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REMARKS 
 
 O N 
 
 FOREST SCENERY; 
 
 AND OTHER 
 
 WOODLAND VIEWS. 
 
REMARKS 
 
 O N 
 
 FOREST SCENERY, 
 
 AND OTHER 
 
 WOODLAND VIEWS, 
 
 (Relative chiefly to PICTURESQUE BEAUTY) 
 Illustrated by the Scenes 
 
 O F 
 
 NEW-FOREST 
 
 I N 
 
 HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 IN THREE BOOKS. 
 
 ■ ■■ Happy he. 
 
 Whom what he views of beautiful, or grand. 
 In nature, from the broad, majeftic oak 
 To the green blade, that twinkles in the fun. 
 Prompt with remembrance of a prefent God. 
 
 Cooper's Poems. 
 
 V O L. II. 
 By WILLIAM GILPIN, A.M. 
 
 PREBENDARY OF SALISBURY; AND 
 VICAR OF BOLDRE IN NEW-FOREST, NEAR LYMINGTON. 
 
 LONDON; 
 
 PRINTED FOR R. BLAMIRE, STRAND, 
 
 M.DCC.XCf. 
 
OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ON 
 
 FOREST SCENERY. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 WE concluded the laft book with a 
 catalogue (for it was little more) 
 of the principal forefls, which for- 
 merly overfpread the ifland of Britain. 
 None of them at this day pofTeiies it's 
 original grandeur. A few have preferved 
 fome little appearance of fcenery : but the 
 greater part are wafles. New-foreft in Hamp- 
 fhire is among the few^ which have retained 
 any ideas of their ancient confequence,— 
 At lead it is fuperior to the reft, on account 
 of the extent of it's boundaries -, the variety 
 of it's contents i and the grandeur of it's 
 fcenes. 
 
 VOL. II, B With 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 With thefe fcenes I propofe, in the fol- 
 lowing book, to illuftrate the obfcrvations, 
 which have been made in the two preceding 
 books j and ihall in feveral excurfions, through 
 the difFerent parts of this woody country, 
 endeavour to point out it's peculiar beauties. 
 But tho I lliall chiefly confider it in a pic- 
 turefque light y I fhall vary my fubje6t by 
 giving a general idea of the ancient hif- 
 tory, and prefent Itate, of this celebrated 
 foreft. 
 
 This trad: of wood-land was originally made 
 a forefl by V/ilHam I in the year 1079, about 
 thirteen years after the battle of Haftings ; 
 and is indeed the only foreft in England, 
 whofe ori2;in can be traced. It took the 
 denomination of New-foreft from it's being 
 an addition to the many forefts, which the 
 crown already pofleffedj and which had 
 formerly been appropriated in feudal times. 
 The original name of this trad: of country 
 was Ytene. 
 
 As feveral forefts were more commodioufly 
 lituated for royal diverfion than New-foreft, 
 the hiftorian hath been fometimes led ta 
 
 conceive. 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 conceive, that William muft have had other 
 ends, than amufement, in making this ad- 
 dition to them : and obferving farther, it's 
 vicinity to the coail: of Normandy, he hath 
 from this circumftance drawn a furmife, that 
 under the idea of a foreft, William m.eant 
 to preferve an unobferved communication with 
 the continent i which would enable him to 
 embark his troops, on either fide, without 
 giving alarm. 
 
 But this furmife depends on no hidorical 
 evidence ; neither indeed is it probable. The 
 coafls of Kent, and SulTex were more com- 
 modious for the embarkation of troops, than 
 any part of New-foreft. And it is abfurd 
 to fuppofe an army could be embarked any 
 where without obfervation. Southampton in- 
 deed was commodious enough : but this port 
 neither lies in New-foreftj nor does the foiefl 
 
 in any degree, fkreen it's avenues. Befides, 
 
 the aifairs of William were never in fo per- 
 plexed a ■■■ fituation, as to require privacy ; 
 efpecially at the time when he made this 
 foreft ', which was after he had defeated all 
 his enemies, and was of ccurfe in the height 
 
 of his power. Nor indeed w^as it agreeable 
 
 to the general charader of this prince to do 
 B 2 things 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 things fecretly. He rather chofe, on all 
 occalions, to fvvay the fceptre with a lofty 
 
 hand. The judicious Rapin feems to clofe 
 
 the whole debiite very juftly, by obferving, 
 that this furmife feems to have arifen merely 
 from an opinion, that fo politic a prince as 
 William, could do nothing without a political 
 end : whei-eas the moft poHtic princes, no 
 doubt, are fvvayed where their pleafures are 
 concerned, by paffions, and caprice, like other 
 
 men 
 
 * 
 
 The means, which William ufed in af- 
 forefling thefe extenfive wood-lands, create 
 another queftion among hiftorians. The ge- 
 neral opinion is, that he deftroyed a number 
 of villages, and churches ; drove out the in- 
 habitants ; laid their lands wafte ; and formed 
 New-foreft in their room. 
 
 This opinion has appeared to fome ill 
 founded ; and Voltaire in particular, has flood 
 up in defence of the humanity, or rather 
 the policy of William. It is abfurd, he 
 thinks, to fuppofe that a prince fo noted 
 for prudent and interefted condud:, fliould 
 
 ♦ Vol. i. fol. page 178. 
 
 lay 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 lay wafte fo much cultivated ground ; plant 
 it with forefl trees, which would be many 
 years in coming to perfe6lion ; and for the 
 Hike of a few deer, turn adrift fo large a body 
 of his induftrious fubjecfts, who might have 
 contributed fo much to the increafe of his 
 revenues*. 
 
 Voltaire's conclufion m.ay be jufl ; but his 
 reafoning is certainly ill-founded. It proceeds 
 on " the improbability of fo wide a defolation -, 
 whereas it might have proceeded better on 
 the impojfibility of it. For how could William 
 have fpread fuch depopulation in a country, 
 which, from the nature of it, mufr have 
 been from the iirfl: very thinly inhabited ? 
 The ancient Ytene was undoubtedly a woody 
 trad: long before the times of William. 
 Voltaire's idea therefore of planting a foreji 
 is abfurd, and is founded on a total ignorance 
 of the country. He took his ideas merely 
 from a French foreft, which is artificially 
 planted, and laid out in viftas, and alleys. 
 It is probable, that William rather opened 
 his chafes by cutting down wood; than that 
 
 * See his abridgment of univerfal hiftcry. 
 
 B 3 he 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 he had occafion to plant more. — Befides, tho 
 the internal ftrata of the foil of New-foreft 
 are admirably adapted to produce timber; 
 yet the furface of it, is in general, poor; 
 and could nev' r have admitted, even if the 
 times Jiad allowed, any high degree of cul- 
 tivation. Upon the whole therefore, it 
 
 does not feem pojjible, that William could 
 have fpread fo wide a depopulation through 
 this country, as he is reprefented to have 
 done. 
 
 On the other hand, there is no contending 
 againft the ftream of hiftory : and tho we 
 may allow that William could not make any 
 great depopulation ; we are not to fuppofe he 
 made none at ail. Many writers, who lived 
 about his time, unite in lamentable complaints 
 of his devaftations. According to them, at 
 leaft thirty miles of cultivated lands were laid 
 wafte ; above fifty parifli churches, and many 
 villages deftroyed ; and all the inhabitants 
 extirpated*. But it is to be confidered, that 
 
 thefe 
 
 • In fylva, qux vocatur nova forefta, ecclefias, et villas 
 cradicari ; gentem extirpari j et a feris fecit inhabitari. Hen. 
 de Huntingdon. 
 
 Nova 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 thefe writers were monks, v/ho had taken 
 high offence at William for his cxad:ions on 
 their monafteries ; and were neither, as it 
 appears, informed themfelves ; nor difpofcd 
 through their prejudices, to inform others. 
 Many things they fay, are palpably falfe. 
 
 In this dearth therefore of hiilorical evidence, 
 we are flill at a lofs To fuppofe that 
 William made no devailation, and to llippofe 
 that he made all, which thefe prejudiced 
 
 Nova regia forefla, anglice Ytene, quam Gulielmus baf- 
 tardus, hominibus fugatis, defertis villis, et fabreptis ec- 
 cleliis per 30, et eo amplius milliaria, in faltus, et luiira 
 ferarum redigit. Brompton. 
 
 ' Per 30, et amplius milliaria, ubi erat homlnum manfio, terra 
 fruftifera, uecnon frugifera, extirpatis dcmibas, cum promariis, 
 et hortis, et etiam ecclefiis, cum ca^metarlis, in foreitam, vel 
 potias in deferta, et ferarum laflra, rege jubente, redafla 
 erant. Hiil. Winton. 
 
 Hie Gulielmus (Rufus) fecit foreftas in mukis locis, per 
 medium regni ; et inter Southampton, et prioratum Twynam, 
 qui nunc vacatur Chrift-church, proftravit, et extcrminavit 22 
 ecclefias matrices, cum villis, capellis, maneriis, atque man- 
 fionibus ; fecundum vero quofdam, 52 eccleftris parccliiales; 
 et fecit foreitam novam, quam vocavit fuum novum herbarium ; 
 et replevit earn cervis, damis, et aliis feris ; parcens illis per 
 feptem anno$ primes. Knighton. 
 
 B 4 monks 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 monks lay to his charge, feem to be fup- 
 pofitlons equally unfupported. On the whole 
 therefore, the truth of this matter, as of moft 
 others, lies probably between the two opi- 
 nions. 
 
 With regard to the fituation, and boundaries 
 of this extenfive foreft, it occupies the fouth- 
 weft extremity of Hampfliire ; and in it's 
 earlier form was a kind of peninfula, bounded 
 by the bay of Southampton on the eaft — 
 by the river Avon on the weft— -and on the 
 fouth ; by the channel of the ifle of Wight, 
 as far as the Needles ; and to the weft of thofe 
 rocks by the ocean. Thus the boundaries of 
 New-foreft were determined by the natural 
 lines of the country. 
 
 It does not however appear, that William 
 I extended the bounds of New-foreft thus 
 far. They are fuppofed rather to have been 
 inlarged by fucceeding princes ; particularly 
 by Henry I, who was probably tempted by 
 the natural limits of the country. By this 
 prince, or at leaft by fome of the early fuc^ 
 ceiTors of William, the whole peninfula was 
 taken in; and the bounds of the foreft were 
 
 fairly 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 fairly extended, as I have defcrlbed them, to 
 the bay of Southampton, the river Avon, and 
 the fea. 
 
 In thofe days it wsls a matter of Httle 
 ceremony either to make, or to inlarge a 
 foreft. Thus faith the law : " It Is allowed 
 to our fovereign lord the king, in refpedl of 
 his continual care, and labour, for the pre- 
 fervatlon of the whole realm, among other 
 privileges, this prerogative, to have his places 
 of recreation, and pafiime, wherefoever he 
 will appoint. For as it is at the liberty, 
 and pleafure of his grace to referve the wild 
 beafts, and the game to himfelf, for his only 
 delight and pleafure, fo he may alfo at his 
 will and pleafure, make a fore ft for them to 
 abide in*." 
 
 Agreeable to this fpirit of defpotifm, the 
 royal forefts were regulated. Each had it's 
 laws, and government ; and as thefe differed 
 from each other in very few particulars, all 
 were equally grievous to the fubjedt. Foreft- 
 law indeed was one of the greateft incroach- 
 ments that ever was made upon the natural 
 
 See M^nwood on forefl-Iaw, chap. ii. 
 
 rights 
 
{ 10 ) 
 
 rights of mankind j and confidering the dif- 
 parity of the objedl, one of the greatefl infuhs 
 of tyranny. 
 
 The Romans had no idea of appropriating 
 jgame. Under their government the forefls of 
 England, Hke thofe of America, were common 
 hunting-grounds. The northern barbarians firfl 
 .pretended to the right of making private pro- 
 perty of what, being naturally wild, belonged 
 equally to all. 
 
 Tiie idea of forefl-law, and foreft-rights 
 obtained early indeed in Saxon times. But 
 the Saxon princes were in general a mild 
 race ; and there were fome traces of liberal 
 fentiment in their inflitutions. Under them, 
 untenanted waftes only were afforefled — the 
 penalties of foreft-laws were gentle — and the 
 execution of them never rigid. So that, in 
 thofe equitable times, foreft-law was hardly 
 efteemed a burthen upon the people. 
 
 The Norman princes were a different race. 
 They were fierce, haughty, violent, and de- 
 fpotic. Under them the language of Englifh 
 law in general affumed a nev/ tone -, and of 
 forefl-law in particular. For as the Norman 
 princes were all mighty hunters, this part of 
 jurilprudence engaged their peculiar attention. 
 
 It 
 
( II ) 
 
 It was conceived in the highefl fpirlt of 
 defpotifm ; and executed with the utmofl: 
 rigour of vindid:ive tyranny*. 
 
 It 
 
 * If the reader wifh to fee the mifchiefs of foreft-law 
 heightened by poetic images, the following lines of Mr. Pope 
 fet them in a ftrong light. 
 
 Thus all the land appeared, in ages paft, 
 A dreary defert, and a gloomy waft. 
 To favage hearts, and favage laws a prey. 
 And kings more furious, and fevere than they ; 
 Who claimc\^> the Iki??, difpeopled air, and floods. 
 The lonely lords of empty wilds, and woods. 
 Cities laid wafte, they ftormed the dens, and caves ; 
 For .vifer brutes were backward to be flaves. 
 What could be free, when lawlefs beafts obeyed ? 
 And even the elements a tyrart fwayed ? 
 In vain kind feafona uvelled the teeming grain. 
 Soft Ihowers diftilled, and funs grew warm in vain j 
 The fwp.in, with tear'^ his fruftrate labours yields. 
 And famifhed dies amidft his ripening fields. 
 Wiiat wc'-jder then, a bea.1, or fubjedl flainy 
 Were equal crimes in a defpotic reign ! 
 Both doomed alike, for fportive tyrants bled : 
 Eut while the fubjefl ftarved, the beaft was fed. 
 Proud Nimrod firft the bloody chafe began, 
 A mighty hunt«r ; and his prey was man. 
 Our haughty Norman boails that barbarous name. 
 And makes his trembling flaves the royal game. 
 The fields are ravifned from induftrious fwains. 
 From men their cities, and from gods their fanes : 
 
 The 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 It is true indeed the principal objed: of 
 foreft-law was the prefervation of game, which 
 the offender killed at his own peril. But 
 when we recoiled how extenfive the royal 
 forefts were, including little lefs than an 
 eighth part of the kingdom — when we con- 
 lider the mifchievous nature of every fpecies 
 of game, and particularly of foreft-deer in 
 cultivated lands — when we obferve farther, 
 that many of the royal forefts were blended 
 
 The levelled towns with weeds lie covered o'er ; 
 The hollow winds through naked temples roar ; 
 Round broken columns clafping ivy twined ; 
 O'er heaps of ruin ftalked the ftately hind ; 
 The fox obfcene to gsping tombs retires. 
 And favage howlings fill the facred quires. 
 
 Awed by his nobles, by his commons curft. 
 The opprefTor ruled tyrannic, where he durft ; 
 Stretched o'er the poor, and church his iron rod. 
 And ferved alike his vaffals, and his God. 
 Whom even the Saxon fpared, and bloody Dane, 
 The wanton viftims of his fport remain. 
 
 But fee the man, whofe fpacious regions gave 
 A wafle for beafts, denied himfelf a grave ! 
 Stretched on the land his fecond hope furvey. 
 At once the chafer, and at once the prey ; 
 Lo ! Rufus, tugging at the deadly dart. 
 Bleeds in the foreft, like a wounded hart. 
 
 Windfor foreft. 
 
 with 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 with private property — that the h'mits of 
 others were very undefined — and laftly, when 
 we refledt, how eafy a matter it was, by a 
 ftretch of royal authority, to fix the locality 
 of a trcfpafs in a foreft, tho it Vv^as never 
 committed there; we may eafily conclude, 
 from the whole, how fertile a fource of 
 vexation foreft-law might be made, tho it 
 merely refpeded game. 
 
 But other grievances accrued. Many in- 
 croachments were made on private property. 
 Extravagant claims were pretended by foreft- 
 officers ; and heavy tolls were levied on fuch 
 merchandize, as pafied through the king's 
 forefts, tho in fa6t, it could pafs in no 
 other diredion*. Sometimes alfo needy prin- 
 ces, (and moft of them were needy) with a 
 view to raife money, would fend commifiioners 
 purpofely to examine into foreft-trefpafies ; and 
 on thefe occafions, we may be fure, there was 
 always exaggeration enough. 
 
 This accumulation of hardfhip was at all 
 times deeply felt, and refented ; and whenever 
 the reins of government flackened in the hands 
 of a weak prince, the fpirit of the nation arofe. 
 
 * See King John's charter of foreils. 
 
 and 
 
( H ) 
 
 and endeavoured to refume its native rights, 
 Succefs at laft attended thcfe repeated druggies. 
 Foreft-Iaw was abolifhed > at lead its mifchie- 
 vous eiFed:s were rcprelied. 
 
 But if the people imagined this vi6lory 
 would reinftate them in their native rights 
 over the foreft, they were miftaken. A new 
 ipecies of law, under the denomination of 
 gatne-laWy arofe upon the ruins oi for eft -law. 
 This law had from it's inflitution an arif- 
 tocratic call:. For the barons and great men, 
 who had wrefted the rigour of foreft-law from 
 the prince, did not mean to free the people 
 from the impofition ; but only to adminilter 
 it themfelves : and thus a thoufand tyrants 
 ftarted up indead of one. Some of the feverer 
 penalties indeed were abolifiied. A man pre- 
 ferved his eyes, or his hands, tho he killed a 
 pheafant, or a partridge : but he was fined— 
 he was imprifoned — his dog was fhot — his 
 arms were taiven from him — and he was conti- 
 nually teafed with vexatious fuits. Befides, as 
 game-law was more extenfive than foreft- 
 law, it involved greater numbers within it's 
 influence. 
 
 At 
 
( '5 ) 
 
 At the time, when forefi:-law was abolifhed, 
 all the incroachments, which the crown hacJ 
 made on the confines of forefts, were ^iveii 
 back. Then it was that New-foreft was 
 reduced within it's ancient bounds ; and all 
 thofe lands, v/hich bordered on the bay of 
 Southampton, the river Avon, and the fca, 
 were reftored to their old poiTeilbrs. Thefe 
 lands were then diftinguiHied by the name of 
 the purlieus of the foreji -, and their owners, 
 at leaft fome of them, by v/ay of indemnifi- 
 cation for injuries received, enjoyed feveraf 
 privileges, particularly the right of commoning^ 
 in the foreftj and of kiihng trefpaffing deer, 
 provided they were killed before they entered 
 the forefl:, which was always efleemed their 
 fandtuary*. 
 
 The fliape of New-foreft Is a kind of irre- 
 gular triangle, wide at the fouth, and drawing 
 to a point towards the north ; contained Vv ithin 
 a circumference of about fifty miles. It's 
 limits on every fide are very accurately known, 
 and defcribed : but, in a v/ork of this kind. 
 
 * See Manwood on foreft-hw. 
 
 it 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 it will anfwer no end, either of amufemcnt, 
 
 or of utility, to walk it's bounds. So far 
 
 indeed am I from intending to be accurate in 
 this matter, that I propofe in the following 
 defcriptive view of New-foreft, to take very 
 great liberties with it's boundaries ; and to 
 confider the foreft in it's ancient^ and mofl: 
 extended Jiate, limited by the bay of South- 
 ampton on the eaft; by the river Avon on 
 the weft; and by the fea on the fouth. 
 Without taking this liberty, I fliould lofe 
 the defcription of fome of the moft beautiful 
 icencry, that formerly belonged to it. 
 
 But before I enter on the pidiurefque part 
 of my work, it remains, as I have already 
 given a fliort account of the ancient Jiate of 
 New-foreft, to add a fhort account alfo of 
 it's prefent Jiate ; it's government, demeifns, 
 and inhabitants. 
 
 SECT. 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 ■^HE government of New-fored is, at 
 this time, nearly what it origii 
 
 was, excepting only that the abolition of 
 foreft-law hath retrained the power of it's 
 officers*. 
 
 The chief officer belonging to it, is the 
 lord- warden, who is generally fjme perfon of 
 great diftincStion. The prefent lord-warden 
 
 is the duke of Glocefler. Under him are 
 
 two diilindt appointments of officers -, the one 
 to preferve the 'ue?iifG?i of the foreft j and the 
 
 * I had many particulars with regard to the prefent ftate of 
 New-foreft from Mr. Samber of caftle-Malwood lodge, who 
 was intimately acquainted with it. After his death, his fon, 
 Capt. Samber of the navy, obligingly put into my hands 
 other ufeful papers, on the fame fubjed, which had belonged 
 to his father. 
 
 VOL.11, C Other 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 Other to preferve it's 'vert. The former term, 
 in the language of foreft-law, includes all 
 fpecies of game : the latter refpe6ls the woods, 
 and lawns, which harbour, and feed them. 
 
 Of thofe officers who fuperintend the game, 
 are firft the two rangers. But the office of 
 ranger', as well as that of bow-bearer, and 
 a few others, have been long in difufe : at 
 lead they feem to be delegated to the keepers : 
 of thefe there are fifteen -, who prefide over 
 as many ivalks, into which the foreil; is 
 divided. In each walk is erected a lodge. 
 A few of thefe lodges are elegant manfions ; 
 and are the habitations of the keepers, who 
 are generally men of fafhion, or fortune. 
 Prince William of Glocefter has one; the 
 duke of Bolton another ; and lord Delawar a 
 third ; but in general, the lodges are but 
 moderate buildings j and are inhabited by the 
 under-keepers, or groom-keepers, as they are 
 called; on whom the executive part of the 
 keeper's office devolves. 
 
 The under-keeper feeds the deer in winter— 
 browzes them in fummer — knows where to 
 find a fat buck — executes the king's warrants 
 for venifon — prefents offences in the foreft- 
 courts — and prevents the deftrudion of game. 
 
 Ib 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 In this laft article his virtue is chiefly {hown ♦ 
 and to this purpofe the men^ory of every found 
 keeper fhould be furnifhed with this cabaliftic 
 verfe. 
 
 Stable -Hand; 
 Dog- draw; 
 Back- bear ; and 
 Bloody-hand** 
 
 It implies the feveral circumftances, in which 
 offenders may be taken with the manner ^ as it 
 is phrafed. If a man be found armed, and 
 Rationed in feme fufpicious part of the foreft-— ^ 
 or if he be found with a dog purfuing a flricken 
 deer— or if he be found carrying a dead deer 
 on his back — or laftly, if he be found bloody 
 in the foreft; he is, in all thefe cafes, feizable; 
 thb the fadt of killing a deer cannot be proved 
 Upon him. The under-keeper alfo drives the 
 foreft'y that is, he annually impounds all the 
 cattle, that pafture in his walk ; and fees 
 them examined, and properly marked. 
 
 With regard to the woods of the foreft> 
 which were originally confidered only as they 
 fefpedted game, the firfl: officer, under the 
 
 • 
 
 See Manwood on foreft-law, ch. xviii. 9. 
 
 C 2 lord-warden. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 lord-warden, is tlie woodward. It is his 
 bufinefs, as his title denotes, to infped: the 
 woods. He prevents wafte — he fees that 
 young trees are properly fenced — and he afllgns 
 timber for the payment of foreft-oflicers. 
 This timber is fold by auflion at the court at 
 Lyndhurftj and annually amounts, to about 
 fcy&n hundred pounds; which is the fum 
 required. 
 
 Under the woodward are twelve regarders y 
 and to thefe indeed chletly is delegated the 
 executive part of his ofhce. The regarders 
 feize the hedge-bills, and axes of trefpalfers ; 
 prefent offences in the forefl-courts ; and affign 
 fuch tim.ber a^ is claimed by the inhabitants, 
 and borderers of the foreH:, for fuel, and 
 repairs. Of this inferior wood, there are 
 great quantities affigned, on every fide of the 
 foreft. I can only fpeak of my own affign- 
 ment, as vicar of Boldre ; which is annually 
 twelve load. 
 
 Befides thefe officers, who are in effec^t the 
 officers of the crown, as they are appointed by 
 the lord-warden ; there are four others, called 
 vcrdcrorSy who are commonly gentlemen of 
 property and intereft in the neighbourhood, and 
 are elci^ed, like the knights of the Aire, by 
 
 the 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 the freeholders of tlie county. Thefe officers, 
 fince the jujiiciary-in-eyre has been a finecure, 
 are the only judges of the fored:- courts. The 
 verderor is an ancient forcd-officer. His name 
 occurs in the earlieft account of foreft-law. 
 But tho his appointment has at prefcnt a 
 democratical cafl", it is probable, that he was 
 formerly a royal officer ; and that his eledion 
 by the fi-ee-hoiders of the county was extorted 
 from the crown in fome period favourable to 
 liberty. As New-foreft was alv/ays confidered 
 as the great magazine of navy timber, the 
 verderors were impowered by an act of par- 
 liament in king William's time, to fine 
 delinquents to the amount of five pounds in 
 their attachment- courts : whereas in all tlie 
 other forefts of England, the fine does not 
 amount to more than a few pence, which 
 was the original amerfement. The 'u^r- 
 deror is an officer without falary : but by 
 ancient cuflom he was entitled to courfe, and 
 take v/hat deer he pleafed, in his w^y to the 
 foreft-court : but this privilege is now com- 
 pounded by an annual fee of a buck, and a doe. 
 Befides thefe ancient officers of the forcft, 
 there is one of later inftitution, fince timber 
 became valuable as a material. He is called 
 C 3 the 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 the piirveyoi', and is appointed by the com- 
 miffioiiCr of the dock at Portfniouth. His 
 bufinefs is to aflign timber for the ufe of the 
 navy. The orit'in of the purveyor is not 
 earlier than the reign of Charles II. in whofe 
 time five hundred oaks, and fifty beeches were 
 annually affigned for the king's yards ; and this 
 officer was appointed to affign them. But 
 it being found, that the forefl could ill fupply 
 fo large a quantity of oak -, inflead of five 
 hundred, the number was afterwards reduced 
 to fixty; which together with fifty beeches, 
 are ftill annually affigned*. The purveyor 
 has a falary of fifty por.nds a year ; and fix and 
 eight-pence a day, when on duty. 
 
 I ffiall conclude this account of the officers 
 of the forell with the fingular character of one 
 of them, who lived in the times of James, 
 and Charles I. It is preferved in Hutchin's 
 hiftory of Dorfetffiire-f*. 
 
 The name of this memorable fportfman, 
 for in that charadler alone he w^as confpicuous, 
 was Henry Haftings. He was fecond fon to 
 the earl of Huntingdon ; and inherited a good 
 
 ♦ Mr. Samber's MS. -j- See vol. ii. p. 6^. 
 
 eflate 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 cftate in Dorfetfliire from his mother. He 
 was one of the keepers of New-foreft; and 
 refided in his lodge there, during a part of 
 every hunting-feafon. But his principal refi- 
 dence was at Woodlands, in Dorfetfliire, 
 where he had a capital manfion. One of his 
 nearefl: neighbours, was the lord chancellor 
 Cooper, firft earl of Shaftfbury. Two men 
 could not be more oppofite in their difpoHtions, 
 and purfuits. They had little communication 
 therefore j and their occafional meetings were 
 rendered more difagreeable to both, from their 
 oppofite fentiments in politics. Lord Shaft- 
 fbury, who was the younger man, was the 
 furvivor ; and the following account of Mr. 
 Haftings, which I have fomewhat abridged, 
 is faid to have been the produdion of his 
 pen. 
 
 Mr. Haftings was low of ftature, but very 
 ilrong, and very adtive ; of a ruddy com- 
 plexion, with flaxen hair. His cloaths were 
 always of green cloth. His houfe was of the 
 old fafliion ; in the midft of a large park, well 
 flocked with deer, rabbits, and fifli-ponds. 
 He had a long narrow bowling-green, in it; 
 and ufed to play with round fand-bowls. 
 Here too he had a banquetting-room built, 
 
 C 4 like 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 like a fland, in a large tree. He kept all forts 
 of hounds, that ran buck, fox, hare, otter, 
 and baciger^ and had hawks of all kinds, 
 both long, and fliort winged. His gi'eat hall 
 was commonly ftrewed with marrow-bones ; 
 and full of hawk-perches, hounds, fpaniels, 
 and terriers. The upper end of it was hung 
 with fox-flvins of this, and the laft year's 
 killing. Here, and there a pole-cat w^as 
 intermixed -, and hunter's poles in great abun- 
 dance. The parlour was a large room, 
 compleatly furniflied in the fame ftile. On 
 a broad hearth, paved with brick, lay fome 
 of the choiceft terriers, hounds, and fpaniels. 
 One or two of the great chairs, had litters 
 of cats in them, which were not to be dif- 
 turbed. Of thefe three or four always attended 
 him at dinner -, and a little white wand lay 
 by his trencher, to defend it, if they were 
 too troublefome. In the windows, which 
 were very large, lay his arrows, crofs-bows, 
 and other accoutrements. The corners of 
 the room were filled with his beft huntins:, 
 and hawking poles. His oiflcr- table flood 
 at the lower end of the room, which was in 
 conftant ufe twice a day, all the year round ; 
 for he never failed to eat oifters both at dinner, 
 
 and 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 and flipper ; with which the neighbouring 
 town of Pool fupplied him. At the upper 
 end of the room ftood a fmall table with a 
 double deilv ; one fide of which held a 
 church-bible^ the other, the book of martyrs. 
 On diiierent tables in the room lay hawk's- 
 hoods ; bells ; old hats, with their crowns 
 thruft in, full of pheafant eggs ; tables ; dice ; 
 cards ; and ftore of tobacco-pipes. At one 
 end of this room was a door, uhlch opened 
 into a clofet ; where flood bottles of ilrong 
 beer, and wine; which never came out but 
 in lingle glaiies, which was the rule of the 
 houfe; for he never exceeded himfelf; nor 
 permitted others to exceed. Anfwering to 
 this clofet, was a door into an old chapel; 
 which had been long difufed for devotion ; 
 but in the pulpit, as the fafefl place, u'as 
 always to be found a cold chine of beef, a 
 venifon-pafly, a gammon of bacon, or a great 
 apple-pye, with thick crufl:, well- baked. 
 His table coft him not much, tho it was good 
 to eat at. His fports fupplied all, but beef 
 and mutton ; except on fridays, when he had 
 - the beft of iifh. He never wanted a London 
 pudding ; and he always fang it in with, 
 ** My part lies therein- a J* He drank a glafs 
 
 Gr 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 or two of wine at meals ; put fyrup of gilly- 
 flowers into his fack ; and had always a tun- 
 glafs of fmall-beer (landing by him, which he 
 often flirred about with rofemary. He lived 
 to be an hundred; and never loft his eye- fight, 
 nor ufed fpecflacles. He got on horfe-back 
 without help -, and rode to the death of the 
 flag, till he was paft fourfcore. 
 
 SECT. 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 HAVING given an account of the go- 
 vernment, and officers of New-forefl 
 in the laft fecflion, I ihall now examine the 
 ilate of it's demeifns*, and inhabitants. 
 
 The 
 
 * In the year 1788, a furvey cf New-forefl was taken, 
 by order of the commiffioners of the land-revenue of the 
 Crown ; in which furvey the following account was given in 
 of it's contents. 
 
 Acres. 
 Foreft-Iands — — — — — — 63845 
 
 Lands held with lodges - ■ 1192 
 
 Incroachments ■ ■ — — 900 
 
 Leafeholds under the Crown — — ■ ■ 1003 
 
 Freeholds, and other intermediate property — 25422 
 
 Total within the perambulation ■ 92362 
 
 A few fraftions, which make about two or three acres more 
 I have omitted. From this furvey a fplendid map of New- 
 forefl 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 The foil of New-foreft, which is in general 
 a fandy loam, is well adapted to the produdlion 
 of oak- timber. This tra6l of woody country 
 therefore hath long been confidered, as one 
 of the great magazines for the navy. It was 
 formerly thought to be inexhauftible ; but 
 by degrees it was obferved, that it began to 
 fail. So early as in queen Elizabeth's reign, 
 Man wood tells us, that ** the flender, and 
 negligent execu-tion of the foreft-law hath 
 been the decay, and dellrudion (in almoil all 
 places within this realm) of great wood and 
 timber ; the want whereof, as well in this 
 prefent time, as in time to come, fliall ap- 
 pear in the navy of this realm*," 
 
 In queen Elizabeth's reign Man wood's 
 remark was fpefculation ; but in the reign 
 of Charles II, it took the air of predidion. 
 The decay of timber; which had long been 
 gradually coming on, began then to be felt. 
 
 foreft has been engraved (by order of the commiffioners,) by 
 William Faden, geographer to the king ; in which the curious 
 may fee the boundaries, and contents of New-foreil, uith all 
 the lands granted by the crown, the leafe-holds, and in- 
 croachments, very accurately afcertained. 
 
 ♦ See Mamvood on forcll-Iaw, chap. ii. 6. 
 
 It's 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 It's fources failed, as the demand increafed. 
 In mofl: commodities the demands of a m.arket 
 immediately produce a fupply ; but timber 
 requires ages to make it marketable. It may 
 be added, that the navy magazines had not 
 then thofe refources, which they have fince 
 found. Timber was with didiculty brought 
 from the inland parts of the country, on 
 account of the badnefs of the roads — little 
 foreign timber was imported — and what ren- 
 dered the evil more confpicuous, in Charles's 
 time, the nation was on the eve of a naval 
 war. Such prefiing neceffity urged fbrongly 
 the propriety of making provilion for a future 
 fupply. Charles, who had a fort of turn 
 for ihip-building, and had on that account, 
 a kind of afted:ion for the navy, was eafily 
 induced to iffue an order, under his fign 
 manual, to fir John Norton, woodward of 
 .New-foreft, to inclofe three hundred acres 
 of wafte, as a nurfery for young oak* ; the 
 expence of which was to be defrayed by the 
 fale of decayed wood. This order bears date 
 december 13th, 1669. 
 
 ♦ Mr. Samber'3 MS. 
 
 But 
 
( 3° ) 
 
 But tho the Inclofure, here fpecified, W3S 
 Irifling in itfelf, yet it had the merit of a 
 new projed:, and led to farther improvements* 
 A few years afterwards the fame idea was 
 taken up, on a more enlarged fcale. In the 
 loth of king William, an ad: pafled, im- 
 powering certain commiiTioners to inclofe two 
 thoufand acres in Nev^-foreft for the growth 
 of timber ; and two hundred more, every 
 year; for the fpace of twenty years after- 
 wards. 
 
 This provident a6l was as well executed, 
 as it had been projected. A very confiderable 
 part of the quantity prefcribed, at lead four 
 thoufand acres, were inclofed, and planted-f-, 
 and the timber of thefe inclofures is now 
 fecure from all danger j and is thrown out 
 again into the foreft. None of it hath yet 
 been felled, as it is not yet in a flate of 
 perfedion -, but it is in a very flourishing con- 
 
 f In Burley-walk above fix hundred acres were inclored— ^ 
 in Rhinefield-walk the fame number — in Boldre-wood-walk 
 above four hundred— in Egworth-walk one thoufand — in Bram- 
 blc-hill-walk above feven hundred — in Dlnney-walk above five 
 hundred— in Callle-Malwood-walk a quantity not afcertained, 
 Mr. Samber's MS. 
 
 dition ; 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 ditlon; and is at this day the glory of the 
 foreft. 
 
 In the reigns of queen Ann, and George 
 I, I believe, no new plantations were made; 
 which is the more to be wondered at, as the 
 fevere hurricane in the november of the year 
 1703 did great injury in New-foreft. Not 
 fewer than four thoufand of it's beft oaks 
 were deftroyed*, together with great quantities 
 of growing timber. 
 
 In the reign of George II, three inclofures 
 were made : but they were injudicioufly, or 
 didioneftly managed ; and Mr. Coleman, who 
 undertook the bufniefs, was fined in the 
 foreft-court at Lyndhurft, by the vcrderors, 
 for his neglecft-f*. Some attempts have been 
 made in the prefent reign : but for want of 
 being properly planned, or honeftly managed, 
 very little advantage hath accruedj. 
 
 The 
 
 * See Evelin's Sylva. f Mr. Samber's MS. 
 
 I In the year 1782 an inquiry was inllituted, by an order 
 from the treafury, into the quantities of navy-timber in New- 
 foreft — that is, fuch timber, as would meafure thirty-five cubic 
 feet. The quantity given in, after a very nice furvey, was 
 
 fifty-two thoufand load. Forty cubic feet make a load. 
 
 ^~ At the fame time the timber in Dean-foreft was furveyed ; 
 
 which. 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 The great defcd: indeed here, as in other 
 national matters, is the want of honefty. 
 Public affairs become private jobs. Large 
 inclofures have been made merely to inrich 
 the undertakers by the profits of inclofing ; 
 or the plunder of the underwood. Jt is 
 faid, that altho the fiourifhing plantations made 
 by king William, are at this time, receiving 
 injury from growing too clofe ; they are 
 rather fuffered to continue as they are, than 
 to run the hazard of being diflioneftly thinned. 
 For it has fometimes been found, that in thin- 
 ning trees, the beft, inftead of the worft, have 
 been removed : nor can any thing prevent 
 fuch m.ifchief, but the care, and honefty of 
 forefl-officers, and the perfons they employ. 
 
 What a general rapacity reigns in forefts, 
 may be conceived from the devaftation, which 
 even inferior officers have been able to com- 
 mit. Not many years ago, two men, of 
 the name of Batten, father and fon, fuc- 
 ceeded each other, in the office of under- 
 keeper, in one of the forefl- walks. . The 
 under-keeper is fuppofed to cut holm, and 
 
 which, tho of much fmaller dimenfions than Ncw-forefl, con- 
 tained fixty-two thoufand load. 
 
 Other 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 Other under-wood of little valae, to browzf 
 his deer ; and when the rind, and fpray are 
 eaten off, he faggots the dry fticks for his 
 own ufe. But thefe fellows cut down the 
 young timber of the foreft, without dif- 
 tindlion, and without meafure, which they 
 made up into faggots, and fold : and for this 
 paltry gain I have been informed, they com- 
 mitted wafte in the foreft eftimatcd at fifty 
 thoufand pounds damage. The calculation 
 feems large : but we may well imagine, that 
 in the unremitted courfe of fixty or feventy 
 years, great mifchief might be done. For 
 tho a young fapling may not intrinfically be 
 worth more than half a crown ; yet the great 
 difficulty of getting another thriving plant to 
 occupy it's room in the forell:, raifes it's con- 
 fequence to the public much beyond it's mere 
 fpecific value. 
 
 But the decay of forefts is not owing folely 
 either to the legal confumer, or the rapa- 
 cious trefpafTer. The oak of the foreft will 
 fometimes naturally fail. Mr. Evelin re- 
 marks*, that every foreft, in which oak. 
 
 • See his Sylva. 
 
 VOL. II, D and 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 and beech grow promifcuoufly, will in a 
 courfe of ages become intirely beechen. If 
 this be a juft remark, the oak, we are to 
 fuppofe, has not fo ftrong a vegetative power, 
 as the beech ; which, in time prevails over 
 
 the whole. Whatever truth there may be 
 
 in the obfervation, certain it is, that this 
 appearance of decay is found in many of 
 the wood-lands of New-foreft, which confifl 
 chiefly of beech, and unthriving oak. 
 
 Befides thefe fources of mifchief, the woods 
 of the foreft are fubjed: to another, that of 
 fire. In fultry weather, it's furzy heaths 
 are very combuftible ; and the neighbouring 
 cottagers are fuppofed fometimes to fet them 
 purpofely on fire to make pafturage more 
 plentiful. The danger arifes from the dif- 
 ficulty of flopping thefe fires, which will 
 fometimes continue burning, more or lefs, 
 at the mercy of the wind, during feveral 
 days. In the early part of the fummer 1785, 
 which was remarkably dry, many of thefe 
 fires were lighted, particularly one near Fri- 
 tham, which did great damagef*. 
 
 From 
 
 f The following was an advcrtifement from the lords of the 
 treafury on Uiis occaiioa. 
 
 ** Whereas 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 From thefe, and other caufes, many parts 
 of this extenfive forefl are now in a ilate of 
 extreme decay; being overfpread merely v/ith 
 hohiies, underwood, and flunted trees, which 
 in the memory of man were full of excellent 
 oak*. 
 
 In planting oak, it hath been a doubt, 
 whether it is more judicious to fow the acorn, 
 after incloling, and grubbing the ground— 
 
 ** Whereas on friday night, the 29th of april lafl:, feme 
 perfon or perfons, did malicioufly, and audaciou/ly, fet fire 
 to one of the inclofures near Fritham, in New-foreft, whereby 
 a very large number of young oak and beech trees growing 
 therein, and part of the fence thereof, were dellroyed ; notice 
 is hereby given that any perfon who will give information of 
 the perfon, or perfons who fet fire to the aforefaid inclcfure, 
 except the perfon, or perfons who committed the fame, fo as 
 he, or they may be brought to juftice, fhall, on conviflion of 
 the offender, or offenders, receive the reward of forty pounds. 
 
 Whereas alfo the heaths and furze in feveral other parts of 
 the faid forefl have been lately fet on fire, whereby large trafts 
 thereof, and many young trees growing thereon, have been 
 deftroyed; notice is hereby given, that a reward of five 
 pounds will be paid to any perfon, or perfons, upon whofe 
 information, the perfon or perfons, who fet fire to the fame, 
 fhall be convi<5led. 
 
 The rewards aforefaid to be paid, on conviction of the 
 effenders, by Mr. Tombes deputy-furveyor of the foreft." 
 
 Lyndhurft, June 2d, 1 785. 
 • Mr. Samber's MS. 
 
