The Natural History of Selborne

Mr. Reeve, a master Carpenter in the town of Lambeth, is employed in building a Conservatory for the Queen of Naples, the dimensions of which are 117 feet in length, 40 feet in breadth, 20 feet to the angle of the roof, & 10 feet to the eaves. This noble greenhouse ( the largest that has been constructed yet in this kingdom)

is to be roofed with sash-work on both sides, the upper sashes of every other one of which are so contrived as to slide down with pullies: the sides also are to be lined with sashes which pull up & down: the Soiuth end also is to be sashed, but the N. end is to be close, thro’ which there is an entrance by a a pair of large doors.  That there might be no beams across to obstruct the view, the roof is supported by 16 pillars of cast-iron, weighing 500 weight each, which are so ramifyed at the top as to give the roof something  of a Gothic air, & to add to it’s strength.  The area is to  contain two beds or borders of earth, of 100 feet by 11 feet, around & between which there are roomy alleys or paths.  This whole deal frame-work, when finished, is to be taken to pieces, & so sent by sea to Naples.  The whole area of this house will contain 4680 square feet, & the two beds, or borders, 2200 square feet.  As the soft & southern climate of Naples produces oranges, lemons, pomgranades, citrons, & many trees & plants with which we croud our greenhouses; we are to suppose that this royal Conservatory will be furnished only with the most fragrant, choice, & rare vegetable productions of the Tropics.  The Gardener of the King of the two Sicilies is as Scotchman, who went over two years ago; & had been partner, or assistant to Mr Gordon.  If there is any defect in this edifice, is seems to lie in the sash-roofing, which appears to be rather too slight & delicate for the length of the bearings; tho’ each sash is stiffened by a small iron-rod; however, heavy snows, we may suppose, are seldom or never seen in Lat. 40-50 so as to weigh-in the glass.  But with regard to the brittle healing, large hail-storms from off the Apennine may some times be dreaded, which would occasion almost as great an havock among that fragil tiling, as a shower of cinders from the neighbouring Vesuvius.  The clatter and jingle on such an occasion would put a man in mind of that beautiful, & expressive line in Virgil,

“Tam multa in tectis crepitans salit horrida grando.”