Keddleston Hall; the Earl of Scandals. - This noble place is well known for its superb mansion of classical architecture, its hall of lofty columns of native marble, and its gigantic timber trees. There is very little about Keddleston that we could wish to add to, or alter. We examined the lofty silver firs in the pleasure-ground, varying from 100 ft. to 130 ft., or perhaps 150 ft., in height; and the large oaks, and broad-leaved elms in the park. The plantation on the hill behind the house, however, from not being thinned in time, admits the light through the naked stems, and thus has a meagre, instead of a massive effect. An attempt is making to plant out the stable offices, which, if it succeed, will, in our opinion, injure the general appearance of the house; the dignity and effect of which they at present heighten by forming a secondary mass. We found in the pleasure-grounds specimens of laurustinus from 6 ft. to 8 ft. in height, and as much in diameter, and large arbutuses, and common and Portugal laurels, which had been but slightly, if at all, injured by the winter of 1837-8. [Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire is four miles north-west of Derby. It was the seat of the Curzon family and is now (2005) owned by the National Trust].