 D 2 ©r 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 or to fow it, without either operation. In 
 the wild parts of the foreft, in the midft of 
 thorn -buflies, and holHes, which will defend 
 the fapling from cattle, till it be able to ftand 
 alone; and will draw it in it's early ftate 
 to much quicker maturity, than it can arrive 
 at without fuch fhelter. The latter w^ay of 
 fowing acorns, in the wild parts of the 
 forefl, is not fo fure, but much larger quan- 
 tities may be fown at a much lefs expence ; 
 and if one tenth part of the acorns fucceed, 
 the faving is great on an equal quantity of 
 timber. I cannot however help doubting 
 the efficacy of this mode of raifing timber; 
 tho I have often heard fenfible people, who 
 have lived in the neighbourhood of the foreft, 
 fpeak favourably of it : and it is certain that 
 timber is often raifed fortultoufly in this 
 manner. We fee in the wild parts of the 
 foreft, trees, which have attained the growth 
 of ten, twenty, or thirty years, as far as 
 we can judge, without any aid: and we 
 are at a lofs to know, how nature manages 
 a work of this kind, and rears this ex- 
 pofed part of her offspring, amidft deer, and 
 cattle. And yet we fee the fame kind pro- 
 vidence in a higher part of the creation. 
 
 We 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 We fee the children of the cottage, expofed 
 to mifchief on every lide, and continually 
 running rifles, which delicate mothers would 
 tremble at : yet befriended by a gracious 
 protedor, they get forward in life, and attain 
 maturity, like the wildings of the foreft, in 
 a manner, which they who fpeculate only 
 on human means, cannot eafily conceive. 
 
 In planting the foreft, feme again have 
 been advocates for uniting the two modes I 
 have fpecified. The ground is inclofed, but 
 not grubbed, and the acorns fown at random. 
 The late duke of Bedford, when he was 
 lord warden, was very intent on raifing 
 timber in this fortuitous manner. He merely 
 inclofed and left it to chance to £11 his 
 inclofures. But I do not find that any of 
 
 them have fucceeded. If the ground were 
 
 inclofed, and a fpot here and there, grubbed, 
 in which two or three acorns were fown ; 
 and fome little care taken afterwards of the 
 infant-wood, it miglit be of all others, per- 
 haps, the moft certain, and the leaft expenlive, 
 way of raifing timber. 
 
 D 3 But 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 But the iDoods of the fcrcfl: have not alone 
 been the objedts of devaftation ; it's lands 
 alfo have fuffered. After the foreft had loft 
 it's great legal fupport, and reafons of flate 
 obliged the monarch to feek his amufements 
 nearer home, the extent of thefe royal de- 
 meifns began infenfibly to diminifh. New- 
 foreft, among others, was greatly curtailed. 
 Large portions of it were given away in 
 grants by the crown. Many gentlemen have 
 houfes in it's interior parts -, and their te- 
 nants are in polleffion of well cultivated 
 farms. For tho the foil of New-foreft is, 
 in general, poor -, yet there are fome parts 
 of it, which very happily admit culture. 
 Thus the forefl has fuffered in many places, 
 what it's ancient laws confidered as the 
 greateft of all mifchiefs, under the name of 
 an afjart* ; a word, which fignifies grubbing 
 up it's coverts, and copfes, and turning the 
 harbours of deer into arable land. A flop 
 however is now put to all grants from the 
 
 * See Manwood, ch. ix. fee. i. 
 
 crown. 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 crown. The crown-lands became public 
 property under the care of the treafury, when 
 the civil lift was fettled. The king can 
 only grant leafes for thirty years; and the 
 parliament feldom interferes in a longer ex- 
 tenfion, except on particular occafions. 
 
 Befides thefe defalcations arifing from the 
 bounty of the crown, the foreft is continually 
 preyed on by the incroachments of inferior 
 people. There are multitudes of trefpaffers, 
 on every fide of it, who build their little 
 huts, and inclofe their little gardens, and 
 patches of ground, without leave, or cere- 
 mony of any kind. The under-keepers, who 
 have conftant orders to deftroy all thefe in- 
 clofures, now and then affert the rights of 
 the foreft by throwing down a fence; but 
 it requires a legal procefs to throw down a 
 houfe, of which polTeffion has been taken. 
 The trefpafTer therefore here, as on other 
 waftes, is careful to rear his cottage, and 
 get into it as quickly as polTible. I have 
 known all the materials of one of thefe ha- 
 bitations brought together — the houfe built 
 — covered in — the goods removed — a fire 
 kindled — and the family in pofTeffion, during 
 the courfe of a moon-light night. Some^ 
 
 D 4 time* 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 times indeed, where the trefpafs is incon- 
 fiderable, the poflelTor has been allowed to 
 pay a fine for his land in the court of Lynd^ 
 hurfl. But thefe trefpafies are generally in 
 the outlliirts of the foreil; or in the neigh- 
 bourhood of fome little hamlet. They are 
 never fuffered in the interior parts ; where 
 no lands are alienated from the crown, except 
 in regular grants. 
 
 The many advantages, which the borderers 
 on forefls enjoy, fuch as rearing cattle, and 
 hogs, obtaining fuel at an eafy rate, and 
 procuring little patches of land for the trouble 
 of inclofing it, would add much, one ihould 
 imagine, to the comfort of their lives. But 
 in fad: it is otherwife. Thefe advanta2;es 
 procure them not half the enjoyments of 
 common day-labourers. In general, they are 
 an indolent race; poor and wretched in the 
 extreme. Inftead of having the regular re* 
 turns of a week's labour to fubfift on, too 
 many of them depend on the precarious fupply 
 ©f foreft pilfer. Their oftenfible bufmefs is 
 commonly to cut furze, and carry it to the 
 neighbouring brick-kilns; for which purpofe 
 they keep a team of two or three foreft-horfes : 
 while their collateral fupport is deer-flealing, 
 
 poaching. 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 poaching, Or purloining timber. In this lafl 
 occupation they are faid to have been fo expert, 
 that, in a night's time, they would have cut 
 down, carried off, and lodged fafely in the 
 hands of fome receiver, one of the largefl 
 oaks of the foreft. But the depredations, 
 which have been made in timber, along all 
 the fkirts of the foreft, have rendered this 
 fpecies of theft, at prefent, but an unprofitable 
 employment. In poaching, and deer-flealing 
 they often find their beil account ; in all the 
 arts of which many of them are well pa(ftifed. 
 From their ealieft youth they learn to fct 
 the trap, and the gin for hares, and pheafants ; 
 to infnare deer by hanging hooks, baited with 
 apples, from the boughs of trees ; and (as 
 they became bolder proficients,) to watch the 
 herd with fire-arms, and fingle out a fat 
 buck, as he pafies the place of their con- 
 cealment. 
 
 In wild rugged countries, the mountaneer 
 forms a very different character from the 
 forefter. He leads a life of labour : he pro- 
 cures nothing without it. He has neither 
 time for idlenefs, and difhoneft arts ; nor 
 meets with any thing to allure him into them. 
 But the forefter, who has the temptation of 
 
 plunder 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 plunder on every fide, finds it eafier to tref- 
 pafs, than to work. Hence, the one becomes 
 often a rough, manly ingenuous peafantj the 
 other a fupple, crafty, pilfering knave. Even 
 the very prad:ice of following a night-oc- 
 cupation leads to mifchief. The nightly 
 wanderer, unlefs his mind be engaged in 
 fome neceffary bufinefs, will find many temp- 
 tations to take the advantage of the incautious 
 
 fecurity of thofe who are aQeep. From 
 
 thefe confiderations Mr. St. John draws an 
 argument for the fale of foreft-lands. ** Poverty, 
 fays he, will be changed into affluence — the 
 cottager will become a farmer — the wildernefs 
 will be converted into rich paftures, and fertile 
 fields ; furnifhing provifions for the country, 
 and employment for the poor. The borders, 
 and confines of forefts will ceafe to be nur- 
 feries for county-goals -, the trefpafier will no 
 longer prey upon the vert -, nor the vagabond, 
 and out- law on the 'uenifon. Nay the very 
 foil itfelf will not then be gradually loft, and 
 ftolen, by purprejiures, and ajfarts. Thus 
 forefts, which were formerly the haunts of 
 robbers, and the fcenes of violence, and 
 
 rapine. 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 rapine, may be converted into the receptacles 
 of honeft induftry."* 
 
 I had once fome occafional intercourfe 
 with a foreft-borderer, who had formerly 
 been a noted deer-ftealer. He had often 
 (hke the deer-flealer in the play) 
 
 - ~ ■- -ftruck a doe. 
 
 And born her cleanly by the keeper's nofe. 
 
 Indeed he had been at the head of his pro- 
 feffion; and daring a reign of five years, 
 affured me, he had killed, on an average, 
 not fewer than an hundred bucks a year. 
 At length he was obliged to abfcond ; but 
 compofing his affairs, he abjured his trade, 
 and would fpeak of his former arts without 
 referve. He has oftener than once confefTed 
 the fins of his youth to me; from which an 
 idea may be formed of the my fiery of deer- 
 flealing, in it's highefb mode of perfection. 
 In his excurfions in the forefl he carried with 
 him a gun, which fcrewed into three parts, 
 and which he could eafily conceal in the 
 lining of his coat. Thus armed he would 
 
 See obfervations on the land-revenue of the crown, p. i68. 
 
 drink 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 drink with the under-keepers without fuf- 
 picion ; and when he knew them engaged, 
 would fecurely take his fland in feme diftant 
 part, and mark his buck. When he had 
 killed him, he would draw him afide into 
 the bullies, and fpend the remaining part of 
 the day in a neighbouring tree, that he might 
 be fure no fpies were in the way. At night 
 he fecreted his plunder. He had boarded off 
 a part of his cottage, (forming a rough door 
 into it, like the reft of the partition, ftruck 
 full of falfe nail-heads,) with fuch artifice, 
 that the keepers, on an information, have 
 fearched his houfe again and again, and have 
 gone off fatisfied of his innocence j tho his 
 fecret larder perhaps at that very time con- 
 tained a brace of bucks. He had always, he 
 faid, a quick market for his venifon; for the 
 country is as ready to purchafe it, as thefe 
 fellows are to procure it. It is a foreft-adage 
 of ancient date, non ejl i?iquirendum unde venit 
 'venifon. 
 
 The incroachments of trefpaffers, and the 
 houfes, and fences thus raifed on the borders 
 of the foreft, tho, at this time, in a degree 
 connived at, were heretofore conlidered as 
 great nuifances by the old foreft-law, and 
 
 were 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 were verj^ feverely punirtied under the name 
 oi furpreftureSy * as tending ad terrorem Jera~ 
 nun — ad nccumcntiim forejia — and, as might 
 be added, at this time, by the neighbouring 
 paridies, ad incrementum fauperum. When a 
 ilranger therefore rears one of thefe fudden 
 fabricks, the parifli-officers make him provide 
 a certificate from his own parifh, or they 
 remove him. But the mifchief commonly 
 arifes from a parifhioner's railing his cottage,, 
 and afterwards felHng it to a flrangcr, whicia 
 may give him paridi-rights. Thefe incroacli- 
 ments however are evils of fo long Ixanding, 
 that at this day they hardly admit a remedy. 
 Many of thefe little tenements have been fo 
 long occupied, and have paiTed through fo 
 many hands, that the occupiers are now ia 
 fecure poffeiTion. 
 
 Where the manor of Beaulieu-a:bbey is 
 railed from the foreft, a large fettlement of 
 this kind runs in fcattered cottages, at leaft 
 a mile along the rails. This neft of in- 
 'Croac'hers the late duke of Bedford, when 
 lord- warden of the foreft, rtfolved to roat 
 
 * See Manwood, chapter x. fee. i", 
 
 out. 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 out. But he met with fuch fturdy, and 
 determined oppofition from the foreflers of 
 the hamlet, who amounted to more than 
 two hundred men, that he was obhged to 
 delift-f- — whether he took improper meafures, 
 as he was a man of violent temper, — or 
 whether no meafures, which he could have 
 taken, would have been efFedual in repreffing 
 
 fo inveterate an evil. And yet in fome 
 
 circumftances, thefe little tenements (incroach- 
 ments as they are, and often the nurferics of 
 idlenefs) give pleafure to a benevolent breaft. 
 When we fee them, as we fometimes do, the 
 habitations of innocence, and induftry; and 
 the means of providing for a large family with 
 eale, and comfort, we are pleafed at the idea 
 of fo much utility and happinefs, arifmg from 
 a petty trefpafs on a wafte, which cannot in 
 itfelf be confidered as an injury. 
 
 I once found, in a tenement of this kind, 
 an ancient widow, whofe little ftory pleafed 
 me. — Her folitary dwelling flood fweetly in a 
 dell, on the edge of the foreft. Her hufband 
 had himfelf reared it, and led her to it, as the 
 
 t Mr. Samber's MS. 
 
 habitation 
 
 J 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 habitation of her life. He had made a garden 
 in the front, planted an orchard at one end, 
 and a few trees at the other, which in forty 
 years had now fhielded the cottage, and almoft 
 concealed it. In her early youth fhe had been 
 left a widow with two fons, and a daughter, 
 whofe flender education (only what (he herfelf 
 could give them) was almoft her whole em- 
 ployment : and the time of their youth, fhe 
 faid, was the pleafanteft time of her life. As 
 they grew up, and the cares of the world 
 fubiided, a fettled piety took polTellion of her 
 mind. Her age was opprefTed with infirmity, 
 ficknefs, and various afflidiions in her family. 
 In thefe diftrefles, her bible was her great 
 comfort. I vifited her frequently in her 
 laft illnefs, and found her very intelligent in 
 fcripture, and well verfed in all the gofpel- 
 topics of confolation. For many years fhe 
 every day read a portion of her bible, feldom 
 any other book; 
 
 Juft knew, and knew no more, her bible true; 
 And in that charter read with fparkling eyes. 
 Her title to a treafure in the fkies. 
 
 When fhe met with pafTages, flie did not 
 underfland, at one time, or other, fhe faid, 
 fhe often heard them explained at church. — 
 
 The 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 The flory feems to evince how very fufficient 
 plain fcripture is, unafTiiled with other helps, 
 except fuch as are publicly provided, to adnii- 
 nifter both the knowledge, and the comforts 
 of religion even to the lowefl clalfes of people. 
 
 The dialed; of Hampfliire has a particular 
 tendency to the corruption of proj:iouns, by 
 confounding their cafes. This corruption 
 prevails through the country; but it feems 
 to increafe as we approach the fea. About 
 the neighbourhood of New-foreft this Doric 
 hath attained it's perfediion. I have oftencr 
 than once met with the following tender elegiac 
 in church-yards. 
 
 Him fhall never come again to we : 
 But us fhall furely, one day, go to he. 
 
 Having thus given a (hort account of the 
 prefent ftate of New-foreft, and it's inhabitants, 
 I haften to the more agreeable part of my 
 work, the defcription of it's fcenery. I have 
 already apprized the reader*, that I propofe 
 
 • See p. 16, 
 
 to 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 to confider it's boundaries in their widefl: 
 extent, as advancing to the bay of Southamp- 
 ton on the eaft ; to the river Avon on the 
 
 weft ; and to the fea on the fouth. Within 
 
 equal limits perhaps few parts of England 
 afford a greater variety of beautiful landfcape. 
 It's woody fcenes, it's extended lawns, and 
 vaft fweeps of wild country, unlimited by 
 artificial boundaries, together with it's river- 
 views, and diftant coafts 3 are all in a great 
 degree magnificent. It muft ftill however be 
 remembered, that it's chief charadleriftic, and 
 what it refts on for diftindion, is not fublimityt 
 but fylvan beauty. 
 
 But before I enter on a particular defcription 
 of the fcenery of New-foreft, in a pidurefque 
 light, it may not be improper to give the 
 reader a kind of table of contents of what 
 he is to expecft. 
 
 VOL. II. E SECT. 
 
1 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
( 5' ) 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 ON looking into a map of New-foreft, 
 and drawing an imaginary line from 
 Ringwood on the Avon, to Dibden on the 
 bay of Southampton, the u^hole foreft eafily 
 divides itfelf into four parts. That diftridt, 
 which lies north of this imaginary line, we 
 may call one part. The river Avon, and 
 Lymington-river make the boundaries of a 
 fecond : Lymington-river, and Beaulieu-river 
 of a third : and the country between this lafl 
 river, and the bay of Southampton, may be 
 conlidered as a fourth. 
 
 When I fpoke of forefts in general, as 
 confifting of large trads of heathy- land, 
 and carpet-lawns, interfperfed with woods*. 
 
 ♦ See vol. I. p. 210. 
 
 E 2 I had 
 
( 52 ) ' 
 
 I had a particular view to the fcenery of 
 Nevv-foreft, which is precifely of this kind. 
 It's lawns and woods are every where divided 
 by large diftrids of heath. Many of thefe 
 woods have formerly been, as many of the 
 heaths at prefent are, of vaft extent; run- 
 ning feveral miles without interruption. Dif- 
 ferent parts too both of the open, and of the 
 woody country, are fo high, as to command 
 extenfive diftances, tho no part can in any 
 degree afl'ume the title of mountainous. 
 
 Along the banks of the Avon, from 
 Ringwood to the fea, the whole furface is 
 flat, inclofed, and cultivated. There is little 
 beauty in this part. Eaftward from Chrifl- 
 church, along the coaft, as far as to the 
 eftuary of Lymington- river we have alfo a 
 continued fiat. Much heathy ground is in- 
 terfperfed; but no woody fcenery, except 
 in fome narrow glen, through which a ri- 
 vulet happens to find it's way to the fea. In 
 two or three of thefe there is fome beauty. 
 Here the coaft, which is expofed to 
 the ocean, and formed by the violence of 
 florms, is edged by a broken cliiF, from 
 
 >vhich 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 which are prefented grand fea-views, fome-ii 
 times embellifhed with winding fhores. As 
 we leave the coad, and afcend more into 
 the mid-land parts of this divifion, the fcenery 
 improves. The ground is more varied j woods 
 and lawns are interfperfed : and many of them 
 are among the moft beautiful exhibitions of 
 this kind, which the foreft prefents. 
 
 In the next divifion, which is contained 
 between the rivers of Lymington, and Beaulieu, 
 we have alfo great variety of beautiful country. 
 The coaft indeed is flat, and unedged with 
 cliif ; as it lies oppofite to the ifle of Wight, 
 which defends it from the violence of the 
 ocean : but the views it prefents, are fometimes 
 interefting. It is wooded in many parts 
 almofl to the water's cdgt ; and the ifland 
 appearing like a diftant range of mountains, 
 gives the channel the form of a grand lake. 
 
 As we leave the fea, the ground rifes, 
 
 and the woods take more poiTeflion of it, 
 cfpecialiy along the banks of the two rivers 
 I have juft mentioned, which afford on each 
 fide for a confiderable fpace, many beautiful 
 fcenes. There are heathy grounds in this 
 
 E 3 diftridt 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 diftrid^ alfo ; but they occupy chiefly the middle 
 parts between thefe two tracts of wood-land. 
 
 In that divifion of New-foreft, which Is 
 confined by Beaulieu-river, and the bay of 
 Southampton, the mid-land parts are heathy 
 as in the lailj but the banks, and vicinity 
 both of the river, and the bay, are woody, 
 and full of beautiful fcenery. This divlfion 
 is perhaps, on the whole, the moft interefting 
 of the foreft. For befides it's woods, there 
 is greater variety of ground, than in any 
 other part. Here alfo are grander water- 
 views, than are exhibited any where elfe. 
 The views along the banks of Beaulieu-river, 
 it has in common with the lafl divlfion ; 
 but thofe over the bay of Southampton, are 
 
 wholly it's own. One difagreeable cir- 
 
 cumftance attends all the fea-views, which 
 are oppofite to the ille of Wight, and that 
 is, the ouzinefs of the beach, when the fea 
 retires. A pebbly, or a fandy (hore, has as 
 good an effed: often when the fea ebbs, as 
 when it is full — fometimes perhaps a better : 
 but an ouzy one has an unpleafant hue. 
 However this fhore is one of the bell of 
 
 the 
 
( ss ) 
 
 the kind ^ for the ouze here is generally covered 
 with green fea-weed, which as the tide retires, 
 gives it the appearance of level land deferted 
 by the fea, and turned into meadow. But 
 thefe lands are meadows only in furface ; for 
 they have no paftoral accompaniments. 
 
 The northern divifion of New-forefl contains 
 all thofe parts, which lie north of Ringwood and 
 Dibden. As this diftrid; is at a diftance from 
 the fea, and not interfered by any river, whch 
 defer ves more than the name of a brook, it is 
 adorned by no water- views, except near Dibden, 
 where the foreft is bounded by the extremity 
 of the bay of Southampton. The want of water 
 however is recompenfed by grand woody 
 fcenes, in which this part of the foreft equals, 
 
 if not exceeds, any other part. In noble 
 
 diftances alfo it excels -, for here the ground 
 fwells higher, than in the more maritime parts ; 
 and the diftances, which thefe heights com- 
 mand, coniift often of vafl extenlive foreft-^ 
 fcenes. 
 
 4 Befides 
 
( S6 ) 
 
 Befides the heaths, lawns, and woods, of 
 which the foreft is compofed, there is another 
 kind of furface found in many parts, which 
 comes under none of thefe denominations, and 
 that is the bog. Many parts of the foreft abound 
 in fprings ; and as thefe lands have ever been 
 in a ftate of nature, and of courfe undrained, 
 the moiflure drains itfelf into the low grounds, 
 where, as ufual in other rude countries, it 
 becomes foft, and fpongy, and generates bogs. 
 Thefe in fome< places are very extenfive. In 
 the road between Brokenhurft, and Ringwood, 
 at a place called Longflade bottom; one of 
 thefe bogs extends three miles, without in- 
 terruption, and is the common drain of all 
 thofe parts of the foreft. In landfcape indeed 
 the bog is of little prejudice. It has in general 
 the appearance of common verdure. But the 
 traveller muft be on his guard. Thefe trad:s 
 of deceitful ground are often dangerous to fuch 
 as leave the beaten roads ; and traverfe the 
 paths of foreft. A horfe-track is not always 
 the clue of fecurity. It is perhaps only beaten 
 by the little foreft-horfe, which will venture 
 into a bog in queft of better herbage -, and his 
 
 lightnefs 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 lightnefs fecures him in a place, where a larger 
 horfe, under the weight of a rider, would 
 flounder. If the traveller therefore meet with 
 a horfe-path, pointing into a fwamp, even 
 tho he fhould obferve it to emerge on the 
 other fide, he had better relinquifh it. The 
 onlj track he can prudently follow, is that 
 of wheels. 
 
 Having thus prefented the reader with a 
 general view of New-foreft, I fliall nov/ en- 
 deavour to give him a more intimate acquain- 
 tance with it, and fhall lead him into fome 
 
 of it's moft beautiful fcenes. Nor was the 
 
 beauty of the foreft a matter of no concern, 
 even at a time, when we might have fuppofed 
 the pleafures of the chafe ingrofled men's whole 
 attention, ** There are three fpecial caufes, 
 fays Manwood, why the foreft-lavvs have fo 
 carefully provided for the preservation of the 
 vert of the foreil. The firft is for the fake 
 of cover for the deer. The fecond for the 
 fake of the acorns, mart, &c. which feed 
 them. The third is, propter decor em, for the 
 comelinefs and beauty of the fame in a foreft. 
 For the very fight, and beholding of the 
 
 goodly 
 
( ss ) 
 
 goodly green, and pleafant woods in a foref?:^ 
 is no lefs pleafant, and delightful in the eye 
 of a prince, than the view of the wild beafts 
 of chafe ; and therefore the grace of a foreft 
 is to be decked and trimmed up with ftore 
 
 of pleafant green coverts*." One fhould 
 
 fcarce have exped:ed fuch a paflage as this 
 in a law-book. On fuch authority however, 
 I hope, I may confider the fcenery of the forefl: 
 as effential to the very exigence of it; and 
 fhall proceed with more confidence, in the 
 defcription of tbofe goodly green, and pleafant 
 woodsy the fight and beholding ivhereof is fo 
 comely and delightful. 
 
 In this detail I fhall rarely go in queft of 
 views into the intricacies, and receffes of the 
 forefl. Thefe fweet retreats would often fur- 
 nifh a great variety of pleaiing fcenes ; but 
 it would be difficult to afcertain, and point 
 them out to the obfervation of others. I fball 
 fatisfy myfelf therefore with following the 
 great roads, or, at leaf!:, fuch as are commonly 
 known, where views may eaiily be afcertained ; 
 referving only the liberty of flepping a little 
 
 Manwood, chap. vi. 
 
 afide. 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 afide, when any thing of peculiar excellence 
 
 deferves attention. 1 fliould in this detail 
 
 alio purfue my rout through the foreft, with 
 a careful eye to the arbitrary divifion I have 
 made of it, into four parts* ; but as the roads 
 will not always admit fuch exa(flnefs, I muft 
 be content to follow the rout prefcribed by 
 the furveyors of the high- ways; keeping within 
 the divifion I have prefcribed, as nearly as I 
 can. 
 
 • See page 51. 
 
1 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 SECT. V. 
 
 Remarks on the weftern parts of New-foreft, from 
 Vicar's-hill to Ringwoodj and from thence, 
 through Chrift-church to Lymington. 
 
 FROxM Vicar's-hill, we palTed Boldre- 
 bridge, and afcending the oppolite bank, 
 called Rope-hill, to Battramfly, we had a- 
 beautiful view of the eftuary of Lymington 
 river; which when filled with the tide, 
 forms a grand fweep to the fea. It is feen to 
 mofl advantage from the top of the hill, a 
 few yards out of the road on the right. The 
 valley, through which the river flows, is 
 broad; it's fcreens are not lofty, but well 
 varied, and woody. The curves of the river 
 are marked by long projedlions of low land, 
 and on one or two of them fome little faltern, 
 
 or 
 
( ^2 ) 
 
 or other building is ere(fted, which breaks the 
 lines. The diftance is formed by the fea, and 
 the ifle of Wight. All together the view 
 is pidturefque. It is what the painter properly 
 calls a whole. There is a fore-ground, a 
 middle-ground, and diftance — all harmonioufly 
 
 united. We have the fame view, only 
 
 varied by pofition, from many high grounds 
 in the neighbourhood ; but I know not, that 
 it appears to fuch advantage any where as from 
 
 this hill. At Battramfly we join the 
 
 London-road. 
 
 From hence to Brokenhurft, the foreft 
 exhibits little more than a wild heath, Ikirted 
 -here and there with diftant wood. 
 
 Brokenhurft is a pleafant forefl-village, 
 lying in a bottom, adorned with lawns, 
 groves, and rivulets, and furrounded on the 
 
 ...higher grounds by vaft woods. From the 
 
 church-yard an expanded view opens over the 
 whole. On the left rife the woods of Hin- 
 -chelfea, and adjoining to thefe, the woods of 
 -Rhinville. The centre is occupied by the high 
 grounds of Boldre-wood. The little fpeck 
 juft itzvi among them, is a fummer-houfe, 
 built by lord Delawar to command a foreft- 
 tview. The houfe among the woods on the 
 
 right 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 right is Cuffnel's, the feat of Mr. Rofe; and 
 ftill more to the right, are the woods of 
 Lyndhurft. 
 
 At the entrance of Brokenhurfl, a little to 
 the right, Mr. Morant's houfe commands a 
 very grand, and pid:urefque foreft-vievv. Both 
 the fore- ground, and the diftance, are com- 
 plete. 
 
 The former is an elevated park-fcene, 
 confifting of great variety of ground ; well- 
 planted; and defcending gently into the plain 
 below. Among the trees, which adorn it, 
 are a few of the oldeft, and mod venerable 
 oaks of the foreft. I doubt not but they 
 chronicle on their furrowed trunks ages before 
 the conqueft. 
 
 From this grand fore-ground is prefented 
 an extenfive foreft-view. It confifts of a wide 
 range of flat pafturage (one of the fpreading 
 lawns of the foreft*) garniHied with tufted 
 clumps and woody promontories fliooting into 
 it ; and contrafted by immenfe woods, which 
 occupy all the rifmg grounds above it, and 
 
 * See page 210. 
 
 circle 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 circle the horizon. The contraft between the 
 open, and woody parts of the diftance, and the 
 grandeur of each part, are in the higheft ftile 
 of pidiurefque beauty. 
 
 This grand view is difplayed to mod advan- 
 tage from the front of the houfe : but it is 
 feen alfo very advantageoufly through other 
 openings among the trees of the fore-ground. 
 
 As you leave the village of Brokenhurfl, 
 the woods receive you in a noble riling vifta, 
 in which form the road is cut through the 
 foreft. This vifta is exceedingly grand. A 
 ijoindlng road through a wood, has undoubtedly 
 more beauty than a '■cifia; and in a fmaller 
 fcene we always wifh to find it; and even 
 reprobate the vifta, wherever it occurs. But 
 through a vaft foreft the vifta is in better 
 tafte ; tho I do not in the leaft apprehend we 
 are under obligations, on this fcore, to the 
 furveyor of the high- ways. He took the 
 diredt road ; which happened, on this occafion, 
 to be the line of beauty. On other occafions, 
 under the fame principle, he has miffed it : 
 but here it fuits the greatnefs of the fcene; 
 and ihews the depth of the foreft, and the 
 
 vaftnefs 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 vaftnefs of the woods, to more advantage. 
 Regular forms are certainly unpidlnrefque ; 
 but from their limpHcity, they arc often allied 
 to greatnefs. So eflential is fimplicity to 
 greatnefs, that we often fee inftances, in which 
 the ilillnefs of fymmetry hath added to gran- 
 deur, if not produced it ; while on the other 
 hand, we as often fee a fublime effed: injured 
 by the meretricious charms of pidlurefque 
 forms, and arrangements. 
 
 We are not however to conceive of the 
 foreft-vifta, as we do of the tame viftas formed 
 by the hand of art. As it is cut through a 
 trad of woody country, there is firil, of 
 courfe, no formality in the difpoiition of the 
 trees. In the artificial vifta, the trees are 
 all of one age, and planted in regular growth. 
 The whole plan is the offspring of formality; 
 and the more formal it is, the nearer it ap- 
 proaches that idea of perfeclion, at which it 
 aims. But in the foreft-vifta the trees are 
 cafually large, or fmall j growing in clumps, 
 or /landing fingle; crouding upon the fore- 
 ground, or receding from it; as the v/ild 
 hand of nature hath fcattered them. And it 
 is curious to fee with what richnefs of inven- 
 tion, if I may fo fpeak, nature mixes, and 
 
 VOL. II. F intermixes 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 intermixes her trees ; and fliapes them into 
 fuch a wonderful variety of groups, and 
 beautiful forms. Art may adm.ire, and at- 
 tempt to plant, and form combinations, and 
 clumps like hers : but whoever examines the 
 wild combinations of a forcfl (which is a 
 delightful ftudy to a pidlurefque eye) and 
 compares them with the attempts of art, has 
 little tafte, if he do not acknowledge with 
 aflonhhment, the fuperiority of nature's work- 
 manfhip. 
 
 The artificial vifta again is rarely compofed 
 of more than one fpecies. It is the fir, the 
 lime, or the elm. But in the foreft-vifta 
 you have not only difi^erent kinds of trees in- 
 termixed; but bufhes alfo, and underwood, 
 and wild plants of all kinds, which are 
 continually producing new varieties in every 
 part. 
 
 Open groves too make another variety in 
 the forell- vifta. In the woods between Bro- 
 kenhurft, and Lyndhurft, an open grove is 
 continued on the right, with little interrup- 
 tion, between the feventh and eighth flones. 
 The woods on the left are chiefly clofe. 
 
 Befides, thcfe grand viftas are not only 
 varied with fuch fmaller openings, and recefles, 
 
 as 
 
( 6? ) 
 
 as ire formed by the irregular growth of trees ; 
 they are broken alfo by lawns, and trad:s of 
 padarage, which often fhoot athwart thein. 
 One of this kind, and a very beautiful one, 
 occurs at the fixth ftone, and another, tho of 
 inferior fize and beauty, at the feventh. 
 
 Added to this intermixture of lawn and 
 wood, the rifing and falling of the ground in 
 various parts of this vifta produce another 
 fpecies of variety. The elevation is no where 
 coniiderable ; but it is fufficient to occalion 
 breaks in the convergency of the great per- 
 fpedtive lines. It creates alfo new beauties in 
 the fcenery ; particularly in fome parts on 
 the left, where you look down from the road, 
 among trees retiring, and linking from the eye, 
 till the flems of the moll diflant are loft in 
 the deep ihadows of the defcending receffes. 
 
 All thefe circumftances, tho the lail is 
 more general, give the forejl-vijla a very 
 different air from the artificial o?ie, diver- 
 fifying the parts, of which it is compofed, 
 fo much, that the eye is never fatigued with 
 furveying them ; while the ivhole together 
 prefents one vaft, fubhme objed:. Li^ce a 
 grand gallery of exquifite pidures, it fills the 
 eye with all it's greatnefs ; while the objeds, 
 
 F 2 on 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 on each fide, continually changing, afford at 
 every fliep a new entertainment. 
 
 A late traveller through Ruffia does not 
 fee theie beauties in a foreft-vifta. " The 
 country, fays he, through which we pafTed, 
 was ill-calculated to alleviate our fufferings by 
 transferrin q: our attervtion from ourfelves to the 
 cbjcdls around us. The road ran, as flrait 
 as an arrovv', through a perpetual foreft. 
 Through the dreary extent of a hundred and 
 ten miles, the gloomy uniformity was only 
 
 broken by a few folitary villages*'." No 
 
 doubt the continuation of a hundred and ten 
 miles in any one mode of fceiiery may be rather 
 fatiguing : but I Ihould have thought, that 
 few m^odes of fcenery were better calculated 
 to transfer the attention from a difagreeable 
 fubjedl. I know not indeed what the nature 
 of a vifla through a Ruffian foreft may be : 
 but if it partake of the circumflances that I 
 have juft been defcribing, in this viila through 
 New-forell:, it muft confift of varieties, which 
 could not eafily be exhaufled. 
 
 • I beg the reader's pardon for not quoting my author. 
 I certainly met with the pafTage ; but not noting the reference 
 at the time ; and not opening my MS. for fometime afterwards, 
 it has now efcaped me. 
 
 The 
 
( h ) 
 
 The account I have here given of the forefl- 
 viftals the fober refult of frequent examination. 
 A tranfcript of the firft feelings would have 
 been rhapfody ; which no defcription (hould 
 indulge. The defcriber imagines that his 
 own feelings of a natural fcene can be conveyed 
 by warm expreilions. Whereas nothing but 
 the Jce.ne itfelf can convey his feelings. Loofe 
 ideas (not truth, but verilimilitude) is all that 
 verbal defcription pretends to convey -, and 
 this is not to be done by high colouring ; but 
 to be aimed at by plain, appropriate, intelli- 
 gible terms. 
 
 I iLould add, before I leave this pleafing 
 vifta, that to fee it in perfedion, a ftrong 
 fun-fliine is neceilary. Even a meridian fun, 
 which has a better effed: on the woods of the 
 foreft, than on any other fpecies of landfcape*, 
 is not perhaps too llrong for fuch a fcene as 
 this. It will rarely happen, but that one 
 fide, or the other of the vifta will be in 
 fhadow; and this circumftance alone will 
 produce contrads, which will be highly 
 agreeable. 1 may add alfo, that this vifla 
 
 • See V. i. page 242. 
 
 F 3 appears 
 
( 7° ) 
 
 appears to much greater advantage, as we rife 
 through it to Lyndhurfl, than as we defcend 
 to Brokcnhuril:. 
 
 As we paffed this vifta, we faw, in many 
 parts through the trees, on the left, the pales 
 of New-park, juft removed from the road. 
 This park, which is the only one in the whole 
 diflridl of New-foreft, is about four miles in 
 circumference. It was firft ufcd to fecure 
 flray cattle forfeited to the lord-warden : but 
 in the year 1670, it was ftrongly fenced by 
 Charles II. for the reception of a particular 
 breed of red-deer, which he procured from 
 France*. It is now converted into a farm ; 
 having been granted in the laft reign to the 
 duke of Bedford, for the term pf thirty years. 
 
 In all the grand fcenery of the foreft, which 
 we have juil examined, we fee little appearance 
 
 The expence of this work ftands thus in the treafury-books. 
 Fencing New-park and Holm coppice £-^^° 
 
 Winter provifion for red-deer ■ ' ■ 50 
 
 Pens to feed them — — —— 20 
 
 Paddocks to catch diem, and turn them out 20 
 
 £.igo 
 
 of 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 of fine timber. Mofl: of the beft trees have 
 been felled. The landfcape however is not 
 much injured. On a fore-ground indeed, 
 when we have a fingle tree, we wifli it to 
 be of the nobleft kind ; and it mufl be 
 confefled that in our pafiage through this 
 vifta, which in every part as we . pafs along 
 becomes a fore-ground, there is a great de- 
 ficiency of noble trees. Many of the oaks 
 are fcathed, and ragged ; and tho in com- 
 pofition trees of this kind have frequently 
 their efFed* ; yet in a rich foreft-fcene, if 
 they prefent themfelves too often, offend. 
 For all the other purpofes of fcenery, in- 
 ferior trees, if they be full grown, anfwer 
 tolerably well ^ and when intermixed with 
 ilunted trees, and brufh-wood, as they are 
 in all the wild parts of the foreft, they are 
 more beautiful, than if the v/hole fcene was 
 compofed of trees of the ftatelieft order. 
 Interftices are better filled ; and a more wii- 
 
 form whole is produced. Confidered in this 
 
 light a foreft is a picfture of the world. 
 We find trees of all ages, kinds, and degrees 
 
 • See V. I. page 8. 
 
 F 4 ^thc 
 
( 72 ) 
 
 —the old, and the young — the rich, and 
 the poor — the ftately, and the deprefled — 
 the healthy, and the infirm. The order of 
 nature is thus preferved in the world j and 
 the beauty of nature is thus preferved in the 
 foreft. 
 
 A gentleman once confultcd his friend, 
 who pretended to a degree of tafte, about 
 the propriety of cutting down fome trees, 
 which fhaded a winding avenue to his back- 
 front, where his offices were placed. His 
 friend advifed him by all means to leave them 
 untouched. They are beautiful, faid he, in 
 themfelves; and, you fee, they fkreen that 
 part of your houfe, which you would wifli 
 to have ikreened. The gentleman feemed 
 convinced, and the next time he met his 
 friend, I have taken your advice, faid he, 
 and have left the trees flanding. And fo 
 indeed he had; but all the ftunted wood, 
 and under-growth, which he considered as 
 offcnfive rubbiih, he had rooted up; over- 
 looking their ufe in compofition. The con- 
 fequence was, he laid all the offenfive part 
 of his houfe open ; let in the light, and 
 intirely deftroyed the fcene. 
 
 In 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 In the firft book I mentioned the diiFerent 
 efFeds of foil, and climate on trees*. In 
 New-foreft thefe obfervations are well illuf- 
 trated. T^e oaks there feem to have a cha- 
 radler peciiHar to themfelves. They are the 
 moft pi6turefque trees of the kind, we meet 
 with. hey leidom fife into lofty ftcms, as 
 oaks ufually do in richer foils : but their 
 branches, which are more adapted to what 
 the fhip- builders call k?iees and elbows-^, are 
 commonly twiPied into the moil pid:urefque 
 foruiS. In general I believe, the poorer the 
 foil, the more piclarefque the tree — that is, 
 it forms a more beautiful ramification. 
 
 Befides, the New-foreft oak is not fo much 
 loaded v.ith foliage, as the trees of richer 
 foils. An over-loaded foliage deilroys all 
 form. On the other hand, when the leaf 
 is too thinly fcattered, the tree looks blighted, 
 fhrivcUed, and meagre. The point of pic- 
 turcfque perfection is when the tree has foliage 
 enough to form a mafs ; and yet not fo 
 
 See V. i. page 25. -J- See ibid, 
 
 much 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 much as to hide the branches. One of the 
 great ornaments of a tree, is it's ramification, 
 which ought to appear, here and there, un- 
 der the foliage, even when it is in full leaf. 
 It is the want of this fpecies of ramifi- 
 cation, which gives a heavinefs to the 
 beech*. 
 
 The great avenue from Brokenhurfl leads 
 through the fpace of five or fix miles. After 
 we have mounted the fummit of the hill, 
 the clofe views in the defcent on the other 
 fide, are very beautiful, confifling of little 
 woody recefi"es, open groves, or open glades, 
 varied as they were before, in ^ different 
 forms. 
 
 As we approach Lyndhurfl, we pafs Foxlees 
 on the left. The fituation here is juft the 
 reverfe of Mr. Morant's. The one fiands 
 high, and commands the foreft at a diftance; 
 the other, in a bottom, is furrounded by 
 
 • Sec V. I, page 44, 
 
 it. 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 ,it. Both modes offituatlon have their beauty; 
 but an extenfive foreft-view before the houfe, 
 with a few noble trees on the fore-ground, 
 is not only, at all times, a better pidure; 
 but it is alfo more agreeably varied by the 
 occafional incidents of light and weather, of 
 which the other is not capable. 
 
 In a part of the fkreen, which divides 
 thefe grounds fL'om the road, we have an 
 opportunity of remarking the difagreeable effed: 
 of trees planted alternately. The eye is 
 dilgufted with looking firft on a fir, fecondly 
 on an elm ; thirdly on a fir ; fourthly on an 
 elm again, and fo on. And yet this tire- 
 fome monotony, under the name of variety, 
 is one of the commoneft modes of planting. 
 In planting, we fhould certainly endeavour 
 at leaft to plant like nature, which gives 
 us the heft criterion of beauty. This aiter- 
 nacy is a dired, and ftudied oppofition to 
 all her pleafmg forms of compofition. It 
 not only fhews the hand of art; but of 
 the moft taftlefs art. How much more 
 beautiful would fuch a fkreen appear, made 
 up of different kinds of trees in maffes of 
 each ; or in an indifcriminate mixture of 
 all together ? 
 
