The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-23 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT IN THE PARKS.

Whatever there is of embellishment in our parks has been
accomplished within ten years, and the administration in
that department by Sir Benjamin Hall has met the approval
of all. The cleansing ef St. James's canal, the erection of
the Suspension-bridge (or rather causeway), the girding of
Hyde-park with shrubbed plantations and walks of floral
borders—the like adornment of the Green-park along
Piccadilly, are all due to the activity and taste of
Sir Benjamin. In these particulars he may be said to
have performed a Herculean labour, for these works
transcend all that has been done by all his predecessors. The
office of national gardener is, however, one that changes with
the Administration, so that there is little hope for a continu-
ation of those services which have so much contributed to
the public health and satisfaction. A chief commissioner
may arise again who, imbued with the spirit of improve-
ment and the capacity to carry it out, may emulate the
example; but if the genius is not in the man, a nomination
by the Cabinet to a post of £1,500 a-year cannot create it
for him.

The Serpentine, now a pestilential pond, festers in the
midst of Hyde-park. How is it to be expurgated ? Not by
throwing In 100 sacks of quicklime ; that may for a season
stay the plague ; it mast be drained off, brought to an equa-
ble level, and concreted ; moreover, it must have, like kit.
James's-park, a supply of artesian well water.

There is for the prefent a stagnation of improvement both
by land and water, for little la in progress throughout those
public domains, and what little we bzhold appears as point-
less as unnecessary. There is a wide walk extending from
the Arch-Duke at Hyde-park corner to Buckingham Palace,
within the park rails ; it was wide, and not being at any
time thronged, was of sufficient latitude; yet on this walk
there are some thirty labourers employed in doubling its
width, and thus reducing the verdure which is the charm of
the park. Therefore all beholders consider the change net
beneficial, but, on the contrary, ill-judged.
Another theatre of immense labour, continued now for
six months, perplexes and puzzles all frequenters of the parks.
It is perhaps not under the surveillance of our Chief Commis-
sioner ; but we cannot forbear from noticing the vandalism
which is there in daily perpetration. The beautiful expanse
of grounds lately thrown open to Kensington-gore led us
to hope that the splendid shrubs and trees with which 100
acres were studded, and the wide lawn, showing a con-
tinued slope of greensward for nearly half-a-mile to the
Cromwe;l-road, would have been preserved in their wood-
land beauty. Not so; this slope, which descends at a gra-
dient of 5 in 100 from the acre-road southward, has been
opened for about 400 feet along that road. A dwarf paling
bounds it, over which are seen 100 or more carts daily de-
positing earth or rubbish, in order to carry out a level ter-
race over ne rich slope. Already the mass deposited ex-
tends 200 feet from the park side, and rises to a height of
11 feet over the submerged mead. By signal posts It Is
demarcated that the terrace or embankment is to be continued
further to the extent of 500 feet altogether, at which dis-
tance the level will overtop the new park by an elevation of
25 feet. The accumulation of earth has wholly buried
numerous magnificent shrubs (Lady Blessiagton's parterre
amongst them), the most thriving and luxuriant of all.
The forest trees have been preserved by upright cai•sons of
collars of dry brickwork, which may fur a few seasons sus-
pend total extinction ; still at a depth of 20 feet the strongest
tree must soon perish.
What poetic creation of terraces may be designed, we
know not ; but as viewed from above, nothing could
more effectually destroy an enchanting shrubbery—ready-
made, too. As viewed from below, nothing more hideous
coull be interposed to mar a sylvan scene, which connected
a long vista with the groves of Kensington-gardens.
It may be that a Dutch, or German, or Italian hang-
ing-garden is meditated; or, possibly, some Montagnes
Russes on an extensive scale, or Tarpeian rocks, or
Alpine imitations. Nothing can compensate for the de-
molition of shrubberies which were the result of time and

