THE following sketch is from a correspondent of the Boston Transcript: Forty miles from New York city by steamboat, up the East river, through Hell Gate, and out into Long Island sound, one comes to a pretty little village nestling amid trees, and stretching down to the water's edge, called Glen Cove. The soil of this place is famous for the wondrously fine asparagus it produces, and which fetches in the Now York market one-third more than that grown elsewhere. Immense quantities of it are daily sent to the great city. To us the principal attraction of Glen Cove is the elegant country seat belonging to S. L. M. Barlow, a wealthy New York lawyer. This gentleman, a son of old Dr. Barlow, has grown very rich in his profession, and has also managed to get a good deal of money out of the Erie railroad - that never-failing source of fortunes for all men who are so happy as to get on the inside track. Mr. Barlow now spends his money like an American, and lives like an English lord.

The estate he owns at Glen Cove, L. T., was first improved and built upon by Burton, the actor, who put up a fine house in the midst of a park of about forty acres, finely situated on a bluff on the edge of the sound. Mr. Burton built extensive greenhouses, which he attached to his dwelling; he set out trees, constructed artificial lakes, and did much to improve the property.

Finally he died, when the estate fell into the hands of Mr. Kennard, the English railway prince, who was at one time so largely interested in the Atlantic and Great Western railway. Mr. Kennard determined to make his permanent home at this place, one of the most charming Spots anywhere near New York. He tore down a portion of the elegant Burton mansion, moved the hot-houses some distance away, and built a large and magnificent house in the style of a Swiss chateau. He spent money lavishly, as if he had been a prince, and in turn, so we are informed, was robbed on all sides by carpenters, masons, contractors, painters, etc. But his money held out until a palatial country seat had been erected, which was most elaborately decorated, inside and put. A great deal of the outside of the building was actually covered with gold. It had towers, piazzas, wings and elaborate carvings in all directions. The great hall and dining room of this mansion are very beautiful, with inlaid wood, carving, arches, pillars, etc. The whole outside of the house is elaborately ornamented.

He added to the hot-houses until they covered a vast extent of ground.

Like many another man, he lived beyond his mean; he had serious domestic difficulties, and finally he was obliged to mortgage his estate to Mr. Barlow, who was his lawyer. In the end the lawyer got possession of the whole property at a figure far less than the original cost. Since the last owner took possession, he has made constant improvements, and is at work with a large force of men, to-day. He employs twelve gardeners and three men to look after the hot-houses. He has a large number of house-servants, some of which are Chinese, and there are men at the stables, stone-masons, etc.

A walk through the extensive greenhouses revealed one of the finest collections of tropical plants in the vicinity of the metropolis. The central house is devoted to palm-trees, of which there is a fine collection. Two very large banana trees are also in this house, in a bearing condition, their tops bending over with the weight of fruit. A large cinnamon tree is also growing here, as well as oranges and lemons. A smaller house back of this palmery is devoted to those wonderfully curious and sweet-smelling plants, known as orchids. We saw beautiful butterfly orchids and many air-plants, clinging to bits of wood suspended in the room. Each side of the palm-house is a large house for grapes. The southern grapery was full of large and delicious clusters of the white sweet-water grape and the black grape. One vine held no less than two hundred pounds. In the other grape-house the vines are later, so that grapes may be had fresh the year round. Beneath the ground there are extensive vaults for raising mushrooms. A. large house is devoted to the growing of pine-apples, many of which are now in a bearing condition. Some of the delicious fruit is nearly ripe. Other hot-houses are filled with ferns, foliage plants, roses of various kinds, strawberries, etc.

Last winter over one hundred tons of coal were consumed for the purpose of heating the hot-houses alone.

Connecting the greenhouses with the mansion is a rose-walk, probably the largest and finest in America. A great variety of twining roses have been trained over a handsome open-work archway, which is so arranged that it can be illuminated by night by gas. When the roses are in bloom, nothing more beautiful can be imagined. Mr. Barlow is evidently fond of flowers, for his extensive grounds are filled with them. A large flower garden at one end of the house has been laid out in the English style, the beds bordered with box, and each one filled with some choice variety of flowers. We observed in one part of the grounds over one hundred varieties of new standard roses, recently brought from England, which had been planted this spring. Many other points of interest, as the statuary, fountains, groves, etc., might be mentioned, but they are common to all well-kept lawns.