 The 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 The town of Lyndhurfl makes a pidurefque 
 appearance, as we approach it; but inftead 
 of entering it, we left it on the right ; and 
 turned abruptly into the road to Minfted. 
 The ground here is much varied. It is hilly, 
 broken, and wooded in clumps ; with cot- 
 tages here and there, interfperfed. Nothing 
 in the paftoral ftile can be more pidlurefque. 
 
 We have alfo extenfive views throuo:h 
 
 the woods; particularly a grand retrofpe(5t 
 towards Southampton. But as we approach 
 Minfled, the woods fail : all becomes cul- 
 tivation ; and the idea of a forefl is in a 
 great degree lofl. Soon after we enter the 
 weflern road to Ringwood, over a fpacious 
 heath. 
 
 At the eighty-fecond flone, about a quarter 
 of a mile down the hill on the right from 
 the road, we are fliewn the fcene of the 
 celebrated event of Rufus's death. When I 
 mentioned the iree-^, on which the arro\f 
 Tyrrel glanced, I offered fome reafons for 
 
 See V. i. psge i6i. 
 
 fuppofing 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 fuppoling it might be admitted, as evidence 
 in identifying the place. The fcene alfb in 
 fome degree bears the fame teftimony. For 
 hiflory informs us, the diverlion of the day 
 was now over, the fun v^as declining, and 
 William, difmounting his horfe, was enjoying 
 a moment's refl after the fatigue of the 
 chace*, when a ^^xg darted fuddenly acrofs 
 the heath. The king turning towards it, 
 and lifting his hand to flcreen his eyes 
 from the fun-f*, at that moment received the 
 arrow. The fcene is a fweet fequefcred bottom, 
 open to the weft, v/here the corner of a heath 
 finks gently into it; but flieltered on the eaft 
 by a beechen grove, and on every other fide 
 by clumps of trees, forming an irregular fkreen 
 around it 5 among which are feveral winding 
 
 avenues of greenfward. It is tl.e very 
 
 place, where a perfon heated with toil, might 
 be allured to flop for a moment's repofe. But 
 the chief circumftance of evidence is, that as the 
 place is open only to the wed:, where the heath 
 
 • See William of Malmfb. and Kenry of Huntingdon. 
 f See an account, which Rapin gives in a note from Sir 
 John Haywood. 
 
 was 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 was never probably covered with wood, the 
 king could there only have been incommoded 
 by an evening-fun. 
 
 Having taken a view of this fcene, which 
 in itfelf, unconnecfled with the hiftory it 
 records, is a plealing one, we afcended again 
 into the great road, and purfued the heath, 
 
 over which it led. It is a wild expanfe, 
 
 unadorned with wood ; but bounded on every 
 fide, by very extenfive diftances. In front 
 you difcover the high grounds of the ifle of 
 Purbeck. On the left, you have a large 
 range over the ifle of VVigiit. In the retro- 
 fped: you over-look the bay, and town of 
 Southampton ; and on the right is fpread 
 before you a vafl flretch of diftant country, 
 bounded by the hills of Vviltfhire, and Dor- 
 fetfhire. This laft is the only part of thcfe 
 diftances, which hath any pidurefque value. 
 About the eighty-fixth ftone, the parts of it 
 are befl difpofed j but it is the richefl about 
 the eighty- ninth, where it is feen over a woody 
 bottom, which makes a middle ground. 
 
 In 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 In this part of the forefl: the paling of one 
 of the new inclofures to fecure timber, which 
 ran a confiderable way in a ftrait h'ne, 
 deformed our views. Sometimes indeed the 
 pahng of parks, and forefts is piilurefque, 
 where it runs winding round a hill, and appears 
 again perhaps in fome oppofite diredion ', but 
 in general, it is an unpleafing objedt; and 
 what in adorned fcenery we fhould wi(h to 
 hide. Indeed all divilions of property are great 
 nuifances to the pid:urefque eye, which loves 
 to range at large ; and it adds peculiar beauty 
 to the foreft, that in general the grand lines 
 of nature, and various fwelling of the ground, 
 are unbroken by thefe intrufions, and have their 
 full play, and undulation. In remote diftances, 
 hedge-rows, pales, and other objeds, offen- 
 Hve on the fpot, become one rich blended 
 furface. — And yet, even on the fpot, winding 
 lanes, with full-grown hedges on each lide, 
 arc often beautiful. It is clipping y and makings 
 as they phrafe it, which ruin the picflurefque 
 idea. Utility is always counterad:ing beauty. 
 
 No 
 
( So ) 
 
 No fooner is the hedge in perfcLlion, than 
 it is deflroyed*. 
 
 The approach to Ringwood, as we leave 
 the wild heath, which gave occafion to this 
 digreflion, is woody and pleafant. Ring- 
 wood was formerly the boundary of the forefl 
 in this part i and in times of ilill more remote 
 antiquity, was a place of great note. I know 
 not whether in Saxon times, it did not claim 
 the honours of regal refidence. At prefent 
 it is a cheerful village, feated in a flat country, 
 on the banks of the Avon, which fpreads, 
 near the town, into a large piece of water, 
 full of little iflands, and frequented by fwans. 
 
 • If the reader vvi(h to know an ancient mode of making 
 hedges, he will find it, as fellows, in the fifth book of Q^ 
 Gurtius. " Raving planted twigs very clofe in the fituation they 
 wiftied, they bent their bra.iches, as they made fhoots, and 
 inftrted thtir extremities into the earth. Here they took root; 
 and from thefe roots fliot into new branches. Thefe again 
 were bent into ti.o tarth, and lo on, till a fence was obtained 
 of the ci'^enfions wanted."— —I have fcen this mode, 1 believe, 
 praftifed in feme parts of England, 
 
 Somewhere 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 Somewhere near this part of the river the 
 duke of Monmouth is fald to have been taken, 
 on the eighth of July 1685, after his defeat 
 at Sedgmore, near Bridgwater. Thus far he 
 had travelled in diiguife, and generally by 
 night j feeding on pulfe, and green corn, 
 which he found growing in the fields. But I 
 think the account more probable, that he was 
 taken near Woodlands in Dorfetfhire*. It was 
 thought however, that he intended to have 
 fecured himfelf in the woods of New-fore/l, 
 with which he was well acquainted from 
 having frequently hunted in them. I have 
 heard a tradition, that his body after his 
 execution, was fent down into the foreft, and 
 buried privately in Boldre-church-yard -, but I 
 cannot find any ground for the furmife. The 
 regifter of the year is )et extant, in which 
 no notice is taken of any fuch burial ; unlefs 
 he were buried, as might pofiibly have been 
 the cafe, under a fiditious name. 
 
 • See Hutching's hift. of Dorfet, p. 60 and 499. 
 
 VOL. II. G From ' 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 From Ringwood to Chrift-church the 
 country is flat, and the lanes clofe, and woody. 
 Scarce any dillant view is admitted, except 
 here and there, among the meadows on the 
 right. On the left, Mr. Compton's park at 
 Biftern affords Ibme variety, running a con- 
 fiderable way along the road, and grazed with 
 herds of large fpeckled cattle, without horns. 
 
 As we leave the village of Sopley, the 
 meadows on the right, form a better landfcape, 
 than we had yet had. The parts are large, 
 tho flat ; and the whole is bounded with wood ; 
 in which the tower of Chrift-church appears 
 as a principal object. The church, to which 
 it belongs, was formerly monaftic. It is a 
 grand pile, partly Saxon, and partly Gothic. 
 Some of it's Gothic members are beautiful; 
 particularly a fmall chapel, near the alrar, 
 dedicated to the virgin Mary ; which for 
 proportion and beauty of workmanfliip, is a 
 very elegant piece of Gothic architedure. The 
 church is now parochial. 
 
 The town of Chrift-church, which takes it's 
 name from the church, is a place of great 
 antiquity. Here we find the ruins of a caftle, 
 
 which 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 which was intended formerly to fecure the 
 mouth of the Av^on. This river is joined by 
 the Stour below the town; where uniting in 
 a full dream, they wind together through a 
 bleak coaft, forming it firft into large flat 
 meadows, and then opening into a bay before 
 they enter the fca. The view, which is not 
 very interefting, is bounded by a ridge of 
 high lands, called Chrift-church head, on the 
 right; and on the left, by the weftern end 
 of the ifle of Wight, which in this part, 
 makes a remarkable appearance. It is feen 
 nearly in front ; and it's broken cliffs, when 
 the noon-tide fun in winter {hines ftrongly 
 upon it, appear like the ends of two frac- 
 tured walls, with a dark cavity betv/een 
 them. 
 
 From Chrifl-church to Lymington the 
 country continues flat, cultivated, and inclofed. 
 Scarce an objed: prefents itfelf. A little to 
 the right of the road, you fee a large houfe 
 built by lord Bute for the benefit of the fea-air. 
 It flands on a cliff diredly oppofite to Cher- 
 burgh, from which it is about fixty miles 
 diftant; and it overlooks the fea, jufl: in that 
 point, where Chrifl-church head, and the 
 G 2 weftern 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 weflern promontary of the ifle of Wight, form 
 an immenfe colonade before it. 
 
 The road to the houfe runs directly to the 
 front, narrow, and contradled at the entrance, 
 but opening by degrees. The houfe firfl 
 appears j then the extent of the lawn ; which 
 is ample, with a pavilion at each extremity. 
 Thefe from the fea appear to conned: it with 
 the houfe j and give.it confequence. Beyond 
 the lawn, the grand colonade juft mentioned, 
 extends 5 and beyond all, the expanfe of the 
 ocean. There is fomething very amuling in 
 thus contemplating an idea, which is conti- 
 nually dilating, and opening itfelf from a narrow 
 tunnel into infinite fpace. If it were the 
 effed: of chance, or neceffity, we have only, 
 to admire the happinefs of it. 
 
 The cliff, on which the houfe flands, is 
 
 about fifty, or fixty yards high. It is not 
 
 perpendiculiar, but the ground being of a 
 
 fpongy, foundering nature, is continually 
 
 falling in huge mafies ; and affords an eafy 
 
 foundation for winding ftairs among the heaps 
 
 of ruin, which occupy the fiope. At the 
 
 bottom you are received by a clean, fandy 
 
 beach, where, at the ebb of the tide, you 
 
 may continue your walk many miles. 
 
 The 
 
( S5 ) 
 
 The houfe Is a fumptuous pile -, and contains 
 much curiofity : but as I am in quefl only of 
 fcenery, my fubjed: forbids me to enter houfcs. 
 Lord Bute has made an attempt to adorn the 
 cliff around him with a plantation. But if it 
 fhould not thrive, I think the lofs not great. 
 Trees, in fo expofed a fituation, may perhaps 
 juil get hold of the ground : but I Hiould 
 think it impoffible for them to produce either 
 fhelter, or ornament. Indeed in views of this 
 kind, I have my doubts, whether the rural 
 idea fhould not pu?'pofely be excluded, as inter- 
 fering with the native grandeur of the fcene. 
 Flowers, and flowering flirubs at leafl: feem 
 to be alien beauties. 
 
 As we leave lord Bute's, the country flill 
 continues flat, cultivated, and inclofed. Scarce 
 a Angle opening prefents itfelf. We obferved 
 however one fpecies of landfcape, v/hich in i^o 
 flat a furface, is lingular — thofe hollows, or 
 dells mentioned in the general view of the 
 foreft*, running aero fs it to the fea. They have 
 not indeed the confequence of mountain-dells -, 
 yet fome of them afford pleafmg fcenery. The 
 
 • See page 52. 
 
 G 3 moft 
 
( S6 ) 
 
 moft remarable are thofe of Chuton, Afhley, 
 and Elfcrt. In each of thefe there is a little 
 rivulet, which the traveller, ignorant of the 
 country, u'ill fometimes be furprized to fee 
 fwoln to an extraordi^nary fize, without any ap- 
 parent caufe. The cafe is, they communicate 
 with the fea, at a very little diftance ; but 
 being totally fcreened from it, and fheltered 
 by wood on every fide, they have the appear- 
 ance of inland brooks, tho in fa6t they are 
 under the influence of a tide. 
 
 The cliff, on which lord Bute's houfe 
 ilands, runs two, or three miles along the 
 coaft towards Lymington ; and is known by 
 the name of Hordwell cliff. The fummit of 
 it is a fine carpet down, and is much fre- 
 quented in the fummer-feafon, by company 
 from Lymington, for the fake of fea-air, and 
 fea- views. The fides of this cliff, as was 
 obferved, frequently fall in, and after one of 
 thefe jfoimders, as they are called, the mafles 
 of ruin form a bold, rough bank, againft the 
 fea, which fecures the coaft from another 
 founder, till that body of earth is waflied away, 
 &nd the land-fprings have loofened the earth 
 above, when the cliff" again falls in. Within thefe 
 
 laff 
 
( 87 ) 
 
 laft twenty years the fea has gained near a 
 quarter of a mile, in fomc places on this 
 coaft, and the calculators of the country fay, 
 that lord Bute's houfe cannot poflibly fland 
 above thirty years. He has taken however 
 great pains to fecure it, by diverting, at a great 
 expence, the land-fprings : fo that he has 
 little to fear but the adion of the fea, which, 
 tho a rough enemy, is a much lefs dangerous 
 one j and againft this he has endeavoured to 
 guard by facing the precipice in different parts 
 with flone. 
 
 In this cliff between Chrifl-church and 
 Lymington, is found a great variety of foffil 
 fliells. About a hundred and twenty different 
 forts were collected by Mr. Guftavus Brander, 
 of Chrifl-church, and prefented to the Britifli 
 mufeum. Mr. Brander publiilied alfo in 
 1766, defcriptions, and very neat engravings 
 of them, under the title of Fojjtlia Hanto- 
 nienfia. Thefe fhells are found about fourteen 
 or fifteen feet below the furface. The flratum 
 above them is fand and gravel. The foil, 
 in which they are found, is a bluifli clay; 
 and runs down from the gravelly flratum, 
 to a level with the fea; and probably much 
 deeper. In every part of this cliff thefe 
 G 4 fhells 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 fliells are found ; but chiefly about the vil- 
 lage of Hordvvell. It is difficult to get 
 them : the coUedor muft clamber up the 
 fides of the precipice; and then extricate 
 them from the clay, which is very iliff, by 
 a tool. Their texture too is fo brittle, that 
 in cleanfing them he runs a great rifque of 
 
 breaking them. What is remarkable, few 
 
 of thefe ihells belong to this coalt, or indeed 
 to any European coaft ; and many of them 
 as far as is known, are found no where 
 elfe. It is remarkable alfo, that this ftratum 
 of fhells runs in a northerly diredion quite 
 through New-foreft. Wherever the earth is 
 opened to any depth, in digging marie, or 
 on other occafions, fliells are found ; tho I 
 never faw them of any fize j except upon 
 the coaft. 
 
 A little below Hordwell, the cliff ftuls, 
 and the coaft becoming flat between this 
 place and Lymington, is commodioufly formed 
 into falterns; where great quantities of ex- 
 cellent fait have been made; tho the trade 
 has of late fldlen off. The fquare, bounded 
 receptacles to receive the brine, are a glaring 
 injury to the beauty of the fliore. 
 
 About 
 
( 89 ) 
 
 About two or three miles farther along 
 the coaft, (lands Hurft-caftle, built at the 
 point of an extraordinary natural caufeway, 
 which runs two miles into the fea ; forming 
 a narrow channel, between the caflle, and 
 the ifle of Wight. The caufeway itfelf alfo 
 is fo narrow, that it fcarce, at high water, 
 exceeds two hundred yards in breadth. In 
 high tides it is much narrower. The whole 
 is covered with loofe pebbles. The fide 
 towards the ifland is a bold fliore; beaten 
 into ledges, or terraces of pebbles, by the 
 violence of the waves. The other lide, which 
 is fheltered, is undulating, m.ariny, and un- 
 determined ; forming the water, when the 
 tide flows, into a fmooth land-locked bay. 
 
 From this little peninfula you are enter- 
 tained with views on each hand. The ifland, 
 and the Needle-rocks are objects, dreary, vafl:, 
 and grand; and not wholly unpidiurefque. 
 But to make them objeds of the pencil, 
 they mufl: be well inlightened, and the fore- 
 ground adorned with a little naval furniture 
 —an anchor, a net hanging to dry, a drifted 
 
 boat. 
 
( 90 ) 
 
 boat, or fome other object, with which fea- 
 coafts abound. When I firil faw this fcene, 
 it was in a fuhry fammer-noon, and all the 
 cliffs were overfpread with that dingy in- 
 diftindl hue, which fometimes accompanies 
 a hot meridian fun. The fca, which was 
 calm, was lighter than the land, tho darker 
 
 than the fky. But in the evening, the 
 
 white cliff at the end of the ifland, together 
 with the Needles, were tinged with the fet- 
 ting fun, and became very fplendid 3 and 
 the fea glowing with equal radiance, the whole 
 view, and every part of it, was rich and 
 harmionious. 
 
 On the other lide of the peninfula, the 
 Hampfhire coafl, extending far and wide, 
 forms an immenfe bay, which appears flat, 
 woody, and interfperfed with a variety of 
 diflant obje(5ls. The parts are here, and there, 
 pidurefque ; but the whole, tho amuling, is 
 too vaft for the pencil. 
 
 Hurfl-caftle lying level with the beech, 
 fully commands the channel, which feparates 
 the coafl of Kampfhire from the ille of 
 Wight. It confifts of a round tower forti- 
 fied by femi-circular baflions ; and was among 
 the flrongeft of thofe caftles, which were 
 
 built 
 
( 91 ) 
 
 built by Henry VIII. But fince Portf- 
 mouth hath been a place of confequence, 
 and always guarded by a fleet, this caftle, 
 as well as others of the fame intention, are 
 now neglected. In this caftle the apart- 
 ments are ftill fhewn, where Charles I 
 was confined, when he was carried from the 
 ifle of Wight ; and very miferable they are. 
 On the batteries we faw an inftance of 
 Hogarth's humour, when he was painter to 
 the ordinance. The carriages have all crowns 
 painted on them, with the king's initials. 
 Below one of them, painted exactly in the 
 vulgar ftile of the reft, Hogarth has formally 
 
 put the initials of his name. The form 
 
 of this caftle at a little diftance, fet off by 
 the rocks of the ifland as a back ground, is 
 unpidurefque. 
 
 The Needles, which are of the fame tex- 
 ture of rock with the neighbouring cliffs of 
 the ifland, feem to have been waflied from 
 them by the fea. A gradual change has 
 been obferved, even in the memory of man. 
 We may eafily imagine with what violence 
 a ftorm at fea pours in among theie piles 
 of formidable rocks, when the fudion and 
 
 eddies 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 eddies of tides and currents make them dan- 
 gerous almoft in the ferenefl weather. 
 
 Befides the curious fituation of Hurfl- 
 caftle, there is another pecuHarity on this 
 coafl, which deferves notice. It is an ifland 
 called the Shingles, which fometirnes rifes 
 fifteen or twenty feet above the water j and 
 at other times totally difappears. It fhifts 
 it's fituation alfo, rearing itfelf, at one time, 
 nearer the ifle of Wight, and at another, 
 nearer the coaft of Hampfliire. The myftery 
 of it is this. In that part of the channel lies 
 a vaft bank of pebbles, fo near the furface, 
 that it is beaten up into an ifland, by the 
 raging of the fea, fometimes on one fide, 
 and fometimes on the other, as the tides and 
 currents drive. From the fame caufes too, 
 all the prominent parts of it are as eafily 
 difperfed, and the ifland vanifhes. When 
 we faw it, it confifl:ed of feveral acres : but 
 it was then larger, than had been remem- 
 bered for many years. The fea however had 
 found a pafTage through the middle of it -, and 
 
 it was leiTening daily. 
 
 But 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 But as the country from Chrift-church Is 
 flat, and the fea generally excluded from the 
 fight, all thefe views of the ifle of Wight, 
 the Needles, and Hurfl-caftle muft be ob- 
 tained by leaving the road, and getting a little 
 nearer the coafl. Other interefting views may 
 be fought in the fame way, both on the 
 right, and left of the road. At Milford, 
 and in the neighbourhood of it, are feveral 
 good views of thefe great objeds. At Rook- 
 cliff, a little nearer the fea, the views are 
 again varied; the illand, and coafl: forming 
 the appearance of an ample bay. On the 
 other fide of the road, about Pennington- 
 common, from Mr. Dixon's, and other 
 places, the diftant vievv^s make a new ap- 
 pearance, jufl ikirting the horizon, over a 
 flat country, with a long fweep of the ifland, 
 and intervening channel. But the moft beau- 
 tiful view, on this fide, is from Mr. Etty's 
 drawing-room at Prieftlands. The near 
 grounds fink in the middle into a fort of 
 wide valley, which is occupied in the diftance 
 by the ifland, and the channel : and as they 
 retire from the eye on the left, and v^^ind 
 rather towards it on the right, the whole 
 has the appearance of a grand lake; bounded 
 
 at 
 
{ 94 ) 
 
 at this end, but running far into diftancc 
 at the other. As the houfe ftands in the 
 centre of this view, it appears as if the 
 houfe, and view had been adapted to each 
 other; which is one of the happieil circum- 
 ftances, that can attend a fituation. A 
 fine view is pleafing ; but a fine view adapted 
 
 to the fituation of a houfe, is more fo. 
 
 They who are unacquainted with the country, 
 fliould be apprized, that in all thefe views, and 
 wherever the illand is feen from the Hamp- 
 fhire coaft, it's infularity is no where dif- 
 coverable. An extenfive curtain of it only 
 appears. 
 
 A little farther to the eafl flands Lyming- 
 ton, juft at the point, where the flat country 
 we had been travelling from Chrift-church, 
 defcends to the river, which takes it's name 
 from the town. The brow, and gentle 
 defcent of this falling ground the town oc- 
 cupies ; forming one handfome ftreet, which 
 overlooks the high grounds on the oppofite 
 fide of the river. It is a neat, well-feuilt 
 town, and pleafantly feated. The houfes, 
 efpecially on the fide of the flreet next the 
 
 coaft. 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 coaft, have views from the windows, and 
 gardens, of the ille of Wight, and the fea. 
 
 Acrofs the eftuary, formed at the mouth 
 of Lymington-river, a dam with flood-gates 
 is thrown. The intention was, to exckide 
 the falt-water from the meadows above ; 
 which, it was hoped, might have become good 
 paflurage : but the purpofe is not anfwered. 
 A great beauty however arifes from the influx 
 of the tide, which forms a handfome piece 
 of water above the dam, with many reaches, 
 and winding fliores. We have already ob- 
 ferved the beauty of this eftuary ; when {een 
 from the higher grounds, as it enters the 
 fea*. The fcenes are equally interefting, 
 which it aflx)rds, when the eye purfues it up 
 the flream, into it's recefljbs in the forefl. 
 One of the beft of them opens from the ftable- 
 yard of the angel-inn in Lymington, and the 
 parts adjacent. 
 
 The channel between the ifle of Wight, and 
 the fhores of Hampfliire, is fufliciently deep, at 
 all times, for fhips of force, and burden, which 
 
 • See page 6i. 
 
 often 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 often pafs through the Needles, as it is phrafed : 
 but if the weather be at all rough, it is thought 
 an unfafe palTage; and in general thefe narrow 
 feas are frequented by fmaller veflels. The 
 port of Lymington particularly, which is 
 entered by a long, narrow, (hallow river, is 
 chiefly frequented by light ilciffs, rigged in the 
 cutter-form, with a jib and boom. Thefe are, 
 of all others, the moft beautiful vefTels, which 
 frequent a coaft. To make a large iliip a 
 beautiful obje<fl, feme peculiar incident is ne- 
 cefTary. She muft be fore-fhortened ; for a 
 fhip in profile is formal. Her fails alfo miifl: 
 in part be furled : for the fquare fail without 
 any contraft is difgufting. A degree of diftance 
 alfo is requifite, both to leflen the objedl -, and 
 
 to foften the features of it. But the light 
 
 fkiff, with a iingle maft, a jib, and boom, is 
 beautiful almoft in any polition. As £he is 
 often undecked, the lines of her lides are 
 generally well contrafted ; and the various 
 turns, and fv/ellings of her fails almoll always 
 prefent fome elegant form. 
 
 Of thefe veflels great numbers frequent the 
 channel, between the ifle of Wight, and the 
 coaft of Hampfhire. And what adds to the 
 animation of the fcene, the river forms two 
 
 or 
 
( ')! ) 
 
 or three bolid, and beautiful curves ; fo that' 
 you lee each little coafting-veflel, as fhe tacks 
 about, iu entering the harbour, or leaving it, 
 in every pofition in which fhe can poflibly 
 prefent herfelf. A fmall harbour therefore is 
 much more produdlive of picfturefque objedts, 
 than one of larger fize, frequented either by 
 ihips of v^rar, or of burthen. A fcene, like 
 this, gave occafion to thofe very beautiful lines 
 in Shakefpear. 
 
 She fat with me on Neptune's yellow fand. 
 Marking the imbarked traders en the flood ; 
 When we have laughed to fee the fails conceive. 
 And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind : 
 Which fhe, with pretty, and with fwimming gate 
 Following (her womb then rich with my young fquire) 
 Would imitate ; and fail upon the land. 
 To fetch me trifles, and return again. 
 As from a voyage, rich with merchandize. 
 
 1 
 
 As we leave the dam, and purfue our 
 courfe along the fhores of the river, we 
 are entertained, if it be full, with fome 
 good lake-fcenes. 
 
 On the weilern fide, juft oppofite to 
 Vicar's-hill, are the ruins of a Roman- 
 
 voL, 11, H camp. 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 camp, which the country people know by 
 the name of BucUaJid-rifigy the in fad. it 
 is reSangidar, It gives no value to the 
 Icene; but if your curioiity lead you to it, 
 you will find it a very complete work of 
 the kind. There are many larger in Enghr.d ; 
 but few more perfed:. It meafures in length 
 about two hundred paces ; in breadth not quite 
 fo much; and hath been defended by two 
 ram Darts, and two ditches. The whole of 
 thcfe works is intire, except the front to- 
 wards the river, which is demoU^hed: but 
 in the demolition you may trace the double 
 ditches. The ra-mparts feem to have been 
 about twent}' feet high. In the front, the 
 view is very exteniive over the channel, and 
 all the environs of the river. On the oppoiite 
 fide the eye is carried far and vvide, into the 
 foreft. 
 
 Below the camp, runs a creek from the 
 river, v»here it is fuppcfed the Romans ufed 
 to land -y and works have been thrown up 
 there alfo with a view, no doubt, to fecure 
 their landing. Thefe works refemble thofe 
 of the camp itfelf ; only the area is lefs, and 
 the rampart ilngle. 
 
 There 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 There has been alfo, on the other fide 
 of the river, exadly oppofite to Lymington, 
 another fmall fort. Nothing remains now, 
 except the artificial mount, on which it had 
 been erected : but it is generally fuppofed to 
 have been a fpeculatory flation to the grand 
 camp of Buckland, as it commands a wide 
 view of the channel. 
 
 H 2 SECT. 
 
t loi ) 
 
 SECT. VI. 
 
 Remarks on the weftern parts of New-foreft, In a ride 
 from Vicar's-hill, to WilverJy-lodge — Burley-Iodge 
 
 Boldrewood-lodge — Rhinfield-lodge — Setley- 
 
 wood — Burnt hill, &c. 
 
 HAVING thus taken a large circuit, of 
 near fifty miles, round the weftern 
 parts of the foreft; I fhall now condudt my 
 reader through the fame country again, /«- 
 teriore gyro. The internal parts of this ex- 
 tenfive circle are fuppofed to contain fome 
 of the mofl: beautiful fcenery of it's kind in 
 the foreft. But as we had here no turn- 
 pike-road to guide us, and a great variety 
 of paths to millead us, we were obliged to 
 put ourfelves on horfe-back under the condudt 
 of one of the under- keepers. 
 
 H 3 Inflead 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 Inftead of holding the great road, as before 
 from Battramfley to Brokenhurft, we turned 
 fliort, to the left, into the open part of the 
 foreft, towards a noted land-mark, called 
 Marl-pit-oak; well known to the deer- 
 flealer; who on this, or fome neighbouring 
 tree, often takes his fland, in the duik of 
 a fummer-evening, to watch the herd, as 
 it leaves the woods to graze thefe open 
 grounds. 
 
 This wild heath receives fome beauty from 
 it's fwelling in various parts. The fv/ells are 
 bold, but at the fame time eafy : the ground, 
 feldom broken, generally falls gently into 
 
 little valleys. Thefe beauties however are 
 
 obvious only to the pidurefque eye, which 
 by a little imaginary iinifhing can form thefe 
 
 rough ground-plots into pidures. As we 
 
 attained the higher part of the heath, we 
 had better landfcape. We had been mounting 
 gradually from the great road through two 
 or three miles, when the country giving way 
 on the rights a grand difplay of woody-fcenery 
 was opened towards Brokenhurft, and Lynd- 
 hurft. On the lefty the heath is but meagerly 
 ikirted with weod. To make amends how- 
 ever. 
 
( 103 ) 
 
 ever, the cliffs of the ille of Wight ran^e 
 beyond it iii the diftance. 
 
 Scattered about thefe wild grounds we 
 meet with many tumuli. Between Shirley- 
 hohiis, and Setley-wood, are four or five. 
 Two of them are raifed in contiguous circles, 
 which is a circumftance rather uncommon^ 
 It feems to indicate> that the perfons, to 
 whofe mem.ory they were conftrudted, had 
 been nearly conne6led. On pacing the cir- 
 cumference of each, we find they have be- 
 longed to perfons of unequal dignity, in the 
 proportion of a hundred and eight, to eighty 
 three. But a little to the eaft of Shirly-holm's, 
 near Peatmer-pond, arifes a larger tumulus 
 than either of thefe, called Shirley-barrow. 
 It's circumference is one hundred and forty 
 
 paces. There are many other tumuli, on 
 
 the great heaths of the foreft j which I mention 
 here, as I fliall take no farther notice of 
 them. 
 
 As we defcended the gentle heights, on" 
 
 which we were nov/ raifed, a beautiful valley, 
 
 H 4 about 
 
( 104 ) 
 
 about a quarter of a mile in breadth, opened 
 before us, arrayed in vivid green, and winding 
 two or three miles round a wood. On the 
 other fide the grounds, wild, and unadorned, 
 fall with an eafy fweep into it. Beyond 
 thefe a grand woody fcene fpreads, far, and 
 wide, into diftance -, and as it approaches the 
 eye, unites gently with the other parts of 
 the landfcape. The valley was no other 
 than that vaft bog, already mentioned, known 
 by the name of Longjlade -bottom'^ , It's de- 
 ceitful furface however does no injury to it's 
 pi6turefque form : only indeed it deprives it 
 of the appendages of grazing cattle. The 
 nimble deer trip over it in fummer without 
 inconvenience ; but no animals of heavier bulk 
 dare truft themfelves upon it. The name 
 of the wood beyond this verdant valley, is 
 Hinchelfea^ 
 
 As we leave Longflade- bottom on the right, 
 the grounds, which rife on the left, are 
 occupied by Sethorn-wood, a fcene of con- 
 fiderable extent. Sethorn-wood was once the 
 
 • See an account of it, page 56. 
 
 nobleil: 
 
( lOJ ) 
 
 nobleft of all foreft-fcenes. The ground It 
 flood on is beautifully varied; and the gran- 
 deur, and number of it's oaks were the 
 admiration of all, who faw them. But it's 
 glories are now over. During the unremitted 
 courfe of thirty years it continued to add 
 ftrength to the fleets of Britain ; itfelf fuf- 
 ficient to raife a navy. In this arduous 
 fervice, it's vigour was at length exhauftedj 
 and it contains little more, at prefent, than 
 fhrubs, and underwood, and blafted trees. 
 In the midfl: of this wood rifes a hill called 
 Oak-brow, from the ilately oaks, which once 
 adorned it's fummit, and fhaggy fides. But 
 it's honours fell a facriiice, not, like thofe 
 of Sethorn, to it's country's good, but to 
 the convenience of a potent neighbour. 
 Through the influence of lord Delawar, 
 whofe views it obflrudled, it's oaks were 
 felled, long before any inroads had been 
 made among the woods, which incircled 
 them. And if the deftrudion of thefe oaks 
 l^d been partial ; if a few, here and there, 
 had been left as a fore-ground, the injury, 
 on the fpot at leafl, might the lefs be re- 
 gretted. For the views which are thus opened 
 from it's. brow, make great amends for the lofs 
 
 of 
 
( io6 ) 
 
 df it's woods. They confifl: chiefly of two 
 or three beautiful lawns, fkreened with foreft- 
 fcenery. Tew-tree-bottojn denotes one of thefe 
 fcenes ; and Even-ivater-bottom , another. The 
 former receives it's name from the fpecies 
 of trees, which decorate it ; the latter, 
 from a pool, which occupies it's middle 
 area. 
 
 In foreft language, valhes in general are; 
 called bottoms; tho in fa6t, they are wide 
 extended fcenes. Moft of them have their 
 little rivulets running through them. But 
 thefe foreft-ilreams are very unlike the ftreams 
 of a mountainous country ; pouring among 
 rocks, and fretting among pebbles. Theirs 
 is a tamer nature. They are feldom more 
 than little ouzing rills, which drain the 
 fpringy fides of riling grounds ^ and wander 
 llowly, unobferved, and unobftruded, through 
 the vallies of the foreft. The landfcape 
 however, feldom wants their paltry afiif- 
 tance. The only way, in which thefe rivulets 
 are of any ufe in a foreft-fcene, is, when 
 they fpread themfelves into little pools, in 
 fome part of the valley, as they do here, 
 in Even-water-bottom, and as they frequently 
 do in other fcenes j and the merit of thefe 
 
 little 
 
( 1^7 ) 
 
 little pieces of water chiefly con (ids In draw- 
 ing all the cattle of the neighbourhood around 
 their banks, which greatly animate, and in- 
 rich the view. 
 
 In this part of the foreft ftands Wilverly- 
 lodge commanding beautiful views of thefe 
 fvveet wooded lawns, and vallies ; which, from 
 the high fituation of the lodge, are fet oft 
 with the ifle of Wight, as a back-ground. 
 
 From Wilverly, we traverfed the pales of 
 a new timber inclofure, v^hich is not lefs than 
 four miles in circumference. If the wood, 
 which it is meant to defend, fliould ever 
 flourifh, it would foon create a fcene. But 
 at prefent this part of the foreft is barren 
 of beauty, and there is fo very little appear- 
 ance of the growth of timber, that people 
 are apt to fuppofe, it has been ignorantly 
 
 planted ; or negligently attended. One rea- 
 
 fon indeed affigned for the ruin of the young 
 wood, is the quantity of rabbits, which breed 
 in the dry, fandy hills of thefe parts ; and 
 which it is ditiicult, amidft fuch flielter, to 
 extirpate. A young oak, juft vegetating from 
 the acorn, is elleemed, by thefe pernicious 
 inmates, the moft delicious food. Thus it 
 
 may 
 
( loS ) 
 
 may be faid, the glory of England may be 
 nipped in the bud by a paltry rabbit. 
 
 After we leave thcfe dreary pales, the 
 country, here and there, breaks out towards 
 Holmfiey-lodge; but nothing is very intereft- 
 ing till we arrive at the brow of Eurley-hill. 
 Here the eye is greatly regaled. From this 
 height it furvcys a grand fweep of different 
 removes of woody diftance, fpreading round a 
 femicircular plain of feveral miles in extent ; 
 known by the nam.e of Mark-njcay-bottom, 
 The plain itfeif confining of a well-propor- 
 tioned intermixture of rich heath, and green 
 pafturage, is fomething between a foreil-lawn, 
 and a forefl-heath 3 too large for the one, 
 and yet not large enough for the other. In 
 two or three different parts, it is adorned with 
 thofe attradive pools, which inrich a landfcape 
 with the introduction of animal life. 
 
 The woods, which incircle this grand favan- 
 nah, as we furvey them from the brow of 
 the hill, are thofe of Bury on the left : ad- 
 joining to thefe, commence the woods of 
 Burley; and ftill more to the right, thofe 
 of Rhinfield. All this rich "Scenery is in 
 one continued, tho varied and broken, fweep; 
 and ranges at different diflances from one 
 
 mile 
 
{ 109 ) 
 
 mile to ten. The woods of Bury on the 
 left, being he neareft, and moft elevated, 
 iptirely fill that part of the horizon, under 
 which they fpread : but beyond thofe of 
 Burley rife, in fainter colouring, the two 
 woody- bofomed hills of Lyndhurft; and beyond. 
 the woods of Rhin field, a very remote forefl- 
 view ftretches into all the obfcu ri ty of diftance. 
 Every fpecies of country, cultivated, as well 
 as uncultivated, when melted down into dif- 
 tance, has a fine effed:; as we have often 
 obferved ; but the foreft-diflance, is among 
 
 the richeft. Such is the grand view, from 
 
 Burley- hill; continually varying it's appearance., 
 a^ we defcend. 
 
 Our road led us oyer Mark-way-bottom, 
 to the duke of Bolton's at Burley; which 
 is an excellent foreft-lodge, tho an ordinary 
 ducal-feat. The late duke having obtained a 
 grant of it for thirty years, was at fome ex- 
 pence in adorning it. He built handfome 
 flables ; fitted up the houfe, and laid out 
 a lawn before it, which is bounded by a piece 
 pf embanked water. There is but little tafle 
 however fhewn in. the improvements ; nor. 
 
 indeed 
 
( no ) 
 
 indeed does the fituation deferve much at- 
 tention. It is low ; and except that it ftands 
 in the midft of a beautiful foreft, it is on 
 the whole, ill-chofen. 
 
 The lawn of this lodge is adorned with 
 fome very grand oaks, which from the dignity 
 of their form, and venerable appearance ; as 
 well as the number of the moft refpectable of 
 them, have obtained the name of the twelve 
 apcjiles. 
 
 In the woods around this lodge, we faw a 
 breed of fmall cattle, which the late duke of 
 Bolton procured from Scotland. While this 
 herd was increafing, they were fuffered to run 
 wild in the foreftj but in a courfe of years, 
 when he wifhed to reclaim a few of them, 
 their habits were become fo obftinate, and 
 their nature fo ferocious, that it was attempted 
 without fuccefs ; and they are now among the 
 ferce natiird of the foreft. They are mifchie- 
 vous however only when attacked. We rode, 
 and walked among them without any molef- 
 tation. 
 
 From Burley-lodge it is little more than 
 two miles to Boldre-wood lodge, the feat of 
 
 lord 
 
( III ) 
 
 lord Delawar. This houfe enjoys one of the 
 fineft Tituations of the forefl. It ftands high, 
 with an extenfive lawn before it, from which 
 it commands a vaft extent of foreft-fcenery, 
 fpread around in great variety of diftance; 
 particularly towards Burley-lodge, where the 
 woods flretch far and wide, beyond a length- 
 ened favannah, which fets them oiF to great 
 
 advantage*. On the other fide of the lawn, 
 
 the diftances are woody ; but more broken, 
 and not fo remote. 
 
 Nor are the home-views around this 
 beautiful fpot, lefs pleafing, than thofe at 
 a difcance. We wound near a mile round 
 the lodge, through a fucceflion of rich 
 forefl- fcenery, cornpofed chiefly of beech. 
 The trees thmefelves are among the moft 
 beautiful of their kind, having been fecured 
 from the ax by the protection of the houle 
 they adorn. But ilill the beech, even in 
 perfection, is inferior to the oak, the elm, 
 and the afh, in moft of the charadteriilics of 
 pidturefque beauty. It has always too much 
 of a fpiry pointednefs in the extremities of its 
 branches ; which gives a littlenefs to its parts. 
 In its moft beautiful form it rarely fliakes off 
 
 * The fame kind of fituation, only varied, is defcribed 
 in page 6^. 
 
 this 
 
( 112 ) 
 
 this charaderiftic imperfe6lion. If the trees' 
 
 however as individuals, were lefs plealing, 
 
 their combinations were highly beautiful ; and 
 
 exhibited much fcenery from thofe natural 
 openings, and glades, which are fo often found 
 in the internal parts of forefls. 
 
 All the woods not only around this lodge, 
 but in its neighbourhood, abound in beech. 
 The mart: of this tree is the mod fattening 
 food for deer; and gives fuch repute to the 
 winter-venifon of Boldre-wood walk, that a 
 ilranger would have difficulty in getting a 
 king's warrant for a doe executed in it*. 
 
 Thefe woods alfo afford excellent feeding 
 for hogs, which are led, in the autumn-feafon, 
 into many parts of the foreft, but efpecially 
 among the oaks, and beeches of Boldre-wood, 
 to fatten on maft. It is among the rights of 
 the foreft -borderers to feed their hogs in the 
 foreft, during the pawnage-month, as it is 
 called, which commences about the end of 
 feptember, and lafts fix weeks. For this 
 
 • Mr. Samber's MS. 
 
 privilege 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 privilege they pay a trifling acknowledgment 
 at the fteward's court at Lyndhurft. The 
 word pawnage was the old term for the money 
 thus colledied-f-. 
 
 The method of treating hogs at this {^2X0x1 
 of migration, and of reducing a large herd of 
 thefe unmanageable brutes to perfed obedience, 
 and good government, is curious. 
 
