Mount Edgcumbe, from the Citadel, Plymouth (1825)

Daniell, William. A voyage round Great Britain, undertaken in the summer of the year 1813 and commencing from the Land's-End, Cornwall. London: Longman & Co and W. Daniell, 1825. Vol. VIII. p. 32.The next view in the series represents MOUNT EDGECUMBE, as seen from the Citadel, including the little Isle of St. Nicholas, between which and the point of land on the right, is the only passage that is practicable for large ships, to and from Hamoaze. The grounds of Mount Edgecumbe occupy an area of about three miles in circumference; and by their bold and varied outline, and the rich plantations that adorn them, present a finer combination of woodland and marine scenery than can be elsewhere found on any part of the coast of Great Britain. On the summit of the hill is the deer-park; and on the highest ground, at the principal western entrance of the park, stands the parish church of Maker, the tower of which is used by government as a signal-house in time of war. The views from that point are no less admirable for their extent than for their grandeur and variety. The abrupt cliff on the southern side of the hill toward the sea is planted with various evergreens and exotic shrubs, among which are the arbutus, the laurustinus, the Portugal laurel, and the myrtle. Midway up the hill, a terrace extends through the midst of these plantations; and there are walks cut in zig-zag directions down the rocks, as low as they are practicable, conducting to numerous points from which these romantic scenes may be contemplated in their various changes of aspect. At the bottom of the lawn in front of the house, and close to the water's edge, is situated the flower-garden, facing the narrowest part of the channel that forms the entrance into the harbour; so that ships of war of the first rate pass close to its boundary. What a smiling welcome must this fairy scene present to a squadron returning from a tedious cruise off some dreary, hostile, and weather-beaten coast! Here are objects, also, which may remind the mariner of the security as well as the delights of home; for at the point forming one part of this entrance stands a block-house, built for the defence of the port in the reign of Elizabeth, at the time of the expected invasion by the Spanish armada, when the blood of every English subject was in uproar to repel the insult offered to his country. [Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

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S40. DANIELL William (text by AYTON, Richard): A VOYAGE
ROUND GREAT BRITAIN UNDERTAKEN IN THE SUMMER OF THE YEAR 1813 AND COMMENCING FROM THE LAND'S END, CORNWALL.

Coloured version of SC2017