Laste and liberal outlay. Artifices s') unnatural as towering

rectilinear and graduated terraces. are utterly un-EnglOt.
The 117. r cs Lax-. made such mounds throughout this country,
and they are always regarded as the exploits of Goths or
Vandals.
Kensington-gardens shows us the first example o!' flower
walks in the public parks. This improvement was made in
the present reign. King William 111. having purchased
the small angular strip, about 25 acres, built the Palace and
added it to Hyde-park.
Queen Anne it was who first planted tlra whole design as
we now have it. Queen Caroline, in the reign of Georgel.,
formed the Serpentine, dividing the Palace grounds from
the open park by a sunken fosse and wall, thus adding 300
acres to the gardens or private grounds, the haha, now ex •
tending from the Bayswater-road to the powder magazine,
remaining identically as it was then formed.
Many are the changes of form and fashion in Hyde-park
since its first seizure by Henry VIII., when it was part of
the possessions of the Monastery of St. Peter, Westminster.
The drive has been ever changing; first from the central
ring to a'ongside Park-lane, then to the margin of the Ser-
pentine, sow to the Kensington side. Rottenrow, the arena
for equestrianism of both sexes, is a creation of the present
reign ; the solid bridge of masonry, like the dry cascade,
was built in the reign of George IV. ; the Knightsbridge
Barracks in that of George 111., when the guard-bouse
infantry was also intruded upon the very centre, the most
beautiful and sequestered portion of it.
When the lodge—falsely called the Ranger's-lodge—was
built is doubtfal ; but the interval between that enclosure
of about eight acres and the Infantry Barrack was fenced
off as a rummage or stockyard in the time of George 111.
These three reserves, ill kept and mean as they are, destroy
the effect of these most pleasing grounds. There is an open
and airy lightness peculiar to this park beyond all other.
The prospect includes the Surrey-hills, and though only
moderately elevated, there is a lightness in the air savouring
of the Downs.
It is high time that the ill-fmoured buildings and hovels
of barracks, timber-sheds, and ranger's cottage patronage,
should give place to the requirements of the citizens of
London. If need be to provide a ruinous villa, with ten
acres of garden and meadow, for a favourite retired servant,
a penny subscription by the public would compass the pur-
chase in three months. The writer will undertake to sub-
stitute a freehold to that extent within seven miles of Lon-
don, in every sense more convenient and better, if his Grace
the Ranger will consent to the terms, and forego the nomi-
nation of a resident deputy. The occasion of repairing an
old blemish has now arrived, as the late occupant is de-
ceased, and no concession to public tastes and uses could he
more popular than the fuiion of these enclosures into a free
park.
Other points there are about this park which require im-
provement. In the angle next Kensington, the old brick
hovel, -lately used as Light Cavalry Barracks, are a sad
spectacle of decrepitude and bad taste. It ought to Le :e-
-moved, if only to admit daylight. Lately, at the new
entrance, opposite Prince Albert's Road, as erected by Mr.
W. Jackson, a large quantity of earth was heaped, as' if tee
level the approach theacc to the flower walk. These works
were begun under and by approval of the late Commis-
sioner. At present all tbese mounds are being carted
away, whether with a view to undo and reverse the original.
design, or to close up those beautiful and well-placed gates,
does not appear. 'These and such vagaries in the progress
or interception cf public works ought not to be incidental
to the changes of Government officials, but should be car-
ried out, as upon private estates, with firm, deliberative
system.—Building News.