 The firfh ftep the fwine-herd takes, is 
 to inveftigate fome clofe fheltered part of 
 the foreft, where there is a conveniency of 
 water; and plenty of oak, or beech-maft, the 
 former of which he prefers, when he can have 
 it in fufficient abundance J. He fixes next on 
 fome fpreading tree, round the bole of which 
 he wattles a flight, circular fence of the 
 dimenfions he wants j and covering it roughly 
 with boughs, and fods, he fills it plentifully 
 with ftraw, or fern. 
 
 Having made this preparation, he collects 
 his colony among the farmers, with whom 
 he commonly agrees for a fhilling a head. 
 
 f See Manwood on foreft-Iaw, p, 201. 
 
 X Pliny feems to be of a different opinion. " Glans fagca 
 faem hilarem facit, carnem coquibilem, ac levem, et utilem 
 llomacho. Tradit Nigidius fungofam carnem fieri efculo, ro- 
 bore, fubere." Lib. xvi. 6. 
 
 VOL. II. I and 
 
( iH ) 
 
 and will get together perhaps a herd of five 
 or fix hundred hogs. Having driven them 
 to their deftlned habitation, ke gives them 
 a plentiful fupper of acorns, or beech-maft, 
 which he had already provided, founding his 
 horn, during the repaft. He then turns 
 them into the litter, where, after a long 
 journey, and a hearty meal, they lleep de- 
 licioully. 
 
 The next morning he lets them look a* 
 little around then^ — fhews them the pool, or 
 ftream, where they may occafionally drink 
 -—leaves them to pick up the oifals of the 
 lafl night's meal; and as evening" draws on, 
 gives them another plentiful repafl: under 
 the neighbouring trees, which rain acorns 
 upon them for an hour together, at the found 
 of his horn. He then fends them again to 
 ileep. 
 
 The following day he is perhaps at the 
 pains of procuring them another meal, with 
 mufic playing as ufual. He then leaves 
 them a little more to themfelves, having 
 an eye however on their evening-hours. But 
 as their bellies are full, they feldom wander 
 far from home, retiring commonly very or- 
 derly, and early to bed. 
 
 After 
 
( "5 ) 
 
 After this, he throws his fly open, and 
 leaves them to cater for themfelves ; and from 
 hence-forward has Httle more trouble with 
 them, during the whole time of their mi- 
 gration. Now and then, in calm weather, 
 when mafi: falls Sparingly, he calls them 
 perhaps together by the mufic of his horn 
 to a gratuitous meal; but in general, they 
 need little attention, returning regularly home 
 at night, tho they often wander in the day 
 two or three miles from their fly. There 
 are experienced leaders in all herds, which 
 have fpent this roving life before ; and can 
 inflrud: their juniors in the method of it. 
 By this management the herd is carried homei 
 to their refpedive owners in fuch condition, 
 that a little dry meat will foon fatten them. 
 
 I would not however have it fuppoled, 
 that all the fwinc-herds in the foreft manage 
 their colonies with this exadnefs. Bad go- 
 vernments, and bad governors will every where 
 exift ; but I mention this as an example of 
 found policy — not as a mere Platonic, or 
 Eutopian fcheme; but fuch as hath been 
 often realized, and hath as often been found 
 produdive of good order, and public utility. 
 
 I a The 
 
( ii6 ) 
 
 The hog is commonly fuppofed to be an 
 obflinate, head-flrong, unmanageable brute : 
 and he may perhaps have a degree of poli- 
 tivenefs in his temper. In general, however 
 if he be properly managed, he is an orderly, 
 docile animal. The only difficulty is, to 
 make your meanings, when they are fair, 
 and friendly, intelligible to him. Effed this, 
 and you niay lead him with a flraw. 
 
 Nor is he without his focial feelings, when 
 he is at liberty to indulge them. In thefe 
 foreft-migrations, it is commonly obferved, 
 that of whatever number the herd confifts, 
 they generally feparate, in their daily excur- 
 jfions, into fuch little knots, and focieties, 
 as have formerly had habits of intimacy 
 together ; and in thefe friendly groups they 
 range the foreft; returning home at night, 
 in different parties, fome earlier, and fome 
 later, as they have been more or lefs fortunate 
 in the purfuits of the day. 
 
 It founds oddly to affirm the life of a hog 
 to be enviable; and yet there is fomething 
 uncommonly pleafing in the lives of thefe 
 emigrants — fomething at lead more defirable, 
 than is to be found in the life of a hog 
 Epicurl de grege. They feem themfelves alfa 
 
 to 
 
 i 
 
( "7 ) 
 
 to enjoy their mode of life. You fee them 
 perfeftly happy, going about at their eafe, 
 and converfing with each other in /hort, 
 pithy, interrupted fentences, which are no 
 doubt, expreffive of their own enjoyments, 
 and of their focial feehngs. 
 
 Befides the hogs, thus led out in the 
 maft-feafon to fatten, there are others, 
 the property of foreft-keepers, which fpend 
 the whole year in fuch focieties. After the 
 maft-feafon is over, the indigenous foreft-hog 
 depends chiefly for his livelihood on the roots 
 of fern : and he would find this food very 
 nourishing, if he could have it in abundance. 
 But he is obliged to procure it by fo laborious 
 an . operation, that his meals are rarely ac- 
 companied with fatiety. He continues how- 
 ever, by great induftry, to obtain a tolerable 
 fubfiftence through the winter, except in 
 frofty weather, when the ground refifts his 
 delving fnout : then he muft perifti, if he 
 do not in fome degree experience his mafter's 
 care. As fpring advances frefh grafTes, and 
 falads of different kinds, add a variety to his 
 bill of fare ; and as fummer comes on, he 
 finds juicy berries, and grateful feeds, on 
 
 I 3 which 
 
( ii8 ) 
 
 which he lives plentifully, till autumn returns, 
 and brings with it the extreme of abundance. 
 
 Befides thefe flationary hogs, there are 
 others in fome of the more defolate parts of 
 ijie foreft, which are bred wild, and left to 
 themfelves, without any fettled habitation. 
 As they coft nothing either in food, or 
 care, their owners are content with the pre- 
 carious profit of fuch, as they are able to 
 reclaim. 
 
 Charles I, I have heard, was at the ex- 
 pence of procuring the wild boar and his 
 mate from the forefls of Germany, which 
 once certainly inhabited the forefts of England. 
 I have heard too that they propagated greatly 
 in New-forefl:. Certain it is, there is found 
 in it, at this day, a breed of hogs, commonly 
 C2Mq6. for eft 'pigs, which are very different from 
 the ufual Hampfhire breed ; and have about 
 them fevcral of the chara6leriftic marks of 
 the wild boar. The foreft-hog has broad 
 flioulders -, a high creft j and thick, briftly 
 mane, which he eredis on any alarm. His 
 hinder parts are light, and thin. His ears 
 are fhort, and eredt ; and his colour either 
 black, or darkly brindled. He is much 
 fiercer, than the common breed; and will 
 
 turn 
 
.ii>->y. 
 
 
 >ii; 
 
 m 
 
 ^ViX. 
 
 :<>^ 
 
 \.'i 
 
 V-^-^-'^i.'<'^''> 
 
 m 
 
 •^> 
 
 V J 
 
 
 ./ 
 
 ?<^-vf >J 
 
 s^- 
 
 vJ 
 
 ;;.>::: 
 
 ..-^ 
 
 ^^-n^. 
 
 -iii^/f' 
 
 ^A/^ 
 
 .i^ 
 
 f\^V^\siJ^ 
 
 h'n' 
 
 ;:^-^ 
 
 i^mv^ 
 
 :-W^ 
 
 "^ 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 turn againft an ordinary dog. All thefe are 
 marks of the wild boar, from whom, I have 
 little doubt, that in part he derives his 
 pedigree, tho his blood may be contaminated 
 
 with vulgar mixtures-f*. But tho he is much 
 
 more pidurefque, than the common hog, he 
 is in much lefs repute among farmers. The 
 lightnefs of his hind quarters, and the thin- 
 nefs of his flanks appear to great difadvantage 
 in the ham, and the flitch. 
 
 On leaving the beechen groves of Boldre- 
 wood we were received by a large, open, 
 fvvampy, heath, called No Ma?is walk, being 
 under the peculiar jurifdidion of none of the 
 
 keepers. The woods foon after commenced 
 
 again, in which we pafTed a large foreft-vifta, 
 cut through them, from Lyndhurft to Bur- 
 ley-lodge; but it wanted the turnpike road 
 which we found in the other vifla*. I could 
 not have fuppofed how much it loft, from 
 the want of this accompaniment. Without 
 a road, there feemed to be no reafo?t for a 
 
 f See vol. I. page 281. * See page 65. 
 
 I 4 vifta. 
 
( 120 ) 
 
 vifta. In other refpecfts alfo it wanted the 
 variety of the Lyndhuril-viila. 
 
 Along the confines of thefe woods, we 
 fkirted a forefl-lawn, called JVarwickJied ; 
 which wheeled around us in the form of a 
 crefcent, near two miles in circuit. It was 
 a beautiful fcene, hung with wood on every 
 fide. 
 
 Near this place ftands Rhinfield-lodge ; 
 the fituation of which is perhaps as pleafing, 
 tho not fo grand, as that of Boldre-wood. 
 It flands on a fpreading hill, incircled with 
 groves of oak, among which indeed greater 
 deftrudion hath been made, for the fake of 
 the view, than feems to have been neceffary. 
 As the ground falls on every fide from the 
 hill, on which the houfe flands, fo on every 
 fide, it foon begins to rife again, tho very 
 gently, expanding by degrees into a vafl 
 circle of foreft-fcenery of every fpecies — 
 extenfive woods — fkirted heaths — intermixtures 
 of wood and lawn — and all this landfcape 
 exhibited through the various removes of 
 diflance. When we were fated with thefe 
 grand fcenes, we had them afterwards pre- 
 fentcd more picfturefquely in parts, as we 
 defcended the hill, on which the lodge flands. 
 
 In 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 In this defcent we caught them every where 
 to great advantage, through the boles, and 
 branches of the ftately oaks, which furrounded 
 us. As the ground, which immediately in- 
 circled this hill at the bottom, is fwampy, 
 and watered with rivulets, the fituation is 
 fometimes in the winter, rather uncomfortable. 
 When the rains are abundant, the waters 
 ilagnate fo much around the hill, that it is 
 almofl completely infulated. 
 
 The next fcene we vlfited was a foreft- 
 lawn of grand dimenfions. It feemed not 
 lefs than nine or ten miles in circumference -, 
 bounded on every fide, at leaft in appearance, 
 with woods, fome of which were on a level 
 with it, and others on grounds elevated above 
 it. Among thefe latter were the woods of 
 Brokenhurfb, adorned with the fpire of the 
 church fhooting above them. The pecu- 
 liarity of this lawn is, that it's vaft area is 
 a perfed: flat — a form, which tho lefs beau- 
 tiful than a playing furface, exceeds it in fim- 
 plicity, and grandeur. A fmall fiat is trivial. 
 It is a mere bowling-green. It has neither 
 beauty in it's parts to fet it off; nor greatnefs 
 
 in 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 in the whole, to make it intcreftlng. Affnall 
 piece of ground therefore fhould always be 
 varied. But an extcjijive jlat like this we are 
 now examining, gives one grand, uniform 
 idea, which fills the imagination. The grandeft 
 idea of this kind, is that of the ocean ; the 
 greatnefs of which confifts in it's being a 
 continued flat. But the ocean prefents gran- 
 deur without beauty. In a view of this 
 kind at land, the idea of beauty 'is, more or 
 lefs, imprelTed by the charader of the fcenery 
 around it. I remember being exceedingly 
 ftruck with the grandeur of an immenfe 
 fcene of this kind, on the borders of Scotland, 
 called Broiigh-marfi'^ , It is infinitely larger 
 indeed than this, and is invironed, not w^ith 
 Vi^oods, which would lofe their effedl round 
 fo vafi: an area ; but with mountains. Rom- 
 ney-marjlo in Kent, is a fcene alfo of the 
 fame kind 3 but it is cut in peices> and de- 
 formed by parallel lines, hedges, and canals. 
 Nor arc it's boundaries good. Inftead of 
 woods, or mountains, it is bounded by the 
 
 * See obfervations on the lakes of Cumberland, &c. vol. II. 
 page 109. 
 
 fea; 
 
( 123 ) 
 
 fea; and where the fea appears In conjunc- 
 tion with a level furface, the efFedl is bad : 
 it joins one flat to another, and produces 
 confuiion. 
 
 The extenfive foreft-lawn, which gave oc- 
 cafion to thefe remarks, is known by the 
 name of Ober-green, It is chiefly pafl:urage, 
 patched here and there with heath; and 
 is efteemed one of the beft feeding grounds, 
 both for deer, and cattle in the foreft. 
 
 Ober-green was the lafl: of thofe beautiful 
 lawns, with which our ride through thefe 
 parts of the foreft was inlivened ; and I 
 imagine few counties in England could fur- 
 niih fo many pleafing woodland- fcenes in fo 
 fmall a compafs. He who delights in fuch 
 fcenery will find it in much greater perfedlion 
 in the wildnefs of a foreft, than among the 
 moft admired improvements of art. He will 
 And it grander, more varied, and every where 
 more replete with thole wild, inchanting 
 paflages, which the hand of art cannot give. 
 What are the lawns of Hagley*, or any other 
 
 * The late Lord Lyttleton's in Worcefterfhire, now Lord 
 Weftcote's. 
 
 plac« 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 place celebrated for this fpecles of artificial 
 landfcape, but paltry imitations of the genuine 
 works of nature ? 
 
 Hinchelfea-wood*, which we left on the 
 right in the morning, now again Ikirted our 
 right, as we traverfed Ober -green. Here it was 
 as great an ornament, as it was on the other 
 fide, at hong jlade -bottom. That vaft bog, 
 which we had feen in the morning winding 
 fo beautifully round Hinchelfea-wood, now 
 prefented it's deceitful furface direftly in our 
 way. An inexperienced traveller might have 
 ventured to pafs it without fcruple. But 
 our ileps were better guided. We were care- 
 fully led through the fkirts of the wood to 
 a place where a mole is thrown acrofs this 
 vaft bog, with two or three wooden bridges 
 to tranfmit the moifture. 
 
 Having pafled this obftrudtion, we rofe 
 Blackamfley-hill, from whence, as in a table 
 of contents, we had a view of all the country, 
 the woods, and the lawns we had paiTed, 
 extending at leafl nine, or ten miles in length. 
 
 • See page 104. 
 
 From 
 
( 125 ) 
 
 From Blackamfley-hill, we came to Set- 
 ley-wood, near which we met again the 
 great road, we had left in the morning. But 
 inftead of continuing in it, we crolTed it at 
 a gate oppoiite to a gravel-pit, as we leave 
 Brokenhurfl ; and entered a wild heath called 
 Burnt-hill, where fome beautiful woody fcenes 
 
 immediately opened. On the left along 
 
 the declivities, hung inclofures of cultivated 
 meadow-land, and likewife of rough grounds, 
 both equally adorned with wood; and as 
 thefe two fpecies of landfcape were here con- 
 tiguous, and exadily limilar, excepting only 
 the article of cultivation, they afforded a 
 good opportunity of illuftrating the dod:rine 
 of gradation ; one of thofe great principles 
 in landfcape, which contributes more than 
 any other, towards the produdion of effeSf, 
 
 The force of gradation is moft (hewn 
 
 in the management of light and colours : 
 but it is fhewn alfo in the wiion of objeSls, 
 Abrupt ncfs, it is true, and jlroiig oppofitiofis, 
 are often great fources of pi6lurefque beauty ; 
 when properly, and fparingly introduced. In 
 profulion, they are affedled. But the great 
 principle of gradation has univerfal injluence, 
 and enters more or lefs into every compofition. 
 
 The 
 
( 126 ) 
 
 The inftance we faw of it here refpe6led 
 the union of objeBs, 
 
 On examining a piece of natural groundi 
 we fee, at a fingle glance, how gradually, 
 and beautifully nature commonly unites one 
 part with another — the tree with tlie n:irub 
 — the fhrub with the brake— that again with 
 the weed— and laftly, thefe loweft decora- 
 tions with the level ground ; which is here, 
 and there, flill farther foftened into them 
 by patches of more luxuriant herbage^. But 
 in the cultured field, however beautiful in 
 it's kind, you fee no tranfition, no connedlion, 
 or gradation among contiguous parts. Even 
 if the hedges introduce no formality of lineal 
 boundary, yet the fmooth uniform furface, 
 whether of grafs, or of corn, joins abruptly 
 with the wood. This in a pidurefque light 
 is difpleafing. 
 
 But you admire the artificial lawn, bounded 
 only with wood ? You then talk of con^ 
 trajlf rather than gradation^ as a fource of 
 beauty ? 
 
 • See vol. I. p. 219. 
 
 We 
 
( 127 ) 
 
 We do : and fcenes of this kind are often 
 beautiful. But one of their great beauties 
 arifes ftill from gradation. When we talk of 
 contrafit we do not mean fimple oppofition. 
 Two contiguous ilripes of black, and white 
 produce no effed:. Strong oppojitions we fome- 
 times allow, but they muft only appear in 
 tranlient touches : gradation enters into the 
 idea even of contrajL It is true, in the arti- 
 ficial lawn we commonly require neatnefs ; 
 fo that the rude conneclions of Jiature are ex- 
 cluded : but ftill a lawn, bounded with re- 
 gular wood, gives us little pleafure* It is 
 the planter's care to obtain what gradation 
 he can, by bringing fome of his clumps 
 forward, and thus conne(5ting his lawn with 
 his woods. Yet with all his art he can 
 never do it in fo nobly wild, and picflurefque 
 a manner, as nature in her mofl beautiful 
 works. 
 
 The two different kinds of hanging grounds, 
 bounded with woods, which occafioned thefe 
 remarks, occupied our left. In front was 
 an extended fkirting of woody fcenery, which 
 opening itfelf more and more, as we pro- 
 ceeded, fpread into a noble ikreen. This 
 
 fcenery 
 
( 128 ) 
 
 fcenery conlifled of thole vad woods, which 
 ftretch from Heathy-Dilton, to Boldre-church. 
 
 Thefe woods hang over the moft plealing 
 meadows about Roydon, and along all the 
 valley to Brokenhurfl:, that ever adorned a 
 landfcape. It is a landfcape indeed of the 
 cultured kind, and therefore little accommo- 
 dated to the pencil ; but of it's kind it is 
 the moft lovely. Through this valley, con- 
 lifting of hanging meadows, varioufly bounded, 
 and adorned with wood, the river of Lyming- 
 ton, while it is yet rural, and only a foreft- 
 ftream, forms many a devious curve. But 
 this pleafing fcenery can only be traverfed 
 by the foot-paflenger, or the angler with his 
 rod. Even on horfe-back you cannot pafs 
 the many wooden bridges made of fingle 
 planks, which are thrown athwart the feveral 
 windings of the ftream. 
 
 Leaving thefe fcenes behind us, we entered 
 the lanes of Roydon, broad, winding, and 
 adorned in one part with an open grove, in 
 others, with an intermixture of beech, and 
 oakj which ftretching acrofs, form a canopy 
 above the head. Thefe lanes open upon a 
 heath, called Sandy-down, which is fuppofed 
 to enjoy the beft air in it's neighbourhoood. 
 
 IIer« 
 
( 129 ) 
 
 Here the woods, which had before fkreened 
 our front, now winding round, appear with 
 equal magnificence on the left. The fummit 
 is crowned with Boldre-church, which dif- 
 covering only it's imbattled tower among the 
 trees, takes the form of a lofty caftle. 
 
 Having crolTed the river near the ruins of 
 Hay wood- ho ufe, once a manfion of conlide- 
 rable note, we mounted the hill to the church, 
 from whence we had beautiful views, on the 
 north, to the foreft, and on tlie fouth, to- 
 wards the white cliifs of the ifle of Wight, 
 
 which are fef off by intermediate woods. 
 
 Indeed all the churches of the foreft are loftily 
 feated. For when the whole country was 
 covered with woods, and before roads were 
 cut through them ; it was neceffary to place 
 the church in a lofty fituation, that the in- 
 habitants might the more eafily find their way 
 to it, through the devious paths of the foreft. 
 
 VOL. II. K SECT. 
 
( '31 ) 
 
 SECT. VII. 
 
 Remarks on the middle parts of New-foieft, between 
 the rivers of Lymington, and Beaulieu. 
 
 DIRECTING our courfe i^r/l towards 
 Beaulieu, we palled the plantations of 
 fir Harry Burrard at Walhampton, which 
 extend round his houfe, and are compofed 
 chiefly of fir. His gardens command ex- 
 tenfive views of the ille of Wight, and the 
 intervening channel : but they are views, 
 which may rather be called amiifmg, than 
 piSltirefque. They are too extenfive for the 
 ufe of the pencil. The diftant coail exhibits 
 too long a curtain -, the hills are too fmooth ; 
 and the water-line is too parrallel with the 
 coaft of Hampfliire. The only way to obtain 
 that fpecies of beauty, v^^hich we call pic^ 
 
 K 2 turefque. 
 
( 132 ) 
 
 turefque, from fo lengthened a view of diilant 
 coafl, is to break it, here and there, with 
 plantations, fometimes immediately on the 
 fore-ground, and fometimes in the fecond 
 diftance. And indeed in many parts of the 
 gardens, where fuch portions are intercepted 
 
 by the woods, good pi5iures are obtained. 
 
 After all however we mull allow, that nine 
 perfons in ten would be better pleafed with 
 thefe extended views in their prefent amufing 
 Jiate, than if they had been more generally 
 broken in a form to pleafe the pi Slur ef que 
 eye. Few people can diftinguifh between the 
 ideas of beautiful , and piSlurefque : but every 
 eye is pleafed with an amujing view. 
 
 To thefe fheltered receffes, v/hich extend 
 even to my garden-gate, I am fo much in- 
 debted, through the indulgence of their be- 
 nevolent owner, for the quiet pleafures of 
 many a ftudious hour, that I fliould gladly 
 enter more minutely into a defcription of 
 them ; did not my fubjedt, which holds 
 me clofely to the wild fcenes of nature, 
 forbid. Yet there is one fcene, which I 
 cannot forbear mentioning : it is fo nearly 
 allied to nature, that it is clofely allied alfo to 
 to my fubjedl. The fcene I mean, is a fmall 
 lake, containing about a dozen acres, which 
 
 has 
 
( 133 ) 
 
 has been formed out of a fwamp. It Is 
 wooded on both fides ; and the view of 
 the whole together is very pleafing, when 
 you ftand in the open part, towards Portmere- 
 common, from whence the head, which con- 
 fines the water, is concealed j and the woods 
 on each fide, are united at the bottom, with 
 thofe of the garden. The walks, on both 
 fides, are well managed ; and contain many 
 little pleafing recefies, and openings to the 
 water. 
 
 Sir John D'Oyly, and Mr. Robbins, whofe 
 houfes we pafs in fuccefilon, have the fame 
 views towards the ifle of Wight, and the 
 channel, which are prefcnted from the gar- 
 dens at Walhampton -, but they are {qqr under 
 different circumfi:ances. 
 
 Sir John D'Oyly 's capital view is from a 
 circular room at the top of his houfe, which 
 commands a very great extent both of fea, 
 and land. On the land-fide the diverfified 
 woods of the foreft appear flretching far and 
 wide around his houfe, with all the inter- 
 vening cultivation houfes cottages and 
 
 farms. On the other fide, the fight extends 
 along the channel of the ifle of Wight in 
 both diredlions — to the weft, as far as the 
 open fea ; and to the eaft, as far as Spithead, 
 
 K 3 where 
 
( 134 ) 
 
 where every motion of the fleet, which Is 
 ftationed there, may be obferved. His lawn 
 has lately been new-modelled, and is now only 
 in a flate of improvement ; fo that it's efFedl 
 cannot yet be feen. 
 
 At Pilewell Mr. Robbins's views towards 
 the fea, are nearly the fame as thofe from 
 D'Oyly-park ; only feen from a lower ftand. 
 Mr. Robbins's lawn is a very extenfive one. 
 It is flat indeed; but fo much quiet fpace 
 forms an excellent contraft with the bufy 
 fcehe of navigation, which is fpread beyond 
 it. Still however thefe views are of the 
 amufing kind. I fhould advife the piSfurefque 
 eye therefore to feek the fcenery of the ifland, 
 as he will find it more broken, in many 
 parts of the walk, which circles the lawn. 
 The belt view of the ivhole together is from the 
 drejjifig-room windows. 
 
 About a mile and a half from Baddeily 
 we pafs the edge of a piece of frefh-water, 
 above three miles in circumference, known 
 by the name of Souley-pond. In an inland- 
 country it would have been thought a con- 
 fiderable lake: but it's clofe neighbourhood 
 
( 135 ) 
 
 to the fea diminlfhes the idea. It is not indeed 
 fkreened by fuch noble limits, as dignify the 
 lakes of Weilmorland and Cumberland ; rocks, 
 mountains, and craggy promontories -, yet it 
 is marked by an elegant irregular line; it's 
 banks arife in gentle fwells from the water; 
 in fome places the fkirts of Beaulieu woods 
 run down to it's edge; and in others low 
 points of level land Ihoot into it, which are 
 always beautiful, efpecially when adorned with 
 groups of figures, or of cattle. On the whole 
 it is a pleafing fcene. It produces great plenty 
 of fifli ; and often affords a .fummer-day's 
 amufement to the gentlemen of the neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 From Souley^pond the road leads towards 
 the banks of Beaulieu-river, which are rathet 
 high in this part, and much wooded ; fo 
 that of courfe the water is fkreened from' the 
 eye. The road however is very beautiful, 
 paflirig through woody lanes, and open groves : 
 and the woods of Beaulieu are the more beau- 
 tiful, as they are almoft univerfally left 
 untouched. You fcarce fee a maimed tree 
 among them. 
 
 K 4 About 
 
{ «36 ) 
 
 About two miles from Souley, a ilrange 
 ruin attrads the eye, on the left. It appears 
 like the two ends of a barn, the roof of which 
 has fallen in. But the curiofity of it is, it's 
 amazing fize. From one gavel- end to the 
 other it extends eighty-one paces. The name 
 it is known by, is St. Leonard's; and it is 
 commonly fuppofed to have been a barn 
 belonging to the monks of Beaulieu, who 
 placed here a little eflablifhment of their fra- 
 ternity, to gather the fruits of the country 
 in thefe parts. The veftiges of different build- 
 ings, and the walls of a fmall chapel, ftill 
 
 remain. In a pidurefque light this ruin 
 
 is of no confequence. We walked round it, 
 and tried it in every mode of perfpedive, if 
 poffible to make a drawing from it, but the 
 two vaft gavel-ends would enter into no kind 
 of compofition. 
 
 Large barns were the common appendages 
 of abbeys j and the vefliges of fome of them 
 flill remain. There is a grand building of 
 this kind at Battle-abbey in Suffex ; tho I 
 fliould think is is more ornamented, than was 
 requifite for a barn. There is another very 
 large one at Cerne in Dorfetfhire. But the 
 nobleft edifice, I believe, in England, under 
 
 the 
 
I 
 
 ( 137 ) 
 
 the denomination of a barn, is to be {cen 
 at Choulfey in Berkfhire, about two miles 
 from Wallingford. This barn is flill larger 
 than that we are now furveying. It is fome- 
 what above a hundred yards in length ; and 
 eighteen yards broad. It contains four threfh- 
 ing-floorsj and is fuppofed to have belonged 
 to the rich abbey of Reading. Tho carrying 
 upon it the date of 11 01, it is in good con- 
 dition ; and flill performs the functions of a 
 barn. Mighty caftles, and churches in three 
 or four centuries have given way to time : but 
 here is a barn, which has continued doing 
 it's offices to fociety, through the fpace of 
 feven hundred years. 
 
 From the ruins of St. Leonard's, the fame 
 woody road brought us foon to Buckler's-hard, 
 a beautiful femi-circular valley, or rather a dip 
 of the bank to the edge of the river, which 
 forms before it one of it's grandeft fweeps. 
 In this pleafing retreat the duke of Montague, 
 predecefTor to the late duke, proprietor of all 
 this part of the country, propofed to build a 
 town, which was to bear his name. He was 
 at that time proprietor alfo of the ifland of 
 St. Lucia in the weft- Indies ; and as he 
 enjoyed all the priv Urges on the river, of the 
 
 abbey 
 
( '38 ) 
 
 abbey of Beaulieu, which were great, and would 
 have enabled him to inveft his colony with 
 many immunities, he expefted to derive much 
 advantage from a fugar trade ; as fugars might 
 thus be imported, and from the plenty of fuel, 
 refined, at a much cheaper rate here, than they 
 could be any where elfe. And indeed the fcheme 
 had the approbation of many men of founder 
 judgment, than the duke's. The limits of a 
 town were accordingly planned — the flreets 
 were marked out — and the building-grounds 
 adjufted. But at the peace of 1748, St. Lucia 
 was declared a neutral illand, by which the 
 duke's property in it was loft ; and foon after, 
 his only fon dying, he dropped all farther 
 intention with regard to his new town. 
 
 Buckler's-hard was however deflined to re- 
 ceive a town, tho of a different kind. The 
 fituatiori was commodious for (hip-building, 
 as well as fugar-boiling ; and was taken for 
 that purpofe, by Mr. Adams, who made large 
 contrads with government for building fhips 
 of war. Several very fine frigates have been 
 built here, and fome fhips of more force*. 
 
 The 
 
 * The following is a lilt of the fhips of war, and their 
 
 number of guns, which have been built at Buckler's-hard. 
 
 The 
 
( 139 ) 
 
 The great number of workmen, whom this 
 buiiners brought together, have given birth by 
 degrees to a populous village. 
 
 From this bufy fcene, we purfued our way 
 to Beaulieu-abbey ; which is about two miles 
 beyond it. The road is ftill dole, and beau- 
 tifully wooded. Within half a mile of it you 
 look down from the higher grounds, into the 
 circular valley, in which the ruins of the 
 abbey ftand. 
 
 The valley itfelf is extenfive, and confifts of 
 great variety of ground ; and the whole fcene, 
 but efpecially the hills, which furround it, are 
 woody. Through the middle of it runs the 
 river, which, about two miles above Beaulieu, 
 is a mere foreft-ftream, and has no confe- 
 quence, but what it receives from the beautiful 
 
 The Illuniiious of feventy-four guns. The Vigilant — Aga- 
 memnon — Indefatigable — and Europe ; all of fixty-four. The 
 Greenwich, and Hannibal of fifty. The Woolwich — Romulus 
 —Gladiator — and Sheernefs of forty-four. The Thames — Thetis 
 —and Heroine of thirty-two. The Coventry— Levant— Triton 
 —Greyhound— Sibyl — and Brilliant of twenty -eight. The Sur- 
 prife — Fowey— and Mermaid of twenty- four. The Kennington 
 cf jvventy— and the Scorpioii iloop. 
 
 fcenes, 
 
( HO ) 
 
 icenes, through which it wanders. Under the 
 walls of the abbey it meets the tide, which 
 immediately gives it form, and dignity. Here 
 a bridge is thrown over it ; on each fide of 
 which, it fpreads into a lake, when the tide 
 flows, fhaping it's ample fweeps around rich 
 wooded fhores. Both thefe grand bafons 
 might eafily be kept conftantly full, if a head 
 were conftruded, as I have heard it might be, 
 acrofs the river, at the fecond reach below the 
 abbey. The tide, in all probability would 
 not obftrudl a work of this kind ; as it flows 
 here with little force, fcarce at the rate of four 
 miles an hour. 
 
 The precindts of the abbey, which fl:ands on 
 the eafl:ern fide of the river, are, in circum- 
 ference, about a mile and a half. The boun- 
 dary-wall is intire in feveral parts -, and vifible 
 almofl: in all. The area, within the boundary, 
 is nearly flat ; and might eafily be made a very 
 beautiful fcene. Along the banks of the river 
 the ground is a little varied, where a pleafant 
 walk has been laid out, which is now pid:u- 
 refquely marked by the ruins of time. The 
 bank is here fomewhat higher than the river ; 
 and was formerly, in this part, the foundation 
 of the boundary- wall of the abbey; which, 
 
 when 
 
( HI ) 
 
 when the wall was intire, compleatly hid the 
 river, and all it's beautiful appendages from 
 the walk. Time has now reftored them. 
 Tho the wall yet holds out in fome places, it 
 has in general failed. Large portions of it are 
 gone ', and in other parts there are chafms, 
 and fradures, through which the river, and 
 the furrounding woods appear often to great 
 advantage from the walk. Old oaks likewife, 
 coeval with the abbey itfelf, are fcattered pro- 
 fufely around the ruins of the wall ; fometimes 
 fupporting it, and fometimes fupported by it. 
 They are every where beautiful appendages; and 
 in many places unite with the ruins of the wall 
 into the mo ft pleafing fore-grounds ; while the 
 river, fpread here into a lake, and the woods 
 beyond it, form a dijiance. 
 
 Among thefe ruins, I remember, fome 
 years ago, to have feen a very extraordi- 
 nary inftance of vegetation. The main ftem 
 of an oak arofe in contadt with a part of the 
 wall, which was intire; and extended one of 
 it's principal limbs along the fummit of it. 
 This limb, at the diftance of a few yards from 
 the parent-tree finding a fifTure in the wall, in 
 which there might probably be fome depofit 
 of foil, fhot a root through it into the earth. 
 
 From 
 
( ^42 ) 
 
 From hence, fhooting up again through ano- 
 ther part of the wall, it formed a new ftem, 
 as large as the original tree ; and from this 
 again proceeded another horizontal branch like 
 the former. In a great ftorm, which hap- 
 pened on the 27th of february 178 1, both the 
 wall, and the tree were blown down together. 
 
 Great part of the area between this beautiful 
 walk, and the abbey, is occupied by an open 
 grove; part of which is beautiful, and part 
 deformed. The reafon of the difference is, 
 that one part is planted careleily by the hand 
 of nature ; the other regularly by that of art. 
 
 Of the buildings of the abbey confi- 
 derable parts remain ; enough to fliew, that 
 it has formerly been conflrudted in a rich 
 Gothic flile : tho it's dimenfions were 
 never large. The parts ftill in being of mofl 
 confequence, are what is fuppofed to have 
 been the refedtory, and the abbot's lodge.- 
 The refedtory is now turned into a parifh- 
 church, and forms a handfome aile, which 
 is worth looking into. The abbot's lodge is 
 known by the name of the palace, and was 
 fitted up by the predecefTor of the lafi: duke of 
 Montague, as a manlion ; tho he made little 
 addition to it. The old hall ftill remains, and 
 
 feme 
 
( 143 ) 
 
 fome of the other apartments. What he 
 added, is ill-done; and what he did in the 
 way of tafte, is whimfical, and ill-managed. 
 He did nothing indeed that adorns this beau- 
 tiful fcene -, many things which deform it ; 
 and fome things fo ftrangely abfurd, that no 
 genius but his own, could have conceived 
 them. Inftead of calling in fome man of tafte 
 to afllfl: him in making Beaulieu-abbey one of 
 the mofl pleafmg fcenes in England, which 
 it might have been ; he employed an engineer, 
 by whofe help he drew a ditch around it ; filled 
 it with water; threw two or three draw-bridges 
 over it ; fecured all the avenues ; and thus, 
 by a wonderful ftroke of art, converted an 
 abbey into a caftle. This atchievement was 
 performed about the time of a French war, 
 and a rebellion ; when the duke had been 
 raifing a regiment, and his ideas had taken 
 a mili ary turn. It is faid too, that he made 
 this flrange metamorpholis under an appre- 
 henfion, left fome adventrous French privateer, 
 taking the advantage of a full-tide, might fail 
 up the river, and endeavour to carry him off. — 
 Men of tafte cannot enough lament, that a 
 fituation, fo well adapted to receive the beauties 
 of art, fhould have fallen fo unhappily into 
 
 fuch 
 
( 144 ) 
 
 fuch wretched hands; and that more money 
 had been fpent in deforming it, than might 
 have made it a fcene of uncommon beauty. 
 
 Of the other parts of the abbey Httle re- 
 mains. There is a court about fixty or feventy 
 feet fquare, formerly perhaps a cloifter, which 
 is now converted into a garden. In the inner 
 walls remain feveral arches, now clofed, two 
 or three of which are of beautiful Gothic. 
 Near this court alfo ftands a fmall room, roughly 
 arched. The arches are of ftone, centering 
 in a point at the top : but it does not ealily 
 appear for what purpofc fo fmall an apart- 
 ment was intended. The kitchen is flill very 
 intire; as this edifice often is among the ruins of 
 abbeys. It was a ftrudture commonly of great 
 flrength. 
 
 But tho the fituatlon of Beaulieu-abbey is 
 very pleafing ; and perhaps more monkish, 
 than could eafily have been found in the neigh- 
 bourhood ', yet if a noble family-manfion 
 fhould be intended, a much grander fituation 
 might be chofen in many parts of this beau- 
 tiful country -, particularly on the high grounds, 
 a little to the north of Buckler's-hard, nearly 
 about the point, where the road from thence 
 
 unites 
 
( 145 ) 
 
 Unites with that from Lymington. This 
 lituation commands a grand fweep over the 
 river, together with it's efluary — the woods 
 on both fides of it, which are rich, and 
 ample in a high degree — and in the diftance 
 the channel, and the high grounds of the 
 ifle of Wight, from Cowes' point t0 the 
 Needles. 
 
 The privileges of the manor of Beaulieu, 
 which were granted by king John, were very 
 extenfive ; and are flill preferved. No debtor 
 can be arrefted within it's precin(fts, unlefs 
 the lord's leave be obtained. The lords of 
 Beaulieu alfo enjoy the liberties of the Cinque- 
 ports ; and the fame exemption from duties ; 
 which was the duke's principal reafon, as was 
 obferved*, for building a town at Buckler's- 
 hard. They hunt alfo, and deltroy the king's 
 deer, if they flray within the purlieus of the 
 abbey. On the day we were at Beaulieu, 
 we found the hedges every where befet with 
 armed men. There were not fewer than 
 twenty, or thirty. It appeared as if fome 
 invafion was expedted. On inquiry we were 
 
 * See page 138. 
 
 VOL. II. L informed. 
 
( 146 ) 
 
 informed, a flag had been feen that morning 
 in the manor ; and all the village of Beaulieu 
 was in arms to prevent his efcape back into 
 the forell. The fortunate man, who fhot 
 him, had a gratuity from the lord. 
 
 Bcaulieu-manor is an extenfive fcene, being 
 not lefs than twenty-eight miles in circum- 
 ference. It confifts chiefly of woodlands ; and 
 belides the deer, which accidentally ftray into 
 it from the foreft, contains a great number 
 of deer in it's own domains. Among thefe 
 rough grounds are intermixed many valuable 
 farms -, and the whole yields annually about 
 
 As we leave Beaulieu-abbey, along the 
 Lyndhurft road, we fkirt the upper lake, 
 which is formed by the tide above the bridge. 
 It is a beautiful Iheet of water, about a mile 
 in circumference, furrounded, on every fide 
 with woods, which in many parts fall into 
 it from the rifing grounds. As the view 
 opens, we look full up the lake. On the 
 right the abbey appeals among the woods 
 to great advantage. On the left, a winding 
 road runs along it's margin; except where 
 
 in 
 
( '+7 ) 
 
 in fome parts it is intercepted by clumps of 
 trees. In front, the woods recede a little 
 from the water, and leave a fpace of flat 
 meadow, which has a good efted: in contraft 
 with the riling grounds, and woods on each 
 fide.— — The whole fcene is pleafing. Soon 
 after we leave the lake, the river dwindles 
 into a fluggifli, little, bull-rufh flream. The 
 meadow, however through which it winds, 
 are adorned with wood, and flill continue 
 beautiful. 
 
 At a place called the Fighting-ccch, well 
 known to the lurking poacher, the manor 
 of Beaulieu ends ; and we entered the wild 
 fcenes of the foreft. Deep woods received 
 us. Through thefe we rode near two miles, 
 riiing gently from the river; and then emerged 
 into an open fcene, called Culverly -heath — 
 one of thofe beautiful woody-fKirted lawns, 
 of which we had feen fo many in the weftern 
 parts of the foreft; and yet the features of 
 
 this were different from them all. We 
 
 flood on a rough knoll, decorated with a few 
 full-grown oaks, defcending in front into 
 a lawn, which appeared to ftretch about a 
 
 L 2 mile 
 
( 148 ) 
 
 mile in front; and a league on each fide. 
 It was ikirted in every part with woods, 
 fhooting out, and retiring in fkreens on each 
 fide ; and folding over each other. The whole 
 was a pleafing piece of foreft-perfpedive, 
 and the lawn one of the mofl pidurefque 
 compofitions we had met with, in this mode 
 of landfcape. 
 
 Soon after we left Culverly-heath, we en- 
 tered another fcene of the fame kind — larger, 
 but lefs varied. In Calverly-heath the ma- 
 terials of landfcape were brought together in 
 fo perfed: a manner, as to produce a pic- 
 turefque whole. Here, through an awkward- 
 nefs in the compofition, there was but an 
 indifferent whole, tho many of the parts in 
 themfelves were beautiful. 
 
 From this heath we entered a large wood, 
 called Denny. It has once been a noble 
 fcene, but it is now ftripped of it's princi- 
 pal honours, and confifts chiefly of beech, 
 with a few decrepid oaks ftragling among 
 them. Every where we faw noble Jiools, 
 as they call the flumps of fuch trees as 
 have been cut down ; and could form an 
 idea of their grandeur, by the refpedlful 
 fpace they have formerly occupied, None of 
 
 the 
 
( H9 ) 
 
 the trees in the neighbourhood feem to have 
 approached within a confiderable diftance of 
 them. 
 
