Come, and let us remember our friends in a modest cup of home-brewed ale, and forgive and forget our enemies, and pray for the peace and liberties of Europe; the first of which, I am afraid, is not so near as I could wish, because the last seem to be in greater danger than ever, which, notwithstanding my retirement, and my philosophical pretensions, gives me frequently uneasy moments." *

Since the time of this noted individual's residence here, the grounds have undergone a considerable change, under the direction of Mr. Gilpin, the landscape-gardener; and they now present a varied and harmonious picture. The view from the south front is judiciously opened on the distant woods of Blickling Park, a source from which this seat derives a considerable share of its beauty, because it terminates the landscape on scenes of noble character, which one would think naturally belong to this residence. It is well known that the surface of this estate, as well as the generality of those in Norfolk, is but little varied; and that its charming and diversified appearance arises entirely from the elements of wood and water. The great use of trees especially, is here strikingly illustrated, maintaining, over scenes naturally deficient in expression, a very interesting picture.

Those "vegetable striplings," as they are termed in his lordship's letter, have now arrived at manhood, and display the beautiful characters pertaining to perfect trees. The beeches are particularly handsome, and have invested themselves in a graceful, flowing garb, worn but seldom by this species; and which, were it characteristic of the tree, would at once redeem its reputation. By artists, it is considered to be in general too massy and formal, and wanting in that picturesque feature adapted to landscape painting. The specimen represented in the etching is sixteen feet in girth and sixty-five feet in height, standing on the west side of the house. The chestnuts, oaks, and other forest-trees here, are in great perfection.

• Coxe's Memoirs of Horatio, Lord Walpole, p. 287. [No. V.]

The present noble proprietor, whose taste for trees is well known, has distinguished this place above many others, by forming in it collections of trees and shrubs belonging to the genera Pinus, Abies, Cupressus, Schubertia, Araucaria, Erica, Crataegus, and Ilex. The collection in the pinetum is very complete, including specimens of the Deodara pine nine feet in height. The Araucaria excelsa, or Brazilian pine, as it is called here, rises to the height of nine feet. nine inches, and bears the rigour of winter with a very slight protection. Such arboretums are of endless interest, displaying how far trees of foreign countries are adapted to this climate; their comparative growth, outline, and specific character; their adaptation, consequently, to particular localities, in short, their whole history with regard to the district where they are situated. Without such a collection, grouped under proper divisions, with the age, size, and height each individual plant attains to in its native place, its particular habitation therein, and every other circumstance of interest connected with it, trees lose half their charms, and form but an unmeaning profusion of beautiful forms. This arboretum, then, may be looked forward to with interest. Twenty years hence, the trees will have become perfect, and their character and worth ascertained.