THE OBSERVATORY, RICHMOND GARDENS. SINCE the new art of landscape gardening has been introduced, there is no example of a more bold and happy deviation from former rules than in the present state of Richmond gardens. Instead of the formality of the ancient style, which was incapable of beauty, and could only, when its objects were extensive, have an air of magnificence, nature has been called to resume her sylvan reign, to sport in all her irregular varieties, and to submit only to that decoration of art which displays her native graces to the best advantage. Kent first deviated from the trim, mechanical regularity of Le Nôtre and his predecessors. He rooted up the quincunx, broke the long lines of regular plantations, and gave to the strait canal the meandering form of a natural river. But though he did much, he left much to be done; and Browne succeeded to advance the reformation, and loosen the remaining restraints on nature in ornamental gardening. He seized at once, as it were, on the capacity of the place which he was called to improve, and never hesitated to employ it in producing those appearances which his eye and his mind suggested. The terrace, in Richmond gardens, was a flat regular strait walk, of great length, and proportionate breadth; supported and fronted by a range of brick-work, like the ramparts of a fortified town. This line of level verdure had not a tree or a shrub on its surface; its boundary was marked by a row of elms on one side, and a dwarf wall on the other; while between the latter and the Thames was a public road: yet this terrace was a boast of the country it has been described with enthusiasm by our topographical writers; and has formed an animating theme for many a muse; nevertheless Browne did not hesitate at once to change its form, while he gave a new and superior cloathing to the whole of the magnificent pleasure-ground of which it forms a part. He annihilated the road, dilapidated the wall, let the terrace fall in natural undulating slopes towards the river, and planted it with the varying elegance which now embellishes it. These gardens were formed out of a domain called the Old Park, to distinguish it from the more extensive one made by Charles the First; and which was called the New Park. In the former was a lodge; the lease of which was granted, by the Crown, in the year 1707, to James, Duke of Crmond; who rebuilt the house and resided in it, till his impeachment, in the year 1715, when he retired to France. A painting of this lodge, which has been pulled down, is in the possession of Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam, of Ireland, and forms a part of the collection of pictures at his house on Richmond Green. Near the site of the lodge stands the Observatory, which was built by Sir William Chambers, after a design of his present Majesty. It is a very elegant structure of Portland stone, and admirably contrived for the scientific purposes to which it is destined. It is seated on an eminence, presents a very pleasing object to the voyager on the Thames, and enlivens the luxuriant scene around it. It is furnished with a complete astronomical apparatus; which was arranged by Dr. Demaimbray, under the direc tion of the King, who is perfectly acquainted with the distinct uses, and practical application, of every branch of it. Among a very fine set of instruments are particularly to be noticed a mural arch, of one hundred and forty degrees; an eight feet radius; a zenith sector of twelve feet; a transit instrument of eight feet; and a ten feet reflector, by Herschel. On the top of the building is a moveable dome, which contains an equatorial instrument. The Observatory contains also, a collection of subjects in natural history, which are well preserved; an excellent apparatus for philosophical experiments; some models; and a collection of ores, from his Majesty's mines in the forest of Hartz, in Germany. The Rev. Stephen Demaimbray, M. A. and Stephen Rigaud, Esq. are the present astro nomers. |