GRANDEURS OF WINDSOR CASTLE.
THE ?Mining Chronicle has had an article on Windsor Castle, "the writer of which is undoubtedly a person of very exalted rank." We say this without having been paid for 7he announcement, and with as much assurance of the truth as has ever warranted a like statement on the part of our worthy contemporary. Our readers will observe, how- ever, that we do not define the sphere of the exalted rank, which may be the drawing-room or the kitchen. The author may be a duke, or he may be a butler. That he is of high rank in some department, is all that we are obliged to infer froM the superior splendour and sub- limity- of his composition. How fine is this description of the flower-garden of Windsor Castle, —an Eden, as it is beautifully called, (and without a devil even in a bush,) of three acres in extent, and which rejoices in a straw-coloured walk, of this obliging character that it carries you whither your flimsy may lead you! There arc also some truly wonderful minor walks, so ingeniously disposed as not to arrive at any specific point—in other Words, walks without end. These walks are greatly admired for their eccentric yet highly pleasing qualities.
" The new Flower-garden stands next in the range of fancy improvements at Windsor Castle ; and although of no considerable extent in itself, contains, nevertheless, a greater variety of novel and miniature scenery, disposed and executed on a chaster scale, than perhaps any thing of the like nature his Majesty is possessed of. It may be about three acres in extent, and stands partly before and partly under his Majesty's favourite apartments in the Castle. This apparent little Eden, if the comparison may be admitted, has two very handsome entrances—one from the Grand Terrace, generally appro- priated to his Majesty's state band on particular occasions, and which, as has been already stated, overhangs it on the east side; the other from the Orangery, which greatly ornaments its collateral boundary. When you descend by the terrace stairs into the garden, you are carried in any direction your Jitney may read you, by a one straw-coloured walk eighteen feet wide, which winds round the whole of the garden, and which in many places crosses, meets, and stretches in a parallel course, with great numbers of minor walks, bearing away apparently to a hundred points, but to n iiiniously disposed as not to ar- rive at any specific one. Next to these beautiful walks, which are greatly ad- mired for their eccentric yet highly pleasing qualities, the fountain seems to be the most prominent object in the scene, being situated in the centre of the garden, and bosom of many thousand select shrubs and flowers, tastefully arranged into many convex, circular, semicircular, and various other figured beds and clumps. The fountain is supplied through conduits from the Thames —the great source of many of our amusements and comforts; and if some will adjudge it too small, yet it cannot he denied the characteristic of being- sufficiently equal to the purpose for which it was designed, and ia exact pro- portion to the other objects of this happy little arboratum. It is surrounded with a very neat gravel walk, richly hemmed with a fine veribilii border, spangled with a vast collection of tulips, roses, lilies, &c. &c., which at once give it an air of peculiar sweetness and originality."
Nothing certainly can be conceived more original than the collocation of tulips, roses, and lilies in a border! The like was never seen before ! But what follows exceeds the above in grandeur. The Virginia spoken of, we must premise, is not in America:—
" If we desire to behold water on a large or abstract scale, either in natural or artificial forms, we have only to turn our eyes on Virginia, happy inimitable Virginia; and next on the ,wrelling billows of the venerable majestic Thames, which is solemnly imposing in this place—and surely oar longings and ideas, however delicate and romantic they nay be on these matters, will instantly be gratified beyond our fondest anticipation. On the other hand, it wood scenery, with its necessary appurtenances of hills, vales, lawns, and the hundred other picturesque charms that arc required to fall into prospect in forming a consummate landscape, and that on an extensive scale too, be the objects of our fancy and admiration, he must be vain indeed who extends his research after more exalted imagery than Windsor Park exhibits to the view.** Virginia Water as it is denominated, is a considerable valley, flanked on both sides by a lofty ridge of hills, which appear in many places ready to tumble from their bases, acid entomb thernsclres in the bosom of the dis- tant and noiseless waters which glide beneath. The sides and summits of these mountains are planted in the most beautiful manner imaginable with every description of trees that are marked for excellence, majesty, and gran- deur. The shrubs in like manner which ornament this place, and which are made to wander in detachill groups of paintings along the brows of the hills— the borders of the green rides, the banks of the lakes, the sides of the mazes, labyrinths, bowers,&c.&c. are all of the most fragrant and costly description, and so admirably arranged as always to yield the most abundant variety, without the least tissue of sameness in either quality, foliage, or odour. The green walks and rides here are numerous beyond conception, and, in truth, one of the greatest ornaments it possesses. They are always kept mowed and rolled, so as to render them whatthey really are—inimitable in their kind, and worthy the pride and patronage of a King. The water is disposed into a thousand shapes and courses, each of which strikes the busy mind with suc- cessive sensations, until at length it is almost incapacitated from discerning their crowding charms, even in the aggregate. His Majesty has a beautiful Temple, or Chateau, in the bosom of these exquisite scenes ; and although we must say the situation thereof is most happily chosen, and commands a most noble prospect, yet it is to be doubted much if it is equal to the truly
Elegant spot on which the Keeper's Gothic Villa stands. No words or orna- ments of language can give anything like an adequate picture of this indi- vidual spot—it most be seen to be appreciated; and if fairly appreciated, it cannot surely fail in gaining the first place in our estimation of Virginian charms."
We are in perfect amazement at the idea of these gandeurs and won-
ders. Mountains in Windsor Park! as big as they can tumble, and ready to tumble too ! how pleasant to the beholder! But what exceeds all, are the shrubs, which are made to wander along the brows of the hills. They are of course of the runner genus.
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