 In this wood, which makes a part of 
 Denny-walk, the lodge belonging to it, is 
 feated. Here we left the Lyndhurfl road, 
 which we had thus far purfued from Beaulieu j 
 and turning to the left, dired:ed our courfe 
 to Whitley-ridge-lodge. In the neighbourhood 
 of this place we found fome beautiful fcenes. 
 
 One of them has peculiar merit. It is a 
 
 fmall foreft-lawn, containing about feven or 
 eight acres fomewhat circular, and fkirted 
 with oaks, thickets, and open groves j but 
 they are difpofed in fo happy a manner, and 
 fo much broken by clumps {landing out from 
 the other woods, that all the regularity of 
 it's form is removed. This lawn is the 
 favourite haunt of deer in fummer-evenings ; 
 and their conftant feeding upon it, has given 
 the iinefl texture to it's turf. It is rough 
 enough to fliew it's alliance with the foreft ; 
 but, like fome of nature's faireft forms, it 
 has fo polifhed an appearance, that with the 
 fmalleft improvement it might accompany the 
 moil cultivated fcene. 
 
 L 3 From 
 
( ISO ) 
 
 From hence we continued our rout through 
 woods, like thofe of Denny, as far as Lady- 
 crofs-lodge. Thefe ravaged parts of the foreft, 
 tho they ftill afford many pleaiing fcencs, 
 yet deprived of their noblefl trees, are de- 
 prived alfo of their principal beauty. Tho 
 inferior wood, as we had frequent opportunity 
 to obferve, might produce diftant fcenery, 
 yet when we enter the internal parts of a 
 foreft, v^^e wifh for objeds of grandeur. In 
 foreft-glades efpecially, where the fcenes are 
 fmall, large trees on the fore-ground are almoft 
 neceirary. 
 
 From the woods of Lady-crofs, we entered 
 the weftern fide of that vaft heath, which 
 occupies all the middle ground between the 
 
 rivers of Lymington, and Beaulieu. It is 
 
 not a fcene, like that of Culverly, and others, 
 in which the woods, and open country bear 
 a proportion to each other; it is diffufe, 
 and unadorned. The circumambient woods 
 are too inconfiderable j and yet it is every 
 where furrounded with them. Thofe of 
 
 Heathy- 
 
{ '51 ) 
 
 Hcathy-Dilton occupied the right; and in- 
 troduced, as we fkirted this fide of the heath, 
 fome httle fcenery : but all other parts were 
 naked. In front indeed ranged a meagre 
 fkirting of wood ; beyond which the high 
 grounds of the ille of Wight formed a dif- 
 tance. 
 
 As we proceeded farther on this heath, 
 Norley-wood arofe at fome diftance on the 
 left. Towards this, acrofs the heath, we 
 bent our courfe, as we were told it afforded 
 fome of the moll; beautiful intefual fcenery 
 
 of any part of the foreil:. Norley-wood 
 
 flretches about two miles in length ; and 
 taking a femicircular turn, forms fome heathy 
 grounds, which hang to the fouth, into a 
 
 bay.-: As a diftant objed; however, it's 
 
 woods polTefs only common beauties. To 
 fee it's oaks in their glory, we muft enter 
 it's recefTes. Their forms are remarkably 
 pi(flurefque j and their combinations are as 
 pleafmg as their forms. Thefe combinations 
 are greatly affifted by a profufion of holly, 
 and other humble plants, which are interfperfed 
 
 among the trees. This delightful fcenery alfo 
 
 is happily opened. Several roads winding in 
 
 different directions, through the wood, form 
 
 L 4 a variety 
 
( 152 ) 
 
 a variety of little recefles. Sometimes we 
 were prefented with a longer reach ; fome- 
 times with a fadden turn : and the beauty 
 generally arofe from feeing little removed 
 clumps of wood, in Waterlo's ftile, varioudy 
 rifing behind one or two ftately trees on the 
 fore-ground, vvhofe dark branches gave their 
 inlightened foliage effed. Other varieties are 
 introduced by the interfeBions of roads ; and 
 others by the grafs running among full-grown 
 trees, or clumps of underwood ; 
 
 Where frequent tufts of holly, box, or thorn. 
 Steal on the greenfvverd ; but admit fair fpace. 
 For many a mofTy maze to wind between. 
 
 In fhort, we found inflances here, in great 
 perfedlion, of every mode of fcenery, which 
 I have already defcribed in the internal parts 
 of a foreft*. 
 
 There is alfo a circumftance conneded 
 with this wood, which is rarely found in 
 thofe w^oods, which occupy the middle regions 
 of the forefl ; and that is a hamlet of thofe 
 little trefpaffing cottages fcattered about it, 
 which have already been mentioned-f-. They 
 
 • See vol. I. page 211. f See vol. I. page 216. 
 
 commonly 
 
( '53 ) 
 
 commonly fland detached, and one or other 
 of them meets the eye in various parts, and 
 adds much to the fcene. I have already ex- 
 plained, how far fuch circumflances affed: 
 both natural, and artificial landfcape*. 
 
 In a few years however, all the beautiful 
 fcenery of Norley-wood will vanifh. It's 
 deft:rud:ion has long been expe6led ; and was 
 lately determined. In the beginning of the 
 year 178 1, a band of wood-cutters entered 
 it, with orders from the furveyor of the 
 foreft to cut a hundred of the befl trees, which 
 he had previoufly marked for the ufe of the 
 navy. Thefe trees were fet apart for building 
 fhips of the iirfl and fecond rates. The next 
 year another fall of the fame kind of timber 
 was ordered : and in three or four years, when 
 all the noble trees are gone, the refufe will 
 be deftined to fliips of inferior fize, frigates, 
 floops, and cutters. During feven years it is 
 fuppofed this wood will yield a confiderable 
 fupply to the yards of Portfmouth. At prefent 
 however a refpite is given it; and- the de- 
 predations, which have been made, have not 
 yet greatly injured it's beauty. In fome parts 
 
 • See vol. I. page 217. 
 
 they 
 
( 154 ) 
 
 they may have improved it*, by feveral open- 
 ings, w^hich the wood-cutters have made ; 
 tho the fcenes of Norley-wood admit improve- 
 ments of this kind, lefs than almoft any other 
 fcenes in the foreil j as they naturally abound 
 in openings, and receffes. If a few more 
 attacks however be made upon it, it's glory 
 will be extindt; and Norley-wood like other 
 ravaged woods, will fuggeft only the remem- 
 brance of a fcene. 
 
 And yet the various appendages of wood- 
 cutting — piles of bark, and fcattered boughs, 
 and timber-wains, are not unpleaiing objedls-f-. 
 The deep, hollow tone alfo of the wood-man's 
 axe, or of axes refponfive to each other, in 
 different parts of the wood, are notes in full 
 harmony with the fcene, tho their mufic is a 
 knell. 
 
 The fallen tree alfo, lying with it's white, 
 peeled branches on the ground, is not only 
 beautiful in itfelf ; but if it be not fcattered 
 in too great profulion (for white is an unac- 
 commodating hue) it forms an agreeable con- 
 traft with the living trees. But when we fee 
 it deprived of it's beautiful ramification, fquared. 
 
 • See vol. I. page 266. f See vol I. page 267. 
 
 and 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 ( ^S5 ) 
 
 and fawn in lengths, as it fometimes continues 
 Ions: to lie about the foreft, it becomes an 
 objed of deformity ; and we lament what it 
 once was, without receiving any equivalent 
 from it's prefcnt ftate. 
 
 It may here alfo be remarked, that the 
 king's timber is much more pid:urefque, than 
 fuch timber, as is bought, and cut by the mer- 
 chant. He, with cautious, and difcerning eye, 
 {lands at the bottom of the tree, while it is yet 
 alive j and having examined every twifting 
 limb, and deftined every part to it's proper 
 fervice, lops them off, one by one^ and then 
 fells the tree, a deformed and mutilated trunk. 
 The royal wood-cutter is lefs nice. He fells 
 the tree as it grows ; and leaves the dock-men 
 to afcertain the ufes of it's feveral parts. Two 
 or three of the main limbs are generally reft, 
 and fplintered in the fall -, but that is not his 
 concern : in the mean time, the ruin of the 
 whole, with all it's fpreading parts about it, 
 retains ftill a degree of pifturefque beauty. 
 
( 157 ) 
 
 SECT. VIII. 
 
 A voyage up BeauUeu-river. 
 
 THE river Avon is the boundary of the 
 forefl on the w^eft; and the bay of 
 Southampton on the eaft. Neither of thefe 
 rivers therefore properly belongs to the forefl. 
 The only rivers, which may juftly be called 
 foreft- rivers, are thofe of Lymington, and 
 Beaulieu. The former of thefe we have 
 already examined in various parts j the latter 
 only about the abbey of Beaulieu. We deter- 
 mined therefore to inveftigate the whole by a 
 voyage. 
 
 We took boat in Lymington-rivcr; which 
 at low-water winds beautifully, before it enter 
 the fea*. Its banks indeed are mud, but of 
 the beft fpecies ; for they are covered, like 
 the other mud- lands of this country, with 
 
 See page gj, 
 
 fea-grafs. 
 
( is8 ) 
 
 fea-grafs, which gives theai the air of mea- 
 dows when the tide retires. The returning 
 water over-runs all the boundaries of the 
 river, and makes it neceffary, for the ufe of 
 veffels of any burden, to mark its channel 
 
 with flakes. The mouth of the river is 
 
 diftinguilhed by a larger poft, known among 
 iifhermen, by the name of 'Jack in the bajket. 
 It ftands about three miles from Lymington- 
 harbour. 
 
 At this boundary we entered the channel, 
 which divides the coaft of Hampjlnre from the 
 ijle of Wight, The former, which ftretches 
 along the left, appears as a flat woody diftance, 
 juft raifed above the edge of the water; and 
 unmarked by any objedl of confequence. 
 They who are acquainted with the country, 
 can point out, here and there, a houfe, jud 
 feen among the trees. 
 
 On the right, the ille of Wight makes a 
 better appearance; and yet not a pidturefque 
 one. It confifts of a double ridge of high 
 lands; which, in almoft every part, are ill- 
 fhaped, and in fome parts the upper, and 
 lower grounds follow each other in a difa- 
 greeable parallel. Indeed we feldom fee a 
 continuation of high grounds, through a fpace 
 
 of 
 
( J59 ) 
 
 of near ten miles, forming ip unpleafant a 
 delineation. At leaft it feems fuch to any 
 eye affimulated to the grandeur of a moun-f 
 tainous country. 
 
 The water-line of the ifland appears to 
 more advantage. Among many fmaller in- 
 dentations of the coaft, the bays of Totland, 
 and New-town, are confiderable. Totland- 
 bay is formed by the weftern point of the 
 ifland, called the Needle- cliffs, on one fide; 
 and on the other by that promontary, which 
 fhoots out oppofite to Hurfl-caftle, ufually 
 called Sconce -point . It is a rude, wild fcene^ 
 tho the cliffs themfelves are rather of the 
 tame fpecies ; without any of thofe large parts, 
 and projed:ions, which give a rocky coafi: its 
 moft pidlurefque form. New-town-bay affords 
 an opening of a different kind. It is a 
 femicircular fweep into a country highly 
 cultivated ; which at a proper diflance, when 
 the feveral objecSts of cultivation are mafled 
 together, has a good effect . 
 
 As we approached the mouth of Beaulieu- 
 river, it's opening promifed little. The eaflern 
 fide forms a low, lineal, difagreeable fhore. 
 
 The 
 
( «6o ) 
 
 The vveflcrn fide is ftill more difagreeable. 
 It confifts of a flat tongue of land, called 
 Needfore-point^ , which runs out a confiderable 
 way; and at low- water unites with the mud- 
 lands. When the tide flows, it is in part 
 covered with water. We found it in this 
 latter fltuation ; and our boat made a fliort 
 pufh over it, inftead of going round by the 
 mouth of the river. 
 
 It is fomev/hat remarkable, that there is 
 one of thefe fpits of land, near the mouth of 
 each of thefe forefl-rivers j and alfo at the ' 
 mouth of Southampton-bay. Huril-caflile, 
 formerly intended to guard the pafl'age through 
 the Needles, occupies one near the mouth of 
 Lymington-river ; and Calfliot-caftle another, 
 at the entrance of Southampton-bay. On 
 Needfore-point, which is the middle one, 
 
 a fortrefs was thought unnecefliiry. But 
 
 tho thefe fpits of land are remarkable, they 
 are eaflly accounted for. The united force 
 of wind and tide from the fouth-wefl:, and 
 
 * Needfore, that is. Needs -fliore, but the Jh was not ufed 
 in Saxon orthography. Hence Needfore, Stanfore, and other 
 terminations of that kind on this coaft ; and Windfor, Hedfor, 
 &c. on the Thames. 
 
 wefl:, 
 
( i6i ) 
 
 weft, fo much greater and more continued^ 
 than from any other quarter, is the natural, 
 and obvious caule. The fame thing happens 
 at the entrance of Portfmouth-harbour. Spit- 
 head is the barrier of it's channel, which 
 runs clofe along the eaflern fl:iore under 
 South-fea-caftle, and Portfmouth-wall, much 
 in the fame manner as the channel of Beaulieu, 
 or rather Exbury-haven, runs clofe under the 
 fhore from Leap. Wherever there is a low, 
 or gravelly coaft, undefended, on the fouthern 
 lide of our ifland, it gives way to the fury 
 of the Atlantic winds and tides. The rocks 
 of Purbeck prote(5l the gravelly coaft about 
 Pool, and Chrift-church. To the eaft of 
 thefe places there have certainly been depre- 
 dations. Wight defends Portfmouth, and the 
 ihores eaftward as far as Arundel ; which would 
 probably go to fea, if they were equally unpro- 
 tedtcd from the weft, as from the eaft. 
 
 We had now entered Beaulleu-river> which 
 appears to be about half a mile broad. For 
 fome time Needfore-point on the left, con- 
 tinued a low, winding ftiore^ cloftng us in 
 behind; tedious, and unvaried. But, on the 
 
 VOL. II. M other 
 
( i62 ) 
 
 other fide, the grounds began to form a beau- 
 tiful bank. 
 
 As the reach opened, the fkreens improved. 
 The high grounds about Exbury formed them- 
 felves into a point covered with wood ; through 
 which Exbury chapel juft appeared. The other 
 lidc-fkreen was compofed of ancient woods, where 
 the axe feemed never to have entered. The 
 river ftill continued as wide as at the entrance ; 
 flretching in front into an ample bay, confined 
 by woods ; but the extremity of the bay was 
 foftened by it's length, into a fecond-dif- 
 tance. 
 
 By degrees we began to wind round Exbury- 
 point ; which flill continued a principal feature 
 in the view. But tho it had greatly changed 
 it's appearance -, the woods and meadows, and 
 rough grounds were ftill very agreeably in- 
 termixed. On the other fide, the woods 
 had taken a fweep with the river ; and were 
 thrown into good perfpedlive. They mantled 
 down almofl to the water; which was bordered 
 only by a narrow edging of meadow. Here 
 the river affording eafy accefs to the herds of 
 the neighbouring paflures, they came down 
 for refrefhment during the fultry hours of a 
 fummer-noon. While they cooled themfelves 
 in the river, the woods behind fheltered them 
 
 from 
 
 I 
 
( i63 ) 
 
 from the fun ; and formed a good back-ground 
 
 to their feveral pidurefque groups. The 
 
 front of this grand reach maintained long the 
 fame appearance, confining chiefly of woody 
 grounds foftened by didance. Nor did the 
 fide-ikreens vary much. Continued woods 
 flill rofe on the left; and on the right a 
 portion of rough paflurage mingled with 
 them. 
 
 We now came in {i?ht of Buckler's-hard * 
 on the left, where the large timber-yards, 
 houfes, and (h'vps on the flocks, made a 
 violent, chafm in tlie landfcape. A quantity 
 of timber fcattercd about a yard, makes a 
 
 very unpi(fturefque appearance. It affords 
 
 a variety of parts without a whole. And 
 yet in a timber-yard, there are flieds and other 
 circumftances, which are not wholly void of 
 pid:urefque images. In a ililp on the flocks, 
 through every ftage as it advanes, there is a 
 degree of beauty, which confifts chiefly in the 
 variety of it's fweeping lines. 
 
 * See an account of Buckler's-hard page 137. The word 
 Hard fignifies only a firm caufeway made upon the mud, for the 
 fake of landing. 
 
 M 2 At 
 
( i64 ) 
 
 At Buckler's-hard the reach of the river 
 is very intcrefling, Oa the right are the 
 woods of BeauUeu, winding round, with great 
 richnefs, into, a front-fkreen. On the left, 
 where wood before abounded, the grounds 
 now run more into paflurage; tho far from 
 beins: deftitute of furniture. One decoration 
 they have, which is not unpleafing. Where 
 the meadows Ml down to the water, they 
 are fecured from the tide, by low, ftaked 
 banks, which follow the winding banks of 
 the river. If they had run in a ftraight line, 
 they would have been a great deformity ; 
 but as they wind, inflead of being ofFenlive 
 objedts, they give a fort of rough, irregular 
 termination to the line of the river. If we 
 painted the fcene, we fhould have no objection 
 to introduce them ; both for the reafon given, 
 and alfo for the fake of the refledions they 
 
 form in the water. They have fometimes 
 
 alfo the beauty of contrafl, when the other 
 parts of the bank are without them. 
 
 From Buckler's- hard the river takes a 
 fweep to the right. The woods likewife, on 
 that fide, follow it's courfe; and fpreading 
 in great luxuriance, to the water's edge, throw 
 a gloom over half the river. A noble bay, 
 
 land- 
 
I 
 
 ( 165 ) 
 
 land-locked with wood, begins foon to open. 
 
 As this fcene removes, the woods take 
 
 a different form, fhaping themfelves into re- 
 moved fKreens, following each other. • 
 
 Another reach brought us witliin fight of 
 Beaulieu — the bridge and the abbey form- 
 ing the centre of the view : the river, in 
 the mean time, lofing very little of it's gran- 
 deur, from the firft reach to the laft. 
 
 Thus we finiflicd our voyage up the river 
 of Beaulieu ; which in a courfe of near three 
 leagues from the fea, forms about five, or 
 
 fix grand fvveeps. The fitnple idea it 
 
 prcfents throughout, is that of a winding 
 tide-river flowing up a woody, mid iininhahited 
 country ; which is a fingular character for 
 an Englifli river to afllime. Here and there 
 we fee a houfc, and a few fpots of culti- 
 vation 'j but fo little, that they make no 
 impreflion on the general character of the 
 fcene. The pid:urefque eye, ufed to land- 
 fcape, eafily overlooks thefe little obftacles ; 
 and carries on the general idea undiilurbed. 
 
 The bufy fcene of fhip-building at Buck- 
 
 ler's-hard, rather aided, than injured the idea: 
 
 M 3 for 
 
. ( i66 ) 
 
 for as no one would expe6t a fcene of this 
 kind in fo retired a place ; it feeir.ed as if 
 the adventurers, who had failed up the river, 
 had landed here either to refit their fliips, or 
 to build others for the purpofe of purfuing 
 their difcoveries. 
 
 Miratur nemus infuetum fulgentia longe 
 Scuta virum fluvio, pi^tafque innare carinas. 
 
 The idea of a wild country, in a natural 
 flate, however pidurefque, is to the generality 
 of people but an unpleafing one. There are 
 few, who do not prefer the bufy fcenes of 
 cultivation to the grandeft of nature's rough 
 producflions. In general indeed, when we 
 meet vvith a defcription of a pleafing country, 
 we hear of hay-cocks, or waving corn-fields, 
 or labourers at their plough, or other cir- 
 cumftances and obje(fls, which the pi<flurefque 
 eye always wifhes to exclude. The cafe is, 
 the fpedlator fympathifes in the joys of a 
 country, which arife from the profpe(ft of 
 plenty 5 and afTociating thefe ideas with the 
 country itfelf, he calls it piSiurefque -, by 
 which he means only that it pleafes him. 
 
 ' Thus too in the grand, and fublime 
 
 fcenes of nature, if there be any mixture of 
 
 horror 
 
r 
 
 ( '67 ) 
 
 horror in them (which often adds greatly 
 to the piSurefque effed) the adbciated ideas 
 of unhappinefs cloud the fcene, and make it 
 difpkafmg. 
 
 I mean not, when a perfon is among objecfls, 
 which in their remote confequences give 
 delight ; or in the midft of fcenes, which 
 are connected with diftrefs ; that he fliould 
 not feel the natural impreffions they make 
 — all I mean is, to inveftigate the fources 
 of beauty ; to limit the different modes of 
 pleafure, and pain -, to feparate caufes, and 
 effcSis ', and to evince that a fcene, tlio it 
 abound with circumflances of horror, may be 
 \Gvy piBurefque ; while another may be intirely 
 the reverfe, tho replete with incidents, that 
 produce joy and happinefs. 
 
 I have an inftance at hand to my purpofe. 
 One of our voyagers* to the northern feas, in 
 
 failing up a river, thus defcribes the fcene. 
 
 " The country, fays he, on each fide, was 
 very romantic ^ but unvaried; the river run- 
 ning between mountains of the mod craggy 
 and barren afpedtj where there was nothing 
 
 • Capt. King who fucceeded capt. Cook, p. 207. 
 
 M 4 to 
 
( i68 ) 
 
 to divcrfify the fcenc, but now • and tlien the 
 light of a bear, or flights of wild-fowl. So 
 uninterefting a paflage leaves me nothing far- 
 ther to add." 
 
 It is hardly poffible, in fo few words, to 
 prefent more pidl:urefque ideas of the horrid, 
 and favage kind. We have a river running 
 up a country, broken on both fides with v/ild, 
 romantic rocks -, which, we know nature never 
 conflrudis in a uniform manner. We naturally 
 therefore conclude, they ran out, in fome parts, 
 into vafl: diagonal (Iratai on the ledges of which 
 a bear or two appeared, fitting on their hams, 
 or howling at the boat. In other parts, the 
 rocks would form lofty promontories, hanging 
 over the river, and inhabited bv numerous 
 flights of fea-fowl fcreaming around them. 
 This is not an imaginary picture ; but copied 
 with exadnefs from captain King's fketch. — 
 And yet he has no conception, that a fcene fo 
 favage could prefent any other ideas, than fuch 
 as were difauftins:. He calls it an tinvaj'ied 
 fcejie -J by w^hich expreilion he meant nothing, 
 I am perfuaded, but that the rocks were nei- 
 ther intermixed with villages, nor with fcenes 
 of cultivation. Wood might probably be 
 wanting ; but in a fcene of pidiu?'efque horror, 
 
 wood 
 
( i69 ) 
 
 wood is by no means a necefTary appendage. 
 It is rather indeed an improper one. Fiourifli- 
 ing wood at Icaft is out of place : the fcene 
 might perhaps admit, here and there, a 
 fcathed, and ragged pine. 
 
 Beyond Beaulieu our boat could not pafs. 
 Thus far only the tide flows with any force. 
 At Beaulieu therefore we waited till the tide 
 turned, when we again embarked. 
 
 The views in afcending, and defcending a 
 river, vary confiderably through it's feveral 
 reaches. Yet the difference, tho obfervable 
 enough, cannot eafily be defcribed. Language 
 wants colours to paint fuch nice diflindions. 
 We fhall therefore fall down the river with a 
 quicker fail, than we afcended. And yet we 
 muft not leave it's retrofpedt views entirely 
 unobferved. 
 
 The bay formed by the circling woods In 
 the fecond reach as we defcend, is very beau- 
 tiful. I know not whether it's form is not 
 more pleafing, than we thought it in the 
 morning. 
 
 The 
 
( 170 ) 
 
 The next reach lofes in beauty. A long 
 ftretch of low land fweeping acrofs the river, 
 like a mole, which was lefs obfervable 
 before, now greatly interrupts the beauty of 
 the view. 
 
 The fucceeding bay, where the woods of 
 Exbury open in front, is very grand, and 
 extenfive. 
 
 From Buckler's-hard, nothing can unite 
 more happily than the rough uncultivated 
 grounds of Exbury on the left, with the long 
 fucceilion of Beaulieu woods on the right. 
 
 After this, the river foon becomes an 
 •eftuary. When we entered it, as we looked 
 up the ftream, we had immediately the idea 
 of a river winding into a woodland country. 
 In the fame manner, when we defcended, we 
 had as quickly an idea of a river entering the 
 fea. For as the woods, in the former cafe, 
 become at once the centre of the view; fo 
 does the fea, and the ifle of Wight, in the 
 latter. The laft reach therefore of the river 
 continues long to exhibit a kind of mixed 
 fcenery. Exbury-point, and the woody 
 grounds about it, flill preferve the idea of the 
 beautiful woodland fcenes we had left : while 
 Needfore-point, tho it wind quite around, 
 
 and 
 
( 17' ) 
 
 and {hut us within a land-locked bay, is' yet 
 fo low, that the fea, and the ifland appear 
 beyond it. 
 
 On opening the mouth of the river, our 
 boat-men attempted to carry us acrofs the 
 mud-lands, as they had done in the morning ; 
 but they found it dangerous, and defifted : 
 for if a boat fliould only touch the ground, 
 the delay of a few minutes might endanger 
 her flicking, till the return of the tide^ fo 
 rapidly do the waters retreat. 
 
 As the tide was thus leaving the mud- 
 lands, flights of fea-gulls hovered round, 
 watching, on that event, to pick up the 
 little wreck that remained. Sea- fowl are the 
 common appendages of all eftuaries. Indeed 
 few mailers in landfcape omit them. 
 
 -iEneas ingentem ex asquore * lucum 
 Profpicit. Hunc inter fluvio Tiberinus amsno 
 
 • JEnesis did not fee the grove ex aquore, from his Jhip — but 
 he faw it rifing ex aquore from Uie %vater's edge. 
 
 Vorticibus 
 
( 172 ) 
 
 Vorticibus rapid's, et multa flavus arena. 
 In mare prorumpit. Varis circumque, fupraque, 
 Affueta; ripis volucres, et flumlnis alveo 
 ^thera mulcebant contu, lucoque volabant. 
 
 Again 
 Ccu quondam nivei liquida inter nubila cygni, 
 Cvm fc{e e paftu referunt, et longa canoros 
 
 Dant per colla modos, fonat amr.is ■ 
 
 And again 
 
 ' Pifcofo amne Padufe 
 
 Dant fonitum ranci per ftagna loquacia cygni. 
 
 On fuch claffical authority we admire 
 the flights of fea-gulls, as a proper ornament 
 in a fcene like this. It was amufmg to ob- 
 ferve, how quickly they difcovered the re- 
 linquiflied fliore, long before it was difcoverable 
 by us ; and to fee them running in appearance 
 on the furface of the water. For tho the tide 
 had in thofe parts left the land ; yet the mud 
 from it's perfect flatnefs long retained it's 
 glazed, and watry appearance. — The cormorant 
 alfo fat watching the ebbing tide : but he 
 feemed bent on matters of greater importance. 
 He did not, like the idle gull, wheel round 
 the air ; nor pace about the ebbing fhore, 
 mixing bufmefs and amufement together. 
 With eager attention he took his fland on 
 fome folitary poft, fet up to point the 
 
 channel 
 
( ^7Z ) 
 
 channel of the river -, and from that eminence 
 obferved from the dimpling of the waters, 
 where fome poor, wandering fiih had gotten 
 himfelf entangled in the Ihallows, whom he 
 marked for certain dedrudlion. 
 
 But thefe are not the only birds, which 
 inliven a voyage up Beaulieu-river. In the 
 lines I have juft quoted from Virgil's de- 
 fcription of ^neas's entrance into the Tyber 
 (the whole of Vv'hich might ferve with very 
 little alteration for a defcription alfo of Beau- 
 lieu-river) tvvo kinds of birds are introduced, 
 
 Thofe, which difport themfelves i?i flu- 
 
 minis aheo; and thofe, v/hlch at/jera miilcebanf 
 cantUy luccque '•colabant. With the a(£lions of 
 the former of thefe we have already been 
 entertained : hut we have not yet liftened to 
 the mufic of the latter. I have been told 
 it is extraordinary; and that all thefe woods, 
 on both fides of the river (fo extenfive are 
 they, and unmolefted) are filled with fuch 
 innumerable flights of linging birds, that to 
 fail up the river in a morning, or an evening 
 in the fpring, affords, in Virgil's language, 
 an cz^cium concentus, hardly any where elfe to be 
 found. The nightingale, the thrufli, the 
 blackbird, and the linnet are the chief per- 
 formers 
 
( 174 ) 
 
 formers in the concert. Some of thefe you 
 hear continually burfting out either at hand, 
 or from a diRance : while the various petty 
 chirpers of the woods join the chorus : and 
 the alone their little untuneable voices might 
 be harfh ; yet all together (one foftening the 
 difcordancy of another) they make a kind 
 of melody ; or at leaft an agreeable contrafi: to 
 fuch of the band, as are better fkilled in 
 their bufmefs. 
 
 I cannot leave this river-fcene, without 
 obferving, that altho it is pidurefque in a 
 high degree; yet it exhibits fuch a fpecimen 
 of the pi(flurefque (if I may fpeak in terms 
 feemingly contradictory) as is not well cal- 
 culated to make a picflure. The whole is 
 a fucceffion of thofe fofter, namelefs beauties ; 
 which highly pleafe; but cannot eafily be 
 defcribed. Far ions beautiful accompaniments are 
 exhibited : but Jlriking ohjeBs are wanting. 
 If every reach had been adorned with a caftle, 
 or a pidurefque rock, fuch as capt. King's 
 uninterefling river v^ould have afforded, each 
 fuccejive fcene would have been more pic- 
 
 turefquely 
 
( '75 ) 
 
 turefquely marked y tho the character of the 
 river, on the whole, might have been in^ 
 jurcd. But now tke ivhole plays upon the 
 eye in the fame pleafing, tho unvaried, 
 colours. A ftrong and peculiar charader 
 belongs to the river in general: but the 
 parts if I may fo exprefs myfelf, are loH 
 in the whole. They are every where beautiful i 
 but no where chara^erijlic. 
 
( ^n ) 
 
 SECT. IX. 
 
 An excurfion along the eaftern fide of Beaulieu river — tKe 
 coaft oppofite to the ifle of Wight — the weflern 
 fide of Southampton bay — and thence by Dibden 
 again to Beaulieu. 
 
 AT Beaulieu we crofTed the bridge; and 
 turning fhort to the right, had a better 
 view of the firft reach of the river from the 
 land, than we had before in our voyage, from 
 the water. The river itfelf had more the 
 appearance of a lake, (for it was then high- 
 water,) and made a magnificent fweep round a 
 point of wooded land : while the woods, on 
 the oppofite fide, following it's courfe, on an 
 elevated bank, were as rich, as a pid:urefque 
 imagination could conceive them. The fore- 
 ground indeed was not equal to a fcene, which 
 was in every other refped: fo compleat. 
 
 VOL. II, N From 
 
( 178 ) 
 
 From hence we afcended a clofe lane cut 
 through a corner of Beaulieu-manor ; and 
 inriched on both fides, but efpecially on the 
 left, with foreft-fcenery. At Hill-top-gate 
 the lane opens into that extenfive heath, which 
 occupies all the middle part of the peninfula, 
 between the river of Beaulieu, and the bay 
 of Southampton. As this peninfula fhoots 
 into length, rather than breadth, the heathy 
 grounds follow it's form ; and extend feveral 
 miles in one diredion -, tho feldom above two, 
 in the other. The banks of both rivers are 
 woody; and thefe woods appeared, as we 
 entered the heath, to fkirt it's extremities. 
 Through thefe extremities, containing the 
 moft beautiful parts of the country, we meant 
 to travel. At Hill- top therefore, inftead of 
 croffing the heath, we turned fhort into a road 
 on the right, which led us along the fkirts of 
 the woods, under the lliade of which we 
 travelled about a mile. Sometimes thefe woods 
 fhot like promontories into the heath, and wc 
 •were obliged to ride round them; but oftner 
 our road threading the clumps, and fingle trees, 
 which flood forward, carried us among them. 
 The richnefs, and clofenefs of the foreft- 
 fcenery on one fide, contrailed with the 
 
 plainncfs. 
 
( 179 ) 
 
 plainnefs, and fimplicity of the heath on the 
 other, iklrted with diltant wood, and fcea 
 through the openings of the clumps, were 
 plcafing. 
 
 From this heath we were received by lanes 
 — but fuch lanes, as a foreil only can produce ; 
 in which oak, and afh, full-grown, and plan- 
 ted irregularly by the hand of nature, flood 
 out in various groups, and added a nev/ fore- 
 ground, every ftep we took, to a variety of 
 little openings into woods, copfes, and pleafing 
 receiTes. 
 
 While we were admiring thefe clofe land- 
 fcapes, the woods, on the right fuddenly 
 giving way, we were prefented with a view of 
 the river — Buckler's-hard beyond it — the mea 
 of war building in the dock there — and the 
 woody grounds which rife in the oiflkip* 
 This exhibition was rather formally introduced 
 like a vifta. The woods feemed to have beea 
 opened on purpofe : but formality is a fault, 
 which we feldom find in nature ; and which 
 in the fcene before us, (he v/ill probably cor- 
 redl in a few years, by the growth of fome 
 intervening trees. 
 
 A mile farther brought us to the feat of 
 colonel Mitford, among the woods of Exbury. 
 
 N 2 The 
 
( i8o ) 
 
 The houfe is no objed : but the fcenery con- 
 fifts of a more beautiful profufion of wood, 
 water, and varied grounds, than is commonly 
 to be met with. Here we propofed to fpend 
 the evening ; but not finding colonel Mitford 
 at home, we took a ramble into his woods, 
 till fupper, where we expelled to meet him. 
 
 The richnefs of the fcenes had led us imper- 
 ceptibly from one to another. We had every 
 where inftances of the beauty of trees as ?W/- 
 viduah — as uniting in chimps — and as fpreading 
 into "woods -, for all here is pure nature : and as 
 they were beginning now to put on their au- 
 tumnal attire, we were entertained with the 
 beauties of colouring, as well as of ' form. 
 Among thefe unknown woods our way at 
 length became perplexed ; and the fun was 
 now fet. Having no time therefore to lofe, 
 we inquired at a lonely cottage, which we 
 found in a flickered glade. Nothing could 
 indicate peace and happinefs more, than this 
 little fequeftered fpot ; and we expeded to find 
 a neat, peaceful, contented family within. 
 But we found that a happy fcene will not 
 always make happy inhabitants. At the door 
 flood two, or three fqualid children with 
 .eager, famiflied countenances ilaring through 
 
 matted 
 
( i8i ) 
 
 matted hair. On entering the hovel. It was 
 fo dark, that we could at iirfl: fee nothing. 
 By degrees a fcene of mifery opened. We faw 
 other ragged children within; and were foon 
 flruck with a female figure, groveling at full 
 length by the fide of a few embers, upon the 
 hearth. Her arms were naked to her fhoul- 
 ders ; and her rags fcarce covered her body. 
 On our fpeaking to her, ilie uttered in return 
 a mixture of obfcenity, and imprecations. We 
 had never feen fo deplorable a maniac. 
 
 We had not obferved, when we entered, 
 what now flruck us, a man fitting in the cor- 
 ner of the hovel, with his arms folded, and 
 a look of dejedion, as if loft in defpair. We 
 afked him, Who that wretched perfon was ? 
 She is my wife, faid he, with a compofed 
 melancholy ; and the mother of thcfe children. 
 Pie feemed to be a man of great fenfibility; 
 and it ftruck us, what diftrefs he muft feel, 
 every evening, after his labour, when, inftead 
 of finding a little domeftic comfort, he met 
 the mifery, and horror of fuch a houfe — the 
 total negled: of his little affairs — his family 
 without any overfeer, brought up in idlenefs, 
 and dirt — and his wife, for whom he had no 
 means of providing either afliftance, or cure, 
 
 N 3 lying 
 
( i82 ) 
 
 lying To wretched an objed always before him. 
 We left him flrongly impreffed with his 
 calamity ; which appeared to be a more fevere 
 vifitation, than the hand of heaven commonly 
 inflicts. 
 
 We found afterwards, that we had been 
 wholly miftaken ; and that we had before us a 
 ftrong inftance of that ftrange fatality, by 
 which mankind are fo often themfelves the 
 minifters of thofe diflrefTcs, which they are fo 
 ready to afcribe to heaven. On relating our 
 adventure at fupper, we were informed, that 
 the man, whofe appearance of fenfibility had 
 afFed:ed us fo much, was one of the mofl har- 
 dened, abandoned, mifchievous fellows in the 
 country — that he had been detedled in flieep- 
 flealing — and that he had killed a neighbour's 
 horfe in an ad: of revenge — and that it was 
 fuppofed, he had given his wife, who was 
 infamous likewife, a blow in a quarrel, which 
 had occafioned her malady. 
 
 The next morning we took a particular view 
 of the beautiful fcenery around us ; of which, 
 the evening before, we had only obtained a 
 general idea. 
 
 The 
 
I 
 
 ( 183 ) 
 
 The woods of Exbury, which are extenfive, 
 are chiefly oak — the fpontaneous growth of the 
 country : but Mr. Mitford found many of the 
 bare, and barren fpots about his houfe planted 
 by his father, and grandfather, with fir-groves 
 of various kinds ; tho generally, according to 
 the fafliion of the times, in formal rows. 
 
 On a deliberate view of his grounds, he 
 formed a general plan, refulting from the 
 various fcenes they exhibited. The boun- 
 dary of his eftate prefents a feries of views of 
 
 three very different characfters. Towards 
 
 the weft, he has a variety of grand river- views; 
 formed by the Ex, or, as it is commonly at 
 this day called, Beaulieu- river, winding, as we 
 had feen it in our voyage, through the woods 
 of Beaulieu, and Exbury in it's approach to 
 
 the fea. The fouthern part of his boundary 
 
 overlooks, what was anciently called, the 
 Solent-fea; but now commonly the channel 
 of the ifle of Wight ; which at it's two extre- 
 mities difcovers the open fea, through the 
 eaftern pafTage by Spitheadj and through the 
 
 weftern, by the Needles. On the eaft, 
 
 and north, his boundary- views take a new 
 form. We leave the fliore, and wind into a 
 woodland country; which within a hundred 
 
 N 4 yards 
 
( i84 ) 
 
 yards aflumes fo new a charader, that we 
 might eafily conceive it to be as many miles 
 from the fea. In thefe woody fcenes, inter- 
 mixed with open grounds, we continue about 
 four miles; till v/inding round, we return 
 to thofe rifing grounds on the weft, from 
 whence we firft had the views of the river. 
 
 This boundary-circuit carries us through 
 the fpace of about eight miles. Mr. Mitford 
 has done little, befides marking it out by cut- 
 ting through the woods, as he fhould wifti 
 to lead it. To compleat his plan would be 
 very expenfive ; tho an expence equal to the 
 natural advantages of the fcene in good hands, 
 would make this one of the moft varied, and 
 pidiurefque wood-land-rides perhaps in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Within this boundary-circuit Mr. Mitford 
 has marked out an interior one, circling about 
 a mile round his houfe. As the objed of 
 the larger circuit, is to fliew, as much as 
 poftible, the extent of his views ; the objed of 
 this interior one is to break thofe diftant views 
 into parts — to form thofe parts into the moft 
 beautiful fcenes -, and to exhibit them with 
 woody fore-grounds to the beft advantage. 
 From many parts of this interior fcenery the 
 
 ifle 
 
( iSj ) 
 
 ifle of Wight makes it's mofl pidlurefquc 
 appearance. In various views of it from the 
 Hampihire coaft, we have feen it fpread in 
 too lengthened a curtain, and it's hills too 
 fmooth, and tame. Both thcfe inconveniences 
 are here, in a degree, obviated. Seldom more 
 than a fmall part of the ifland is feen at 
 once J and this part is about the centre, which 
 is the loftieft, and the rougheft. Here rife 
 two conliderable hills, Gatefclift, and Wraxhill ; 
 and one of them affords a circumflance of 
 great beauty. Carifbroke-caftle, feated on an 
 eminence, about four miles within the illand, 
 is feen very advantageoufly againft Gatefcliff, 
 when the fun fhines either on the caftle, or 
 on the mountain j while the other is in 
 fhadow. 
 
 In laying out this inner circle, Mr. Mitford 
 had his greateft difficulties to contend with : 
 for here he had all his grandfather's formal 
 groves to incounter : and it was no eafy matter 
 to break their formalities 3 to make judicious 
 inroads through them ; and unite them in 
 one plan. He often lamented — what other 
 improvers have lamented before him — the 
 injudicious fufferance of the growth of trees. 
 Next to the cutting down of trees improperly, 
 
 the 
 
( i86 ) 
 
 the greateft mlfchief is to let them grow 
 together too long. They foon ruin each other. 
 He had fuffered his woodward only to ufe his 
 difcretion in the diftant woods. In the groves, 
 about his houfe, he allowed no marking- 
 hammer, but his own. The confequence 
 was, he was fo little on the fpot, that many 
 of his befl trees were injured. The fir efpe- 
 cially, if it's natural branches are once lofl, 
 as they always are by flraitened quarters, 
 never recovers them. — Thefe two circuits 
 round his houfe, Mr. Mitford has joined by 
 three crofs walks 
 
 In taking thefe circuits we could not help 
 remarking the comparative virtue of tafle, 
 and expence. The former, with very little 
 of the latter, will always produce fomething 
 pleafing : while the utmoft efforts of the 
 latter, unaided by the former, are ineffedual. 
 The larger the proportion of mifguided ex- 
 pence i the wider will the deformity fpread : 
 whereas every touch in the hand of tafle, has 
 fo far it's effed:. 
 
 It is the fame precifely in working the 
 fcenes of nature, as in forming an artificial 
 fcene. Set two artifts at work. Give one of 
 them a bit of black-lead, and a fcrap of paper. 
 
