The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-03
me Castle. or the soOllty In Eng
q Frem Cblonel F0Tlev'I Letter.

Within a few days have visited the
seats of the surrounding nobility, for
Stratford- on-Avoni Is literally yfille3 with
the stately castles of the ancient fami-
lies. What an unwritten yet unforgot-
ten poem It is, the humble grave of
Shakespeare in the centre OF these Os-
tentatfous palaces! The 'unpretending
poet, safe in his everlasting fame, and
the living peer, spending his millions
to keep his dead ancestors from obliv-
ion. Within a short ride by rail Is
"Blenheim," !" the gorgeous estate of the
Duke of Marlborough, well described
as "an earthly PARADISE" 1t WAS pre-
scented by Queen Anne to the Great
Duke after his glorious victory at
Blenneim, and Parliament voted two
millions i've hundred thousand dollars
for its adornment. The opulence that
marked the original gilt has been imi-
tated by the profusion of the succeed
ing outlays to maintain its grandeur.
A park of twenty-seven hundred acres
filled with flocks of sheep and herd OF
deer-an artificial lake covering over
Two hundred acres-plants and flowers
from every quarter of the known
world-walks, waterfalls and fountains
endless statuAry-tapestries and
painting nearly two hundred years
old, including ancient masterpieces
of Rubeus and Titian-R library
two hundred feet long, contain
ing nearly eighteen Thousand volumes,
the whole OF these luNurieS included in
building the front Of which is three
hundred and hfty feet in length-all to
do honor to a successful General and
his naughty duchess, who, notwiIh-
standing his victories is denounced by
MacaulaY as a corrupt, failhless and
dangerous courier And all this vast
expanse of soil and these priceless lux
uries were left for nine months of the
Nynn tn . Nhar 8 Ba-
cause the present owner cannot bear
the cost CT living here, while hundreds,
and thousands OF Gods creatures are
living and starving at his very gates
You thus can have an idea OF what is
called the territorial aristocracy of
England. Eight miles from Shakes
peare's grave is the stately castle of the
Earl of Warwick, where though the
grounds are not SO extensive as those
of "Blenheim," the inner objects are
scarcely less costly. Here, indeed, the
Muse OF history can recall the past and
forecast the future but the contrast
between the enduring renown of a
great genius like Shakespeare and the
ieeting fame of those who lived only
upon their princes favors remains the
same. "Kenilworth" is in the same To-
cality. 1 wandered among its moss
covered ruins-Rll unroofed and de-
serted as they are-and traced the
Vi TIC AAuko s6hAuS1uAC
three hundred years ago re-echoed
to the revelry of the royal courtiers
and their retainers, and re.read in the
fascinating pages of Sir Walter Scott
the bitter rivalI les of Essex and Leices-
ter, the sad fate of Amy Robsart, the
splendid progress OF Queen Elizabeth
from London, as described by the
Wizard of the North: and fRncied the
crowds that thronged the roads and
filled the broad demesne around the
residence of the handsome favorite.
Not far of is "Chatsworth." the estate
of the Duke of Devonshire, far more
expensive though more modern than
"Blenheim." Here found a park of
two thousand acres and over six thou
sand deer; a palace of quadrAngular
form, with an open court in the middle.
in the center OF which is splendid
fountain. 1t is impossible, even If it
were any part of my purpose, to de-
spent to adorn an establishment occu-
pied only exceptionally by Its titled
owner. The gardens and conservatory
are the gems. They were planned and
laid out by Sir Joseph Paxton, who
was formerly Il common gardener of
the Duke, and whose salary was larger
than that of the President of the United
States. Close at hand is Haddon Hall,
another old castle, with large grounds,
and in the same circle is Newstead Abb
bey, the abode of Lord Byron, now
owned and occupied by Colonel Wild
man, ii gentleman of cultivation and
taste.