marshes, of artificial waters, and vallies, and by removing ground; by serpentine walks, and plantations of trees: he wished to display his taste on these grounds, and Mr. Ashby has hinted that the expense would have been scarce worth mentioning; a noble young Duke, then residing in one of the colleges, having proposed to set it on foot, by a subscription of 1000l. This subject, at the time, engaged much attention, but the plan was never realized. Whether for pleasure, or for profit, the improvements would have been worth this moderate expense, whether the projector would have received the thanks of the town, or the gratitude of posterity, or to what extent Mr. Brown's specific plan was capable of being realized, are questions foreign to our narration.

To the public grounds of an university, what seems congenial, are walks agreeably, but not abruptly winding, lofty trees,

seats, or alcoves, not rustic, nor yet fantastical; not placed at random, nor yet formally obtrusive; with edifices adapted to the scenery and place. But, who, in such places would look for tonsile trees, jets d'eaux, and zigzag walks; Chinese temples, or Diogenes's tubs? Not that Mr. Brown's improvements were in this little style: his plan shall presently speak for itself. The eye would certainly have been pleased with walks more winding, with a greater variety of trees, with something more of a winter garden of ever-greens, and of light underwood near the banks of the river, and that without affecting to bring the Wye, or Usk, to these haunts, or obstructing the naviga

tion. What future improvers may effect, time only will show. But let these hints supersede much of criticism on landscape gardening: and as the genius of the place does not require, so will our attempts not aspire to length or labour of description.

Sed summa sequar fastigia rerum.

Virgil.

These grounds, then, as they are now disposed, consist of several walks with plantations of majestic elms, except one of a grand row of chesnuts, and two or three of limes. The walks are in general strait, and Cam moves near them; not crowned about here with much of his sedge, nor yet with cheerful underwood, but with slow, sullen course. Milton, therefore, was always for abusing him, whether writing in Latin or English. The narrow

Nuda nec arva placent, umbrasq. negantia nolles:

Quam male Phabicolis convenit ille locus!

Milton had a thorough hatred of Cambridge. Hear, on the other side, Cowley:

O sacri fontes, et sacræ vatibus umbræ !

Quas recreant avium Pieridumq. chori!

O Camus! Phœbo nullus quo gratior amnis!

Eleg. Dedicat. &c. ad Acad. Cantas.

Gray and Mason were full of affectionate greetings to the Cam.

bed of the river does not admit of large magnificent bridges, but one by the late Mr. Essex, an ingenious architect, formerly of this town, is of great elegance, and universally admired...

:

It may be admitted, that the public walks of our sister university have some superior charms over these we are now describing the walks are generally more winding, without so many formal strait lines, and acute angles; the trees have greater variety of foliage, (and, consequently, you have bolder lights and shades,) and there is more of underwood and shrubbery, amidst their fine oaks, beech, birch, and elms: Cambridgeshire is very parsimonious of trees, and her oak is proverbial for the willowa: the stately wide walk of Christ Church, some overshadowed walks, a more majestic spread of water, a sprightlier course of the river, and the affectionate junction of the two streams, on Christ Church meadow, are extremely interesting and fine, and when considered in detail, or by being compared with what is beautiful in the Cambridge walks, must be allowed to rise by the comparison.

But, still our walks have their peculiar beauties, adapted to the place and the walk planted with limes from Clare Hall, forms a vista, lengthened, and of admirable effect. You might say, perhaps, that Oxford has not any thing of the kind equal to this: the eye is also carried across the river through a fine vista, formed by rows of lime and elm, as you come from Trinity library, terminating in Coton

a Cowley, we may see, was not ashamed of our Cambridge willow. Felix, qui nunquam plus uno viderit amne!

Quiq: eadem Salicis littora more colit !

Where meet our streams, indulging short delay.

Warton's Complaint of Cherwell.

Church; the view of Clare Hall piece, as seen from King's College, or Clare Hall, with the adjoining objects, forms a most pleasing landscape, as seen over the Cam, and opening, through a plantation of venerable elms, to the adjacent fields: any eye that can perceive rural beauty may dwell on these pictures with delight: but, taking into consideration the beauty and grandeur of the several buildings, to be seen from Clare Hall, or King's College, Oxford must yield to Cambridge: nor must you say this is not Grasmere nor Keswick; there is no scene of the kind throughout all England, that can be compared with these. The aspect, too, is the best that could be, both for the walks, and effect on the adjoining buildings; a south-western more lightly planted; but it is more strongly planted and fortified against the north.

Having mentioned Mr. Brown, I cannot forbear just stating what his more bold attempt at improvements was. He proposed that the river, instead of taking its course, as it comes from Newnham, should be removed to a greater distance from the colleges: this would certainly have removed some nuisances, and formed the agreeable part in landscape scenery, as viewed from the chambers of those colleges, near which it now passes; and particularly, instead of moving closely under the western building of St. John's, it was, by being moved to a considerable distance, to have taken its course not, as now, on the south side of Magdalen College, but on the north side, between that college and St. Peter's Church, and all those summer houses, and other small houses on each side of the bridge, now abutting on Magdalen College and St. John's a

a For these two or three ideas of Mr. Brown's plan, I am indebted to Mr. Ashby's MSS.

certainly no great ornaments -were to have been

removed.

This plan, had it been executed, might certainly have added some beauties to these grounds, and have been more pleasing, by its distant view, from all those colleges; as it was to have had the accompaniment of other improvements, of which, in Mr. Brown's hands, these grounds were certainly susceptible: but it is enough just to have hinted at these matters.-And this must suffice for our public walks.