landscape gardening. 
137 
sweet-scented lime is distributed near the house, either singly or in 
groups, and many American forest-trees, as oaks, for their bright 
.autumnal tints ; and maples and larch, for their fresh yellow verdure 
in the spring, are disposed in various tufts, where they are backed by 
foliage of a darker hue. Fir trees are but sparingly introduced ; and 
such as stand in the park are at a distance from the house. 
In my first letter I believe I told you that a valley, commencing a 
little way within the principal entrance into the park, descended, 
and, widening as it descended across the south front of the mansion, 
was lost in a larger valley, which descends nearly parallel to the west 
front. In the bottom of this last-mentioned hollow, a small rivulet 
stole along to the southward. Its source was on the high land t© 
the northward of the house; and though never a very abundant 
•stream, it was never altogether dry. 
The idea of raising a dam across the valley where there was a ford 
and foot-bridge, at about half a mile below the house, and by that 
means obtain an expanse of water, was a very natural wish of a pro¬ 
prietor who had a painter’s eye. The idea was carried into execution, 
and a most interesting feature of the place has been created. The dam 
is so concealed by,trees and bushes, that its artificial character is com¬ 
pletely hidden ; and, though the excess of water be too inconsiderable 
to form a cascade of sufficient importance for full exposure, it may be 
heard gurgling away among some large and rough stones fixed in the 
lower face of the dam. The banks of the lake, as well in outline as in 
height, are very irregular, and well designed and executed. Little 
promontaries here and there jut into the water ; some are bluff-pointed, 
and planted with trees and shrubs; others die smoothly off into the 
water’s edge. Alders, weeping-willows, and poplars, with reeds and 
other aquatic herbs, occupy in irregular tufts and masses the margin of 
the lake, and so naturally are these disposed, that no stranger would 
suspect that the whole is a work of art. Here are no £f tame banks ’ 
to offend the fastidious eye ; no parallel edges nor canal-like form to 
shock the feelings of the connoisseur of the gallery. The surrounding 
land all dips towards the water, except only at the south end, where 
the surplus steals away; and this lower part being rather^ thickly 
planted, the lake appears embosomed in surrounding slopes on all 
sides. 
This is the character which all made pieces of water should bear ; 
because, if their surface appears higher or even as high as any of the 
adjacent ground seen at the same time, its artificial character is at 
once proclaimed, and its natural beauty impaired. The middle of the 
lake is so deep that it is a perfect fence against cattle wading across ; 
VOL. V.-—NO. LVIII. «r 
