THE OBJECT IN VIEW, SITUATION, AND INSTRUCTIONS. The subject to be created is a public garden of recreation for the general population of the town of Derby. It is to be formed on a certain piece of ground, the property of Joseph Strutt, Esq., and completed at his expense; afterwards, the whole is to be presented by that gentleman to the Corporation of Derby, on certain conditions, and to be kept up at their expense. The situation is in the outskirts of the town; the extent about 11 acres; the form long, narrow, and irregular, as shown by the plan, fig. 52.; the surface is flat, apparently level, but with a very gentle inclination from the north-east to the south-west; and the soil is loamy, on a gravelly or loamy subsoil. The situation is open, but not much exposed to high winds; water is to be found at the usual depth to which wells are dug, and there is one small pond which is never dry at any period of the year. Every part of the ground admits of drainage; but all the drains must terminate at the southeast corner, where alone the water can escape. The soil is particularly well adapted for the growth of trees, as is evident from the belt which surrounds great part of the grounds, and which was planted some years ago by Mr. Strutt. The most important feature in this piece of ground, with reference to its adaptation for a garden of recreation, is, that there is no distant prospect, or view beyond the grounds, worthy of being taken into consideration in laying them out; or at least none that may not, in a very few years, be shut out by the buildings of the town, which are increasing fast on every side. The instructions given to me by Mr. Strutt respecting laying out this piece of ground were, that the garden was intended to be one of recreation for the inhabitants of Derby and the neighbourhood, and for all other persons who chose to come and see it; that it should be open two days in the week, and that one of these days should be Sunday, during proper hours; and that on other days a small sum should be required from persons entering the garden; or yearly admissions should be granted for certain moderate sums. That the gardens should be so laid out and arranged as not to be expensive to keep up; that a flower-garden and cottage, with the plantations already existing, should, if possible, be preserved; that a tool-house covered with ivy should also be preserved; that two lodges with gates, at the two extremities, should be built; and that each lodge should have a room, to be considered as a public room, into which strangers might go and sit down, taking their own refreshments with them, without any charge being made by the occupant of the lodge, unless some assistance, such as hot water, plates, knives and forks, &c., were required, in which case a small voluntary gratuity might be given, That there should be proper yards and conveniences at each lodge for the use of the public, apart from those to be exclusively used by the occupant of the lodge. That there should be open spaces in two or more parts of the garden, in which large tents might be pitched, a band of music placed, dancing carried on, &c. That certain vases and pedestals now in the flower-garden, and also certain others in Mr. Strutt's garden in Derby, should be retained or introduced; and, finally, that some directions should be left for the management of the garden.
