The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 483, April 2, 1831

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Various. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 483, April 2, 1831

GROTTO AT ASCOT PLACE

FAIRY SONG

DREAMS PRODUCED BY WHISPERING IN THE SLEEPER’S EAR

SONNET TO THE RIVER ARUN

RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS

ANCIENT BLACK BOOKS, &c

ANCIENT STATE OF PANCRAS

SALT AMONG THE ANCIENT GREEKS

THE NOVELIST

THE GAMESTER’S DAUGHTER

KILCOLMAN CASTLE, THE RESIDENCE OF THE POET SPENCER

THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS

CROTCHET CASTLE

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

THE AUTOCRAT’S PRAYER

QUEEN ELIZABETH

THE HAUNTED HOUSE

THE GATHERER

OCTOGENARIAN REMINISCENCES

POSTHUMOUS HONOURS

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

ROYAL WISH

EPITAPH

ANNUAL OF SCIENCE

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Here is a picturesque contrivance of Art to embellish Nature. We have seen many such labours, but none with more satisfaction than the Grotto at Ascot Place.

This estate is in the county of Surrey, five miles south-east from Windsor, on the side of Ascot Heath, near Winkfield. The residence was erected by Andrew Lindergreen, Esq.; at whose death it was sold to Daniel Agace, Esq., who has evinced considerable taste in the arrangement of the grounds. The house is of brick, with wings. On the adjoining lawn, a circular Corinthian temple produces a very pleasing effect. The gem of the estate is, however, the above Grotto, which is situate at the end of a canal running through the grounds. Upon this labour of leisure much expense and good taste have been bestowed. It consists of four rooms, but one only, for the refreshing pastime of tea drinking, appears to be completed. It is almost entirely covered with a white spar, intermixed with curious and unique specimens of polished pebbles and petrifactions. The ceiling is ornamented with pendants of the same material; and the whole, when under the influence of a strong sun, has an almost magical effect. These and other decorations of the same grounds were executed by a person named Turnbull, who was employed here for several years by Mr. Agace. Our View is copied from one of a series of engravings by Mr. Hakewill, the ingenious architect; these illustrations being supplementary to that gentleman’s quarto History of Windsor.

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Pope’s love of grotto-building has made it a poetical amusement. Who does not remember his grotto at Twickenham—

—The Grotto, has, however, crumbled to the dilapidations of time, and the pious thefts of visiters; but, proud are we to reflect that the poetry of the great genius who dictated its erection—LIVES; and his fame is untarnished by the canting reproach of the critics of our time. True it is that the best, or ripest fruit, is always most pecked at.

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