 Every 
 
( 18; ) 
 
 Every touch he makes, perhaps deferves td 
 be treafured in a cabinet. Give the other 
 the coflHeft materials. All is a vvafte of time, 
 of labour, and expence. Add colours — they 
 only make his deformities more,glaring. 
 
 True taile, in the firll: place, whether in 
 nature, or on canvas, makes not a fingle flroke, 
 till the general defign is laid out, v/ith which, 
 in fome part or other, every effort coincides. 
 The artift may work at his pidure in this 
 part or the other; but if his defign, and 
 compofition are fixed, every effort is gradually 
 growing into a whole. Whereas he who 
 works without tafte, feldom has any idea of 
 a whole. He tacks one part to another, as 
 his mifguided fancy fuggefts : or, if he has 
 any plan, it is fomething as unnatural, as 
 the parts which compofe it, are abfjrd. 
 The deeper his pocket therefore, and the 
 wider his fcale, his^ errors are more ap- 
 parent. 
 
 To an injudicious perfon, or one who 
 delights in temples, and Chinefe bridges, very 
 little would appear executed in the fcenes I 
 have defcribed at Exbury. There is fcarce 
 a gravel- walk made : no pavilion raifed ; nor 
 even a white-feat fixed. And yet in fadt, 
 
 more 
 
( i88 ) 
 
 more is done, than if all thefe decorations, 
 and a hundred others, had been added, un- 
 accompanied with what has been done. The 
 greateft difficulty of all is furmounted — that 
 of laying out a judicious plan. The reft, 
 tho the mofl oftenfible, becaufe the moil 
 expenfive, is only a little mechanical fi- 
 nilliing. 
 
 From thefe pleafing fcenes we purfued our 
 journey through part of the beautiful ride we 
 have juil: defcribed to Leap, along lanes clofe 
 on the left, but opening to the right in various 
 places, to the river, which afTumes a mag- 
 nificent form. Needfo re-point makes here 
 an appearance very different from what it 
 made when we navigated the mouth of Beau- 
 lieu-river*. It appears now from the higher 
 grounds, when the tide is low, to run at 
 leafl a league into the fea; flat, unadorned, 
 and fkirted with drifted fand ; making a 
 lingular feature in all thefe views j and the 
 more fo, as every part of the ground in it's 
 
 • See page 160. 
 
 neigh- 
 
I 
 
 ( JS9 ) 
 
 neighbourhood Is woody, bold, and promi- 
 nent. This penlnfula, of which Needfore- 
 point is the termination, belongs to the 
 manor of Beaulieu. It contains fome good 
 land ; confifting chiefly of pafturage ; and 
 the whole of it is let out in a fmgle 
 farm. 
 
 In this remote part, it Is fuppofed, fome- 
 where near Exbury, the Dauphin, after his 
 fruitlefs expedition to England, embarked 
 privately on the death of king John, for 
 France; burning the country behind him as 
 he fled. His embarkation, from fo obfcure a 
 place, fhews, in a flrong light, how much 
 his hopes were humbled. 
 
 At Leap we met the fea, where the coaft 
 of the ifle of Wight, as far as to Spithead 
 on the left, makes nearly the fame unpic- 
 turefque appearance, which it does from the 
 other fliores of the foreft. It extends into 
 length, and exhibits neither grandeur, nor 
 variety. When it is feen, as we faw it from 
 Mr. Mitford's, broken into parts, as it fliould 
 
 always 
 
( 190 ) 
 
 always be, when feen to pidurefque advan- 
 tage*, it afforded feveral beautiful diftances. 
 But here, when the whole coaft was difplayed 
 
 at once, it loft it's pidurefque form. 
 
 Near Leap however we had one very beautiful 
 coaft-view. A ri(ing copfe on the left, adorned 
 with a road winding through it, makes a good 
 fore-ground. From thence a promontory, in 
 the fecond diftance, with an eafy, fweeping 
 fhore, ilioots into the fea -, and is oppofed, 
 on the oppofite fide, by a point of the illand, 
 leaving a proper proportion of water to occupy 
 the middle fpace. 
 
 Leap is one of the port-towns of the foreft : 
 and as it lies oppofite to Cowes, it is the 
 common place of embarkation, in thefe parts, 
 to the ifland. It confifts of about half a dozen 
 houfes : and (lielters perhaps as many fifhing- 
 boats. All the coaft indeed from St. Helen's 
 to the Needles, and around the ifland is in 
 peaceable times, a fcene of fifhing. In the 
 whiting-feafon efpecially, fleets of twenty or 
 thirty boats are often feen lying at anchor 
 on the banks ; or a little out at fea. 
 
 • See page 132. ' 
 
 Fowling 
 
\ 
 
( 191 ) 
 
 Fowling too is pra6liled, on this coail, a$ 
 much as iiiliin^. Numerous fiocks of wild- 
 fowl frequent it, in the winter ^ widgeons, 
 geefe, and ducks : and in the beginning of the 
 feafon efpecially, as tliey bear a price in the 
 country, they of courfe attrad: the notice of 
 the fowler. As the coafl: between Hampfhire 
 and the ille of Wight is a peculiar fpecies of 
 coaft, confilling, when the tide ebbs, of vad 
 muddy flats, covered with green fea-weed, it 
 gives the fowler an opportunity of practiiing 
 arts perhaps pradtifed no where elfe. 
 
 Fowling and filhing, indeed on this coafl*, 
 are commonly the employments of the fame 
 perfon. He who in fummer, with his line, 
 or his net, plies the fliores, when they are 
 overflowed by the tide; in winter, with his 
 gun, as evening draws on, runs up, in his 
 boat, among the little creeks, and crannies, 
 which the tide leaves in the mud- lands ; and 
 there lies in patient expe<ftation of his prey. 
 
 Sea-fowl commonly feed by night, when In 
 all their multitudes they come down to graze 
 on the favannahs of the Ihore. As the fono- 
 rous cloud advances, (for their noife in the air 
 refembles a pack of hounds in full cry) the 
 attentive fowler lilkns, which way thev bend 
 
 their 
 
( 192 ) 
 
 their courfe. Perhaps he has the mortification 
 to hear them alight at too great a diflance for 
 his gun (tho of the longeft barrel) to reach 
 them. And if he cannot edge his boat a Httle 
 round fome winding creek, which it is not 
 always in his power to do, he defpairs of 
 
 fuccefs that night. Perhaps however he is 
 
 more fortunate, and has the fatisfadtion to 
 hear the airy noife approach nearer; till at 
 length, the hoft fettles on fome plain, on the 
 edge of which his little boat lies moored. He 
 now, as lilently as poiTible, primes both his 
 pieces anew, (for he is generally double-armed) 
 and liftens with all his attention. It is fc dark 
 that he can take no aim : for if he could fee the 
 birds, they alfo could fee him ; and being fhy, 
 and timorous in a great degree, would feek 
 Ibme other pafture. Though they march with 
 mufic, they feed in filence. Some indiftindt 
 noifes however, if the night be ftill, ifTue from 
 fo large a hoft. He directs his piece therefore, 
 as well as he can, towards the found; gives 
 his fire at a venture ; and inftantly catching up 
 his other gun, gives a fecond difcharge, 
 where he fuppofes the flock to rife on the 
 
 •wing. His gains for the night are now 
 
 decided -, and he has only to gather his harveft. 
 
 He 
 
( 193 ) 
 
 He immediately puts on his mud-pattens*, 
 ignorant yet of his fuccefs, and goes groping 
 about in the dark, happy if he have a little 
 flar-light, in queft of his booty, picking up 
 
 perhaps a dozen, and perhaps not one. So 
 
 hardly does the poor fowler earn a few (hil- 
 lings ; expofed, in an open boat, d,uring a 
 folitary winter-night, to the weather as it 
 comes, rain, hail, or fnow, on a bleak coaft, 
 a league perhaps from the beach, and often in 
 danger, without great care, of being fixed in 
 the mud ; where he would become an inevi- 
 table prey to the returning tide. I have heard 
 one of thefe poor fellows fay, he never takes a 
 dog with him on thefe expeditions, becaufe no 
 dog could bear the cold, which he is obliged 
 
 to fuffer. After all, perhaps others enjoy 
 
 more from his labours, than he himfelf does i 
 for it often happens, that the tide, next day, 
 throws, on different parts of the fhore, many 
 of the birds, which he had killed, but could 
 not find in the night. ^ 
 
 I have heard of an unhappy fowler, whom 
 this hazardous occupation led into a cafe of 
 
 * Mud-pattens are flat pieces of board, which the fowler 
 Ues to his feet, that he may not fmk in the mud, 
 
 VOL. II. O ilill 
 
( 194 ) 
 
 flill greater diftrefs. In the day time too it 
 happened, which fhews the double danger of 
 
 fuch expeditions in the night. Mounted on 
 
 his mud-pattens, he was traverfing one of thefe 
 mudland-plains in queft of ducks ; and being 
 intent only on his game, he fuddenly found 
 the waters, which had been brought forward 
 with uncommon rapidity by fome peculiar cir- 
 cumflance of tide, and current, had made an 
 alarming progrefs around him. Incumbered 
 as his feet w^ere, he could not exert much 
 expedition -, but to whatever part he ran, he 
 found himfelf compleatly inverted by the tide. 
 In this uncomfortable fituation, a thought 
 ftruck him, as the only hope of fafety. He 
 retired to that part of the plain, which feemed 
 the higheft from it's being yet uncovered by 
 water; and ftriking the barrel of his gun, 
 (which for the purpofe of fhooting wild-fowl 
 was very long) deep into the mud, he refolved 
 to hold fafl by it, as a fupport, as well as a 
 fecurity againft the waves ; and to wait the 
 ebbing of the tide. A common tide, he had 
 reafon to believe, would not, in that place, 
 have reached above his middle : but as this 
 was a fpring-tide, and brought in with fo 
 itrong a current, he durft hardly exped fo 
 
 favourable 
 
( 195 ) 
 
 favourable a concluiion. In the mean time, 
 
 the water making a rapid advance, had now 
 reached him. It covered the ground, on 
 which he ftood — it rippled over his feel — it 
 gained his knees — his waifl: — button after but- 
 ton was fwallowed ud — till at lenjrth it 
 advanced over his very fhoulders. With a 
 palpitating heart, he gave himfelf up for lofl:. 
 Still however he held fad by his anchor. His 
 eye v/as eagerly in fearch of fome boat, which 
 might accidentally take it's courfe that way : 
 but none appeared. A folitary head, floating 
 on the water, and that fometimes covered by 
 a wave, was no objed to be defcried from the 
 fhore, at the diftance of half a league : nor 
 could he exert any founds of diftrefs, that could 
 
 be heard fo far. While he was thus making 
 
 up his mind, as the exigence would allow, to 
 the terrors of fudden deftrudion, his attention 
 was called to a new objed:. He thought he 
 faw the uppermoft button of his coat begin to 
 appear. No mariner, floating on a wreck, 
 could behold a cape at fea, with greater tranf- 
 port, than he did the uppermoft button of his 
 coat. But the fluduation of the water was 
 fuch, and the turn of the tide fo flow, that it 
 was yet fome time before he durft venture to 
 O 2 aiTur© 
 
( 196 ) 
 
 aflure himfelf, that the button was fairly above 
 the l^vcl of the flood. At length however a 
 fecond button appearing at intervals, his 
 fenfations may rather be conceived, than 
 defcribed ; and his joy gave him fpirits and 
 refolution, to fupport his uneafy fituation four 
 or five hours longer, till the waters had fully 
 retired. 
 
 A little beyond Leap we were interrupted 
 by a creek, which, when the tide flows high, 
 runs confiderably into the land, and forms a 
 large piece of water. At all times it is an 
 extenfive marfh. It's borders are edged with 
 rufhes, and fedges, which grow profufely alfo 
 on various, little rough iflands on it's fur- 
 face. Here the wild-duck, and the widgeon 
 find many a delightful cover ; amidft which 
 they breed, and rear their young, in great 
 abundance. 
 
 Near this part of the coaft flands LiittereVs 
 toiler ', built as the ftation of a view : but 
 as it is intended for a habitable houfe like- 
 wife, the offices, which it could not contain, 
 
 arc 
 
( 197 ) 
 
 afc conftruded of canvas around it. It is 
 finiflied in the higheft Hile of expence ; and 
 if it were not for the oddnefs, and lingu- 
 larity of the conception, and contrivance, 
 it is not intirely deiiitute of fome kind 
 of tafte. But the building is fo whimfical, 
 and the end fo inadequate to the expence, 
 that we coniidered it, on the whole, as a 
 glaring contraft to thofe plealing fcenes, we 
 had juft examined at Exburyj in which true 
 tafle had furnidied us with a delightful en- 
 tertainment at a trifling expence*. 
 
 The view, which this tower commands 
 over the circumjacent country ^ is very exten- 
 live j but it's fea-view is mod admired, 
 ftretching from the bay of Southampton to 
 Portfmouth — form thence to St. Helen's — 
 and on the other fide, all along the range 
 of the ifle of Wight, and beyond the Needles 
 to the ocean. The whole together forms 
 the appearance of a magnificent bay ; of which 
 Spithead, and St. Helen's, (where there is 
 commonly a fleet at anchor) make the central 
 part. 
 
 ♦ See page i86. 
 
 O 3 But 
 
( «98 ) 
 
 But this view, like the other extenjlve views 
 we have feen, is by no means piBurcfque. 
 It might have been fuppofed, that the ille 
 of Wight (on furveying it's appearance in a 
 map) would have made fuch an angle at 
 Cowes^point, which is nearly oppolite to this 
 tower, as would have thrown the eaftern 
 part of the ifland into better perfped:ive, than 
 the weflern aflumes from any part of the 
 Hampfhire coaft. And fo indeed in fome 
 degree it does. But the eye is at too great 
 a diftance to get much advantage from this 
 circum fiance. If the fpe(5lator were carried 
 nearer Covv^es, the coaft towards St. Helen's 
 might then fall away in good perfpe(5tive. 
 But at this diftance all is fea^ the coaft is a 
 mere thready and the whole view together is 
 without proportion. 
 
 And yet it is not merely the difproportion 
 between land and water, which difqualifies 
 a view of this kind in a pid:urefque light. 
 A pifturefque view may confift intirely of 
 water » Nor is it diftance, which difqua- 
 lifies it. The moft remote diftances are 
 happily introduced on canvas. But what 
 chiefly difqualifies it, is the want of fore- 
 ground to balance this vaft expanfe of diftance, 
 
 Unlefs 
 
( 199 ) 
 
 Unlefs diftances and fore- grounds are in fome 
 degree, balanced, no compofition can be good. 
 Fore-g?'ou?ids are eflential to landfcape : dijiances 
 are not. 
 
 A pidurefque view, as was obferved, may 
 conlifl chiefly, indeed intirely, of water: but 
 then, it is fuppofed, that, as there cannot 
 be a natural fore-ground, an artificial one 
 muft be obtained — a group of iLips — a few 
 boats with figures-r-a light-houfe^-or fome- 
 thing, that will make a balance between near 
 and difiant objed:s. Such were the fea- pieces 
 of Vandervelt ; in which vefiels of fome kind 
 were always introduced to make an artificial 
 fore-ground. We fometimes indeed meet with 
 amifiug views, fuch as that celebrated one at 
 Hack-fall in Yorkshire*, where there is a 
 gradual proportion among the different parts 
 of the retiring landfcape : we can fcarce dif- 
 tinguifh where the fore-grounds end, and 
 where the diftance begins : yet flill there are 
 objedts nearer the eye, which, in a degree 
 fet off the retiring parts, tho they may not 
 be fully proportioned to them. But the moil 
 
 * See Obfervations on the lakes, and mountains of Cumber- 
 land, vol. II. p. 191. 
 
 O 4 advanced 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 advanced parts of water cannot form a fore- 
 ground, if I may fo fpeak. It wants, on 
 it's nearefl parts, that variety of objecfls, which 
 receiving ftrong impreffions of light, and fliade, 
 are necefTary to give it confequence, and 
 flrength. It turns all into diflance. Such 
 is the view before us over the channel, and 
 along the fliores of the ifle of Wight. To 
 the imagination it is the iimple idea of gran- 
 deur: to the eye, a mere exhibition of dif- 
 tance. 
 
 Befides, there is not only a want of natural 
 proportion and balance between the fore- 
 ground, and the off'skip ; but a tfore-ground 
 here could not even artificially be obtained, 
 becaufe of the loftiiiefs of the point. Take 
 the fame view from a loijoer fiand ; from the 
 level of the fea for inftance, or a little higher, 
 where you may ftation a group of fhips, the 
 mafts and fails of which rife above the 
 horizon; and by thus giving the view a 
 proper, and proportioned fore-ground, you 
 may turn it into one of Vandervelt's com- 
 pofitions, and give it pidturefque beauty. 
 
 But tho the view before us is not pic- 
 turefque; it is certainly, as we obferved of 
 
 thofe 
 
( 201 ) 
 
 thofe other views over the ifland*, in a great 
 degree, amufing. The whole area, conftantly 
 overfpread with vefTels of various kinds, is 
 a perpetual moving fcene : while the naked 
 eye difcovers, in the diftance, a thoufand 
 objedls ; and through a telefcope a thoufand 
 more. Tho the telefcopic pleafures of the eye 
 are very little allied to the pleafures of the 
 
 painter, they flill affift the amufement. 
 
 The cliff, on which this tower flands, is 
 about forty or fifty feet high ; and is formed 
 into a terrace, which runs a coniiderable way 
 along the beach. 
 
 About a mile from this whimfical building 
 ftands Calfhot-caftle ; fituated like the caflle 
 of Hurlt-f-, on a tongue of land fhooting 
 into the fea. Calfhot is another of thofe 
 ancient coaft-caftles, which Henry VIII built, 
 out of the fpoils of the abbeys. It was origi- 
 nally intended as a fafeguard to the bay of 
 Southampton.— -The views here are of the 
 fame nature as thofe at Lutterel's tower. 
 
 • See p. 132. f See p. 89. 
 
 They 
 
( 202 ) 
 
 They have a lefs extenfive range to the weft ; 
 but this is compenlated by a full view up 
 Southampton-bay. And they are the more 
 pidurefque, as the point of view is lower. 
 
 Near the village of Fawley, which is 
 among the largell: villages of the coaft, ftands 
 Cadland, the feat of Mr. Drummond ; an 
 edifice of a very different kind from that 
 we had juft been furveying. Tho quite plain, 
 it is one of the moft elegant, and feems to 
 be one of the mod comfortable houfes, in the 
 country. 
 
 It {lands on a gentle eminence on the banks 
 of Southampton-bay, with a great variety of 
 ground playing beautifully around it 3 which 
 is every where adorned, and in fome places 
 profufely covered, with ancient wood. The 
 whole country indeed was fb well wooded, 
 that no addition of wood was any where ne- 
 cefTary ; in many parts it was redundant. 
 This abundance of old timber gives the houfe, 
 tho lately built, fo much the air and dignity 
 of an ancient manfion, that Mr. Brown, the 
 ingenious improver of it, ufed to fay, " It 
 
 was 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 was the oldeft new place he knew in England.'* 
 The clumps particularly he has managed with 
 great judgment. We obferved fome combi- 
 nations of afli, and other trees, which were 
 equal to any clumps we had ever feen. They 
 adorned the natural fcene, and were juft fuch 
 as the pidturefque eye would wifh to introduce 
 in artificial landfcape. We regretted, that 
 the great florm in February 178 1 had blown 
 down nineteen of thefe ornamental trees. 
 There fcemed however no deficiency 5 tho 
 I doubt not, if we had known the fituation 
 of thofe which had fallen, we ihould have 
 found they filled their ftation with great 
 propriety. The park includes a circuit of 
 about five miles. 
 
 Befides the beauty of the grounds themfelves 
 around the houfe; they command all the 
 pleafing diftances in their neighbourhoood — 
 Southampton-bay — Netly-abbey — Calfhot-caf- 
 tle — Spithead — the channel — the iile of Wight 
 — St. Helen's — Cowes, and all the other con- 
 fpicuous parts of the ifland : and as many of 
 thefe views are feen with the advantage of 
 grand, woody fore-grounds, they have often an 
 admirable eife(5t. 
 
 The 
 
( 204 ) 
 
 The only thing that appeared affeded about 
 this elegant maniion, is the parade, which 
 accompanies fome of the appendant buildings. 
 At the fmall diftance of half a quarter of a 
 mile from the houfe, ftands a moft fplendid 
 farm. The flables, the cow-fheds, the pi- 
 geon-houfe, the graneries, the barns, are all 
 fuperb. In another direcSlion the fame honour, 
 tho in an inferior degree, is paid to poultry. 
 This is too much, and tends only to lelTen 
 the dignity of the principal manlion. 
 
 As the horfe is fo nearly connected with 
 his mafter, and contributes fo much to his 
 itate, and convenience, we allow fo noble an 
 aiTociate to lodge under a roof proportioned 
 to his mafler's magnificence. As he is expec- 
 ted alfo to be ready at a call, and may properly 
 be the objedt of attention to perfons of any. 
 rank, w^e allow his magnificent lodging to 
 fland near the manlion, to which it appertains. 
 At the fame time, if the (tables be expenfive, 
 they fhould contribute to the magnificence of 
 the whole, by making one of the wings, or 
 fome other proper appendage, of the pile. 
 
 But for the cow-fheds, and pig-flies, they 
 have no title to fuch notice. Let them be 
 convenient, and neat ; but let them be fimple, 
 
 and 
 
( 205 ) 
 
 and unadorned. Let them ftand in fome fe- 
 queftered place ; where they may not prefume 
 to vie with the manfion they depend on ; but 
 keep a refpedful dlflance. Herds of cattle 
 are beautiful, in a high degree, in their proper 
 place, among lawns and woods ; but pent up, 
 as they are obliged to be in yards, amidfl filth 
 and litter, they are no objects of beauty. 
 Neither fhould their habitations be confidered 
 as fuch. Ornaments here ferve only to call 
 the attention to a nuifance. 
 
 From Cadland we proceeded to Hethe 
 through a variety of fuch beautiful country, 
 that we almoil thought the houfe we had juft 
 feen, might have been better Rationed elie- 
 where. In a variety of pleafing fituations it is 
 difficult to feled: the beft. Something or 
 other may excel in each ; and the eye, divided 
 in it's choice, is unwilling to lofe any thing. 
 As we cannot however polTefs every beauty, 
 and every convenience at once, we muft forego 
 that idea ; and endeavour to make fuch a 
 feledtion, as will include the mod ; tho per- 
 haps fome ftriking beauty, which we obferve 
 ifli other fituations, is loll. This probably 
 
 h 
 
( 206 ) 
 
 Is the cafe of the elegant manfion we have been 
 furveying. No fituation perhaps, on the 
 whole, could have excelled it. 
 
 The pleafing landfcape we met with between 
 Cadland and Hethe, was of a fimilar kind 
 to what we had already admired — great pro- 
 fufion of full-grown oak, adorning great 
 variety of playing ground. But what parti- 
 cularly recommended thefe fcenes, were feveral 
 dips, running down to Southampton-bay; 
 wooded on each fide, with a rich country 
 beyond the water. They were of the fame 
 kind, with thofe we admired between Chrift- 
 church, and Lymington* ; but much richer, 
 and more beautiful. Two of the mofl flriking 
 of thefe fcenes, were from Stobland-common, 
 and near Butt's-aih-farm. 
 
 At Hethe, the whole bay of Southampton 
 opened in one view before us ; but the fcene 
 it offers, is far from being pi6turefque. The 
 oppofite fhore is long, and tedious ; and the 
 lines of the bay run parallel : for tho in fad; 
 
 • See page 85. 
 
 there 
 
( 207 ) 
 
 there are two or three bold openings in it, 
 formed by the mouths of rivers -, yet, in the- 
 diflance, which is about a league, they are 
 totally loft. 
 
 Hethe is the ferry-port to Southampton ; 
 which lies higher up in a diagonal acrofs 
 the bay, and upon a neck of land, which 
 fhoots into it. The flowing tide therefore 
 carries the boat quickly to Southampton ; and 
 the ebbing tide returns it as expeditioufly to 
 Hethe. 
 
 From 'Hethe to Dibden, the country, if pof- 
 fible, improves in beauty. The many inequa- 
 lities of the ground — the profufion of ftately 
 trees — the fheltered inclofures, appearing every 
 where, like beautiful little wooded lawns — the 
 catches, here and there, of the bay — and above 
 all, the broad green, winding lanes, adorned 
 with clumps ftanding out in various parts — 
 exhibit a wonderful variety of pleafing land- 
 fcape. I touch general features only ; for as 
 thefe woodland fcenes are no where ftrongly 
 marked, it is impoffible to give any particular 
 detail of them by verbal defcription. One 
 may fay of them, as we fometimes fay of a 
 
 well-written 
 
f 208 ) 
 
 well-written hlftory, which runs into a 
 variety of incidents, interefting indeed, but 
 not replete with any important events -, that 
 no juft idea of the contents of it, can be given, 
 without referring to the book itfelf. 
 
 From Dibden, we continued our rout 
 northward, till we entered a beautiful forefl 
 lawn. We had found many of thefe fcenes 
 in different parts, each of which had fome- 
 thing peculiar to itfelf*. This too had it's 
 peculiar charadter. It was about two miles 
 in diameter. To the eye it's limits appeared 
 circular; and it's form defcending gently to 
 a wide centre, had fome refemblance to that of 
 a difh. Yet it was far from a regular fcene. 
 It's great beauty confifted chiefly in it's noble 
 fkreens of foreft-wood -, which growing every 
 where around it with great irregularity, broke 
 out into the ildrts of the area, not in clumps, 
 which in fo large a fcene would have had 
 little efFed:, but in corners of woods, adding 
 variety to it's limits ; yet without incroaching 
 
 • See p. i|7. 
 
 on 
 
( 209 ) 
 
 on the fimplicity, and grandeur of the general 1 
 idea. The name of this beautiful, and 
 extenfive foreft-fcene is Hound! s-doisjn -, fo 
 named probably from the fair advantage it gives 
 the hound in purfuit. If he can drive his 
 chafe, from the thickets into this open plain, 
 it is probable he will there fecure him. 
 
 Through the middle of this wide down 
 the Lyndhurfl road pafTes to Southampton. 
 The entrance into it, on the Lyndhurfl fide, 
 is beautiful ; particularly between the ninth 
 and tenth flones, where the ground is finely 
 diverfified with thofe woody promontories juft 
 mentioned. As we approach the top of the 
 hill towards Southampton, the beauty of the 
 fcene is gone : the extremity is a naked, 
 barren boundary. One advantage however 
 we obtain from it, which is a diflance 3 in 
 foreft-fcenery the more valuable, as the more 
 uncommon. Diftances are, at all times, an 
 agreeable part of landfcape, and unite with 
 every mode of compofition. Here it is intro- 
 duced at firfl in it's fijipkfl mode, A plain 
 fore-ground, without any ornament, is joined 
 to a removed diftance, without the intervention 
 of any middle ground. In a compofition of this 
 fimple kind it is necelTary to break the lines 
 
 VOL. ji. P of 
 
( 210 ) 
 
 of the foreground; which may eafily be done 
 
 by a tree, or a group of cattle. As we 
 
 rife to the verge of the eminence, the view 
 inlarges itfelf. The grounds immediately be- 
 lovv the eye, are overfpread with wood, and 
 become a fecond diftance ; beyond which 
 extends a remote one. Under a proper light 
 this landfcape is calculated to produce a good 
 effect. The parts are large ; and if one vaft 
 fhadow overfpread the woods on the nearer 
 grounds, an inlightened diftance would form 
 a fine contraft. 
 
 Hound's- down is one of the beft pafture- 
 grounds in the foreft, at leaft in patches ; 
 and is of courfe frequented with cattle, which 
 •are a great addition to it's beauty. We rarely 
 pafs it in a fummer-evening without feeing 
 herds of deer grazing in different parts; or 
 foreft-mares with their colts. 
 
 One thing indeed disfigures it -, and that is 
 the ftrait courfe of the road, which bifeds it. 
 The vifta, which leads through the foreft 
 from Brokenhurft to Lyndhurft, we obferved*, 
 was both great in itfelf, and accompanied with 
 infinite variety ; and therefore it became both 
 
 • See page 65. 
 
 a grand. 
 
( 211 ) 
 
 a grand, and a beautiful objed : but a fimple 
 ftrait road, like this, over a plain, has a dif- 
 ferent effedt. Tho in fadl, it is grander than 
 a winding road, as being mor^fimple, and con- 
 fiding o^ fewer parts -^ yet as it is at beft only 
 a paltry objeBy and has not grandeur fufficient 
 to roufe the imagination-f-, it is, on the 
 whole, much lefs pleafing, than a road playing 
 before us in two or three large Aveeps, which 
 would at lead have had variety to recommend 
 it 'y and might eafily have been contrived, 
 without lengthening the journey acrofs it, on 
 
 a trotting horfe, above two minutes. But 
 
 in matters of this kind, in which furveyors of 
 high-roads are concerned, we expedl beauty 
 only by chance; and when we obtain it, it 
 is fo much gain. 
 
 In our way to Hounds-down we rode pafl 
 a celebrated fpot, called the Deer-leap. Here 
 a ftag Vv'as once fliot -, which in the agony 
 of death, colled:ing his force, gave a bounds 
 which aflonifhed thofe who faw it. It was 
 immediately commemorated by two pofts, 
 which were fixed at the two extremities of 
 
 ■\ See this idea illuftrated page 122, 
 
 P 2 the 
 
( 212 ) 
 
 the leap, where they ftill remain. The fpacc 
 between them is fomevvhat more than eighteen 
 yards. 
 
 About half a mile on the right, as we 
 leave Hounds-down, flands Iron's-hill lodge. 
 It occupies a knoll in the middle of a kind of 
 natural, irregular vifta. In front the ground 
 continues rifmg gently about two miles to 
 Lyndhurft. The back-front overlooks a wild, 
 woody fcene, into which the viila impercep- 
 tibly blends. 
 
 From Hound's-down we returned to Beau- 
 lieu, along the weftern fide of that extenfivc 
 heath, which, as I obferved*, occupies the 
 middle diflridl between the river of Beaulieu, 
 and the bay of Southampton. In this part 
 it confifts of great variety of ground, and is 
 adorned with little patches of wood fcattered 
 about it i and as it is, in general, the highefl 
 ground in it's neighbourhood, it is not, like 
 
 • See page 17$, 
 
 moil 
 
( 213 ) 
 
 mort: of the heaths we have feen, terminated 
 by a woody ikreen, but by diftancesj which 
 being commonly foreft-fcenes, are pidturefque, 
 tho not extenfive. Among thefe were fome 
 woody bottoms, on the right, which were 
 pleaiing. 
 
 SECT. 
 
I 
 
( 215 ) 
 
 SECT. X. 
 
 A tour through the northern parts of New-foreft. 
 
 HAVING now examined thofe parts of 
 the foreft, which lie on the fouth iide 
 of the inviiible line drawn from Ringwood 
 to Dibden* ; we propofed next to examine 
 thofe parts, which lie on the north Iide of 
 
 it-f-. We direded our courfe iirfl to Lynd- 
 
 hurft. This village Hands high; and the 
 church, ftanding ftill higher, is a land-mark 
 round the country. 
 
 * See page 5:. f See page 55. 
 
 P 4 Tho 
 
( 2i6 ) 
 
 Tho Lyndhurft is but a fmall place, It 
 may be called the capital of the foreft. Here 
 the fore ft- courts are held ; and here ftiinds 
 the principal lodge; which is known by the 
 name of the Ki?igs-hcnfe, and is the refidence 
 of the lord warden -, tho it is but an ordinary 
 building. An affignment of timber was lately 
 made to put it, and fome other lodges, into 
 better repair. 
 
 Behind the houfe lies a pleafant floping 
 field, containing about fix or feven acres, 
 which is planted round with Ihrubs, circled 
 by a gravel walk 3 and fecured from cattle 
 by a railed fence. I mention this mcde of 
 inclofure only becaufe I have often thought 
 it a very good one, efpecially if a field, 
 like this, conlilt of Hoping ground : for the 
 rails, which are in many parts hid, appear 
 winding in others ; and the eye is feldom 
 offended — fometimes pleafed with purfuing 
 them, and taking them up again, after they 
 have for a while difappeared. There is fome- 
 thing alfo not unpleafing in the perfpedtive 
 of winding rails. 1 do not however men- 
 tion a fence of this kind as fuitable to a 
 regal manfion ; or fo proper in many cafes as 
 
 a funJt 
 
( 217 ) 
 
 a funk one : but only as a fimple, unaffed:ed 
 manner of inclofing a field near a plain, com- 
 mon houfe ; and perhaps lefs ofFenfive, than 
 chains, wires, nets, or any of thofe flight, 
 unnatural fences, which cannot be hid, and 
 yet appear fo difproportioned. I fliould wifli 
 my rails however to be without ornament; 
 and either to be left with their natural colour, 
 or to be painted of fome dingy olive-green 
 hue : if they are of a bright-green, of a white, 
 or of any other glaring colour, they difguft. 
 They are at beft only difagreeable conveniences : 
 ornament makes them ohjeSis. But above all 
 ornaments we are difgufled with the Chinefe/ 
 That zig-zag work, commonly called Chinefe- 
 railing, is very ofFenfive. Plain, fimple polls, 
 with one, two, or three rails, according to 
 the fort of cattle we willi to exclude, make 
 the leaft difgufting fence. 
 
 Oppofite to the royal lodge flands a large 
 fquare building, with a turret at each corner, 
 where the king's horfes, carriages, and flag- 
 hounds are kept. 
 
 I do 
 
( 2l8 ) 
 
 I do not find, that the royal lodge of 
 Lyndhurft has ever been viiited by the fovereign 
 from the time of Charles II, till the year 
 1789, when George III pafled through the 
 foreft in his road to Weymouth. So long 
 a time had elapfed, that all the etiquette of 
 receiving a royal vifitor was almoft forgotten. 
 When the day however of his arrival was 
 notified, all the keepers, drcfTed in new green 
 uniforms, met him on horfeback, at his en- 
 trance into the foreft. He travelled without 
 guards ; and was condu(fted by thefe foreflers 
 to Lyndhurft. When he alighted from his 
 coach, fir Charles Mills prefented him with 
 two white grey-hounds, by which ceremony 
 he holds certain foreft-privileges. His majefty, 
 and the royal family (for the queen, and three 
 of the princefTes were with him) at firft dined 
 in public, by throwing the windows open, 
 and admitting the croud within the railed 
 lawn : but as the populace became rather 
 riotous in their joy, there was a neceflity to 
 exclude them. The royal family however 
 walked abroad in the foreft every evening. 
 The king fpent his mornings in riding : and 
 
 as 
 
( 2f9 ) 
 
 as he rides faft, he faw greatefl part of the 
 foreft ; and feemcd fo much pleafed with it, 
 that he continued at Lyndhurft (poorly as 
 he was there accommodated) from thurfday 
 the 25th of June, till the tuefday following. 
 
 Near Lyndhurfl: ilands Cuffnells, the feat 
 of Mr. Rofe. It is not placed exadly as 
 might be wifhed. High -ground rifes imme- 
 diately in front, which is always a circum- 
 ftance to be avoided. But Mr. Rofe has 
 happily managed an inconvenience, which he 
 found. He has laid out a very handfome 
 apprOvich, which winds to the houfe under 
 the riling ground; and makes it of much 
 lefs confequence, than when the road was 
 carried abruptly down the flope to the houfe. 
 His improvements he has thrown to the 
 back-front, where he is leading a very beautiful 
 walk, through clumps of old oak winding 
 tov/ards Lyndhurfl. But his improvements are 
 yet incomplete. 
 
 Mr. 
 
( 220 ) 
 
 Mr. Ballard alfo has a houfe near Lynd- 
 hiirfl:, which Hands high ; and commands 
 an extenfive view. The king walked up to 
 it, and with his glafs continued fome time 
 examining the diftant objeds. He was fo 
 pleafed with it, that on leaving it, he gave it 
 the name of Mount-royal, 
 
 From Lyndhurfl along the Rumfey road, 
 the foreft opens beautifully, on the right, 
 upon a lawn fwelling in different parts, iind 
 fupported with wood at various diftances. 
 This lawn is ufed as a race-ground, where 
 the little horfes of the foreft, of which there 
 is a mart at Lyndhurfl, are commonly brought 
 to try their Jftrength, and agility. 
 
 That noble vifta, which we defcribed after 
 we left Brokenhurfl*, is interrupted by Lynd- 
 hurfl: ; but commences again, on the other 
 fide of the town. Here however it is of little 
 value. It is but ill adorned with wood. The 
 
 • See page 65. 
 
 trees. 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 trees, which are rare, fcathed, and meagre, 
 are in general not only ugly, but ill-combined. 
 Some formalities alfo give it a bad efFed:. 
 Before, it was irregularly great, and fimple : 
 here the road rifes to the eye in three regular 
 ftages. The fummit too is formally abrupt. 
 The road cut through the wood, forms here 
 a gaping chafm, opening like a wide portal, 
 difcovering the naked horizon, and making, 
 as it were, a full paufe in the landfcape : we 
 difcover it plainly to be artificial-, and this 
 hurts the eye. The effed: is beautiful on the 
 other fide of Lyndhurft, where the chafm of 
 the viila, as you approach, is filled with 
 the tops of retiring trees, which excites the 
 idea of fomething beyond it; and gives it a 
 more natural air. 
 
 This gaping chafm appears long the flriking 
 feature of the view, as we rife the hill. In 
 our approach to it however the eye is, here 
 and there, agreeably drawn afide; particularly 
 by a forefl-lawn, which prefents itfelf about 
 a mile, and a half from Lyndhurft; opening 
 both on the right and left. It is decorated 
 irregularly with wood — rifes before the eye — 
 blends itfelf leifurely with a few fcattered 
 trees, and clumps, which come forward from 
 
 the 
 
( 222 ) 
 
 the diftant woods to meet it — and then lofcs 
 itfelf imperceptibly in the deptiis of the 
 fore ft. 
 
 Somewhere in this part, between Lyndhurft 
 and Rumfey, a charitable fcheme was projeded 
 in favour of a body of Palatines, who took 
 refuge in England, in the reign of queen 
 Anne^ and engaged the humane part of the 
 nation in endeavouring to provide means for 
 their fupport. Many benevolent projedls were 
 formed ; and among others this of fettling 
 them in New-foreft : and the matter was 
 thought fo prad:icable, that it was digefted 
 into a regular plan ; and laid before the lord 
 treafurer Godolphin. 
 
 The arrangement was this. A fquare plot 
 of ground, containing four thoufand acres, 
 was to be marked out, and equally divided 
 into four parts, by two roads running through 
 it, and crofiing at right angles, in the center. 
 Each of thefe four parts was to be fubdivided 
 into five, fo that the whole plot might be pro- 
 portioned into twenty farms ; each of two 
 hundred acres. This provifion of farms being 
 made, twenty of the bed, and mofl refpedlable 
 
 Palatine 
 
( 223 ) 
 
 Palatine families were to be looked out, and 
 put in polTeffion of them : the reft were to 
 be day-labourers. Each firmer was to be 
 intrufted with a capital of two hundred pounds; 
 to be exempted from taxes for twenty years ; 
 and to have an affignment of forefl- timber, for 
 building, and repairs. 
 
 This fcheme, which feems to have been 
 well-dlgefted, is faid to ,have been firft hinted 
 by the fimous Daniel de Foe : but got no 
 farther than < the treafurer's board — whether 
 the foil was thought incapable of being impro- 
 ved 'y or whether it mifcarried from being the 
 produ6tion of fo wild a genius, which made 
 it fufpe6ted as chimerical. 
 
 We had now arrived at the fummit of the 
 vifta, which in profped had appeared fo 
 formal. On a clofe approach, it's formality 
 wore off; and we found ourfelves furrounded 
 by beautiful fcenery. The fummit itfelf is a 
 fine wooded-knoll, rlfing, on the left, and 
 
 falling, on the right,, into open groves. ' 
 
 As we defcended the hill, on the other fide, 
 the clofe-wooded fcenery flill continued beau- 
 tiful. 
 
( 224 ) 
 
 tiful, and we found the grand vifta better 
 fupported with wood. 
 
 In wooded fcenes, like thefe, the plano- 
 convex-mirror, which was Mr. Gray's com- 
 panion in all his tours*, has a plealing effed:. 
 Dijiances indeed, reduced to fo fmall a furface, 
 are loft ; it is chiefly calculated for objects at 
 hand-f, which it lliews to more advantage. 
 
 When we examine nature at large^ we ftudy 
 conipofitiony and effedi. We examine alfo the 
 forms of particular objeBs, But from the 
 lize of the objedls of nature, the eye cannot 
 perform both thefe operations at once. If it 
 be engaged in general effeBs, it poftpones 
 particular obje6ls : and if it be fixed on parti - 
 cular cbjeBsy whofe forms, and tints it gathers 
 up with a pafling glance from one to another, 
 it is not at leifure to obferve general effe^s^ 
 
 * See Gray's memoirs, page 352. 
 •f- Mr. Gray, on viewing the ruins of an abbey, fays, " Thejr 
 were the trueft objeds of his glafs he had met with any where." 
 He does not indeed affign the reafon, but if he had confidered 
 it, he might have feen, it was, becaufe they prefented a happy 
 difplay oi pre/ent objedls. See his memoirs, page 380. 
 
 But 
 
\ 
 
 ( 225 ) 
 
 £ut in the minute exhibitions of the convex- 
 mirror, compofitioHy forms, and colours are 
 brought clofer together ; and the eye examines 
 the general effeB, the forms of the chjedlsy and 
 the beauty of the tints, in one complex view. 
 As the colours too are the very colours of 
 nature, and equally well harmonized, they 
 are the more brilliant, as they are the more 
 condenfed. 
 
