The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 491, May 28, 1831

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Various. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 491, May 28, 1831

AMPTHILL HOUSE, THE SEAT OF LORD HOLLAND

CHARACTER OF A GOOD ALBUM

POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS

POEMS BY A KING OF PERSIA

ANECDOTE GALLERY

THE LATE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE

NOTES OF A READER

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PEOPLE

FINE ARTS

THE ROYAL ACADEMY

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

BILLINGTON

SUFFICING REASONS FOR SHAKING

CALCULATING NOTES.—PAGANINI

THE SELECTOR AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS

FREEMASONRY

MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS

WATER AT SHAFTESBURY

TRINITY TERM ENDS 11th JUNE

SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY

THE RIVER NIGER

THE GATHERER

EPITAPH

ROYAL OATHS

Отрывок из книги

This is a delightful retreat for the statesman and man of letters—distinctions which its illustrious occupant enjoys with high honour to his country and himself.

Ampthill is throughout a never-tiring region of romantic beauties. These were sung in some lines of great sweetness and poetical feeling, a few years since by Mr. Luttrell, who appears to have taken his muse by the arm, and "wandered up and down," describing the natural glories and olden celebrity of Ampthill. We remember to have read his "Lines" with unmixed pleasure.

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The park in which this house stands, is well known, from many descriptions, to be a singularly picturesque and pleasing one. It is, at the same time, a small one, but the dimensions are concealed by the numerous and beautiful groups of trees with which it is studded. The oaks are particularly celebrated for their great size and age, several of them are supposed to be upwards of 500 years old, and some do not hesitate to say 1,000 years; the girth of many of them is ten yards, or considerably more. A survey of this park, by order of the Conventional Parliament, in 1653, pronounced 287 of these oaks as being hollow, and too much decayed for the use of the navy. The whole of these remain to this day, and may, perhaps, continue two or three centuries longer; some few of them have been scathed by lightning.

Behind the house, near the entrance of the park from the turnpike-road, are some ponds, similar in appearance to those frequently seen adjoining ancient mansions; above these, at the edge of a precipice, was the front of the ancient castle. This building is doubtless that erected by Lord Fanhope, at the beginning of the fifteenth century. It was used as a royal resort by Henry VIII., who was often here, and by Queen Catherine, who resided here some time previous, and during the time her divorce was in process at Dunstable. There are, in the possession of Lord Holland, two ground plans of this castle, which, by the late Lord Ossory, were supposed to have been taken about the year 1616, at which time it was supposed the castle was demolished. From these, the following particulars of this building are collected:—The area was a square of about 220 feet; in front was a large court, 115 feet by 120; behind this were two very small ones, each 45 feet square; and between these was an oblong courtyard. Between the front and back courts, the building had two small lateral projections, like the transepts of a church. In front were two square projecting towers; and round the building, at irregular distances, were nine others, projecting, of different shapes, but principally five-sided segments of octagons—if this description be intelligible. It was, probably, from the general appearance of the plan, intended more as a residence for a nobleman or prince, than a fortress, although the situation was favourable for defence. The view in front is extremely beautiful for this part of the country.

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