bestow. It consists of near four thousand acres, beautifully diversified in hill and dale; many parts of it nobly planted with venerable bodies of wood, varied with wild and romantic scenery *.

WINDSOR FOREST is a tract, according to Roque, forming a circuit of fifty-six miles, abounding with deer and game; and it is a magnificent appendage to Windsor Castle. It was originally formed and preserved for the exercise of the chase, by our antient sovereigns, and is still employed in those recreations by his present majesty.

"There helongs unto the libertie of Windsor Castle," says Norden, in his Description of the IIonour of Windsor,' "sundrie bailywickes, lying within several shires, the seaven hundreds of Cookeham et Braye, and the hundred of Sunninge, within Barkshire, the manors of Upton and Burneham; the manors of Wicadeskery and Langley; Maries; the manor of Datchet; the manor of FarnehamRoyall; the manor of Eaton, within Buckinghamshire; the hundreds of Oking, and the hundreds of Gadley, within

*While this extent of domain remained in the hands of a ranger, he employed it as a temporary advantage, and never thought of bestowing upon it any permanent improvement: but his majesty having taken that office upon himself, every rational experiment which can add beauty, or produce advantage, is brought forward; and persons of the first eminence and skill are employed in the execution of a magnificent plan of embellishment in the park; as well as to hold forth an example of improved husbandry to the imitation of the surrounding country. Thẹ principal outlines of this plan embrace a vast compass of draining, which is completed, without deformity, after the mode adopted in Essex; an extensive scene of planting upon the high grounds and eminences, where a grandeur of effect can be produced; a delicate opening of the bottom parts, in order to throw the vales into beautiful savannas; a selection of the fine sylvan parts into harbours for game; with sheep walks for large flocks; and the formation of two contrasted farms at the opposite ends of the park. The one, from the lightness of the soil, is established on the Norfolk system of husbandry, under a rotation of six course cropping, with all the advantages of tulip cultivation; and the other, which consists of a loamy soil, is carried on in due conformity to the agricultural practice of Flanders, where the course of husbandry almost invariably consists of an alternate crop for man and beast; one of the most productive dispositions to which land can be applied. Surrey,

Surrey, together also with others forame liberties, namely, the libertie of lady Elizabeth Pircain, of the hundred of Wargrave; the libertie of Sir Henrie Nevill, of his hundred of Wargrave; the libertie of the manor of Bentlisham, within Barkshire; the libertie of Andrew Windesore, Esq. of his manor of Eaton; the libertie of Sir Edward Cooke, lord cheife justice of the Common Pleas, of his manor of Stoke Poges, within Buckingshamshire. All theis are liable to the Castle warrantes, though for want of due execution some of them begin to be denied, and the warrants disobeyed; the true limmits and bounds being also nere worne out of knowledge, and will shortlie be worne out of minde, without meanes of reformation."

The castle and forest of Windsor is mentioned as an honour, by statute, in the seventeenth of Henry VIII. cap. 18.

FROGMORE HOUSE, which had many possessors during the Civil Wars, afterwards became the property of George Fitzroy, duke of Northumberland, in the reign of Charles II. his widow died here at an advanced age. This place was also the residence of marshal Belleisle, after his release from the Castle; it was afterwards the seat of Sir Edward Walpole, K. B. and of the honourable Mrs. Egerton, of whom it was purchased by her majesty queen Charlotte, who has made very considerable additions to the house and gardens. In different parts of the grounds, Gothic temples, rural huts, &c. have been erected, as a relief to the sameness of a dead flat. On the opposite side of the road, is a neat house, the seat of the late earl of Pomfret, as ranger of the Little Park, within the limits of which it is situated. The queen's dairy, is commended for its neatness and simplicity.

We now describe the various towns and villages, &c. within Windsor Forest, and the county of Berks.

The BELVIDERE, or SHRUB'S HILL, is a triangular building, with a tower at each corner. It is encompassed by a fine plantation of trees, forming a delightful scene. The poble piece of water, in the valley underneath, was formed

at

at a great expence, and, from a small current, is rendered capable of carrying barges and boats of pleasure. Over this water duke William built a bridge of curious architecture, being one arch, one hundred and sixty-five feet wide in the clear, which is five feet wider than the Rialto at Venice. This piece of water terminated in a beautiful cascade; but, the pond head blowing up, the rapidity of the torrent did such damage to the bridge, that the whole was obliged to be taken down, and rebuilt with five arches to it. Half a mile from this bridge is the Chinese Island, so named from the building on it, after the Chinese manner; and near this pond is a beautiful grotto. Beside these improvements, the duke laid out the race ground on Ascot Heath, at a great expence.

