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is seldom seen spread for the decoration of mother earth. It does not possess the elegance, beauty, variety, and classical character of the flower garden at Nuneham, which is the most perfect example of its kind, any where known; but, as a spot solely adapted to the cultivation and display of flowers, it forms a most interesting, fragrant, and lovely scene. The menagerie presents a picture of cheerful seclusion, charming in itself, and admirably suited, in all its accessory parts, both in lawn, cover, and building, to its purpose; and peopled, as might be supposed, from the mind that formed it, with those birds, both foreign and domestic, whose natures, from their beauty and rarity, are most congenial to the spot which they inhabit. Though it is perfectly characteristic of the purposes for which it is contrived, and to which it is applied; there is a certain elegance in its arrangement, as well as in its plantation and its receptacles, that one could scarce expect to see a barn-door fowl, however beautifully feathered, an inhabitant of it: the peacock, unfolding its splendors to the sun, or the gold and silver pheasants, with their gorgeous and finely pencilled plumage, would appear to be the more associated denizens of this peaceful republic.

At the entrance of an adjoining wood, near the summit of the hill to the east, is a subterraneous passage, two hundred and seventy five yards in length, of simple contrivance, and without the affectation of ornament, that leads to a valley of superlative beauty; at whose upper end, and forming a side scene to the cliff, which the cavern perforates, is a large, massy, artificial ruin, whose front presents a double range of mutilated columns and broken entablatures, exhibiting, altogether, the best imitation we ever remember to have seen of a decayed state of Grecian architecture. The original design is very chaste, and of the finest proportions, and so admirably assorted are all the necessary appendages to denote the ravage of time, that it might be very readily supposed to have been the natural victim of that destructive power. Mr. Stuart, the architect, particularly known by

the title of Athenian Stuart, which he derived from his long residence in Athens, who was undoubtedly a man of genius, and had visited so many of the vestiges which are to be found in Greece of delapidated cities, was employed by Mr. Anson to erect a structure of this kind in the gardens of his fine seat, near Ousely bridge in Staffordshire: but with all the professional knowledge and experience acquired in his tra vels, he did not produce an erection which could be brought in comparison with that raised at Park Place, by the consistent taste, and appropriate attention of Field Marshal Conway.

The valley in which this ruin stands is of considerable length, and stretches on in a very gradual descent to a large rustic arch of curious construction. This enchanting spot comprehends a rare example of garden scenery. What may be considered as the highest polish of rural elegance is here displayed: the painter, whose subject leads him to enquire after a study for viewing Arcadia, will find his warmest fancy realised here. The undulating, but ever-varying lines which shape its sides, the taste with which they are planted, the beauty of the trees, and the richness of the verdure, with the woody ridges that form its lateral boundaries, produce an independent beauty, and render it a scene to charm, though it were far distant from the Thames, and without any aid from artificial embellishment. The arch through which, on a nearer approach, the river and its casual accompaniments, its mechanical animation is seen, forms a span of forty-three feet; and while it continues the road from Henley to Twyford, affords a passage beneath it, to the margin of the stream. This structure produces a very noble effect, whether seen from the valley, the water, or the meadows. It is, indeed, formed with so much skill, and such a blended attention to picturesque shape and utility, that we are almost deluded from lamenting how many of the huge stones which compose it, were brought from the violated remains of Reading Abbey.Many instances, indeed, might be named, where the seats

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of solitary sanctity, have not only been neglected, but suffered to tumble about in rude confusion: indeed, in some case their Vandal owners have allowed them to be considered as so many mouldering quarries, to serve the ordinary repairs of the most ordinary buildings. Netley Abbey, so interesting from its form, its situation, and curious, historical circumstance, was suffered to be treated in this disgraceful manner; and was continually diminishing to repair the farm houses, cottages, and even walls in its vicinity, till the very pleasing poem of Mr. George Keate on that subject, awakened the indignation of the neighbourhood, and induced its owner to give it the protection which it has since received. Every visitor of Southampton, every lover of sacred antiquity, every admirer of landscape beauty, is indebted to the poet who called, in strains of the most tender character, for its preservation.

