The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-06

can Union OF New York apparently expects. AT
though we have never practsed with tue famous
pike, we are familiar with firearms. and lack
neither will nor courage TO use them efectually.
The Sale Mt siow.-Tbe Disposal by Auction
Of Bankrupt NObIeman's Estate.
(From the London Daily Newsl
On Thursday the public We're admitted to view
Buckingham, about to be sold by auction at Stowe
This catalogue is vslume OF 27l pages, and full
fills The double purpose of guide book and ticket of
admission to the auction for the possession of it
day, until The sale is concluded Stowe is easy of
access from London. The Woverton station, on
the North Western Railway, is within fourteen
miles OF the house. In 81 hours, the sght-seer,
the artist, the ider, the collector. the bargain
hunter, may find themselves borne from the Eus-
ton square station, and landed safely amidst the
multitude ofpictures, statues, bronZes prints, books,
manuscripts, old china, Indian trophies, stuffed
birds, ancient tapestry, and other more modern
and comfortable properties-good, bad and indf-
fereDt-lhat have heretofore made up the great
show house" of Buckingham and the ancestral
home OF lis aristocratlc duk es. These mutlfa-
nous things have now upon them that seal of fate,
the label OF the auct oneer; and many OF the
throng, who, during the coming. month, will jostle
each other through gallery and corridor cabinet
and saloon, will confess an inward feeling OF re-
gret that a collection, which has been the work of
several generations to raise up, should be scatter
ed in few weeks by the hammer The wreck of
greatness (though it be only of great show
house) is seldom pleasant sight.
Stowe has long been regarded as one of the
most splendid residences IN the kingdom. The
house itself divides admiration with the grounds
In which it stands. The latter owe a portion of
their present beauty 10 the famous old gardener,
known as .Capability" Brown, who century
ago. here reigned lord paramount over lawns, trees,
and fences, and by his skiltnl arrangements of
unduating surfaces, groves, plantations, and Wis.,
,as laid the foundation of that landscape beauty
now surrounding the mansion. The history of
the manor Is soon told The Conqueror gave
Stowe to the Bishop of Bayeux, and II continued
to be the property Of churchmen until the reforma-
ton. Elizabeth granted it to three gentlemen
named Compton, Wright and Meyrick, and they
assigned it In fee to John Temple of Temple Hall,
in Leicestershire, the ancestor OF the present duke
Sir Peter Temple incosed about 200 acres of
ground for park, which he stocked with deer
from Wlckham Park, In Northamptonshlre. Sir
Richard, the next inherltor, rebuilt the manor
house. On his death, the estate devolved to his
son, who was created Baron Gotham in l7l4, and
Viscount Gotham In 17lS with a collateral re-
mander Of both titles to his second sister Hester,
wife of Richard Grenvllle, Esq, of Wotton, in
and was succeeded by the above lady, who was
created Countess Gotham a month after her
brothers decease. Thus the family of the Gren-
villes obtained possession of the mansion, estate
and titles. The father of the present owner was
created Marquis of Buckingham in the year 1854,
Duke of Buckingham in 1922.
Stowe, when beheld at distance, appears like
vast grove, interspersed with columns, obelisks,
and towers, which apparently emerge from luxu-
rant mass OF foliage. The gardens obtained their
distinguished celebrity from the alterations effect
ed by Lord Gotham, under whose directions the
groves were planted, the lawns laid out, many of
the buildings erected, and the corridors and wings
added TO the north front of the house.. The gar
dens were begun when an affected regularity was
the mode, when straight paths, canals, avenues,
and fountains, were considered as the greatest
Mt ctNrHvr cIvy
played IN every shape of monstrous deformity.
The suffering eye inverted nature sees;
Trees cut to statues statues thick as trees
Stowe partook of tie general lncongruity, and
the graceful variety ct nature was tortured into
stiffness and absurdlty This state of things, how
ever, was changed. The gardens have been al
tered with the times, and the natural beauty OF the
situation has been embellshed by the hand of art.
The first architectural object which attracts at
tention, is a Corinthan arch or gateway, 60 feet
high by GO wide, erected on the brow of hill, one
mile from the south front of the house, after de-
sign Of Thomas Pitt, Lord Cameliord. The prln-
cpal approach Is conducted through this building,
where grand display of the mansion, groves,
temples, o6eliss, and water, is at once presented
to the spectator. AT short distance from the arch
is one ofthe entrances to the gardens. These ex-
tensive and highly decorative grounds contain
about 400 acres, diversified with great number
and each having complete character OF Its own,
independent of other objects The whole Is en-
closed within sunk fence, or cha! ha!'-a kind
OF boundary, first planned by Stowe gardener,
Bridgemann, who destroyed the imprisoning walls,
and let In views OF the distant country by means
OF this fosse, which obtained the name of " ha!
ha!' from the surprise expressed by the common
people when they, found their progress unexpect-
edly checked by the concealed barrier. This ex-
tends nearly tour miles In circumference, and Is
accompanied by broad gravel walk, skIrted with
rows of lofty ems. This path leads to many of
the buildings, and to several interesting scenes,
Inn N Ia arr DIN D
park, and with views OF the distant country. Near
this entrance are two Ionic paviions. In the front
of these buildings, the water spreads INTO con-
siderable lake, which divides itself into two
branches, and retres through beautiful val
eys to the east and to the north. The upper
end is concealed amidst a mass of woods here 1t
falls over some artificial ruins, and again extends
It's broad bosom to reflect the variegated scenery.
The path westward leads to rude pile OF build
ing, called the Hermitage, and also to the Temple
OF Venus. This Is square building, decorated
with Ionic columns, and connected by semi circu-
lar arcades TO pavilion at each extremity: Hence
the path leads to the Boycott payons, designed
by Vanbr Oh, and to the principal entrance gate,
designed by Kent Returning toward the house,
we discover the Temple of Bacchus, built from
design by vanbrugh. In the centre of large
upon ten Ionic columns: These are the principal
objects on the south and west sides of the garden.
On the east small rivulet passes through a val
ley, ornamented with a number of fine old trees,
and then emptles itself into the lake. The valley
includes some of the most charming views and OBJ
iects in the whole demesne. Here Is Dorlc arch.
decorated with the statues of Apollo and the
MUSES.. Through the arch the Paadian bridge Is
seen. On the right, is the Temple of Friendship !;
on the left, are the temples of Ancient Virtue and
of British Worthless the one IN an elevated STU
alton, the other near the waters edge. The three
latter buildings are decorated with statues and
busts. OF those persons who have been most dis
tnguished for military, moral, and literary merit
The house is situated on an emnence, rising
gradually from the lake to the south front, which
is the principal entrance. 1t covers large extent
of ground, and measures, from east to we st with
the offices,) GIG feet, of which the centrical 454
include the principal apartments. These range
on each side the saloon, and communicate with
each other by series of doors, placed in direct
! line
The saloon is, perhaps one of the most magnl-
fcent apartments Of the kind in England, present