When the subject of the Park was first introduced in 1843, the total expenditue, including interest for the first seven years, was estimated at £103,576, viz:

The above amount has, however, been already far exceeded. The planting, excavation, making walks, masonry and iron work, amounts to £50,000, and £20,000 more will be required. But the great increase in the value of the land, has more than counterbalanced the affair. The land cost, in 1842 and 1843, from £230 to £250 per acre, averaging about one shilling per yard. In June, 1845, a large portion of that surrounding the drives, was offered for sale by the Commissioners, and about ninety thousand yards were sold, at prices varying from seven to fifteen shillings per yard,thus confirming the calculations of its promoters.*

This extensive Park will be a perpetual ornament to the town and neighbourhood, requiring, from its great extent, and varied walks and views, almost an entire day to inspect and appreciate its beauties; and the diversity of hill and dale, of wood and water, combined within it, will be equally open to the poorest artisan and the richest merchant.

The drives and terraces in this neighbourhood, which are in general named after public parties who have promoted the parliamentary projects of the town, contain many houses of a superior description. On the western side of the Park is the Egerton Road, immediately above which, on a bold eminence commanding an uninterrupted view of every leading object of interest within the range of vision, stands the the residence of William Jackson, Esq. Lord of the Manor of Claughton, whose name will ever occupy a most prominent situation in the history of Birkenhead.

Claughton Hall is approached from an elegant lodge and gate-way by a carriage drive, through pleasure grounds of about ten acres in extent. The house, which is in the Roman style, but so chaste in detail as to approach the purity of the Grecian, has four fronts of highly wrought and polished stone, which for excellence of workmanship

* The actual average of the total sale was 11s. 4d per yard; more land has been subsequently sold.

can hardly be exceeded, although a profusion of rich carvings and sculpture decorate the entire of the exterior. The general plan consists of a bold massive centre surmounted by a magnificent Corinthian cornice, and two wings. The principal entrance is on the west side of the hall, and consists of a circular Ionic portico and balustrade. The doorway, which is very elaborate, is surmounted by a carved cornice and trusses, and in the frieze are cornucopiæ, vine leaves, and other sculptural decorations, emblematical of hospitality, encircling the armorial bearings of the owner.

The walls of the lofty vestibule are of Scagliola in imitation of granite; on each side are niches with marble figures, and over them a long panel filled with basreliefs from the antique. In front are three steps, on the upper of which are verd antique columns and pilasters, the space between them filled with single sheets of plate glass, extending from the floor to the ceiling, the lower part protected by an extremely beautiful scroll work of or-molu. The centre sheets of glass open as folding doors leading into the inner hall, the whole of the paintings on the ceiling and other parts of which are in chiaroscuro. The floor is composed of Italian marble of various colours, laid down in a mosaic pattern corresponding with that of the Certiosoa di Pisa. To the right is seen the circular staircase of Talacre stone, with a magnificent mahogany sculptured pedestal at the base surmounted with a candelabrum. The balustrade is of scroll work in imitation of bronze, with a handrail having couching greyhounds, every two feet asunder, to prevent accidents.

At the top of the staircase is a gallery with four columns of porphyry and white marble; the floor is inlaid with a mosaic of oak, rosewood, satinwood, maple, sycamore, and ebony.* The centre of the gallery is decorated by two splendid carved doorways, between which are pieces of recumbent statuary. Near the bedrooms are four panels in which are painted in fresco, poetical figure-subjects, representing Morning, Noon, Evening, and Night. The walls of the hall, staircase, and gallery, are covered with Scagliola of the highest polish, in imitation of Sienna marble, having panels of granite and marble. They are lighted by a dome of ground glass ornamented with classic foliage, and an elegant stained glass window.

This species of Mosaic, which is entirely from the designs of Mr. Reed, has never been attempted before. extremely minute in detail, that there are in the Drawing Room alone no less than 3942 pieces, and 15,240 joints.

It is so

The Dining room has a massive cornice, and a frieze of scroll foliage with animals; the ceiling is divided into panels, and wrought in the style technically called French. The Library has a rich modillion cornice, and the ceiling is supported by beams grained in oak and etched in gold.

The Drawing room-32 feet long by 23 feet wide, and 16 feet in height-presents a coup d'œil rarely exhibited. The sides are divided by gold mouldings into panels, in which are six exquisite paintings, upwards of eight feet high, of landscapes and figures, compositions of Italian scenery, in the Watteau style. The ceiling is richly decorated with tablets and medalions, painted in encaustic. The cornice is supported all round by beautiful and richly gilt trusses, between which are little gems of paintings, worthy the artist that in conjunction with the architect has produced this scene of splendour and beauty, each picture in which offers materials for a separate description.

The Breakfast room has a cornice of fruit and drooping flowers, with a ceiling divided into four octagonal panels on which are allegorical paintings of the seasons. The arrangements of this room appear to have been designed in accordance with an elegant Conservatory, entered from it, by doors of stained glass.

One yard in width round every principal chamber is floored with a beautiful inlaid work of satin and rosewood. Nor amid this tasteful magnificence has domestic comfort in any instance been sacrificed. There are upwards of twenty bed-rooms in the house, every room in which is ventilated by a stream of fresh air, previously warmed, entering over the door and passing through the ceiling behind the cornices. The very offices exhibit the most minute attention to arrangement, though it is impossible here to more than allude to them.

Mr. Jackson has been fortunate, not only in the unrivalled situation he has selected for his residence, but in the choice of the parties to whom the construction of the edifice was entrusted. The architect employed was Mr. Charles Reed of Birkenhead, who has well repaid the confidence reposed in him. Messrs. John and William Walker, who have erected by far the greater part of the principal buildings in Birkenhead, have, at this mansion, sustained their long established character for excellency of workmanship. As a piece of masonry it cannot be surpassed; the beautiful white Storeton stone, of which the outside is built, having afforded them every opportunity to exhibit the successful application of their ability. Mr. Parris, the historical painter