Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/276

 produce gloomy ideas, as connected with the exertion of thought, and the labour of the body.

The general character of the grounds of Studley Park appeared to us to be highly favourable to the gardener to display his skill and taste upon, being moulded into pleasing hills and dales, and thickly clothed with noble timber—firs, elms, and oaks. Whether or not he have availed himself of these advantages, the following correct description of the decorations will enable you to judge.

The house, a jumble of modern masonry, and the later Gothic, detained us only a few minutes, to regard the prospects, which are chiefly views of Ripon church, and other distant solitary objects, let in through avenues, and therefore objectionable, as having the appearance of pains being taken to produce them. From hence a path descended to the lower lake, which we took, and soon found ourselves on the velvet bank of a regular piece of water of eleven acres, deformed by a small island in its centre, with a large unintelligible stone perched upon it. Around this pond the banks rise rapidly on every side, darkened from top to bottom with majestic woods. From hence the circuit round the grounds is four miles, which includes all within them that is worthy remark. The first walk we entered is called the