But no where does the Expence appear to be thrown away fo much as at the Bridge in the Front of the Houfe, which is faid to have coft between 20 and 30,000l. tho' all that I find extraordinary in it is an Arch of 100 Feet Diameter, fome Machines which raise the Water to fupply the Palace; and good Accommodations for Bathing: Near the Bridge is a fine Piece of Water of a very large Extent, which forming afterwards a little River, is always running under this Bridge, after which it is enlarged, and has the Appearance of a spacious Stream running between the Woods and Hills, and forming together a moft agreeable Landfkip; but the Water is exceeding fhallow, being collected from fome little Springs, which rife in or near the Park.

The

Bridge.

The Gardens confift of 70 Acres of The GarGround, which are encompaffed by a Stone dens. Wall, and laid out in Form of an Hexagon, having a round Bastion at each Angle of 200 Feet Diameter: There is in this Garden a Wilderness of a vaft Extent, with Vifto's cut through it; the Trees whereof must have been very large when they were planted, for it already appears almost a full grown Wood.

The grand Gravel Walk, which runs from the House Southward, to the farther End of the Garden is two thoufand two hundred Feet long, and there is another, B which

which croffes it in the middle, one thousand eight hundred and fifty Feet in Length. Noble Terraffes, from whence we have an extenfive View of the Country, run from Bastion to Bastion, which in a fortified Town would have been denominated the Curtains:

There are also beautiful green Walks, planted with Ever-greens, Summer Houses, Alcoves, Fountains, and every Thing that can render the Place agreeable.

Fruit Trees I perceive are but little cultivated here: There are other Gardens Eaft of this, where we find all manner of Wall Fruit and Plants proper to the Kitchen Garden. The Park, in which the Palace and Gardens lie, is fix or feven Miles in Circumference, furrounded by a Stone Wall, and in it is a great Variety of Wood and Water, gentle rifing Hills, and pleasant Vales; but notwithstanding there is abundance of Wood, from whence this Palace is fuppofed to have obtained its Name of Woodstock, I obferved there was very little good Timber, and the grand Avenue, which is a Mile in Length in the Front of the House, and confifts of double Rows of Dutch Elms, I am informed has been planted more than once, and yet they are now far from being thriving Trees, which proceeds, I prefume from the Cause already mentioned, namely, that the Rock lies too near the Surface to fuffer them to take deep

Root:

Root: This Park feems to be well replenifh'd with Deer; there must be feveral thousand Head of thefe Animals, if I may form a Calculation from thofe I faw. The Variety of fine Lodges and magnificent Gates are farther Ornaments to this Park: In one of these Lodges the celebrated Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, refided at the Time of his Death in the Reign of Charles II.

Ditchley, the Seat of the Right Honour- Ditchley. able the Earl of Litchfield, is fituated about four Miles North-west of Woodstock. This is a modern Fabrick, lofty, and elegantly built of hewn Stone, proudly fituated on a Hill, which commands all the Country, having the City of Oxford and the Hills beyond it in full View: The Offices on the right and left, which form two beautiful Wings, have a Communication with the principal Building by circular Colonades. There is no Court in the Front of the House, the Park comes up to the very Hall Door; has Plenty of Wood and Water, and confifts of little Hills and pleasant Valleys, which render Ditchley a very defirable Abode.

Cornbury, the Seat of the Right Honour- Cornbury, able Henry Hyde, Earl of Clarendon and Rochefter, is fituated about twelve Miles North Weft of Oxford, two or three Miles West

of Ditchley: It stands on an Eminence in the middle of a fine Park, having neither Courts or Gardens about it, unless a Terras on the South, from whence there is a fine View of the Country.

This Seat has been built upwards of an hundred Years; but has received fome confiderable Alterations fince, by fashing the Windows, and other modern Improvements, which have rendered it fo commodious, that I prefume the noble Proprietor has no Thoughts of rebuilding it: However, if the Fabrick be not equal to the two Palaces last mentioned, the Paintings exceed every Thing that is to be met with in the County, for here are the Portraits of moft of the noble Cavaliers mentioned in the late Earl of Clarendon's History of the civil Wars, with others of a more modern Date, particularly Charles II. King James and his Queens, Queen Anne, and feveral more of the Royal Family, done by the best Hands. And there is one admirable Piece, which muft not be forgot, containing a Group of Figures, viz. the Duke of Saxony, Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, and the rest of the reforming Fathers about him.

The Park is a delightful Place, well planted with Foreft Trees, intermix'd with Groves of Ever-greens'; but no large Timber, which proceeds from the Cause already mentioned, namely, the Rock lying within a Foot

a Foot of the Surface here, as it does generally in the North Part of this County.

Heathrop, the Seat of the Right Honour- Heathrop. able George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, is fituated fix or feven Miles North of Cornbury, about two Miles from Chipping Norton: This is the moft magnificent and elegant Nobleman's Palace I have feen, and has all the Advantage of Situation that can be wifhed; the Hill, on which it ftands, commanding all the Country as far as the Eye can reach, and the Park is a perfect Carpet adorn'd with numerous Groves of Forest Trees, intermix'd with Ever-greens. Blenheim Castle indeed is larger, but I have been told the late Duke of Marlborough himself preferred Heathrop to Woodflock.

Stanton Harcourt, the Seat of the Right Stanton Honourable the Lord Viscount Harcourt, is Harcourt. fituated fix Miles Weft of Oxford: It is a modern Structure, not large nor lofty, but regularly built of Free-ftone: It stands in a flat Country, and has not confequently a very extensive Profpect; however, in any other County but this, where there are fo many Noblemens Seats of the first Rate, Stanton Harcourt would make a Figure.

In the Church of Stanton Harcourt, the late Lord Chancellor Harcourt erected an elegant Monument over the Remains of his

Son,