till you come to the second gate, where turn in, and it will lead you straight to the "Shambles Oak," one of the well-known landmarks of the park, concerning which there will be more to say presently.

There is another way to walk to this second gate, by a so-called "field path." I tried it one day, and found that it went a long way round, through a rather dull country, and came out eventually near the New Buildings Farm, from which there is a green drive to the gate I have recommended the visitor to make for as his startingpoint. If anybody wishes to try this walk for himself, he has only to go up Leeming Street from the market place, Mansfield, take the second turning on the right, called Bath Lane, go over a bridge, and follow the upper path through a field. He will leave Rushpool Farm on the right, and make for New Buildings Farm, near Once more, however, I

which the green drive begins. strongly advise the traveller who wishes to see the woods not to waste his time upon any walk whatever till he gets to the second gate leading into the Duke of Portland's park on the Peafield road, and to drive to that point from the "Swan Inn" at Mansfield. Let him then walk to the "Normanton Inn," near Clumber, and sleep there, after strolling hither and thither in order that he may see the avenues of trees and other attractions of the "Dukeries." The next day let him go to Rufford, making another halt for the night if he thinks proper at Edwinstowe, where I found a very comfortable, homely little inn, the "Royal Oak." This will enable anyone to see the "Dukeries" and the forest pleasantly, and to

lounge about among the trees to his heart's content. If only one day can be spared, and it is desired to see as much as possible, the best and only plan is to get a carriage or phaeton from the "Swan" at Mansfield, and drive over the ground, the distance being upwards of thirty miles. The landlady of the "Swan" (Mrs. White) has the privilege of allowing visitors from her house to go through all gates in the park, and she provides them with keys for that purpose. Her people. have been trained for the tour of the "Dukeries," and know every inch of the ground. I went over the forest by all the methods referred to, and will now bring together such of my notes as seem likely to be interesting or of use to others.

We will suppose, then, that the pedestrian has taken my advice, and driven as far as the second gate into the Duke of Portland's park at Welbeck, on Peafield Lane. He will not fail to notice on his way the wreck of a fine old oak standing on the right-hand side, a little way back from the main road. This is the Parliament Oak, under which King John and the barons held a consultation in the year 1212. Two-thirds of its trunk is clean gone, and what remains of it is held together by chains and iron bands. It will continue, however, to make a fair show of green leaves in summer while an inch of it is left.

Peafield Lane, if continued straight on, would lead to Edwinstowe, but this we may leave for the present. The first gate leads also into the forest, but from the second, as I have said, there is a tolerably direct path to

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one of the well-known trees-the "Shambles Oak," or "Butcher's Shambles." This tree, when I saw it in May, 1880, was propped up by five stout pieces of timber, and all the inside was burnt out. I asked a keeper about the burnt appearance, and he told me that in the summer of 1878 a "party of Sheffielders" came over, and amused themselves by setting fire to this venerable tree, which a band of savages would have respected. What pleasure there can be in wantonly destroying an object like this it is very hard for the ordinary mind to conjecture, but there stands the charred remnant of the tree-a mark of the gentle instincts which inspire some people when they are out for a holiday. The Shambles Oak is probably hard upon a thousand years old, and must once have been of enormous girth, but scarcely half of it was left before the inside was burnt. It is held together by chains and props, and on one side of it is a plate of iron bearing the inscription, "P. 1833 "-signifying, doubtless, that the Duke of Portland had the props fixed where they stand in the year named. Although it is but a shell, the tree was preparing to put forth its green leaves in May last, just as it did when Robin Hood used to hang his venison among its branches, or sat under its shade "deluderin"" the pretty Maid Marian.

Not far from the "Butcher's Shambles is a tree standing almost in the centre of the green drive. This is called the "Central Oak," and down the path beyond this is another of the lions of Sherwood, the "Major Oak," a magnificent old tree ninety feet in circumference,