are enclosed by semicircular sweeps, wherein are niches to receive statues. It is richly furnished with stucco ornaments, allusive to the occasion on which it was erected.

"The Ruin was designed and built by me in 1759, to make a passage for carriages and cattle over one of the principal walks of the garden. My intention was to imitate a Roman antiquity, built of brick, with an incrustation of stone. The design is a triumphal arch, originally with three apertures, bút two of them are now closed up, and converted into rooms, to which you enter by doors made in the sides of the principal arch. The soffit of the principal arch is enriched with coffers and roses, and both the fronts of the structure are rustic., The north front is confined between rocks, overgrown with briars and other wild plants, and topped with thickets, amongst which are seen several columns and other fragments of buildings; and at a little distance beyond the arch is seen an antique statue of a muse. The central structure of the ruins is bounded on each side by a range of arches. There is a great quantity of cornices, and other fragments, spread over the ground, seemingly fallen from the building and in the thickets on each side are seen several remains of piers, brick walls, &c."

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These gardens are opened every Sunday, from Midsummer to the end of autumn. The Exotic Garden, since Sir William Chambers wrote this account, has been enriched with a great number of new plants; with several, in particular, from

coloured. At the eight angles of the room are palm-trees, modelled in stucco, painted and varnished with various hues of green, in imitation of nature, which, at the top, spread and support the dome, represented as formed of reeds, bound together with ribands of silk. The cove is supposed to be perforated, and a brilliant sunny sky appears, finely painted by Mr. Wilson, the celebrated landscape painter.

"In the way from the Mosque, toward the palace, is a Gothic building, the front representing a cathedral.

"The gallery of antiques was designed by me, and executed in 1757.

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Continuing your way from the last mentioned building, toward the palace, near the banks of the lake, stands The Temple of Arethusa, a small Ionic building of four columns. It was designed and built by me in 1758.

"Near it is a bridge, thrown over a narrow channel of water, and leading to the island in the lake. The design is, in a great measure, taken from one of Palladio's wooden bridges. It was erected in one night.

"In various parts of the garden are erected covered seats, executed from two designs, composed by me in 1758.

"There is also a temple, designed by me, in commemoration of the peace of 1763. The portico is hexastyle Ionic, the columns fluted, the entablature enriched, and the tympan of the pediment adorned with basso-relievos. The cell is in the form of a Latin cross, the ends of which

beautiful landscapes it commands, cannot be described by words. The Serpentine River, when seen from the terrace, though artificial, appears as beautiful as if it were natural; and a stranger, who did not know the place, would conclude it to be the Thames; in which opinion he would be confirmed by the view of Walton Bridge over that ; river, which, by a happy contrivance, is made to look like a bridge over the Serpentine River, and gives a pleasing finish to this delightful prospect. The grotto, which is uncommonly beautiful and romantic, was constructed and finished by three persons, a father and his two sons, and is reported to have cost nearly 12,000, A gate, erected from a design of Inigo Jones, has been removed a small distance from its original situation, and repaired, with the addition of an inscription, by the duke of Newcastle.

royal highness the duchess of York passes much of her time here in an agreeable and pleasant retirement. {}

Richmond,

IN Surrey, nine miles W. S. W. from London, the finest village in the British dominions, was anciently called Sheen, which, in the Saxon tongue, signifies resplendent. From the singular beauty of its situation it has been termed the Freseati of England. Here stood a royal palace, in which Edward I. and II. resided, and where Edward III. died of grief, for the loss of his

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New South Wales. They were under the care of the late Mr. Aiton, celebrated throughout Europe for his excellent work, “ Hortus Kewensis."

The old house, opposite the palace, was taken on a long lease by queen Caroline, of the descendants of Sir Richard Levett, and has been inhabited by different branches of the royal family. The Prince of Wales was educated there, under the superintendance of the late Dr. Markham, archbishop of York. This house was bought in 1761 for her majesty. Near this spot a New Palace is now erecting by his majesty, under the direction of Wyatt, whose north front, the only part open to public inspection, possesses, indeed, an air of solemn, sullen grandeur; but it very ill accords with the taste and science generally displayed by its nominal architect. Genius, when shackled by restrictions, has very little opportunity of exhibiting its native energy.

By Manning's Surrey, we learn that the northern front is intended to be appropriated to the use of domestics; and, by common report, that the whole building is rendered nearly indestructible by fire, by means of cast-iron joists, rafters, &c.

Oatlands,

ADJOINING to Weybridge, in Surrey, the seat of the duke of York, who purchased it of the late duke of Newcastle. The park is four miles round. The house is situated about the middle of the terrace, whose majestic grandeur, and the

House, built by George, third earl of Cholmondeley, who adorned the noble gallery with his fine collection of pictures. It is now the property of the duke of Queensberry, who transferred hither the pictures and furniture from his seat at Ambresbury. The tapestry, which hung behind the earl of Clarendon in the court of chancery, now decorates the hall of this house. A large house, the property of Mrs. Sarah Way, and the residence of herself and her late sister, the countess dowager of Northampton, is also on the site of this palace, as is the elegant villa of Whitshed Keene, esq. built by the late Sir Charles Asgill, bart. from a design of the late Sir Robert Taylor.

There was formerly a park adjoining Richmond Green, called the Old or Little Park, to distinguish it from the extensive one made by Charles I. and called the New Park. In this Old Park was a lodge, the lease of which was granted, in 1707, for ninety-nine years, to James duke of Ormond, who rebuilt the house, and resided there till his impeachment in 1715, when he retired to Paris. Not far from the site of the lodge stands the observatory, built by Sir William Chambers in 1769. Among a fine set of instruments are to be noticed a mural arch of 140 degrees, and eight feet radius; a zenith sector of twelve feet; a transit instrument of eight feet; and a ten feet reflector by Herschel. On the top of the building is a moveable dome, which contains an equatorial instrument. The observatory contains also a