Near the arch, which has already been mentioned, on a steep bank, and delightfully embosomed in trees, in a scene of elegant seclusion, is a cottage, containing a room, of appropriate character, and fitted up in that judicious style of accommodation, which all must admire; but is peculiarly suited to the philosopher of the world. It is chearful but solitary, and is admirably calculated to compose and sooth the cultivated mind, and assist the contemplations which at once improve and embellish it. The Thames is seen before and beside it, near and at a distance, through surrounding foliage, but in that indistinct glitter of its water, which chequers the gloom and animates the shades. From the north window, the tower of Henley church, a fine object of its kind, appears with the best effect, and the wood-clad hills of Fawley rising beyond it. Here is something uncommonly fine in this view: the parts are few, but they form a beautiful whole, and harmonize most happily with each other. From hence a willow-walk leads to a tomb of white marble, a solemn object; and a little onward the river is seen through an arch of natural stones, which gives a varrying view of the beautiful object

which it unfolds. It is a delightful little spot, and all the surrounding circumstances are happily suited to it by that taste and spirit of appropriation, so necessary to the arrangement of art and the decoration of nature.

The tomb, the cavern, and the cottage, must now be repassed, as well as the great arch, in order to gain the terrace, which leads to the northern side of the place: it is of considerable length, and stretches on above those swelling prominences, which rise with such a bold effect from the water. On the bank that shelters it from the east, are trees of every growth, with plants and shrubs of every odour; beneath it is the Thames flowing on with a tempered current ; beyond it is the town of Henley, with its stately tower and beautiful bridge; while before it is a various extent of prospect, combining objects of uncommon variety, and which receives the contribution of several counties.

This enchanting walk leads to the margin of a deep and expansive glen in the front of the house, another feature full of intrisic charm, and independent of exterior circumstance. It is not so bold as to exclude beauty, and so beautiful as to exclude grandeur. It is of great breadth at its top, nor is it narrow in the bottom. On three sides it shelves down from wood and lawn in graceful undulations on the fourth is the Thames: the whole is clothed with the softest verdure; and a rustic habitation on the descent of the northern declivity gives to the scene a pastoral character.— The natural and expected accompany ments are flocks of sheep, or herds of the larger cattle, or of deer, the most ornamental animal of our country: they may, indeed, be said to constitute the embroidery of sylvan scenery. One of the incidental beauties of such a valley is derived from a sunny-day, and the playful change of shadows, which must be occasioned by the inequalities of its surface. But it so happened that when we stood on the lawn above it, the day was gloomy; the sun did not appear even to give it a momentary gaiety; no fleeting clouds above produced their fleeting shadows below; no sheep hung adown its steeps;

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nor did herds occupy the bottom; yet with little external accession from art, nature or accident, it communicated to our minds the mingled emotions of surprize and pleasure. Such a feature must every where be beautiful; but, on the banks of the Thames, where nature has worked with so soft a pencil, it may appear to verge towards the sublime.

The Park is not distinguished by any striking circumstance: it consists only of an extensive flat, sprinkled with trees, and forms a fine approach to the house; and by its unvarying appearance encreases the contrast of those varieties which succeed to it. The entrance is from the turnpike road on approaching Henley bridge.

Thus have we endeavoured to trace, for we attempt no more, the principal-beauties of Park Place, which may be said, as it ought, and as truth demands, to owe their first creation and subsequent improvements to the late possessor of it. But Field Marshal Conway did not only consider the application of art to the embellishment of the territory around him; he also amused himself with directing his attention to the productions of it. Agricultural experiments, and chemical experiments, have also shared his mind, his purse, and his patience. A distillery was erected by him. near the river, not far from his plantations of lavender, which he successfully cultivated; and to the extracting oil from that fragrant shrub, its operations are said to be at present confined.

He had began, it seems, a very extensive plan of chemical elaboration, but that was the project of his active mind, which did not afford him the gratification he expected, and was discontinued before his death. A little Tuscan villa, of uncommon elegance, and a very charming example of architectural simplicity, was built on the spot, for the Field Marshal's chemical professor; and which a royal professor of taste and sentiment might be happy to enjoy.