572. Canons, the magnificent seat of the Duke of Chandos, is one of the principal places laid out in the ancient style during this reign. The artist who gave the design both for the house and gardens was, we believe, James, the translator of Le Blond's Theorie et Pratique du Jardinage; and the execution of at least the gardening and planting departments was superintended by Dr. Blackwell, a physician and agriculturist of some note. The Duke is mentioned by Miller as one of the principal encouragers of gardening. As far as we have been able to learn, the last extensive residence laid out in the ancient style, in England, was Exton Park, in Rutlandshire, by Kent; then the property of the Earl of Gainsborough, the Mecï¾µnas of his age. It was finished about the year 1730. Kent had already returned from Italy, and been employed as a painter and architect, and he began to display his genius a few years afterwards as a landscape-gardener.
