the centre of the Lake, supporting a conical-shaped hill, cut on four sides, covered with thirty-six terraces, one over the other, nine on each side, and one of these sides covered with buildings. Each of these terraces is hung with palisades of jessamine, orange trees, or pomegranates, with pots of flowers placed on the ledge.

At the top of the hill is an equestrian figure, which forms a fountain, although we saw no water come from it, and there are also four statues on the angles. We have in France artificial and natural beauties better than this, but I have seen none more singular and curious than this isle, which resembles a palace in a fairy tale.

I would advise you, my dear Quinton, if you intend having a pleasant time in Rome, to take this house; you will have also the advantage of living within a stone's throw of Ludovisi Gardens. We go there every evening; they were Sallust's gardens in the olden times. They are worth describing, and I shall make honourable mention of them in the life of my old friend which I am now engaged in writing. One has not to go outside of Rome to enter these Gardens; they are the largest in the town, the best kept, and, being near to the most populous part of the City are much frequented. They contain numerous alleys, orange groves, and cypress copses, fountains, statues, vases and obelisk found in situ quo (which obelisk was formerly in Sallust's garden), and two little villas, not much in themselves, but full of treasures. These gardens although they might be better kept, have a delightful rural look about them. You must not expect to find gardens here like those of the Tuileries, nor arranged like those of the Palais Royal-little as the latter are to compare to the former. We have greatly surpassed the Italians in our gardens, although we owe ours to them. To compare gardens to buildings, those of the Tuileries are as superior to others as is St Peter's to other churches-that is to say, that none can be compared with them on the same scale. After all, the Italians follow their own taste, and adapt their gardens to their climate. They wish to have green trees all the year round, grass in their walks instead of