Immediately at your feet is the plain of Runnemede, where the great battle between John and the Barons was fought; and in the centre of the river is the little fishing island, where Magna Charta was signed.  At the extremity of the valley is Windsor Castle, rising up in all the pomp of its massive towers.  We recollect the scene as Windsor was.  Whatever Mr. Wyattville may have done for its internal improvement, and for its adaptation to the purposes of a modern residence without sacrificing all its character of antiquity, we fear that he has destroyed its picturesque effect in the distant landscape.  Its old characteristic feature was that of a series of turrets rising above the general elevation.  By raising the intermediate roofs, without giving a proportionate height to the towers, the whole line has become square and unbroken.  This was, perhaps, an unavoidable fault; but it is a fault.

From Cooper’s Hill, the entrance to Virginia Water is a walk of a quarter of an hour.  We were accustomed to wander down a long and close plantation of pines, where the rabbit ran across with scarcely a fear of man.  A more wild and open country succeeded; and we then followed the path, through many a “bosky bourn,” till we arrived at a rustic bridge, which crossed the lake at a narrow neck, where the little stream was gradually lost amongst the underwood.  A scene of almost unrivalled beauty here burst upon the view.  For nearly a mile, a verdant walk led along, amidst the choicest evergreens, by the side of a magnificent breadth of water.  The opposite shore was rich with the heather-bloom; and plantations of the most graceful trees—­the larch, the ash, and the weeping birch ("the lady of the woods"), broke the line of the wide lake, and carried the imagination on, in the belief that some mighty river lay beyond that screening wood.  The cascade was at length reached.  Cascades are much upon the same plan, whether natural or artificial; the scale alone makes the difference.  This cascade is sufficiently large not to look like a plaything; and if it were met with in Westmoreland or Wales, tourists would dilate much upon its beauties.  At this point the water may be easily forded; and after a walk of the most delicious seclusion, we used to reach a bold arch, over which the public road was carried.  Here have been erected some of the antique columns, that, a few years ago, were in the court-yard of the British Museum.

From this arch a variety of walks, of the most delightful retirement, present themselves.  They are principally bounded with various trees of the pine tribe, intermingled with laurel and acacia.  The road gradually ascends to a considerable elevation, where there is a handsome building, called the Belvidere.  The road from this spot is very charming.  We descend from this height, through a wild path, by the side of trees of much more ancient growth than the mass around; and, crossing the high road, again reach the lake, at a point where its dimensions are ample and magnificent.  About this part a splendid fishing-temple has lately been erected.  Of its taste we can say nothing.