WlLLs.—The will and codicils of the Right
_IR.n:
Frederick Whitworth William, Baron Aylmer, . VA-;:;:.,
Admiral H.M. Navy, was proved in London on the 41
under £12,000. •
by the executors. The personally
n
title. There are many legacies varyingg
The bulk of his property he has left stowotf,insueacmeossuoarttofrtannet
The cameo Risen.
£BOO to £5O, as well as specific bcq
him by the Pope, the piece of plated
late Duke of Cambridge,
the
erheorrder and other medals
uaeasdt. .
badge presented t o
of
f him
st b. y the
Fer-
dinand of Naples, the
Batt,,Tutkis
which will
obseedretoufrbuoeodktcr:
(excepting c ehpetirnagl
herald),
toorgdeetrhot frut the
all
d the residue of his prorerty, l a
plate, prints,
esruic)ecrets,sßora.r—t
„TolfieTiwssillnl
gatne and
provede in Loudon on July 30, by the PX2CII••
hi all, Derby, was
t
tbleurqeuee
codicilsatl to o
ofLu -losariltr
it 3a,
nl trir
ye ri,,,
tlzi ills
y in England sworn under £40,000, anti,
the personalty
and the estates in Jamaica, nut
liberal provisions
s for his larfe family, appointing i is
made
, qir William FitzHerbert,Bart, the residuary legatee.
ttoog".eilier with ~.
son,
'ill is of great length, and hears date 10th Febtualv,_
11.85,.}e1w The will of Lord Clifford, of Cludleigh—a count 'of
the Holy Roman Empire—was proved in London, by 1 is
son Lord Clifford, the sole executor ; personalty, £50,000.—
The will of Mr. Thomas Sheppard, et' Folking—place, tills.
sex, £3,:0,000 personalty.—The will of Mr. iilichael W't.
Hams, of Cornwall, £soo,ooo.—Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy
Hutchinson, whose will has just been proved under £45,000,
has bequeathed the residue of her property among 114
following institutions:--viz., St. George's Ho=pital, Raffia
Charlotte's Lying-In Hospital, and the Homeless Pout
Seciety.—lllustrated London NewB,

Tile proprietors of this railway held their half-yearly
smeetiug on Friday, at York. Mr. 11. S. Thompson, the
chairman, presided.
The report, an abstract of which has appeared in the
Morning Post, was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report be received and
adopted. He attributed the falling off in the traffic to a
stagnation of trade, and the less travelling consequent upon
it; but he expressed confidence in the soundness of the un-
efertaking and a large increase of receipts when trade
revived,. Along with a decrease in the receipts they had
reduced the expenses, though {here bad been no starving,
and they bad kept up their stock in a thoroughly effective
manner. The receipfs in the past half-year had been some-
what larger than in the corresponding half-year of 1856.
There were many things, such as the improvement of the
Thirsk and Darlington stations, &e., which the directors
prop,sed to effect, but they had been postponed on account
of the check in their receipts, and on account of the high
rate at which they had to borrow money. The shareholders
must not expect them to close the capital account : but the
directors would not recommend them to undertake any new
works which they did not think would bring in a good
return. When the depression in trade had passed he be-
lieved they would resume their usual rate of increase. It
was a fact that the northern district of the country was
generally the latest to feel any groat depression in trade,
and it was the latest to get out of it. Other companies
exhibited a considerable falling off in their traffic
before this company did, and their receipts had not re-
covered as quickly as some other companies. At the same
time, looking at the bountiful harvest they saw in the fields
and stackyards, and at the favourable signs in several
branches of trade, be thought the time was not far distant
when they sh mid expect their receipts fully to equal and to
go beyond what they bad received in past years. (Applause.)
During the last session there were acts ob'ained for—he
was going to say—some of the most absurd schemes.
This was an evil which was going on at this mo m ent,remed and
be thought it was worth while to seek to apply a y.
For this purpose .meetings had been held in London, and
resolutions adopted, and he should ask this meeting to
strengthen the bands of the various railway companies in
this matter, by expressing their approval of the resolutions
adopted in Landon, so that they might bring about a more
rational state of things, which would be to the advantage of
the public at large, as well as the shareholders in railway
companies in particular. He solicited the aid of the press
and the public, submitting that grea'er benefits were to be
derived from a company paying 5 per cent. than from two
companies, each of which was only paying 21 per cent.
(Applause.)
Several shareholders opposed the proposition that this
company should assist the new Derwent Iran Company at
Consett by allowing the dues on traffic which may accrue
during the next two years to remain unpaid, but be secured
by mortgage, to the extent of g,5,?,000. Some discussion
took place, and the report was ultimately adopted.
Time dividend resolution was next carriel ; also a resolu-
tion as to the Derwent ironworks, approving the recom-
mendation, and a motion to the effect that the resolutions
passed in London on the 10th inst. at the meeting of repre-
sentatives of railway companies be approved, and that the
directors be authorised to confer with other railway com-
panies in endeavouring to have them carried into effect.
After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting was
dissolved.