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orative of his great victory, which is capped by a statue of the Duke; and still more, to preserve a record of the event, she planted one (150) hundred and fifty years ago, young Elm trees in the order of the Battle of Blenheim. These trees are now massive forest trees, and add much to the picturesque view of the whole. Before going into the mansion, we rode through the Park, which is of immense magnitude, enclosed as it is, by a wall twelve (12) miles long.

This park contains two (2000) thousand deer, and some three (3000) thousand cattle of various kinds and we passed several flocks of pheasants. In the park is the house of the ranger of the forest, the post of Ranger being held, at the time, the gift was made to the Duke of Marlboro, by Wilmot, the witty and I may add the wicked Earl of Rochester. He lived in the ______house and I believe died here. You may remember his history, for after a most wicked and unbelieving life, he died in all the peace and comfort of a true Christian, and Bishop Burnet 313, who attended him in his last hours, gave an account of his conversion, which is published by our tract societies as a Tract. As we passed through the Park, we were shewn the bower and well of Fair Rosamond314, this being the place on which was founded Sir Walter Scotts novel of Woodstock.315 We were admitted to the Mansion at eleven (11). The house is built in the most massive manner of Sandstone, and is truly a monument to a military hero. The halls are adorned with paintings of the best artists, Rubens, Vandyke and Carls [unclear: probably Kneller]. The most splendid room is the library, which is said to be the finest room in England. It is one (186) hundred and eighty six feet ______

long, and contains a handsome marble statue of Queen Anne the benefactress of the Duke. The walls of the state room are beautifully ornamented by rich tapestry, commemorating the battle scenes of the Duke. I did not think the establishment at all to compare with Chatsworth – altho’ the library was certainly superior to any room I have seen.

The Chapel contains the remains of the Duke and Duchess, and a monument to him. It was decked in mourning in past for the late Duke who died a year ago.

Woodstock is a little town just at the gate of Blenheim and is chiefly noted for having been the residence of the Poet Chaucer. After hearing Mr Everett’s316 fine eulogy on Washington, I felt

313 Gilbert Burnet (1643-1715), a Scottish theologian and Bishop of . In addition, Burnet was a historian, known for his History of the Reformation of the Church of England and for his History of My Own Times. As a Whig, he went to the United Provinces in 1687 and became an advisor to the Prince of Orange, the future King William I of England. See “Gilbert burnet,” at “Wikipedia.”

314 Fair Rosamond Clifford (d. 1176?), daughter of Walter de Clifford. Legend has it that she was the mistress of King Henry II and that he built a “wonderful”house for her at Woodstock, built like a maze to protect her. However, the jealous Queen Elianor traversed the maze and murdered Rosamond. See “Fair Rosamond,” at “Wikipedia.”

315 Woodstock, or The . A tale of the year 1651, a novel by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1826. The story tells of the escape of Charles II from England after the .

316 Edward Everett (1794-1865). A Whig politician from Massachusetts. He served in the US House of Representatives, in the US Senate, as President of Harvard University, as United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Britain, as Governor of Massachusetts, and as US Secretary of State. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President in 1860 on the Constitutional Union Ticket. Everett was known for his eloquent eulogies of famous men. See “Edward Everett,” at “Wikipedia.”

Francis H. Smith in Europe, 1858. Letterbook #1 Page 93