Since the pulling down of the Water Gallery, which stood before the fine stone front that faces the river, the ground to the south west received considerable improvements. This spot is laid out in small inclosures, surrounded with tall hedges, in order to break the violence of the winds, and render them proper for the reception of such exotic plants as were moved thither in summer out of the conservatories. Here are two basons constantly supplied with water, for the support of these plants in dry weather; and as these are situated near the great apartments, most of the plants may be viewed from the window.
At a small distance to the west, stood a large hot house, for preserving such tender exotic plants as require a greater share of warmth than is generally felt in this climate. Of this part of gardening Queen Mary was so fond, that she allowed a handsome salary to Dr. Plukenet, a very learned botanist, for overlooking and registering the curious collection of plants she caused to be brought into the garden; but since her Majesty’s death they have been much neglected, and very few of the most curious plants are now to be found there.
The park and gardens, with the ground on which the palace now stands, are about three miles in circumference. On a pediment at the front of the palace on this side, is a bas-relief of the triumphs of Hercules over Envy; and facing it a large oval bason, answering to the form of this part of the garden, which is a large oval divided into gravel walks and parterres, laid out in an elegant manner, by those two eminent gardeners, London and Wise.
At the entrance of the grand walk, are two large marble vases, of exquisite workmanship, one said to be performed by Mr. Cibber, the father of the poet laureat, and the other by a foreigner; these pieces are reported to be done as a trial of skill; but it is difficult to determine which is the finest performance. They are beautifully adorned with bas-relief; that on the right hand, representing the triumphs of Bacchus, and the other on the left, Amphitrite and the Nereides. At the bottom of this walk, facing a large canal which runs into the park, are two other large vases, the bas-relief on one representing the judgment of Paris; and that of the other, Meleager hunting the wild boar.
In four of the parterres are four fine brass statues. The first is a gladiator, which formerly stood in the parade of St. James’s Park, at the foot of the canal, and was removed thither in the reign of Queen Anne. The original was performed by Agasias Desitheus of Ephesus, and is in the Borghesian palace at Rome. The second is a young Apollo; the third a Diana; and the fourth, Saturn going to devour one of his children: all after fine originals.
On the south side of the palace is the privy garden, which was sunk ten feet, to open a view from the apartments to the river Thames; in this garden is a fine fountain, and two grand terrace walks.
On the north side of the palace is a tennis court; and beyond that a gate which leads into the wilderness: farther on is the great gate of the gardens, on the sides of which are large stone piers, with the lion and unicorn couchant, in stone.
We shall now, leaving the gardens, take a view of the palace, and several apartments, with their noble furniture and fine paintings, performed by the most eminent masters.
To begin with the first entrance into the palace, at the gates of which are four large brick piers, adorned with the lion and unicorn, each of them holding a shield, whereon are the arms of Great Britain, with several trophies of war well carved on stone.
Passing through a long court yard, on each side of which are stabling for the officers of his Majesty’s houshold, we come next to the first portal, which is strongly built of brick, and decorated by Wolfey with the heads of four of the Cæsars, Trajan and Adrian on one side, and on the other Tiberius and Vitellius.