The Politics of Landscapes William Kent's buildings inspired
much comment, with the Hermitage being the most praised and
Merlin's Cave proving the most contentious. Alexander Pope, in
the 1730s, mocked: "Every man, and every boy, is writing verses
on the Royal Hermitage". This comment was made in response to
competitions sponsored by the 'Gentleman's Magazine' in both
1732 and 1733 for the best poem acclaiming "Her Majesty's Grotto
at Richmond". Such was the political nature of gardening in the
18th century that Caroline's gardening, Merlin's Cave in
particular, became entwined in controversy. "Fog's Weekly
Journal" for 6th December 1735, commented that Merlin's Cave was
"Hieorglyphical [sic], Emblematical, Typical and Symbolical,
conveying messages of Policy to Princes and Ministers of State".
Many political jokes were made about Kent's buildings and when
Caroline complained about this to George II , he famously
replied "I am very glad of it ... you deserve to be abused for
such childish silly Perhaps the ad