With permission of the Marquis of Bath, the preceding extracts have been made from the volume of reports concerning the improvements of Longleate. The original MS. is elucidated by fourteen different drawings, from which is selected the drawing [fig. 209] representing the south and east fronts of the house from Prospect Hill, a spot at no great distance from the Warminster approach. It is difficult to represent the vast range of country which this hill commands, extending over the whole county of Somerset towards the Welsh hills, beyond the Bristol Channel. This magnificent park, so far from being kept locked up to exclude mankind from partaking of its scenery, is always open, and parties are permitted to bring their refreshments; which circumstance tends to enliven the scene, to extend a more general knowledge of its beauties to strangers, and to mark the liberality of its noble proprietor, in thus deigning to participate with others the good he enjoys.
