The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-06-15 00:00:00

WINDERMERE LAKE.-CROFT LODGE.

The great Feature of the Alpine Mountain Sceiie;Y:l;oudly,
standing alone for its high renown and multifarious Beau-
ties, a combination which could alone be a wired by
judgment, great taste, and considerable ou y. It Ap-
proaches the Lake, its rich Meadows e ending to 50
Acres in the Valley, independently of the icing Grounds,
which include altogether near 80 Acres the splendid and
exceedingly correct taste in Furnitur ~ fine Collection of
Original P►ctures, Cellar of the C i test Wines, may all
be added to the purchase.
AIR. GEORGE ROBINS is flattered that he has been
1,1 selected by the worthy proprietor,
JAMES BRANCKER, Esq., of Liverpool,
to offer to PUBLIC COMPETITION, at the Auction
Mart, London, on THURSDAY, July 15, at Twelve, and in
consequence of a recent severe domestic affliction,
THE SALE WILL BE PEREMPTORY,
a singularly desirable and highly
IMPORTANT FREEHOLD PROPERTY,

which, from its countless beauties, is not easily approached,
and still less by the imperfect sketch that is about to he at-
tempted. It is not a little fortunate for the honoured indi-
vidual who has been preferred to bring this splendid estate
under public review, that its indescribable beauties are on
record in the minds of every one who has ♦isited Westmore-
land during the progress of its completion. It is but faint
praise to say that it is
THE LEADING FEATURE AMID THE LAKE
SCENERY,

since nothing, even within these hallowed regions, has ven-
tured to aspire to such a distinction ; and the great difficulty
that presns upon Mr. Robins's mind is, that in selecting
from the countless beauties that prevail everywhere, he will
necessarily in this abridged statement leave too many unno-
ticed. •

THE MANSION IS OF AN IMPOSING CHARACTER,
ERECTED ENTIRELY OF STONE.

The order of Architecture may be a little equivocal, or
rather, it presents an admixture of the several orders, ren-
dered perfect by the taste of the liberal proprietor. A
drawing, which will accompany the printed particulars must
necessarily be an humble effort to bring such a combination
of taste and judgment into so limited a space ; it will, how-
ever, most assuredly give such a powerful claim to admira-
tion, as to incline all such as can afford, and are anxious, to
APPROACH ELYSIUM IN THIS WORLD,
to pay an early visit to Croft Lodge, where, indeed, he will
find just cause to exclaim, " How imperfectly has Paradise
been represented in this feeble attempt."
The situation was originally selected wisely ; it is seated
on a lawn of considerable beauty, protected from the north
and easterly winds by the almost interminable hills which
form

AN AMPHITHEATRE CLOTHED IN VERDURE,
where the flocks and herds ascend to the very summit, to
vary and improve the landscape. From the mountain-top is
presented a scene that it would be in vain to attempt to de-
scribe ; for it has been truly said,
IT BEGGARS ALL DESCRIPTION.

In progressing through the winding progress to the acclivity,
it is almost impossible for the imagination to arrive at a full
appreciation of the
HARMONIOUS COMBINATION,
_ _

which seems to increase in beauty and effect at every fresh
break or peep which nature has vouchsafed through the
woods. It is on this fearful height that 'Windermere ib seen
in all its glory, where
" The sunbeam slumbers, and the leaves scarce curled
By the cool breeze, their verdant tresses lave
Translucent through its tide."
The little intermediate space from that vast water is seen with
THE CONFLUENCE OF THE TWO BEAUTIFUL

RIVERS, THE BRATHAY AND ROTHAY,
which are parallel with the Terrace-walk ; the former river,
with its ornamental bridge, is a great feature, extending in
the other direction to a similitude with
THE FAMED VIRGINIA WATERS,
(which are left at an immeasurable distance,) and to the
Swiss cottage in its purest taste ; its harbour and the splen-
did river which alone separates it from the lake. The ambi-
tion of the respected proprietor has lead him to prepare a
feet in this dock which is more than equal to compete with
,ne once favoured flotilla on Virginia Water, and her Yacht,

THE PRIDE OF-THE LAKE,
CARRIES THE FLAG OF THE COMMODORE.
But to return to the mansion. It is ornamented in front by
a balcony and gallery of singular beauty, the windows are
of plate glass, and within it will be found the most perfect
accommodation that a reasonable mind can desire, observing
that comfort in its best form has been regarded to a great
extent, while the enormous expenditure, which is conspicu-
ous everywhere, has been disregarded, and only auxiliary to
the view of rendering it quite perfect. It is, in fact,
A PALACE IN MINIATURE,

in the most comprehensive sense. A splendid conservatory
adorns one wine, and there are hot and cold baths ; the
rooms are of the best proportions ; the bed-chambers in
abundance, and well constituted with dressing-rooms. The
principal suite of rooms are fitted up in unusually good
taste ; they are in communication, and nearly the whole are
ornamented by massive mahogany doors, with chimney-
piPces of pure statuary marble. The domestic arrangement
may be accounted perfection, and the offices within and
without so complete as to leave nothing to be desired. The
elz;mneys, of castellated form, are so admirably arranged,
smoke and its annoyance have necessarily abdicated.
It nth," vs well to recur again to the situation. If the reader
be weary the description, the writer promises he will not
be so when :iv) reality is brought under his review. Win-
dermere it is known is always accounted
THE LEVIATHAN OF THE LAKES,

and Croft Lodge partakes of its beauties infinitely beyond any
of its rival candidates, inasmuch as its breadth and its love-
liness increases as it approaches nearer to the Elysiuw, and
terminates close to the spot where the confluence of the
rivers takes place. The beauteous valley seen in all direc-
tions, is nowhere more perfect than viewed during the pro-
gress through the rocks and precipitous hills.
The luxuriant country in which Croft Lodge is embo-
somed ; the lucid expanse of its lake ; the distant moun-
tains lifting their glacier summits to Heaven—the combina-
tion must be felt while gazing on this scene, and a delicious
tranquality will steal upon the heart and harmonise with
every kindly feeling. It will exert a sort of fascination over
the senses, and hold the spectator for a time in mute and
breathless contemplation.
The road to Ambleside separates the mansion from the
gardens and river, it is the subject of constant admiration
from all those who frequent the lakes, and equally eulogised
by those who have benefitted by a tour into Switzerland.
The only parallel case which Mr. Robins can bring to his
recollection is the
SCENERY OF LOCH LOMOND,
and it becomes matter of doubt which to prefer; this truism
will leave the reader to judge of the treat that is in store, and
it ought to be added, that the poets of the present age have
selected this vicinage, with a view to perpetuate their fame.
Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Southey have reason to be
proud of the auxiliaries found in this earthly Paradise to aid
in their Prolific muse. The situation is proverbial for lon-
gevity, and an East Indian who has amassed considerable
wealth at the expense of his constitution, need only to possess
Croft Lodge to ensure an immediate renewal of a lease for a
very prolonged life. The society is everywhere around of
the best description. Those who would he gay will find
abundant opportunity, not forgetting the pleasurable scenes
which are constantly presented by the regattas. To conclude
it may be well to observe, that the lakes are now within 14
hours' ride of the metropolis of London.
It will be on view six weeks antecedently to the sale, only
by means of a descriptive particular, and a drawing and plan
of the estate (at Is. each,) to be bad at the Waterloo, Liver-
pool ; the best Hotels at Manchester ; Plough, Cheltenham ;
Hotel, Leamington; the Auction Mart; and at Mr. Gyro.
ROBINS' Offices, London.