E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Riikka Talonpoika,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. 17. No. 493. | SATURDAY; JUNE 11, 1891. | [PRICE 2d. |
BOAT-HOUSE AT VIRGINIA WATER.
Lakers and lovers of the picturesque will, doubtless, be flocking toVirginia Water in the coming summer. The rides and walks on its banksare thrown open to the public; but we hope this privilege will not beabused, as of old; for "there was a time when Virginia Water wasprofaned by the presence of prize-fighters, who were accustomed totrain in the secluded alleys that bordered the lake; and it was,therefore, quite necessary that the privilege of admission to thegrounds should be withdrawn from the inn to which these personsresorted." We hope better things from the improved taste of our times.
The attractions of the place are of no common order: all that art andluxury could suggest have been lent to its embellishment. "Theartificial water is the largest in the kingdom, with the singleexception of Blenheim; the cascade is, perhaps, the most strikingimitation we have of the great works of Nature; and the grounds arearranged in the grandest style of landscape gardening."1
Many persons may be disposed to question the taste of the Boat-housein the Engraving. Its style is toy-like, and too artificial to suitour idea of picturesque propriety. It was built by direction of thelate King, and its design or approval was probably one of his laboursof leisure. It is less decorated and fantastical than other buildingsin its vicinity, and perhaps deserves the faint praise of prettiness.Grave persons dislike the little bells attached to the lantern-likepart of the roof, and consider them too closely allied to the cap offolly. Perhaps this objection to the building itself will only makethe contiguous scenery more delightful. Of its varied character, theEngraving furnishes an accurate idea, since the original sketch wasmade in the course of last year. We could linger amidst these sylvanglories all the live long day, with a canopy of foliage just toshelter us from the heat of the meridian sun.
PEERAGE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
(For the Mirror.)
To the Barons of England, of a truth, it may be said, man is indebtedfor constitutional liberty; for if we look but to Greece and Rome,those boasted lands of freedom, where, as the arts and sciencesincreased, liberty decayed, we shall perceive myriads of slaves,governed, as in savage nations, by a few political chiefs, whom bruteforce and superior address had raised above their fellow-citizens.
It was in modern times, through the instrumentality of the steel-cladnobles of Britain, that liberty was to dawn on the human race: and ofthese, Henry VII. could only summon 28 to his first parliament; andonly 36 were summoned to the first parliament of Henry