DURHAM.

SUMMARY OF THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY OF DURHAM,

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

SUMMARY OF THE POPULATION OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE,

As published by Authority of Parliament in 1811.

HAMPSHIRE.

WE are happy in being enabled to add to our description of this county, a notice of the following seats.

HERON, OF HERN COURT, the seat of the Earl of Malmesbury (Lord Lieutenant of this county) is situated in the rich and fertile va'ley leading from Wimborne to Christ-church, about four miles distant to the north-west from the last-mentioned town. The mansion is placed in an elbow formed by the river Stour, and is supposed to derive its appellation from this circumstance of locality; Hern being Saxon for an angle, or corner.

The present noble possessor inherited this place and property from his relation, Mr. Hooper; to whose family it had belonged for upwards of two centuries.

The house, which is upon a large and substantial scale, has been mearly rebuilt by Lord Malmesbury; part of the north front (which has been raised une story) being all that remains of the former struc ture. A veneration for the original character of the mansion has, however, been evinced in this work of re-edification. The style of domestic architecture that prevailed during the reigns of Elizabeth and James the First, is still preserved in every principal feature:—a laudable example of respect for ancestry, and of correctness in taste, which it is hoped will find imitators in those who may alter and renovate ancient family buildings in adjacent districts.

The library of this capacious residence contains a highly-valuable collection of books and maps. That these are selected with an excellent judgment will scarcely be doubted, when the literary talents of the present Earl and his celebrated father (James Harris, Esq. who enriched the republic of letters with the work intituled HERMES) are held in due renteinbrance.

In this seat are also preserved many fine paintings, the principal of which are enumerated in the BEAUTIES OF ENGLAND for BERKSHIRE, under the article of PARK PLACE.*

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A very extensive range of plantations covers the adjoining hills; and the examiner cannot fail to notice a fishing-cottage of unusual attraction, which is placed on the margin of the river Avon, and is a desirable appendage to the property that surrounds this mansion.

BEECH HOUSE is the residence of John Proctor Anderdon, Esq. formerly an eminent West India merchant. The house has received its name from a venerable beech of majestic dimensions," the last of its fellows," which stands near it. The situation is upon the southwestern verge of the New Forest, within a few miles of the sea; from the shore of which the country rises with a gentle ascent to the southern front of the house. This is also the case with the wood and fieldscenery upon the western side; and, by this favourable disposition, the eye is enabled to range over landscapes remarkable for their interest,

Thiety, and beauty.

circumstances have gradually led the successive proprietors of the estate to bestow on it the importance which it now possesses; and, by degrees, to enlarge the scanty dimensions of a game-keeper's cottage to the extent necessary for a convenient mansion. Such alterations, however, had been conducted with very little attention to picturesque effect until the summer of 1816, when the present owner, under the direction of Mr. Stedman Whitwell, an architect of considerable taste and rising eminence, made a most rapid and successful transformation. The finished appearance which the house now possesses, is carefully adapted to the surrounding scenery, and is distinguished by its simplicity, propriety, and harmony. འབྱུང དུ ཉི བརྒྱང བའི སྟེ ལྟང ཀྱི The interior is remarkable for a collection of paintings by the great masters which have been selected by their present possessor, as the most valuable that long study, ample means, and sound judgment could procure. The following list will call up some delightful recollections to the mind of the connoisseur

In the Flemish, or Dining Room, amongst others, are

A landscape and village-feast by Teniers, in his finest manner engraved.

unt by Wouvermans.

A stag-hunt by Wouvermans, remarkably beautiful;-engraved,

A sea view, with rocks, a scene in Norway, by William Kandervelde: a chef-d'œuvre.

A brisk