Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/81

 60 HISTORY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. of themselves in the very places in which they were wanted to combine in harmony with more stately trees, and perfect the landscape." The view at the entrance of the Park from the Durham Boad is (says the authority above quoted) " of an extensive and striking character. In the immediate foreground is the Castle, with its rich accompaniments of forest trees and lawns, and the town of Auckland scattered over the hill behind it In front the valley of the Wear stretches upwards for many miles, exhibiting the usual characteristics of a northern river of considerable size, and flowing in a streamy course through soft pastural and agricultural scenery. On the south, the long, blue, and waving outline of the Eichmondshire hills, extending from Kirby Hill to Bowes and Stainmoor, is ftdl in view." A little to the south of the stone bridge in the Park was planted, in 1794, an oak, in memoriam, near which, in. 1823, was placed a stone with the following inscription : — ThiB oak, the centre of which is 8 feet distant from this stone, was planted by Bishop Bairington, A.D. 1794, it being then 6 feet high. In 1830, Bishop Van Mildert planted seven oaks on the ground south of the Bowling Green, now called " The Seven Oaks Plain." There is no inscription. The trees stand near that portion of the Park usually occupied by the platform for the Band at the Flower Show. Two trees, planted on the island opposite to the Barrington oak, record the names of Bishop Maltby and his son. The inscriptions on stones placed near the trees are as follows : — This oak, then 18 feet high, was planted by Bishop Maltby, Noyember 5th, 1841. This oak, then 14 feet high, was planted by the Rev. H. J. Maltbyj youngest son and chaplain to the Bishop of Durham, November 5th, 1841. A short distance below the north-east corner of the Bowling Green stands a clump of trees, near which is a stone of grey granite, with the following inscription : — HAS PLAiirrArrr axbobxs inbynte yekb anni mdccczl edvabd bpiso dvnslm xoniti HOBATIANI KEYnQVAM IMMKMOB LINQYENDA TELLVB BT D0HV8 BT PLACBHB VXOB KEQYB HABVM QVAB 00IJ8 ABBOBVM TB PBJSTEB INYISAS CVPBB880B VLLA BBBVEM DOIONYIC BBQVBTVB The following descriptive lines were written by one of Bishop Trevor's domestics^ and are well worthy of transcription : — Thy park, O Auckland ! and thy sacred groves, Invite my song — Ye woodland nymphs who haunt The dark recesses of these oaken boVrs, Ye dryads that in airy circles dance Around the sylvan Pan with dewy feet, When first the watchful cock with clarion shrill Awakes the mom. — ^Assist me whilst I sing The verdant honours of your native woods I Oft times with you I wander,— oft I hear The voice of Music breathing thro' the grove. In strains melodious ; when the early dawn Illumes the highlands with her amber light : How sweetly chaunt the birds their morning hymn, How soft the strains that fill the winding grove. Whilst thro' the entangled woods I careless stray. And brush the dew from blossom'd hawthorn boughs. In fonc/s sweet delusion do I hear This harmony divine f— or do the songs Of dyrads and of woodland nymphs conjoin'd, The swelling concert rwse 1 — ^'Tis fancy all, A lovely phrenzy that deludes my ear. The music of the soul ! — Oh blest of heaVn 1 Whose nice descermng, finely feeling sense. Digitized by Google