a sudden throw jets of water from the point 
of every leaf, forming an artificial shower of rain; but although very 
pretty, and certainly very ingenious, the trees being all artificial, still 
after the princely grandeur we have been admiring it seems small and 
petty. 
The mansion at Chatsworth is worthy of the rest. We enter an 
immense hall, curiously finished, with carved wood full of curiosities, such 
as canoes, Indian arms, cross-bows, &c. &c., and with the ceiling painted 
in fresco. By a noble marble staircase we ascend to the state apartments, 
which are on a very large and superb scale; but as all these sort of 
things in great houses are nearly the same, I will not describe but one or 
two that are unique. When all the range are thrown open, you have 
one continued view 600 feet long, furnished in a most princely style, 
handsomer I think than Buckingham Palace. The rooms worth describing 
are—the dining saloon, a noble room, built by Wyattville; the dining 
tables will accommodate sixty persons in one line, and are as broad as 
