Another source of solace was found in labours that have an inexhaustible charm, for those who are so happy as to have means as well as taste for them. [Sidenote: LORD SHELBURNE AS A LANDSCAPE GARDENER.] Lord SHELBURNE lived much at Loakes—now called Wycombe Abbey—a delightful seat, just above the little town of High Wycombe. Its striking framework of beech-woods, its fine plane-trees and ash-trees, and its broad piece of water, make up a lovely picture, much of the attraction of which is due to the skill and judgment with which its then owner elicited and heightened the natural beauties of the place.[2] But those of Bowood exceeded them in Lord SHELBURNE’S eyes. There, too, he did very much to enhance what nature had already done, and he had the able assistance of Mr. HAMILTON of Pains-Hill. In consequence of their joint labours, almost every species of oak may be seen at Bowood, with great variety of exotic trees of all sorts. Both wood and water combine to make, from some points of view, a resemblance between Wycombe and Bowood. And both differ from many much bepraised country seats in the wise preference of natural beauty—selected and heightened—to artificial beauty. Lord SHELBURNE himself was wont to say: ‘Mere workmanship should never be introduced where the beauty and variety of the scenery are, in themselves, sufficient to excite admiration.’ But, in their true place, few men better loved the productions of artistic genius. He collected pictures and sculpture, as well as trees and books. He was the first of his name who made Lansdowne House in London, as well as Loakes and Bowood in the country, centres of the best society in the intellectual as well as in the fashionable world. Years passed on. The course of public events—and especially the death of Lord CHATHAM and the issues of the American war—together with many conspicuous proofs of his powers in debate, tended more and more to bring Lord SHELBURNE to the front. Between him and Lord ROCKINGHAM, as far as regards real personal ability—whether parliamentary or administrative—there could, in truth, be little ground for comparison. But in party connection and following, the claims of the inferior man were incontestible. Lord SHELBURNE, towards the close of 1779, signified his readiness to waive his pretensions to take the lead—in the event of the overthrow of the existing Government—and his willingness to serve under Lord ROCKINGHAM; so little truth was there in the assertion, [Sidenote: H. Walpole to Mann; 1780. March 21.] made by Horace WALPOLE to his correspondent at Florence, that SHELBURNE ‘will stick at nothing to gratify his ambition.’