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division called the Little Park are the Gardens ; which are laid out in the happiest style, and embellished, but not too lavishly, with artificial objects. The principal of these are a beautiful little Temple, of the Corinthian order, dedicated to Health; a thatched edifice, called the Shepherd's Cot; a Temple of Diana, built in the Ionic order; and in a recluse dell, near an artificial Cascade, a copy, by Bernini, of the magnificent Fountain in the Piazza Navona at Rome. On the site of a former flower garden" is an Aviary, containing many rare and beautiful birds. The usual appendages of Hot-houses, and a Conservatory, are not wanting in that portion of the gardens appropriated to the service of the table.

The WATER in Blenheim park is always considered, and justly so, one of the most attractive features of the domain. It is formed of the small river Glyme, which, as it winds along through the grounds, is made to expand its stream, sometimes in a greater, sometimes in a less degree, now assuming the form of a majestic river, and now that of a wide-spread lake. Several stone Bridges are thrown across the more confined parts of the water. One of them, called the Grand Bridge, is

h This flower garden was laid out on the plan of that of Madame Pompadour at Versailles.

of a truly magnificent character; the centre arch measuring 101 feet in diameter.

The COLUMN, which stands on an eminence surrounded by a fine lawn, is one hundred and thirty feet high, and supports a Colossal Statue of the Duke, in a Roman habit. One side of the pedestal bears this inscription.

The Castle of BLENHEIM was founded by Queen ANNE
In the fourth year of her Reign,

In the Year of the Christian Era

One Thousand Seven Hundred and Five.

A monument designed to perpetuate the Memory of the
Signal Victory

Obtained over the French and Bavarians,

Near the Village of BLENHEIM,

On the Banks of the Danube,

BY JOHN DUKE of MARLBOROUGH,

The Hero not only of his Nation, but of his Age
Whose Glory was equal in the Council and in the Field;
Who, by Wisdom, Justice, Candour, and Address,
Reconciled various, and even opposite Interests;
Acquired an Influence

Which no Rank, no Authority can give,
Nor any Force, but that of superior Virtue;
Became the fixed important Centre,
Which united, in one common Cause,
The principal States of EUROPE ;
Who, by military Knowledge, and irresistible Valour,
In a long Series of uninterrupted Triumphs,
Broke the Power of France,

When raised the highest, when exerted the most:
Rescued the Empire from Desolation;

Asserted and confirmed the Liberties of EUROPE.

It is impossible to close our description of Blenheim park, without shortly adverting to the former Palace of Woodstock, long the most favoured residence of our English monarchs; and to the Bower erected by the second Henry for his beloved Rosamond. The exact site of the former, a large and magnificent structure, the last remains of which were removed only about a century ago, is marked by the two sycamore trees near the Grand Bridge. The latter, according to a description left us by Chaucer, was " a white castle seated "on an eminence, and adorned with maples." The site of this edifice was a little westward of the Grand Bridge. When the honour of Woodstock, which had remained so long in the immediate possession of royalty, was conferred on John Duke of Marlborough, as a mark of royal favour for the signal services rendered to his country by that great warrior and statesman, the sum of 500,000l. was voted by Parliament, for the purpose of constructing for the hero a suitable palace. In consequence of this grant, the present pile was erected, after a design furnished by Sir John Vanbrugh.

The HIGH LODGE, a venerable embattled

i The name of this celebrated beauty is farther preserved in Rosamond's Bath, and Rosamond's Well, both within the precincts of the park.

structure, was at one time the residence, and was the scene of the death, of Lord Rochester; the witty profligate, who, in the reign of Charles II. strove, with so much success, to bear away from other courtiers the palm of superiority in licentiousness, extravagance, and dissipation.

Near the Home Lodge is a building called the CHINA HOUSE, or Gallery, containing a rare and valuable collection of porcelain, some specimens of which are thought to be 3000 years old.

Headington, a village rather more than a mile north-east of Oxford, occupies an airy and delightfully pleasant situation on the top of a hill of the same name. It appears, from a charter granted by King Ethelred to the monastery of St. Frideswide, to have contained, at the time of granting the charter, a royal palace, some of the foundations of which were, it is thought, discovered a few years ago, on clearing out a fish-pond, in a field called Court Close. In the same field, according to Doctor Plot, considerable traces of foundations were remaining in the seventeenth century. The village of Headington is of a tolerable size, and contains within its limits many good houses. The church is a respectable stone edifice, dedicated to St. Andrew. In the attached cemetery is a lofty

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for the Walks in Oxford. Published by R.Pearson, High Street, 1817.

OXFORD

FROM IFLEY.

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