 In a chaife particularly the exhibitions of 
 the convex-mirror are amufing. We are 
 rapidly carried from one objedl to another. A 
 fucceffion of high-coloured pictures is conti- 
 nually gliding before the eye. They are like 
 the vifions of the imagination ; or the bril- 
 liant landfcapes of a dream. Forms, and 
 colours, in brighteft array, fleet before us ; 
 and if the tranfient glance of a good compo- 
 fition happen to unite with them, we fliould 
 give any price to fix, and appropriate the 
 fcene*. 
 
 * " I got to the parfonage a little before fun-fet; and faw 
 in my glafs, a piflure, that if I could tranfmit to you, and 
 fix, in all the foftnefs of it's living colours, would fairly fell 
 for a thoufand pound.'* Gray's memoirs, page 360, 
 
 VOL. II. Q^ After 
 
( 226 ) 
 
 After all, perhaps the chief virtue of this 
 deception may confift in exhibiting the 
 beauties of nature in a new light. Thus when 
 we clofe one eye, and look through the lid 
 of the other half-fhut, we fee only the general 
 effeB of objects; and the appearance is new, 
 and pleaiing : or when we ftoop to the ground, 
 and fee the landfcape around us with an 
 inverted eye, the effedt is pleafing for the 
 fame reafon. We are pleafed alfo, when we 
 look at objeds through flained glafs. It is 
 not, that any of thefe modes of viiion is fupe- 
 rior, or even equal to the eye in it's natural 
 ftate j it is the novelty alone of the exhibition, 
 that pleafes. If the mirror have any pecu- 
 liar advantage, it confifts in it's not requiring 
 the eye to alter it's focus ; which it muft do, 
 when it furveys the views of nature — the 
 diftance requiring one focus, and the fore- 
 ground another. This change of the focus, 
 in theory at leaft, (I doubt, whether in prac- 
 tice) occafions fome confufion. In the mirror, 
 we furvey the whole under one focus. 
 
 On the other hand, the mirror has at leafl 
 one difadvantage. Objedls are not prefented 
 with that depthy that gradation, that rotundity 
 of dijlance, if I may fo ipeak, which nature 
 
 exhibits ; 
 
( 227 ) 
 
 exhibits ; but are evidently afFeded by the 
 two furfaces of the mirror, which give them 
 a flatnefs, fomething Hke the fcenes of a play- 
 
 houfe, retiring behind each other. The 
 
 convex-mirror alfo diminidies diftances beyond 
 nature, for which the painter fhould always 
 make proper allowance. Or, to fpeak per- 
 haps more properly, it inlarges fore-grounds 
 beyond their proportion. Thus, if you look 
 at your face in a fpeculum of this kind, you 
 will fee your nofe magnified. The retiring 
 parts of your face will appear of courfe di- 
 miniflisd. 
 
 About a mile beyond the woody fummit 
 we had pafTed, we entered another foreft-lawn, 
 which tho very confined, has it's beauty ; as 
 all thefe openings muft have, however con- 
 fined, if furrounded Vvith ancient wood. But 
 about half a mile farther, where the Romfcy, 
 and Saiifbury roads divide, another foreft-lawn 
 of much larger dimenfions, prefents itfelf. 
 This is very fpacious, well hung with wood, 
 and (what in all thefe fcenes adds greatly to 
 their beauty) adorned in various parts with 
 woody promontories fhooting into 'it -, and 
 0^2 clumps. 
 
( 228 ) 
 
 clumps, and fingle trees fcattered about It. 
 On an eminence near this lawn, flands a new 
 houfe, belonging to Mr. Gilbert. It feems 
 to enjoy a good lituation ; but we did not ride 
 
 up to it. ^In this part of the foreft are a 
 
 few fcattered houfes, known by the name of 
 Cadenam, remarkable for llanding near that 
 celebrated oak, of which I have given an ac- 
 count in the early part of this work*. 
 
 Not far from hence lies Paulton's, the feat 
 
 of Mr. Wclbore Ellis. Paulton's was one 
 
 of the firft works of Mr. Brown -, and there- 
 fore deferves the attention of the curious ; tha 
 in itfelf indeed it is a pleafmg fcene. The 
 fituation of the houfe is that of an abbey ; low, 
 fheltered, and fequeftered. It is contained 
 within a paled boundary of about five miles 
 in circumference : but the whole is fo woody, 
 that the boundary is no where vifible. When 
 Mr. Brown firfl undertook this place, it was 
 full of ancient timber ; and nothing was 
 wanting, but to open the area judicioufly into 
 ample lawns, fcreened with wood. 
 
 • See vol. I. p. 165, 
 
 A poliflied 
 
( 229 ) 
 
 A pollfhed fcene, like this, in the midrt: 
 of a foreft, addrefles us with the air of 
 novelty ; and when natural, as this is, cannot 
 fail to pleafe. It will not however bear a 
 comparifon with the wild fcenes of the foreft. 
 We enter them again with pleafure -, and fpeak 
 of them as we do of the works of a great 
 literai'y genius, which contain greater beau- 
 ties, tho perhaps blended with greater defedis, 
 than the laboured works of a lefs exalted, tho 
 more corred; writer. Every thing in thefe 
 cultered fcenes, may be perfectly corredt — 
 nothing may offend; yet we feek in vain for 
 thofe ftrokes of genius, which roufe the imagi- 
 nation, and are fo frequently found among the 
 wild fcenes of the foreft. Some things how- 
 ever at Paulton's did offend ; particularly aa 
 attempt to improve a little foreft-ftream (by 
 formings a head) into a river. Attempts of 
 this kind feldom anfwer : and the misfortune 
 here is the more glaring, as a great, white, 
 Chinefe bridge {lands every where in fight to 
 remind us of it. We wi(h for fimple orna- 
 ments on all occafions — ornaments which the 
 eye is not obliged to notice. Here the ornament 
 was particularly out of place ^ as it was not 
 
 CL 3 only 
 
( 230 ) 
 
 only a fault itfelf; but led the eye to the 
 deted:ion of other faults. 
 
 From Paultons we entered an extenfive trad: 
 of nCing ground, which bounds the foreft on 
 the north, along the borders of Wiltfhire ; 
 and ilretches on the left towards Fording- 
 bridge, the river Avon, and the county of 
 Dorfet. This fide of the foreft however is 
 by much the narrowed. It's limits hardly 
 extend from eaft to weft above four miles : 
 whereas the boundary of the foreft, in the 
 fame dired:ion near the fea, extends at lead 
 fourteen. 
 
 This lofty plain, confifting chiefly of furze, 
 and heath, as far as we furveyed it, appeared 
 in itfelf little adorned with any forefl-fur- 
 niture. The little wood in any part of 
 it's area bore no proportion to it's extent. 
 But it overlooked very grand views. In a 
 pidurefque light therefore we confidered it 
 as a vafl theatre, from whence we mi2:ht 
 view almoft all the regions of the foreft, 
 
 which we had palled. Towards the north 
 
 indeed, in fome parts, it commands views 
 
 into 
 
( 231 ) 
 
 into Wilt/hire ; but the country is cultivated; 
 and not removed enough to lofe it's forma- 
 lities. This part therefore may be confidered 
 only as a foil. The grand opening is towards 
 the fouth. Here we found a ftation, which 
 commanded a very noble view. The heath, 
 making a gentle dip, prefents a vaft bay, 
 which fpreads the whole foreft, in a manner, 
 before the eye as far as the fea, in one vaft 
 expanfe of fcenery. Bramble-hill, one of the 
 lodges, ftanding on a knoll, on the left, about 
 half a mile below the eye, occupies one 
 fide of the opening into this immenfe woody 
 diftance, and another prominence, on which 
 ftand the ruins of Caftle- Mai wood, occupies 
 the other. The ftation may eafily be found 
 by this diredion. Between thefe two pro- 
 montories, the eye is conduded from wood, 
 to wood, over lawns and heaths, through 
 every fliade of perfpedive, till all diftiniflion 
 at length is loft ; and the eye doubts whether 
 it is ftill roving over the tufted woods of 
 the foreft ; or is landed upon the diftant 
 fhores of the ifle of Wight; or is wandering 
 among the hazy ftreaks of the horizon. At 
 leaft it had that dubious appearance, when 
 we faw it. But it is one of tht choice 
 
 0^4 re- 
 
{ 232 ) 
 
 recommendations of thefe extenfive fcenes, 
 that they are fubjed: to a thoufand varieties 
 from the different modifications of the atmof^ 
 phere. 
 
 A vaft fcene however, like this, is un- 
 manageable as we have often obferved, tho 
 
 it may be highly pidturefque. But our 
 
 obfervations on this fubjedl may be car- 
 ried farther, than we have yet carried 
 them. 
 
 It is a common affertion among landfcape- 
 painters, that if the pidure be juftly painted, 
 an extenfive diftance in miniature will have 
 the fame effed: on the mind of the fpedator, 
 as if it were painted on the largeft fcale. Stand 
 near a window, they tell you, and the whole 
 may be brought within the circumference 
 of a pane of glafs. If then the fame land- 
 scape were exactly painted on the pane of glafs, 
 it would have the fame efi^ed in a pidure, 
 which it has in nature. 
 
 This reafoning, I fear, is falfe. It depends 
 intirely on the fuppofition, that we colled all 
 our notices of external objeds from the eye; 
 agreeably to that conflrudion of it, which 
 
 ther 
 
( 233 ) 
 
 tlie anatomlfl gives us. Whereas, in fa6l, 
 the eye is a mere window. It is a pane of 
 glafs, through which the im'agination is im- 
 preffed by the notices it receives of outward 
 objecfts j which notices, tho fometimes true, 
 are often falfe, particularly with regard to 
 the fize of objects ; and will miflead it, unlefs 
 corrected by experience. The mathematician 
 talks of the angle of vifion ; and demonftrates, 
 that the fize of the objed; in the eye mud be 
 in exa(5t proportion to that part of the cone 
 of rays, which it intercepts : and it is on 
 this fuppofition, the painter afTerts, that an 
 extenfive diftance, exactly painted, tho in 
 miniature, will affedt the fpedator like the 
 natural fcene. But many things are mathe- 
 matically true ; tho experimently falfe. Such 
 is the famous puzzle of Achilles, and the 
 tortoife. The mathematician demonftrates, 
 that the tortoife mufi win the race; tho not 
 one jockey at Newmarket would bet on his 
 fide. Jull fo, the imagination revolts from 
 the mathematical account of vifion. If I ex- 
 amine, for inftance, the height of that tree, 
 by the fide of a notched ftick, it is fcarce an 
 inch. But no mathematical proof can per- 
 fwade jpie, that I fee it under thoje dimenjions, 
 
 lam 
 
( 234 ) 
 
 I am well afTured, that the tree, not only is, 
 but appears to me much larger. 
 
 If indeed my imagination could be fo far 
 deceived, as" to believe the landfcape, which 
 is painted on a pane of giafs, were really the 
 landfcape tranfniitted through it ; I might 
 then fuppofe it of the dimenfions of nature. 
 On no other fuppofition I can give it credit. 
 But if a deceit of this kind could not eafily 
 be pradtifcd on a pane cf glafs -, much lefs 
 could it be pradifed in a pi5iurS, We could 
 never fo far impofe upon ourfelves, as to con- 
 ceive a little objecSl, of the dimenfions of 
 a foot by fix inches, hung againft a wall, 
 can be a juft reprefentation of a country, 
 twenty or thirty miles in extent. 
 
 I mean not to debate the ftrudture of the 
 eye with the philofopher. All I mean to 
 alTert, is, that the pidurefque eye has nothing 
 to do with tunics, irifes, et retinas. It judges 
 of nothing by a focus, or a cone of vifpual 
 rays. The imagination guided by experience 
 prelides folely over vifion, as far at leaft as 
 the bulk of objeds is concerned j and it pic- 
 tures them, not as painted on a mathematical 
 point, but on an extended plain, and of their 
 natural fize. How nature manages this mat- 
 ter, 
 
( 235 ) 
 
 ter, is beyond the painter's power to explain. 
 The fa6l is certain : let the philofopher, if 
 he can, account for it. * 
 
 To bring the argument to the point before 
 us : there muft be I'eal /pace to interefl the 
 imagination ; and excite ideas of grandeur. In 
 a pi^urCy the imagination cannot bfe impofed 
 upon. Two or three inches may give us 
 the form of the landfcape ; the proportion 
 between the fore-ground, and the offskip ; 
 the hue of diflance, aud it's general appear- 
 ance : and we may be pleafed with thefe things 
 even in miniature. But it is impoffible within 
 fuch fcanty limits to raife any of thofe feelings, 
 which landfcape in it's full dimenfions will 
 excite. Try the matter experimentally : ex- 
 amine fuch a landfcape as this vaft, extended 
 forell-view before us, alternately; firfl with 
 the Jinked eye, and then with a diminijloing 
 glafs, (which at leaft gives as jull a repre- 
 fentation of the perfpedive, and keeping of 
 nature, as any artificial landfcape can do) and 
 you will be convinced how much the idea 
 lofes under the latter experiment. At the 
 fame time, if fuch a diftance.as this, exten- 
 five as it is, were painted on a larger fcale 
 than common, and properly accompanied, 
 
 and 
 
( 236 ) 
 
 and balanced with fore-ground ; we might 
 be tempted to forget it's under-fize ; and feeing 
 fo large a pidure, might acknowledge fome-p 
 thing like an equality with nature : we might 
 be inclined to forget the deception, and might 
 in fome degree, feel thofe fublime ideas which 
 nature itfelf excites. 
 
 Befides this grand and extenfive diftance, 
 which we furveyed between Bramble-hill, and 
 the ruins of Caftle- Mai wood, we found many 
 views of the fame kind, as we traverfed the 
 high, and heathy grounds towards Fritham, 
 and Fording-bridge. But the hills about 
 Boldre-wood, and Lyndhurft occupy the mid- 
 dle fpace between the northern, and fouth- 
 ern parts of the foreft ; and as they rife 
 confiderably, and intercept our views, the 
 more we proceed in a weftern direction, I 
 know not, whether, on the whole, the view 
 we have jufl taken, is not one of the moft 
 extenfive, and moil amufmg, which the whole 
 
 fbreft exhibits. 1 cannot therefore conclude 
 
 a defcription of New-foreft more properly, 
 than with this grand exhibition, which in a 
 manner, comprehends the whole. 
 
 As 
 
( ^7 ) 
 
 As I have more than once however obferved, 
 that fcenes of all kinds, and diftances the moft 
 of all, are fo diverfified by the circumftances, 
 under which they are examined, that no fingle 
 view can give an adequate idea of them ; I 
 wifh, before I fhut up thefe foreft-fcenes, to 
 add a fuller illuftration of this great pi(ftuFefqu€ 
 truth ; which fhould always be in the recoU 
 ledlion of every pidturefque obferver of nature. 
 The example I fhall feled; for this purpofe, fhall 
 be the fcenery around the parfonage-houfe at 
 Vicar's-hills ; not fo much becaufe it is a 
 pleafing fcene in itfelf, as becaufe lying con- 
 ftantly before my eye, it is the beft inftance 
 I can have : for no one can make remarks of 
 this kind on a fcene, which he has not fre- 
 quently examined. 1 muft firft defcribe 
 
 the fcenery, before I remark the feveral cir- 
 cumftances, under which it is often varied. 
 
 Vicar's-hill is a knoll, falling gently, on 
 the eaft, to a grand woody bank, part of the 
 wild grounds of fir Harry Burrard — on the 
 fouth, towards the channel, and the iQe of 
 Wight — and on the weft towards Lymington- 
 river — all which it overlooks. As it ftands 
 
 on 
 
( 238 ) 
 
 on the edge of the forcfl:, the fituation of 
 
 it is nearly conformable to the wifii of the 
 
 poet : ' 
 
 •Be my retreat 
 
 Between the groaning foreft, and the fliorej 
 A rural, fhcltered, folltary fcene*. 
 
 The two laft of thefc epithets indeed belong 
 not to it. It Hands rather lofty, tho not high; 
 and is fo far from being folitary, that it enjoys 
 a good neighbourhood. 
 
 From this knoll, the views are IngroiTed 
 by two houfes, Mr. Cleavland's, and the vicar- 
 age ^ the united plantations of which exclude 
 the profped: from all other parts of the hill. 
 From both thefe houfes the views are beau- 
 tiful; but they are of different kinds. Mr. 
 Cleavland's ftanding on the weft fide of the 
 knoll, has a view of Lymington-river, which 
 forms one of it's befb fweeps below his 
 lawn. From hence the eye is carried along 
 the river to it's opening into the channel ; of 
 which — together with the fhores around — the 
 ifland beyond — and the town of Lymington — 
 the diftant landfcape is formed. Thefe dif- 
 
 Thompfon's winter. 
 
 tances 
 
( 239 )' 
 
 tances are varied, as you view them from the 
 upper, and lower parts of the lawn ; and in 
 general, as they are circumfcribed by the high 
 lands, which bound the eftuary, they are 
 much more picSturefque, and in the eye of a 
 painter more beautiful, than thofe vaft exten- 
 live views of the ifland and channel, which we 
 have fo often feen from various parts of the 
 coafl. We have had other occafions to remark 
 the pi(5lurefque beauty of this eftuary*. 
 
 As Mr. Cleavland's has a better view of 
 the water, the vicarage has a better view of 
 the woods. A houfe built, where it could 
 command both fcenes, would enjoy a grand 
 fituation. The view however is fo good, 
 that it will bear a divifion ; and yet each part 
 form a whole. The vicarage flands in the 
 garden ; clofed on every fjde, but the fouth, 
 which is the afped of the bed: rooms. Before 
 it is fpread a fmall lawn, proportioned to it's 
 fize. At the end of the lawn, which is alfo 
 the boundary of the foreft, is a funk-fence ; 
 connecfting it with the meadows beyond.^ 
 Thefe meadows decHning to the fouth, and 
 eaft, form the brow of Vicar's -hill in thofe 
 
 • See page 6i, and g^, 
 
 direcflions 3 
 
( 240 ) 
 
 diredions ; and are fcreened by the grand 
 woody bank, above-mentioned, wheeling gent^ 
 ly round, which fliapes the lower part of them 
 into a fort of femi-circular valley. To the 
 hanging woods of this very pidlurefque bank> 
 a clofe, defcending walk from the houfe, fol- 
 lowing the diredion of the fareft-boundary> 
 unites the garden. ; 
 
 The woody bank, which is the grand 
 circumftance of the view, having thus circled 
 the meadows, falls away towards the eftuary 
 of the river; and becomes one of it's high 
 inclofures. On the other fide it is interfetted 
 by a rifmg ground, on which ftands the town 
 of Lymington at the diilance of a mile*. 
 Over the dip, formed by this interfedlion, 
 rifes, as if fitted for the place, a lofty part of 
 the ifle of Wight ; from which a ridge of 
 high land continues, paffing over the town 
 as a back-ground. Below the ifland appears 
 a fmall catch of the channel : but the inter- 
 vening woods of the eaftern fcreen have now 
 almoft intercepted it; interpoling one beau- 
 tiful circumftance in the room of another. 
 
 • See the fituation of Lymington defcribed, page 94. 
 
 Some 
 
( 241 ) 
 
 Some of the chief modes of incidental 
 beauty, which vary thefe few parts of land- 
 fcape, are thefe. 
 
 In a morning the effed: is often beautiful, 
 when the fun riling over the trees of the eafterrl 
 bank, pours his Hoping rays upon their tufted 
 heads ; while all the bottom of the valley, 
 not yet having caught the fplendor, is duflcy, 
 and obfcure*. 
 
 The effecft flill continues beautiful, as the 
 fun rifes higher. Some prominent part of the 
 woody fcreen always catches the light ; while 
 the recefles among the trees ftill hold the 
 depth of the morning-fliadow. 
 
 The difpofition of the landfcape is as well 
 adapted to receive the effedis of an evening, as 
 of a morning- fun. As all the eaftern fcreen 
 is richly, and pifturefquely wooded, the illu- 
 mination of the trees from the weft is generally 
 pleafmg j efpecially as the meadows, de- 
 fcending to the eaft, and fouth^ and of courfe 
 declining from the fummer-fun, prefent large 
 malTcs of ihadc. 
 
 But the effedt of light is beft {ten in an 
 evening-ftorm, when it rifes from the eaft, 
 
 • See an efFeft of this kind dcfcribud more at length. Vol. I. 
 p. 241. 
 
 VOL. II, R behind 
 
( 242 ) 
 
 behind the woody bank ; while the fun finking 
 in the weft, throws a fplendor upon the trees, 
 which feen to fuch advantage againft the 
 darknefs of the hemifphere, fhews the full 
 j^fFedt of light, and fliade. 
 
 In winter, the ifland is generally of an 
 indiftindt, grey hue : but in fummer, when 
 the evening-fun gets more to the north, it's 
 declining ray ftrikes the diftant cliffs, and 
 broken grounds of the ifland-fhores, and 
 gives them a great refplendency. As thele 
 broken grounds run behind the town, the 
 efFed: of the chimnies, and houfes, when 
 feen in fhadovv againft the warm tints of the 
 ifland-fhores, is often very pidturefque; much 
 more fo, than when the fun throws it's light 
 upon them. And here we fee exemplified a 
 truth in landfcape, that the light breaks a 
 town into parts — fhews it's poverty — and dif- 
 fipates it's effed : whereas all the parts of a 
 town fcea in fliadow, are blended together^ 
 and it becomes one grand object. I fpeak 
 however chiefly of towns in the fituation of 
 this, placed along the ridge of an eminence, 
 and about a mile from the eye. In remote 
 diftance, a ray of light thrown upon a town 
 has often a good effe^,-— — Thefe fpleadid 
 
 lights 
 
( 243 ) 
 
 lights of an evening-fun upon the cliffs and 
 broken fhores of the ifland, appear firft about 
 the beginning of aprilj but they grow flronger, 
 as the power of the fun increafes. Various 
 other tints alfo of a bluifh, purpHfh, and yel- 
 lowish hue, the effedls of evening-funs in 
 fummer, occafionally invert the ifland. 
 
 But hazinefs, and mifts are here, as in 
 other places, the great fources of variety. 
 In general, they have a good effed ; but 
 fometimes a bad one. As the remote part 
 of the landfcape, which confifts of the ifle 
 of Wight, does not immediately conned: with 
 the woods on one fide, and the town of 
 Lymington on the other, but is feparated 
 from them by the channel, which is about 
 two, or three leagues acrofs, it of courfe 
 happens, that when a partial fog removes the 
 ifland alone from the fight, a violent chafm 
 is left in the landfcape : there is no gradation ; 
 the riling ground, on which Lymington fl:ands, 
 appears flaring againfl a foggy fky without 
 any fupport of difl:ance. Nothing can fhew 
 more flrongly the ufe of diflances, in com- 
 pleating the harmony of a view. When the 
 feveral parts of a country melt into each other, 
 as in the grand diftance we have juft been 
 
 R 2 furveying 
 
 I 
 
( 244 ) 
 
 furveying from Caflile- Mai wood, a fog, or 
 miil can ?iever introduce any great mifchief. 
 It comes gradually on ; and therefore only 
 gradually obfcures. It is the chafm, which 
 occafions the blank. At the fame time, not- 
 withftanding the ifland is not gradually connedfed 
 with the other parts of the country, the land- 
 fcape lofes in no other modification of the 
 atmofphere. If the mift be more general, fo 
 as to obfcure not only the ifland, but the 
 town alfo, and in proportion the nearer parts 
 of the view, the effed; is often beautiful. The 
 woods of the eaftern bank being obfcured, 
 the firs of the lawn ftanding much nearer, 
 rife flrongly in oppofition : the eye is pleafed 
 with the contrail ; while the imagination is 
 pleafed alfo with diving into the obfcurity, 
 and forming it's own objedts. 
 
 The line alfo which the high grounds of 
 the ifland form upon the iky, is fometimes 
 ilrong, and fometimes faint ; fometimes alfo 
 a part of it is broken, or intercepted by 
 clouds, which gives a contrail to the other 
 part. 
 
 Again, the miil is fometimes fo light, that 
 it removes the ifland feveral leagues farther 
 from the eye : yet fl:ill the landfcape partaking 
 of the general effe^, preferves it's harmony. 
 
 Sometimes 
 
( 245 ) 
 
 Sometimes alfo, after a heavy fliower, when 
 the air, as the rain goes off, becomes perfecftly 
 diaphanous, Hke an ItaHan fky, and all the 
 the vapours are precipitated, the ifland will 
 advance many leagues nearer the eye : every 
 part of it will be perfedly confpicuous ; even 
 the little divilions of property will appear 
 faintly llcetched upon it : yet ftill the clearnefs 
 of the other parts of the landfcape according 
 with it, all will be in place, and a general 
 harmony prefer ved. 
 
 Thefe are chiefly fummer-effetfls. I have 
 often however feen beautiful eifeds in winter 
 of a fmiilar kind j efpecially in a morning 
 fomewhat inclining to froft -, when the rays 
 of the fun have appeared, as it were, flrug- 
 gling between the hazinefs of the ifland, the 
 fmoke of the town, and the fplendor of the 
 rifing fun. In one part difl:in6lnefs has pre- 
 vailed ; in another, obfcurity. 1 have feen. 
 
 alfo fomething of the fame effcO: in a winter- 
 noon ; only rendered perhaps fl:ill more beau- 
 tiful by fl:reaks of ruddy fun-fet pafling along 
 the horizon, and joining in the conflid:. 
 
 In the year 1783, when fuch uncommon 
 fogs prevailed over Europe, the appearances of 
 the ifland v^ere often very ftrange. Earth, 
 
 R 3 clouds. 
 
 I 
 
( 246 ) 
 
 clouds, and water, confounded together in vaft 
 combinations, feemed often to have exchanged 
 places ; the water would appear above the 
 iflandj and. the clouds below both. But 
 thefe appearances were fo uncommon, that 
 they fcarce deferve mention ; nor indeed were 
 they often in themfelves pidlurefque. 
 
 I omit mentioning here the variety, which 
 the feafons produce on this landfcape ; tho 
 as it is a woody fcene, the effed: is often Angu- 
 larly beautiful, efpecially in autumn. 
 
 If then fo great a variety of incidents arife 
 from the few circumftances of landfcape, 
 which are found at this place; with what 
 variety may we fuppofe landfcapes of a larger 
 iize, and compofed of more complicated parts, 
 may be attended ? particularly, extenfive dif- 
 tances, which are of all others attended with 
 the greateft variety of incidental beauty. Every 
 landfcape indeed hath fomething pecuUar to 
 itfelf, which difpofes it more or lefs to receive 
 the incidents of light, and weather in fome 
 peculiar manner. An open fea-coaft, one 
 fhould think of fo fimple a conftrudlion, as to 
 be little liable to receive any change ; and yet 
 I have flood upon a fea-coaft, on a fun-fhiny 
 cloudy day, when the wind has been rather 
 
 brilk; 
 
( 247 ) 
 
 brlfk ; and have in lefs than an hour, feen the 
 whole pidlure under a dozen different forms, 
 from the varying of the lights in the iky, on 
 the horizon, on the furface of the water, or 
 on ibme part of the coaft. 
 
 The conclulions from all thefe remarks are, 
 that every landfcape is, in itfelf, a fcene of 
 great variety — that there are few landfcapes, 
 which have not, at fome time or other, their 
 happy moments — that a landfcape of extent, 
 and beauty will take the full period of a year, 
 to fhew itfelf in all the forms it is capable of 
 receiving — and that he who does not attend to 
 the variations of the atmofphere, lofes half the 
 beauty of his views. 
 
 R 4 SECT. 
 
j 
 
( 249 ) 
 
 SECT. XI. 
 
 Of the animals, which frequent the foreft. 
 
 HAVING thus taken a view of the moft 
 beautiful fcenes of the forefl, it is 
 laftly proper to people them. No landfcape 
 is complete without it's figures. I fhall 
 make a few obfervations therefore on fuch 
 animals, as frequent the foreft; which the 
 imagination of the reader may fcatter about, 
 as he pleafes, in the feveral fcenes, which 
 have been prefented to him. The human 
 inhabitants of the forefl have already been 
 mentioned*. 
 
 * See p. 40. 
 
 Adi- 
 
( 250 ) 
 
 A diminutive breed of horfes run wild in 
 New-forefl. In general however the horfe is 
 private property ; tho fometimes with difficulty 
 afcertained. Numbers of people, who have 
 lands in the neighbourhood of the forefl, 
 have a right of commoning in it; and moft 
 of the cottagers, who border on it, affume 
 that right. Many of them have two or three 
 mares -, and fome, who make it their bufinefs 
 to breed colts, have droves. 
 
 The horfe is gregarious. Herds of twenty, 
 or thirty are often feen feeding together ; in 
 fummer efpecially, when they have plenty of 
 pafturage, and can live as they pleafe. In 
 winter they are obliged to feparate, and feek 
 their food, as they can find it. In general 
 indeed they are left, in all feafons, to take 
 their chance in the forefl:. Where there is 
 no expence, there can be no great lofs -, and 
 what is faved, is fo much gained. In marfhy 
 parts a fevere winter often goes hardly with 
 them. But in dry grounds, where heath and 
 furze abound, they pick up a tolerable win- 
 ter- fubfiftence ; efpecially if they have learned 
 the little arts of living, which neceffity teaches. 
 
 Of 
 
( 251 ) 
 
 Of thefe arts, one of the mofl ufeful is to 
 bruife, and pound with their fore-feet, the 
 prickly tops of furze. This operation, which 
 I have often feen performed, prepares the 
 rigid diet of a furze- bufli in fome degree for 
 maliication ; and renders it rather lefs ofFenfive 
 to the palate 
 
 When fuch colts, as have long run wild, 
 are to be caught for fale, their ideas of liberty 
 are fo unconfined, from pafturing in fo wild 
 a range, that it is matter of no little difficulty 
 to take them. Sometimes they are caught by 
 flight of hand, with a rope and a noofe. 
 But if this method fail, they are commonly 
 hunted down by horfe-men, who relieve 
 each other. Colt-hunting is a common prac- 
 tice in the foreft. The colts which feed 
 
 on Obergreen, are fometimes taken by the 
 following flratagem. In this part runs a 
 long bog, defcribed, under the name of Long- 
 flade-bottom; which is crolfed by a mole, 
 thrown over it*. With this paflage the colt 
 is well acquainted; and on being purfued, is 
 eafily driven towards it. When he is about 
 
 ♦ See p. 124. 
 
 the 
 
( 252 ) 
 
 the middle of the mole, two or three men 
 flart up in front, and oblige him to leap 
 into the bog, where he is intangled, and 
 feized. 
 
 At all the neighbouring fairs, thefe horfes 
 are a principal commodity, and are bought 
 up for every purpofe, to which a horfe can 
 be applied. Diminutive as they are, you may 
 often fee half a dozen c^ them draining in 
 a waggon : and as it is fafhionable to drive 
 them in light carriages, their price has been 
 inhanced. It is a little fortune to a poor 
 cottager, if he happen to polfefs three or four 
 colts, that are tolerably handfome, and match 
 well. He may probably fell them for ten, or 
 twelve pounds a piece. 
 
 In point of value, the New-foreft horfe 
 would rife higher, if the fame care were taken 
 in breeding him, which was formerly taken* 5 
 and which is ftill in fome degree, taken in 
 the neighbouring foreft of Bere; where, I 
 have heard, the keepers are ordered to deftroy 
 all horfes, which, at three years of age, are 
 
 ♦ See Manwood on foreft-law, page 29. 
 
 under 
 
( 253 ) 
 
 under thirteen hands ', and all mares under 
 twelve. 
 
 There is another evil likewife, which tends 
 to injure the foreft-colt ; and that is, put- 
 ting him to buiinefs at too early an age. 
 Tho a fmall horfe attains maturity earlier, 
 than a large one; yet thefe horfes, bred 
 chiefly by indigent people, and generally of 
 little value, are introduced much fooner to 
 labour, than abler, and better horfes commonly 
 are. 
 
 The fame, and exploits are ftill remembred 
 of a little beautiful, grey horfe, which had 
 been fuffered to run wild in the foreft, till 
 he was eight years of age ; when he had at-' 
 tained his full flrength. His firll: fenfations, 
 on the lofs of his liberty, were like thofe of 
 a wild-beaft. He flew at his keeper with 
 his open mouth ; or rearing on his hind- 
 legs, darted his fore-feet at him with the 
 mofl malicious fury. He fell however into 
 hands, that tamed him. He became by de- 
 grees patient of tlie bit, and at length fufl^ered 
 a rider. From this time his life was a fcene 
 of glory. He was well known on every road 
 in the county ; was the favorite of every 
 groom ; and the conftant theme of every 
 
 oilier. 
 
( 254 ) 
 
 oilier. But in the chafe his prowefs was 
 moft fhewn. There he carried his mafter, 
 with fo much fwiftnefs, eafe, and firmnefs, 
 that he always attracfted the eyes of the 
 company, more than the game they pur- 
 fued. 
 
 The New-foreft horfe is often fuppofed to 
 be of Spanifh extrad:ion ; from anceflors, 
 imagined to have been fliip-wrecked on the 
 coaft of Hampfhire, in the time of the armada. 
 But I look on this as a fpecies of the ancient 
 vaunt, genus a yonje fummo -, and to deferve 
 as little attention. Some of them have a 
 form, which would not difgrace fo noble a 
 lineage. The grey horie reprefented in the 
 annexed plate, is among the moft beautiful. 
 But in general, the croup of the forefl-horfe 
 is low; and his head ill-fet on, having what 
 the jockies call a Jiiff jaw. Of this defed: 
 a refemblance is given in the horfe on the 
 left, whofc head is fet on, as thofe of the 
 foreft-horfes commonly are. Their claim 
 therefore to high lineage muft in general refl: 
 more on their good qualities, than on their 
 Jjeauty — on the hardinefs of their nature— 
 on their uncommon flrength — on their agility, 
 
 and 
 
I 
 
 I 
 

 
( 25S ) 
 
 and furenefs of foot, which they probably' 
 acquire by conflantly lifting their legs among 
 furze. 
 
 But tho the form of the New-foreft horfe. 
 is feldom beautiful ; yet as the ornament of 
 a foreft fcene, he is very pidlurefque. The. 
 horfe, in his natural ftate, rough with all 
 his mane about him, and his tail waving 
 in the wind, as he feeds, is always beautiful j 
 but particularly in fo wild a fcene as this, 
 which he graces exceedingly. 
 
 On this fubjedt I cannot forbear digreffing 
 a little, (and I hope the critical reader will 
 not be too faftidious,) on the great indignity 
 the horfe fuffers from the mutilation of his tail, 
 and ears. Within this century, I believe, 
 the barbarous cuftom of docking horfes came 
 in ufcj and hath pafled through various mo- 
 difications, like all other cuftoms, which are 
 not founded in nature, and truth. A few 
 years ago the Jhort dock was the only tail (if 
 it may be called fuch) in fafhion, both in the 
 army, and in carriages. The abfurdity how- 
 ever of this total amputation began to appear. 
 The gentlemen ©f the army led the way. 
 
 They 
 
( 256 ) 
 
 They acknowledged the beauty, and ufe oF 
 the tail, as nature made it. The jhort deck 
 every where difappeared; and all dragoon-horfes 
 paraded with long tails. 
 
 The 7iag-tail however ftill continued in ufe. 
 Of this there are feveral fpecies, all more or 
 lefs mutilated. The moll deformed one is 
 nicked-tail ', fo nam.ed from a cruel operation 
 ufed in forming it. The under finews of the 
 dock being divided, the tail ftarts upwards, 
 diredly contrary to the pofition, which nature 
 intended. The nag- tail is ftill it^w in all 
 genteel carriages. Nor will any perfon of 
 fafhion ride a horfe without one. Even 
 the gentlemen of the army, who have fhewn 
 the moil fenfe in the affair of horfe- tails, have 
 been fo milled, as to introduce the nag-tail 
 into ,the light-horfe 3 tho it would be as dif- 
 ficult to give a reafon now for the nag-tail^ 
 as formerly for ^^ jhort -dock. 
 
 Two things are urged in defence of this 
 cruel mutilation— ^the utility , and the beauty 
 of it. Let us briefly as pafTible, examine 
 both. 
 
 To make an animal ufeful is, no doubt, the 
 firft confideration : and to make a horfe fo, 
 we muft neceflarily make him fuffer fome 
 
 things. 
 
)l>//ie ^:Hi%/c/t /tiu . 
 
 
 o/Ar .}af//7 >/' /r/f/. 
 
( 257 ) 
 
 things, which are unnatural, becaufe we take 
 him out of a Jiate of nature. He mufl be 
 fed with hay, and corn in the winter, which 
 he cannot get in his open paflures : for if 
 he have exercife beyond nature, he muft have 
 fuch food, as will enable him to bear it. 
 As it is neceffary likewile to make our roads 
 hard, and durable, it is necelTary alfb to give 
 the horfe an iron hoof, that he may travel 
 
 over them without injuring his feet. But 
 
 all this has nothing to do with his tail, from 
 which 710 incumbrance arifes. 
 
 Yes, fays the advocate for decking ; as it 
 is necelTary for the horfe to travel, to hunt, 
 and to race, it is ufeful to lighten him of 
 of every incumbrance. And as it is neceilary 
 for him to travel through dirty roads -, it is 
 ufeful to rid him of an inftrument, which is 
 continually collecfling dirt, and lafhing it over 
 himfelf, and his rider. 
 
 To eafe your horfe of every incumbrance 
 in travelling, is certainly right. You fliould 
 fee that his bridle, and faddle, (which are 
 his great incumbrances) are as eafy as poffible: 
 and that the weight he carries, or draws, be 
 proportioned to his ftrength. But depend upon 
 it,' he receives no incumbrance from nature. 
 
 VOL. II. S It 
 
( 2S8 ) 
 
 It Is a maxim among all true philofophers, 
 that nature has given nothiiig tJi vain : and 
 there can be no reafonable doubt, but that 
 nature has given the horfe his tail to balance, 
 and affift his motions. That this is the cafe, 
 feems plain from the ufe he makes of it. 
 When the animal is at reft, his tail is pendent : 
 but when he is in violent action j he raifes, 
 and fpreads it, as a bird does in the fame 
 fituation. Would the fwallow, or the dove 
 be affifted in their flight by the lofs of their 
 tails ? or the greyhound in his fpeed by dock-' 
 ing him ? For myfelf, I have no doubt, 
 but if the experiment w^ere tried at New- 
 market, which I fuppofe it never was, the 
 horfe with his long tail, however the literati 
 there might laugh at him, would not be 
 in the leaft injured in his fpeed; and would 
 certainly anfwer better, in all his fudden turns, 
 to the intention of his rider. He would ex- 
 tend, and fpread his helm : it would fteer 
 his way ; and we fliould feldom hear of his 
 running out of his courfe, or on the wrong 
 fide of the poft. 
 
 Befides, his tail probably aflifts him even 
 in his common exertions ; and balances his 
 body, when he trots, and prevents his ftum- 
 
 bling. 
 
( 259 ) 
 
 bllng. I have heard a gentleman, who had 
 travelled much in the eaft, remark, that the 
 Turklfh, and Arabian horfes rarely flumblej 
 which he attributed, and with much appear- 
 ance of truth, to their long tails. 
 
 But whatever ufe the tail may be to the 
 horfe in aSlioriy it is acknowledged on all 
 hands to be of infinite ufe to him, at reft. 
 Whoever fees the horfe grazing in fummer, 
 and obferves the conflant ufe he makes of 
 his long tail in lafhing the flies from his 
 fides, muft be perfuaded, that it is a moft 
 ufeful inftrument : and muft be hurt to fee 
 him fidget a fhort dock, back, and forward, 
 with ineffectual attempts to rid himfelf of 
 fome plague, which he cannot reach. 
 
 As to the obje(^tion againft the tail, as an 
 inftrument, which is continually gathering 
 dirt, and lafling it around, if there be any 
 truth in what I have already obferved, this 
 little objedion diffolves itfelf ; efpecially as 
 the inconvenience may with great eafe be 
 remedied, when the road is dirty, either by 
 knotting up the tail, or by tying it with a 
 leathern -ft rap. 
 
 S 2 But 
 
{ 26o ) 
 
 But whatever becomes of iitUlty, the horfe 
 is certainly more beautifuU we are told, without 
 his dangling tail. What a handfome figure 
 he makes, when he carries both his ends well I 
 This is the conftant language of horfe- dealers, 
 flable-keepers, and grooms ; and fuch lan- 
 guage, tho originating in taftlefs ignorance, 
 and mere prejudice, has drawn over men of 
 
 fenfe, and underftanding. It is inconceive- 
 
 able, how delufively the eye fees, as well as 
 the underftanding, when it is fafcinated, and 
 led afide by fafhion, and cuflom. Aflbciated 
 ideas of various kinds give truth a different 
 air. When we fee a game-cock with all his 
 fprightly adions, and gorgeous plumes about 
 him, we acknowledge one of the moft beau- 
 tiful birds in nature. But when we fee him 
 armed with ileel, and prepared for battle; 
 we cry, what a fcare-crow ! But a cock- 
 fighter, with all the ideas of the pit about 
 him, will conceive, that in this latter ftate, 
 he is in his greatefl: beauty : and if his pidlure 
 be drawn, it muft: be drawn in this ridiculous 
 manner. I have often feen it. 
 
