nd presently
entered the spacious kitchen garden, containing, I believe, seven or
eight acres. A broad gravel walk, bordered by lovely flowers and fruit
trees, leads to a magnificent terrace, which bounds the northern side of
this beautiful enclosure, the view from which is enchanting. This noble
terrace is screened from the north by a luxuriant shrubbery, from which
arises an archway of massive proportions, erected chiefly to shut out the
view of an unpicturesque object. The _tout ensemble_ reminds one of
Florence. You pass this gigantic portal, and ascend the hill by a
winding pathway through the fields, the grass being always kept clipped
and short. At the distance of half a mile from the house we crossed a
lane, and our guide unlocking a gate entered the grounds at the brow of
the hill. We again ascended, till we reached a broader way between two
flourishing plantations, branching off to the left, and leading by a
gently winding walk to a rustic sort of bungalow, which was discovered
about a quarter of a mile off. "You must walk along here," said my
friend, "and behold the prospect before we mount higher, for you will
find the view repay you." It did indeed repay us: the grassy pathway
extends along the side of the southern brow of Lansdown, and the view
from this spot is unrivalled. The whole valley of the Doon stretches
beneath you. Looking towards the east you discover in extreme distance
the Marlborough Downs; then somewhat nearer Kingsdown, Bathford, the
hills above Warleigh, with Hampton cliffs and the neighbouring woods,
where Gainsborough, Wilson, and Barker studied Nature so well, and where
is shown the flat rock called Gainsborough's table, on which the first of
this picturesque triumvirate so often ate his rustic meal. To the south
Bladud's splendid city, with its towers and stately buildings, backed by
the long line of Wiltshire hills, and Alfred's Tower is faintly traced in
the clear, grey haze. The little conical hill of Englishcombe, where the
unfortunate Duke of Monmouth drew up his army during his rash and fatal
enterprise, awoke a thousand recollections, whilst the lovely river
flashed occasionally in the noontide sun. To the west are seen Newton
Park, the Mendip Hills, Dundry Tower, and the Welsh hills, whilst the
hazy atmosphere marked the position of another great city, Bristol. At
the extreme western point, too, are seen the waters of the Bristol
Channel, glittering under the glowin