THE LADIES'* MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
261 
degrees, as the older ones arose and joined in chorus, forming a phalanx in 
front of us, with the others behind them. We did not wait the issue of 
these warlike preparations, but retreated as fast as our horses could carry 
us; while our guide assured us that if we had been on foot, we should not 
have escaped so easily. I may here mention that the road through the 
forest was so rough, and the ascents in some places so difficult, that I 
trembled for our equipage ; and I am sure no London-built carriage with 
English horses could have passed through it. Luckily we had hired a 
light phaeton with a pair of beautiful little grey horses, and a very intelli¬ 
gent driver, from the Eagle Inn in Glasgow; and with their assistance we 
penetrated through almost impassable roads, and found the most intricate 
places without the loss of either time or temper. I never travelled more 
agreeably or with fewer delays: the man, the carriage, and the horses 
were always ready and in perfect order whenever they w T ere wanted; and 
they always found their way as expeditiously as possible to the place 
desired. The only drawback was the rain, which occasionally descended 
in torrents ; but perhaps even this only gave a greater zest to the gleams 
of sunshine that followed. 
On our return to the inn, we found that the duke had very kindly 
returned a favourable answer to Mr. Loudon’s request to see the palace; 
an indulgence which we were very grateful for, as it is at present shut to 
strangers, on account of the alterations which are now making. The exterior 
of the palace is noble and commanding, but it wants an architectural flower- 
garden round it. The interior is remarkable for its jewelled furniture, 
the value of which is immense. Amongst other things, there is a time¬ 
piece with a circular pendulum, set with large diamonds, which would 
have made a splendid necklace, and a chandelier of rock crystal. The 
most interesting pieces of furniture for me, however, were the chairs and 
table from the boudoir of Mary Queen of Scots, and the bed and draw¬ 
ing-room furniture of Marie Antoinette, from Versailles. The chairs of 
Queen Mary were light and elegant, though still in the fashion of her 
day, and beautifully inlaid with ivory. The table was ebony, also inlaid 
with ivory. After going through the palace we visited the garden, 
which was u quaint and trim,” consisting of formal flower-beds on grass, 
with clipped trees between. The kitchen-garden was laid out in the 
usual Scotch fashion, with the borders next the walks full of flowers. 
Nothing could be more striking than the contrast between the noble 
palace, with its park of 1700 acres, full of fine old trees, and the miserable 
appearance of the kitchen-garden, which was scarcely large enough for 
a small villa. The gardener we did not see. 
Chatelherault is a kind of summer-house in the park at Hamilton. 
VOL. I.-—NO. IX. 
M M 
