The design of the rockwork was taken from a small model representing the mountains of Savoy, with the valley of Chamouni [Chamonix ]: it has been the work of many years to complete it, the difficulty being to make it stand against the weather. Rain washed away the soil, and frost swelled the stones: several times the main wall failed from the weight put upon it. The walls and the foundation are built of the red sandstone of the country; and the other materials have been collected from various quarters, chiefly from Wales; but it is now so generally covered with creeping and alpine plants, that it all mingles together in one mass. The outline, however, is carefully preserved; and the part of the model that represents "la Mer de Glace" is worked with grey limestone, quartz, and spar. It has no cells for plants: the spaces are filled up with broken fragments of white marble, to look like snow; and the spar is intended for the glacier. On the small scale of our engravings, and without the aid of colour, it is altogether impossible to give an adequate idea of the singularity and beauty of this rocky boundary; and we may add that it is equally impossible to create anything like it by mere mechanical means. There must be the eye of the artist presiding over every step; and that artist must not only have formed an idea of the previous effect of the whole in his own mind, but must be capable of judging of every part of the work as it advances, with reference to that whole. In the case of this rockwork, Lady Broughton was her own artist; and the work which she has produced evinces the most exquisite taste for this description of scenery. It is true it must have occupied great part of her time for six or eight years past; but the occupation must have been interesting, and the result, as it now stands, must give Her Ladyship the highest satisfaction.