This heath is six miles from Windsor, on the road to Bagshot; on it the king's plate of one hundrod guineas is annually run for, and the races usually constitute five days sport. Near the course is the lodge for his majesty's huntsmen, where also the royal staghounds are kept.

CRANBOURNE LODGE, belonged to the late duke of Cumberland, as ranger of the forest. This lodge is most pleasantly situated, and has an extensive prospect over a fine plain and country, which commands the most beautiful landscape, or picture of nature. In a spacious chamber in the house are painted, and regularly ranged in large pannels, the military dresses of the different corps in the armies of Europe. His royal highness prince William of Gloucester is the present ranger of the forest. Opposite to the front of this lodge, on the plain, in the parish of Wingfield, is a handsome building, erected and endowed by the late earl of Ranelagh, formerly ranger, for the education of twenty boys and girls.

ST. LEONARD'S HILL, in the parish of Clewer, requires particular notice, on account of its delectable situation, and the large plantation of oak and beech, which here form a most agreeable variety. On the summit of the hill is a noble lodge, first begun by the late duchess of Gloucester, when countess of Waldegrave, on the site of a cottage, and

greatly

greatly improved by his royal highness the late duke of Gloucester, on his marriage with that lady; and from this improvement, and the residence of their highnesses, was named Gloucester Lodge. The house is elegant, and commands an extensive prospect over the river Thames, and a most beautiful fruitful country. On the side of the hill is a pleasing villa, equally beautiful in its situation and large plantations, for many years the residence of several persons of distinction, and afterwards purchased by the duke, as an appendage or farm to the first-mentioned house. This delightful spot has since been sold to general Harcourt, the present possessor *.

In Clewer church is a brass plate to the memory of Martin Epence, a famous archer, who shot a match against one hundred men, near Bray.

SUNNING HILL, at a small distance, is a most delightful part of the forest. The situation is picturesque, and many gentlemen of fortune have pleasant villas or lodgings for the summer season, to drink the mineral waters. The wells are designed with taste, neatly laid out. Assemblies, or pubJic breakfasts, were formerly held here, which have gra... dually diminished. Sunning Hill church may be regarded as an early specimen of ecclesiastical architecture. In the common road from Windsor to Sunning Hill, is a large inclosure made by king Charles II. Many other pleasing villas are dispersed in different parts of the forest, to describe which would far exceed our compass.

SWINLEY LODGE, at no great distance from Sunning Hill. belongs to the master of the buck hounds, an office of honour and profit. Here a number of deer are kept for the royal chace,

* St. Leonard's Hill seems to have been a Roman encampment; many. relicts of antiquity have been discovered here at different periods, particularly in 1707, when a brass lamp, some celts, a spear head, trumpets, coins, &c. were dug up. The lamp was presented by Sir Hans Sloane to the Society of Antiquaries, who chose it as the crest to the arms of that corporation, with the motto "Non extinguetur." Coins of Vespasian, Trajan, and of the Lower Empire, were found in 1725, and purchased by the society.

under

under his care and direction: he appoints the days for hunting, takes care of the forest deer, and his majesty's stag and buck hounds, and for this purpose has many officers under him, who superintend the several parts of the forest, divided into different walks or appointments.

EASTHAMPSTEAD, was for many years a royal residence; it was a hunting seat of Richard II. and it was here, that in 1531, Henry VIII. sent some of the lords of the council to persuade queen Catharine of Arragon to consent to a divorce. James I. resided at Easthampsted in 1622 and 1623. Soon after it was granted to William Turnbull, Esq. agent to James and his successor at Brussels; whose grandson, Sir William, was one of the principal secretaries of state to William III. and the friend and correspondent of Pope. Sir William is buried in Easthampstead; as is Mr. Fenton, the poet, who died here in 1732. The marchioness of Downshire, is the present lady of the manor.

Near this place is a large irregular fortification, denominated CASAR'S CAMP, defended by a double ditch. At about half a mile distance was a raised road, nearly ninety feet wide, called the DEVIL'S HIGHWAY, with a trench on each side, running east and west. This was levelled when the ridings were cut across the heath, and is now called THE DEVIL'S RIDING. Various writers have been of opinion that this was a continuation of the Roman road from Silchester to London.

OAKINGHAM.

This is frequently written Wokingham, and is a populous market town on the edge of Windsor Forest, partly in. Berkshire and Wilts, at the distance of thirty-two miles from London. The town is populous, and is chiefly built with brick; the church is a spacious and handsome edifice, and contains a monument for Dr. Thomas Godwin, dean of Canterbury, and bishop of Bath and Wells, who was born here in 1517, and died in 1590. His son Francis, bishop of Hereford, author of "De Præsulibus Anglia Commentarius," wrote the epitaph.

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Oakingham