 Let 
 
( 26i ) 
 
 Let jockies, and ftable-boys, and cock- 
 fighters keep their own abfurd ideas : but let 
 not men, who pretend to fee, and think for 
 themfelves, adopt fuch ridiculous conceits. — 
 In arts, we judge by the rules of art. In 
 nature, we have no criterion but the forms of 
 nature. We criticize a building by the rules 
 of architecflure : but in judging of a tree, or a 
 mountain; we judge by the mofl beautiful 
 forms of each, which nature hath given us. 
 It is thus in other things. From nature alone 
 we have the form of a horfe. Siaould we then 
 feek for beauty in that objed:, in our own wild 
 conceptions; or recur to the great original, 
 from whence we had it ? We may be affured, 
 that nature's forms are always the moft beau- 
 tiful; and therefore we fhould endeavour to 
 
 corre(fl cur ideas by hers. If however we 
 
 cannot give up the point, let us at leafl: be 
 confiftent. If we admire a horfe without a 
 tail, or a cock without feathers, let us not 
 laugh at the Chinefe for admiring the difpro- 
 portioned foot of his miflrefs ; nor at the 
 Indian, for doting on her black teeth, and 
 tattooed cheeks. For myfelf, I cannot con- 
 ceive, why it ihould make a horfe more 
 beautiful to take his tail from him, than it 
 
 S 3 would 
 
( 262 ) 
 
 would make a man to clap a tall to him*. 
 With regard indeed to the natural beauty of a 
 horfe's tail, we want little reafoning on the 
 fubjedl. In conjunction with his mane, it 
 
 gives him dignity. It hides his flradling 
 
 buttocks ; which is a decency in nature, we 
 
 fhould admire, rather than deflroy. It 
 
 forms a contraft among the legs. The four 
 equal legs of every animal are it's greateft de- 
 formity j and their famenefs of courfe gives 
 the painter the mojft trouble in the management 
 of them. In many of her forms indeed, where 
 nature does not feem to aim at beauty, flie 
 neglecfts this economy : but as if flie meant 
 the horfe for one of her moft elegant produc- 
 tions, (he has provided for him in this refped: 
 alfo, by giving him a graceful flow of hair, 
 which hiding fometimes one leg, and fome- 
 times another, introduces a pleafing contraft 
 
 among them all. The accidental motion 
 
 alfo of the tail gives it peculiar beauty ; both 
 when the horfe moves it himfelf j and when it 
 waves in the wind. The beauty of it indeed 
 to an unprejudiced eye is confpicuous at once; 
 
 • See lord Monboddo on that fubjeft. 
 
 and 
 
( 263 ) 
 
 and in all parade, and ftate-horfes it is acknow- 
 ledged: tho even here there is an attempt 
 made to improve nature by art : the hair muft 
 be adorned w^ith ribbons ; and the bottom of 
 the tail clipped fquare, which adds heavinefs, 
 and is certainly fo far a deformity. 
 
 The captain of an Englifli man of v^^ar gave 
 me an account fometime ago, of his landing in 
 one of the piratical ftates of Barbary, while his 
 fhip anchored in the bay. He was received by 
 the Dey (I think, of Tripoli) with great civi- 
 lity; and among other things, faw his flables. 
 They were lined with a very long, double row 
 of the moft beautiful Barb, and Arabian horfes. 
 He was ftruck with their beauty, to which 
 their grand flowing tails, combed, and oiled 
 in the nicefl manner, were no little addition. 
 As he continued his walk through the flud, 
 he came to a couple of horfes with 7iag-tails, 
 On inquiring into their hiftory, he found they 
 were Englifh horfes, which had been prefented 
 to the Dey. The horfes themfelves were fit 
 to appear any where -, but the contrail of their 
 tails, he thought, in fuch company, made fo 
 very flrange, and difgraceful an appearance, 
 that he was afhamed of his countrymen. The 
 cafe was, his eye having been thus accuftomed 
 
 S 4 to 
 
( 264 ) 
 
 to the beautiful forms of nature, had gotten 
 rid of it's prejudices -, and being a rational man, 
 faw the matter in it's proper light. 
 
 I fliall conclude my remarks on this cruel 
 
 mutilation, with an epigram by Voltaire. 
 
 That celebrated wit was in England about the 
 time, when the babarous cuftom of docking 
 horfes was in high fafhion. He was fo 
 fliocked at it, that he wrote the following 
 verfes, which, it is faid, he gave to lord 
 Lyttelton. 
 
 Vous, fiers Anglois, et barbares que vous etes, 
 Coupent les tates a vos rois, et les queues a vos betes. 
 Mais les Francois plus polis, et aimant les loix, 
 Laiffent les queues a leurs betes, et les tates a leurs rols. 
 
 There is more indignation, than wit, I 
 think, in thefe verfes. Voltaire feems to con- 
 fider docking a horfe, and killing a king, as 
 equal crimes ; which however is carrying the 
 matter fomewhat farther, than the pidurefque 
 eye wifhes to carry it. 
 
 The fame abfurd notions, which have led 
 men to cut off the tails of horfes, have led 
 them alfo to cut off their ears, I fpeak not 
 
 of 
 
{ 26j ) 
 
 of low grooms, and jockies ; we have lately 
 feen the ftuds of men of the firfl: fa(hion, 
 mifled probably by grooms, and jockies, pro- 
 ducing only cropt-horfes. 
 
 When a fine horfe has wide, lopping ears, 
 as he fometimes has, without fpring, or 
 motion in them ; a man may be tempted to 
 remove the deformity. But to cut a pair of 
 fine ears out of the head of a horfe, is, if pofr- 
 fible, a ft ill greater abfurdity, than to cut off 
 his tail. Nothing can be alledged in it's 
 defence. The ear neither retards motion; 
 nor flings dirt. 
 
 Much of the fame ground may be gone over 
 on this fubjedl, which we went over on the 
 laft. With regard to the utility of the ear, it 
 is not improbable^ that cropping it may injure 
 the horfe's hearing : there is certainly leis 
 concave furface to receive the vibrations of 
 
 the air. 1 have heard it alfo aflerted with 
 
 great confidence, that this mutilation injures 
 his health : for when a horfe has loft that 
 pent-houfe, which nature has given him over 
 his ear, it is reaibnable to believe the wind, 
 and rain may get in, and give him cold. 
 
 But if thefe injuries are not eafily proved, 
 the injury he receives in point of beauty may 
 
 ftrenuoufly 
 
( 266 ) 
 
 ftrenuoufly be infifted on. Few of the minu- 
 ter parts of animal nature are more beautiful, 
 than the ear of a horfe, when it is neatly 
 
 formed, and well fet on. The contraft of 
 
 the lines is pleafing; the concavity, and the 
 convexity, being generally feen together in 
 
 the natural turn of the ear. Nor is the 
 
 proportion of the ear lefs pleafing. It is 
 contraded at the infertion, fwells in the 
 middle, and tapers to a point. The ear of no 
 animal is fo beautifully proportioned. That 
 of fome beafts, efpecially of the favage kinds, 
 as the lion, and pard, is naturally rounded, 
 and has little form. The ears of other 
 animals, as the fox, and cat, are pointed, 
 fhort, and thick. Thofe of the cow are round, 
 and heavy. The hare's, and afs's ears are 
 long, and nearly of the fame thicknefs. The 
 dog, and fwine have flapping ears. The 
 fheep, alone has ears, that can compare with 
 
 the horfe. The ear of the horfe receives 
 
 great beauty alfo from it's colour, as well 
 as form. The ears of bay, and grey horfes 
 are generally tipped with black, which melts 
 
 into the colour of the head. But the ear 
 
 of the horfe receives it's greateft beauty from 
 motion. The ear of no animal has that 
 
 vibrating 
 
I 
 
 I 
 

 
 "^^^S 
 
 
 \ '■-.. ^ 
 
( 267 ) 
 
 vibrating power. The ears of a fpirited horfe 
 are continually in motion -, quivering, and 
 darting their (harp points towards every objedt, 
 that prefents : and the adtion is ftill more 
 beautiful, when the ears are fo well fet on, 
 that the points are drawn nearly together. 
 Virgil, who was among the mofl accurate 
 obfervers of nature, takes notice of this qui- 
 vering motion in the ears of a horfe. 
 
 - — r-Si qua fonum procul arma dedere. 
 Stare loco nefclt ; micat auribus ■ 
 
 The fame word, which he ufes here to exprefs 
 the motion of a horfe's ears, he ufes elfewhere 
 to exprefs the gleaming of arms ; the glittering 
 of a gem ; and the vibrating motion of a 
 
 ferpent's tongue. But it is not only the 
 
 quivering motion of the horfe's ears, that we 
 admire ; we admire them alfo as the inter- 
 preters of his paffions ; particularly of fear, 
 which fome denominate courage : and of anger, 
 or malice. The former he expreffes by darting 
 themforii:ard'y the latter, by laying them hack. 
 
 This digreffion hath carried me much 
 farther, than I intended ; but the mutilation 
 of the tail, and ears of this noble animal is 
 fo oiFenlive to reafon, and common fenfe, that 
 
 I have 
 
( 268 ) 
 
 I have been imperceptibly led on by my In- 
 dignation. Tho nothing I can fay on the 
 fubjedt, I am well perfuaded, can weigh 
 againfl the authority of grooms, and jockies, 
 fo as to make a general reform ; yet if, here 
 and there, a fmall party could be raifed in 
 oppofition to this ftrange cuftom, it might 
 
 m time perhaps obtain fafhion on it's fide. 
 
 We commonly fuppofe, that when mankind 
 m general agree in a point, there is truth. I 
 believe no nation upon earth, except the 
 Englifh, have the cuftom among them, of 
 docking, nicking, and cropping their horfes. 
 
 The wifdom too of all antiquity decides 
 
 fully againfl the practice. Inftances perhaps 
 might be found in the bas-reliefs of the Anto- 
 nine column, and other remains of Roman 
 antiquity, both of the cropt ear, and of the 
 hogged-mane, (which I take for granted were 
 never pradifed, except in cafes of defed:,) but 
 I am perfuaded, no one inflance can be found, 
 in all the remains of Grecian, or Roman anti- 
 quity, of a Jkort dock, or a nag- tail. 
 
 Befides the horfe, the foreft is much fre- 
 quented by another animal of his genus, 
 
 inferior 
 
■ 
 

 
 .C 
 
 ' m 
 
 'i-i 
 
 
 
( 269 ) 
 
 inferior indeed in dignity ; but fuperior in 
 picturefque beauty -, I mean tbe afs. Among 
 all the tribes of animals, fcarce one is more 
 ornamental in landfcape. In what this pic- 
 turefque beauty confifts, whether in his pe- 
 culiar charader — in his ftrong lines — in his 
 colourins: — in the roughnefs of his coat — or 
 in the mixture of all — would be difficult per- 
 haps to afcertain. The obfervation however 
 is undoudtedly true; and every pidurefque 
 eye will acknowledge it. Berghem bears full 
 teftimony to it's truth. In his pictures the 
 afs makes often the mofl: dillinguilhed figure : 
 and a late excellent landfcape- painter*, I have 
 heard, generally kept this animal by him, 
 that he might have it always at hand to 
 introduce in various attitudes, into his pic- 
 tures. I have heard alio, that a plaiiler-caft 
 of an afs, modelled by him, is fold in the 
 fliops in London : but I never faw it. 
 
 One reafon indeed for replenifliing the forefl 
 fo much with affes, is the propagation of 
 
 • Mr. Galnfborough. 
 
 mules J 
 
( 270 ) 
 
 mules ; of which great numbers are bred in 
 many parts of it : at leaft the breed was much 
 incouraged before the troubles of America, 
 whither feveral were every year exported. 
 
 The mule is by no means fo pidurefque 
 an animal as the afs ; and is rarely introduced 
 in landfcape ; chiefly, I fuppofe, becaufe he 
 has not fo determined a charadler. He is 
 neither a horfe, nor an afs, and yet has 
 a refemblance to both. To make an objedl 
 truly pidturefque, it (hould be marked ftrongly 
 with fome peculiar character. — — Befides, the 
 mule varies in form, as much from himfelf, 
 as he does either from the horfe, or the afs. 
 He follows his fire. A mule bred from an 
 Arabian^ differs as much from the offspring 
 of a .forefter, as the two fires themfelves. 
 This alfo injures his pidiurefque charader. 
 
 The mule, from which the annexed 
 
 drawing was taken, was a mule of blood. 
 The afs alfo varies from itfelf; but not fo 
 much as the mule. It is here reprefented 
 under one of it's mofl elegant forms, that it 
 may the more juftly be compared with a mule 
 of the fame defcription. 
 
 With 
 
I 
 
*'=?1i»*^ 
 
 -«:ftt><:^5:v>» 
 
 ■^'. 
 
 <:*?*-v- 
 
 ■^*«-^>; 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
 .>v 
 
 ^.^^' 
 
 ^s^ 
 
( 271 ) 
 
 With horned cattle of courfe, the forefl:, 
 like all other large waftes, abounds ; and this 
 
 is a fource of great picSurefque beauty. • 
 
 The mclofure prefents only a fmall number 
 at once, the property of fome fingle perfon : 
 but in the foreji, the cattle of all the neigh- 
 bouring hamlets, and cottages, pafture to- 
 gether. We fee them often in large herds ; 
 and in fummer, the feafon of landfcape, they 
 are drawn in numbers, to favorite fpots, par- 
 ticularly about pools, and rivulets ; where 
 th6 various combinations, and attitudes they 
 form are beautiful, and pidlurefque, in the 
 
 higheft degree. Befides, they appear in a 
 
 for eft to much more advantage, than they 
 can poffibly do within the formality of 
 hedges. 
 
 But of all animals, with which the foreft 
 abounds, the flag is in a peculiar manner 
 adapted to it's fcenes. The wildnefs of his 
 nature harmonizes with them j and the beauty 
 
 nature 
 
( ^72 ) 
 
 of his form adorns them. We admire his 
 
 ere6t froat; his fpreading horns, on which 
 he fometimes wears above twenty antlers ; 
 his limbs finifhed with fo much elegance -, and 
 his ftately, meafured pace. 
 
 But here perhaps the advocate for docking 
 horfes will glory in the fhort tail of the ftag* 
 He has no reafon. There is no doubt, nature 
 has provided for the exigences of the flag 
 in his fpeed, as well as for thofe of the horfe. 
 It is true, the (hortnefs of the tail in fo beau- 
 tiful an animal, rather feems a defe(fl. But 
 as, in the language of religion, the well- 
 ordered mind acknowledges every thing right 
 in the works of God — fo, in the language of 
 painting, the pidurefque eye acknowledges 
 every thing beautiful in the works of nature. 
 Some objedls indeed may pleafe lefs than 
 others ; and be lefs accommodated to the 
 rules of painting. But all objeds are beft as 
 nature made them. Art cannot mend them» 
 Where art interferes, beauty vanifhes. We 
 drefs the poliflied lawn : but we only remove 
 what may there be a deformity, tho elfevvhere 
 a beauty. When we endeavour to improve 
 the objeB — when we clip the holly, and trim 
 
 the 
 
-ts- 
 
 
 c'^*>r; 
 
 r^ "^ 
 
 
 u 
 
 r^'»H.' 
 
 ^xs;^g5»>gi»^; 
 
 ^^l:f?5^ 
 
 .p^^ 
 
 ■A^- 
 
 "^>/, 
 
 ^4^ 
 
 "^; 
 
( '^IZ ) 
 
 the box, we introduce deformity. We fome- 
 times indeed artfully remove a branch : but 
 it is to open the landfcape -, not to improve 
 the tree. 
 
 The ftag, during his firft year is called a 
 calf', and does not aflume the name of a flag 
 till his fifth ; being known in the intermediate 
 years, by certain tecknical names, which none 
 but forefters can remember. In his fixth year 
 he takes the refpectable title of a hart. Some 
 authors have given it to his fifth : but I 
 
 follow the authority of Manwood*. Befides 
 
 this title, he may ftill attain two higher degrees 
 of honour; thofe of a hart-royal, and of a 
 hart-royal proclaimed. 
 
 If he be hunted by the king, and elcape; 
 or have his life given him for the fport he 
 has afforded, he becomes from thence forward, 
 
 a hart-royal. If he be hunted out of 
 
 the foreft, and there efcape; the king hath 
 fometimes honoured him with a royal pro- 
 clamation ; the purport of which is, to for- 
 bid any one to molefl him, that he may 
 have free liberty of returning to his foreft. 
 
 * See Manwood, page 99. 
 
 VOL. 11. T From 
 
( 274 ) 
 
 From that time he becomes a hart-royal prO" 
 
 claimed. Man wood mentions a fa6t of this 
 
 kind, which he found on record, in the caftle 
 of Nottingham. It is dated in the time of 
 Richard the iirft, who having roufed a hart 
 in Sherwood-foreil, purfued him as far as 
 Barnfdale in Yorkfliire ; where the hart foiled, 
 and efcaped his hounds. The king in grati- 
 tude for the diverfion he had received, or- 
 dered him immediately to be proclaimed at 
 Tickill, and at all the neighbouring towns. 
 
 An affair of this kind, it is not unlikely, wag 
 the original of iiohite-hart-Jilver , as it is called, 
 in the foreft oi Blackmore in Dorfetfhire. 
 Some gentlemen, in the time of Henry III, 
 having deftroyed a white hart, which had 
 given the king much diverfion (and which, 
 it is probable, had been proclaipied) the king 
 laid a heavy fine on their lands ; an acknow- 
 ledgment of which was paid into the exchequer 
 fo late as in the reign of Elizabeth*. Hutch- 
 ings, in his hiftory of Dorfetfhire, fays it i« 
 paid to this dayf*. 
 
 • See Camdeo's Brit. p. 59. f VoJ. II. p. 492- 
 
 Inftances 
 
i 
 
mi>L 
 
 t; 
 
 .if 
 
( '^IS ) 
 
 Inflances of favourite flags, and of the 
 v/armth, with which mankind have efpoufed 
 their faufe, when injured, occur fo frequently, 
 that Virgil thought a circumftance of this kind 
 a proper incident for the whole plot of his 
 -^neid to turn on : 
 
 ■■ ' ■ quae prima malorum 
 
 Caufa fuit, belloquc animos accendit agreftes, 
 Cervus, erat forma prasllanti*- 
 
 In general, the flag is a harmlefs, inoffenfive 
 animal. At one feafon only, when he is en- 
 gaged in his feraglio, he is fierce. You hear 
 him roaring, and bellowing, at that time, 
 about the forefl ; meditating revenge on his 
 rival, whom he meets, head to head, and foot 
 to foot. While he is able with his antlers 
 to parry the attack, he flands his ground : 
 and if he happen to be of equal prowefs with 
 his rival, the conflict is obftinate. But a 
 weak adverfary foon feels the flrength of his 
 opponent. He cannot refift his pufh. His 
 flanks give way ; and he is prefently driven off 
 the field. 
 
 • ^n. Vri. 481. 
 
 T 2 .At 
 
( ^l(^ ) 
 
 At thefe feafons of riot the ftag is faid to 
 be dangerous. If therefore in pafling through 
 the foreft, you fee him at a diftance in your 
 path, you had better av^oid him by turning 
 a Httle to the right, or left. If you do not 
 approach, he will not purfue. I have heard 
 old forefters however fay, they did not re- 
 member an inftance of his ever doing vo- 
 luntary mifchief at any time; and alTert that 
 he will always avoid the pafTenger, if he 
 can. 
 
 But it is on all hands agreed, that he 
 is highly dangerous, when hard prefled by 
 the hounds, and driven to extremity. When 
 the chafe is well nigh over — when that elaftic 
 vigour, with which at firfl he bounded along 
 the plain, is changed into a heavy gallop — 
 when his mouth becomes black and dry — 
 his tongue hanging from it — and his eye 
 marked with horror and difmay, (cruel, furely, 
 to turn fuch agony intofport!) his reverence 
 for man is gone : he is driven to defpair ; and 
 all his powers are colleded into terror and 
 undiflinguifliing fury. 
 
 Some years ago, a ftag in New-foreft, 
 prelied by the hunters, and jufl entering a 
 thicket, was oppofed by a peafant ; who 
 
 foolishly, 
 
( '^n ) 
 
 foolifhly, with his arms extended, attempted 
 to turn him. The flag held his courfe, and 
 darting one of his antlers into the man, carried 
 him off feme paces, flicking upon his horn. 
 The man was immediately conveyed to 
 Lymington, where he lay dangeroufly ill for 
 fome time; but at length recovered. I have 
 heard alfo, that when the duke of Bedford 
 was lord- warden of the forefl, his huntfman 
 had a horfe killed under him by a flag, which 
 he croffed in the fame imprudent manner. 
 
 We have a beautiful defcription in Shake- 
 fpear, which I cannot forbear introducing, 
 both for the fake of the picture ; and for the 
 knowledge it conveys. The forrows of the 
 dying flag — his fighs ; his tears ; and the 
 unfriendly return his diflreffcs find from all his 
 former companions, are circumflances in his 
 hiftory well-known to the naturalifl, the 
 forefler, and the huntfman. The melancholy 
 Jaques is introduced by the poet repoling on 
 the ground. 
 
 - - ' ■ « As he lay 
 
 Beneath an oak, whofe antique root projects 
 Above the brook, that brawls along the wood; 
 To the fame place a poor fequeftered fiag. 
 That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hart. 
 Did come to languifh . ■ 
 
 T3 The 
 
( 278 ) 
 
 The wretched animax heaved forth fuch groans. 
 That their difcharge did ftretch his leathern coat 
 Almofl to burfling ; and the big round drops 
 Courfed one another down his patienc face. 
 ' Anon a carelcfs herd. 
 
 Full of rich pafture, bounding comes along, 
 And never Hays to greet him. Aye, quoth Jaques, 
 Sweep on, ye fat and greafy citizens ; 
 'Tis juft the fafhion : wherefore look ye not 
 Upon that poor, and broken bankrupt there? 
 
 The hind alfo, in defence of her calf, is 
 equally formidable, as far as her flrength 
 allows ; and her powers of exerting it. She 
 has been known to ftrike a dog fo violently 
 with the fpring of her fore-feet, as to ft rip 
 his ikin from his flelli, and lay his fide bare. 
 
 As it is now many years fince New-fore/l 
 has been a fcene of royal-diverfion, the breed 
 of flags is generally diminiflied. It is a rare 
 thing now to meet them in the fouthern parts 
 of it ; tho within the memory of man, they 
 were fo numerous, that I have heard an old 
 forefler, pointing to the fide of a hill, on 
 Beaulieu heath, fay, he had feen them lying 
 there in herds, like cows, and horfes. There 
 are Aill however many in the northern parts 
 of the forefi:, particularly about Boldre-wood, 
 and Burley-lodges ; but, in general, the fal- 
 low deer are more encouraged. 
 
 The 
 
^■-^r 
 
 ^ 
 
 V.'t- 
 
 if 
 
 w-v^ 
 
 x 
 
 t'*i. ^■;*i 
 
 ir^^ 
 
 tr5? 
 
 ^>-* 
 
( 279 ) 
 
 The flag might eafily be trained, like the 
 rein-deer of Lapland, to draw a carriage, 
 if we had not animals more proper for the 
 purpofe. The prefent earl of Orford, I have 
 been informed, bred two, by way of experi- 
 ment, which by domeftication became mana- 
 geable, were bitted, and drew a light curricle 
 
 with great gentlenefs, and expedition. The 
 
 flag is a native of our ifland ; as indeed' he is 
 found in mofl parts of the world ; differing 
 only in a few accidental varieties. 
 
 The fallow-deer is much more limited by 
 nature in the place of his abode ; and in this 
 ifland particularly has been received only by 
 importation. He is fuppofed to have but 
 two varieties, the fpotted, and the dark- 
 brown. The former is of Indian extradion* : 
 the latter was brought from Denmark by 
 James I. They are now indeed much inter- 
 mixed; but in general the fpotted race are 
 more the inhabitants of the park -, the brown, 
 which is the hardier fpecies, occupy the foreft. 
 
 See Pennant's Zool. 
 
 T 4 The 
 
( 28o ) 
 
 The latter is the more picflurefque animal. 
 The uniform fpot of the variegated deer is not 
 fo pleafing, as one limple brown-tint, melting 
 away by degrees into a fofter hue, which pro- 
 duces a fort of natural light and fhade ; as 
 indeed all colours do, which blend gently 
 into each other. 
 
 Foreft-deer, tho pafturing at large, feldom 
 flray far from the walk, where they are bred : 
 and the keeper, who is ftudious, that his deer 
 may not travel into the limits of their neigh- 
 bours, incourages their fondnefs for home, by 
 feeding them, in winter, with holly, and other 
 plants, which they love; and browzing them 
 in fummer with the fpray of aOi. When he 
 diftributes his dole, he commonly makes a 
 hollowing noife to call his difperfed family 
 together. In calm fummer-evenings, if you 
 frequent any part of the foreft near a lodge, 
 you will hear this hollowing noife refounding 
 through the woods ; and if you are not apprifed 
 of it, you will be apt to wonder, each evening, 
 at it's periodical exadlnefs. 
 
 . Deer feed generally in the night, or at early 
 dawn, and retire in the day to the {lielter of 
 the woods. Their morning retreat is thus 
 
 pidurefquely defcribed. 
 
 The 
 
( 28i ) 
 
 ■ The day pours in a-pacc. 
 
 And opens all the lawny profpei^ wide ; 
 The hazy woods, the mountain's mifly top. 
 Swell on the fight : while o'er the foreft-glade. 
 The wild deer trip ; and often turning, gaze 
 At early paflengers ' 
 
 Mr. Pennant tell us*, that In Germany the 
 peafants frequently v/atch their corn, the 
 whole night, to preferve it from the depre- 
 dations of deer. He needed not, on this head, 
 to have carried fo far from home : the bor- 
 derers of New-foreft are equally fubje(5t to 
 the depredations of thefe animals ; and are often 
 obliged, when the neighbouring deer have 
 gotten a haunt of their corn-lands, to burn 
 fires all night to deter them. I heard a farmer 
 fay, that it cofl: him five pounds, one fummer, 
 to guard eight acres of wheat. It is a remark 
 among forefters, that all the deer-kind are 
 particularly offended by difagreeable fmells. 
 The farmer commonly therefore fmears the 
 ropes with tar, which he fets up as fences; 
 and throws fetid fubftances into his nightly 
 fires, to diffeminate the odour in the fmoak. 
 
 * See Brit. Zool. 
 
 We 
 
4> 
 
 ( 282 ) 
 
 We need not wonder if fuch depredations 
 provoke acSts of violence. Tho prote(5ted by 
 iaw, thefe atrocious marauders very often, and 
 defer vedly, fuffer death for their oiFences. 
 
 A farmer however, not long ago, paid dear 
 for taking the adminiftration of juftice, into 
 his own hands, on an occalion of this kind. 
 He had frequently lamented the depredations 
 on his corn ; and being at all events determined 
 to retaliate, he narrowly obferved his fields; 
 and having found the track, along which the 
 nightly plunderer advanced, he took his ftation 
 near it, as evening drew on, with a rifled barrel 
 
 well loaden. After much liftening, and 
 
 many little alarms, he at laft heard the bufliies 
 crackling, and giving way in earnefl. He 
 now made himfelf fure of his prey ; and lying 
 clofe, he levelled his piece, fo as juft to take 
 the flag, as he emerged from the thicket. 
 The night was dark -, but however allowed 
 him fufficient light to take aim at fo large a 
 body. He fired with efFed: ; and had the 
 pleafure to fee his enemy fall. But, on run- 
 ning to him, he was ftruck with finding he 
 had killed one of the befl horfes of his own 
 team. 
 
 The 
 
( 283 ) 
 
 The fheep does not frequent the forefl in 
 any abundance. Here and there you find a 
 little flock on a dry gravelly hill : but, in 
 general, the foreft abounds with fwamps, and 
 inarfhy bottoms, highly pernicious to the 
 flieep — tliC only animal perhaps, except one, 
 which purfccs with the greateft avidity, what 
 is mod dcftructive to it. It is the lefs how- 
 ever to be lamented, that the lawns of the 
 foreft are not decorated with thefe animals, 
 as they are certainly leis adapted to a foreft- 
 fcene, than deer; tho in themfelves perhaps, 
 more pidurefque. The foreft is wild, and 
 they are domeftic. 
 
 With hares and rabbits the foreft abounds. 
 The latter are the under-keeper's perquifite ; 
 and oi courfe well looked after. There are 
 many dry, fandy knolls, where colonies of 
 thefe inmates are fettled ; which are not among 
 the leaft amufmg of the minute inhabitants of 
 the foreft. 
 
 In 
 
( 2?4 ) 
 
 In the fame clafs we rank the fquirrel. He 
 is not of confequence to be numbered among 
 the pidurefque ornaments of a fcene : but his 
 form, and manners 3 his activity, and feats of 
 dexterity, are very amufmg. On extraordinary 
 occafions, when he is agitated by love, or 
 anger, his mufcles acquire tenfold elafticity. 
 He defcends a tree in a rapid fpiral, as quick 
 as thought — darts up another in an oppofite 
 diredion — flings himfelf from tree to tree with 
 amazing exadinefs — and purfues his mate, 
 or his rival, among the mazy branches of an 
 oak, with a velocity that eludes the fight. 
 
 Pheafants alfo greatly abound in many parts 
 of the foreft. In the manors of Beaulieu, 
 Fawley, and other places, where they are 
 proteded, they multiply beyond belief. They 
 are feen often in flocks feeding like poultry, 
 in the fields ; and adorning the woods, and 
 copfcs, with their elegant fhape, and glofly 
 plumage. 
 
 The 
 
( 285 ) 
 
 The partridge is not fo fond of the wild 
 fcenes of the foreil, as the pheafant. She is 
 more the bird of cultivation. Where the 
 plough flouriflies, (he thrives ; and fcldom 
 chufes to inhabit a country in a ftate of nature. 
 The pheafant has no objection to a field of 
 corn ; but he can procure his living without 
 it. He can make a hearty meal of the wild 
 berries of the woods : or content himfelf with 
 a belly-full of acorns. To him therefore corn 
 is a luxury 5 to the partridge it is a neceflary. 
 She is generally found gleaning the ftubble, 
 or balTving under a hedge; and gets into many 
 a difficulty, which (he might have avoided by 
 feeding more at large. Sometimes indeed llie 
 is found in the foreft ; but it is chiefly when 
 {he is hunted by men and dogs from her fa- 
 vourite haunts 
 
 The black-cock, on the other hand, is 
 more a forefter, than even the pheafant. He 
 has no connexion with man. He fcorns 
 the incloiure; and all the dainties of the 
 ilubble. The wild foreft is his only delight; 
 
 aiid 
 
. ( 286 ) 
 
 and there, his plcafures lie more in it's open, 
 than in it's woody fcenes. This bird was 
 formerly found in great abundance in New- 
 forejflj but he is now much fcarcerj tho he 
 has ^ the honour, which no other bird can 
 boaft, of being proteded as royal game. To 
 this day when the chief-ju ft ice-in -eyre, grants 
 his warrants to kill game in the foreft, he always 
 excepts the black-cock, together with red, and 
 fallow-deer. 
 
 The plaintive ring-dove alfo is a great ad- 
 mirer of the w^oody fcenes of the foreft. 
 Many fuppofe her a folitary bird ; at leaft, 
 that fhe flies only with her mate; confound- 
 ing her habits perhaps with thofe of the 
 turtle-dove ; which, I believe, is folitary : 
 but the ring-dove is certainly gregarious : I 
 have often feen in the foreft large flocks of 
 this fpecies together, in the winter months; 
 fo well the poet knew their nature, by con- 
 trafting them with the wood-cock ; 
 
 While doves in flocks the leaflefs trees o'er-fliade; 
 The lonely wood-cock haunts the watry glade. 
 
 The 
 
( 287 ) 
 
 The wood-cock indeed is ibmetimes ^etn 
 in the foreft : but the rough lawns and heaths, 
 he finds there, do not intirely fuit his appetite. 
 He is curious in the choice of his haunts. 
 He muft have fome fweet woody glen, watered 
 by little ouzing mofly rills, into which 
 he may eafily thrufh his beak; and thefe 
 he cannot every where meet ' with in. the 
 foreft. 
 
 The fnipe, lefs delicate in her haunts, is 
 the frequent inhabitant of the wildefl fcenes. 
 Any fwamp, or marlhy fpot will pleafe her; 
 and of thefe fhe finds abundance in various 
 parts of the foreft. 
 
 Plover, of different kinds, are common 
 alfo in it's heathy parts. I have fome- 
 times {cen large flocks of the grey fpecies ; 
 and have flood admiring them, as they in- 
 circled the air. In their regular mode of 
 flight, they in fome degree refemble water- 
 fowl : but they are not fb determined in their 
 
 courfe i 
 
( 2S8 ) 
 
 courfe; wheeling about, and forming various 
 evolutions, which are very amufing. Some- 
 times they appear all fcattered, and fcem in 
 confufion ; till clofmg together, as if by the 
 word of command, they get again into form. 
 
 With regard to all the fongfters of the 
 grove, the woody fcenes of the foreft are vocal 
 with them. The thrufli, the black-bird, the 
 linnet, and the nightingale, abound on every 
 fpray. The nightingale above all, delights in 
 the wild fcenes of the foreft. The black-bird, 
 and the thrufh are often feen tripping over 
 the emhellijhed lawn, or flirting from the neat 
 trimmed holly-hedge. But the nightingale rarely 
 frequents thefe cultured fpots. To her they 
 afford little pleafure. Her commoneft haunts 
 are thofe of nature — the brake, the copfe, the 
 rough hedge, or the foreft, where fhe fmgs 
 her melodious ftrains to woods, and folitude ; 
 and often 
 
 -waftes her fweetnefs on the defert air: 
 
 only that her voice, fo varied, clear, and full, 
 is heard far and wide, when the evening is 
 
 iliU; 
 
( 289 ) 
 
 nill ; almofl: at hand, tho in the diftant 
 wood . 
 
 Among the birds of harmony, there are two, 
 which I fhall find it difficult perhaps to ef- 
 tabHfh in that clafs — the jay, and the wood- 
 pecker. Their fcreams, however difcordant 
 in themfelves, or when out of place, accord 
 admirably with the forefl -, and produce that 
 kind of local harmony, which one of our 
 old Doets * afcribes to the found of a drum : 
 it may be diflbnant in one place, tho mufical 
 in another. 
 
 What found is that, whofe concord makes a jar ? 
 'Tis noife in peace ; tho harmony in 'luar. 
 The drum, whofe doubtful muftc doth delight 
 The 'willing ear, and the unwilling fright. 
 
 ** We take mufic however here (according 
 to a very good definition of it) in the large, 
 and proper fenfe of the word — as the art of 
 variouily affedting the mind by the power of 
 founds. ""f* 
 
 * Davenant. f Gregory's comparative view. 
 
 TOL, II. U But 
 
( 290 ) 
 
 But befides the harmony arifing from the 
 agreement of thefe wild notes with the fcenes 
 of the foreftj there is another fource of it 
 in the fympathetic feelings of the mind. 
 Thefe wild notes excite ideas of thofe pleafmg 
 fo reft- fcenes, where we have commonly heard 
 
 them. But I fhallgive my meaning in better 
 
 words, than my own. 
 
 There Is in fouls a fympathy with founds ; 
 And as the mind is pitched, the ear is pleafed 
 With melting airs, or martial ; brifk, or grave. 
 Some chord in unifon with what we hear. 
 Is touched within us, and the heart replies. 
 How foft the muiic of ihofe village -bells. 
 Falling at intervals upon the ear 
 In cadence fweet ? now dying all away ; 
 Now pealing loud again, and louder ftill. 
 Clear, and fonorous, as the gale comes on. 
 With eafy force it opens all the cells. 
 Where memory flept ; wherever I have heard 
 A kindred melody, the fcene recurs ; 
 And with it all it's pleafures -■ ■*. 
 
 But however difcordant the notes of thefe 
 birds may be to the faftidious ear ; their rich, 
 yet harmonious plumage, muft at leaft recom- 
 mend them as highly ornamental to every fcene. 
 
 Cooper. 
 
 which 
 
( 291 ) 
 
 which they frequent. The wood -pecker par- 
 ticularly is arrayed in the richefl plumage of 
 any bird we have, except the king-fifher : 
 yet all his fplendid tints are perfecflly har- 
 monious. The jay alfo is beautifully tinted 
 on his back, and breaft, with a light purplidi 
 hue, intermixed with grey; and his wing 
 is perhaps the moil admirable piece of work- 
 man fliip in the whole feathered creation* 
 
 On the fame ground with the jay> and the 
 wood-pecker, I fhould not fcruple alfo to 
 rank the kite — if his manners did not difturb 
 the harmony of the woods, as much as his 
 voice fupports it. Independent of his man- 
 ners, he is one of the moft harmonious ap- 
 pendages of the foreft; where Mr. Pennant 
 makes him indigenous*. He is too fmall 
 for pidurefque ufe ; but highly ornamental to 
 the natural fcene. His motions are eafy, and 
 beautiful in a great degree. He does not 
 flap his pinions, like the rook, or the mag- 
 pie ; and labour through the air : he fiils 
 
 * Brit. Zool. 
 
 U 2 along, 
 
( 292 ) 
 
 along, with fteady wing, as if he were lord 
 
 of the element, on which he rode. But 
 
 what harmonize chiefly with the forefl are 
 his wild fcreams, which ftrike notes in pe- 
 culiar unifon with thofe fcenes, over which he 
 fails. 
 
 ■ ■ Kites, that fwim fublime 
 
 In Hill repeated circles fcreaming loud. 
 
 Have charms for me.- • 
 
 Sounds inharmonious in themfelves, and harfli. 
 Yet heard in fcenes, where peace for ever reigns, 
 Pleafe highly for their fake 
 
 It is remarkable, that we feldom fee more 
 than two of this fpecies together, the male 
 and the female. They feem to divide the 
 foreft into provinces. Each bird hath his 
 own 3 and, with more than princely caution, 
 avoids his neighbour's. It is his great em- 
 ployment to circle through the air, as the 
 poet defcribes him above, in various evo- 
 lutions over his own woody dominions; 
 where with keen eye, and keener talons, 
 he flill preferves the fpirit of the old forefl- 
 law. 
 
 Very 
 
( 293 ) 
 
 Very often the eagle himfelf is found ia 
 the foreft. Mountainous, and rocky coun- 
 tries are his delight. On the ledge of fome 
 fteep, prominent rock he builds his eyry, and 
 rears his royal progeny. But when food be- 
 comes fcarce in thofe defolate regions, as it 
 fometimes does, he finds it convenient to make 
 an excurfion into the foreft. Here he hunts 
 the leveret, and the fawn ; and fcreens his 
 atrocious deeds in the clofefl woods. Wher- 
 ever he isfeen, the watchful forefter endeavours 
 to keep him in fight, till he bring him to the 
 ground. And yet I have heard of a pair of 
 eagles, which took pofi'efiion of a part of the 
 forefi:, called King's-wood, where they eluded 
 all the arts of the keeper, and continued their 
 annual depredations, for feveral years. Some 
 time ago, an eagle was killed, after three 
 difcharges, near Afhy-lodge; and was ex- 
 tended, like the imperial arms, in the court- 
 room of the king's-houfe at Lyndhurft. 
 
 Of all the feathered inhabitants of the 
 forefi: I fhould have thought it's fcenes, in all 
 refpedts, the befl: adapted to the rook. Here 
 he might build his habitation; and rear his 
 
 U 3 young 
 
( 294 ) 
 
 young, far from the prying eyes of men. Here 
 alfo he mii^ht indulge his fecial temper without 
 limits ; and inlarge his aerial town from wood 
 
 to wood. But he has no fuch ideas. I 
 
 cannot learn that he ever thought of forming 
 a fettlement in the foreft ; which is the more 
 extraordinary, as he is in fadt a lover of it's 
 fcenes ; and rejoices in them at all times, but 
 in the breeding-feafon, when one fhould ima- 
 gine, he flood mod in need of their fhelter. 
 At that time he feems feduloufly to court the 
 faithlefs habitations of men ; through what 
 propenlity, or inftindt of nature, the naturalifl: 
 is wholly at a lofs to determine. After his 
 family is reared, and he has carried off in fafety 
 fuch of his progeny, as have efcaped the arts 
 of men, and boys, he retires every evening, 
 at a late hour, during the autumn, and winter 
 months, to the clofeft covers of the forefl, 
 having fpent the day in the open fields, and 
 inclofures, in quefl of food. His late retreat 
 to the foreft, is characleriftic of the near 
 approach of night. 
 
 Night thickens, and the crow 
 
 Makes wing to th' rooky wood. ■ 
 
 And ag-ain. 
 
 Retiring from the downs, where all day long 
 They pick their fcanty fare, a blackening train 
 
 Of 
 
( 295 ) 
 
 Of loitering rooks, thick urge their weary flight. 
 And feek the Ihelter of the grove. 
 
 But in his economy there is fomething fin- 
 gular. The the foreft is his winter-habitation 
 (if I may call that his habitation, which, hke 
 other vagrants, he ufes only as a place to ileep 
 in) he generally every day vilits his nurfery; 
 keeping up the idea of a family, which he 
 begins to make provision for in earneft very 
 early in the fpring. 
 
 Among all the founds of animal nature, few 
 are more pleafmg than the cawing of rooks. 
 The rook has but two, or three notes; and when 
 he attempts a folo, we cannot praife his fong. 
 But when he performs in concert, which is 
 his chief delight, thefe two or three notes, 
 tho rough in themfelves, being mixed, and 
 intermixed with the notes of a multitude, have 
 all their fharp edges worn off, and become 
 very harmonious ; efpecially when foftened in 
 the air, where the band chiefly exhibits. You 
 have this mufic in perfection, when the 
 whole colony is roufed by the difcharge of a 
 
 gun. The cawing of rooks however is 
 
 a found not fo congenial to the foreil, as it 
 is to the grove. 
 
 U 4 Among 
 
( 296 ) 
 
 Among the winged inhabitants of the foreft 
 we fhould not forget the honey-bee, which 
 every where covers the farface of it. Thefe 
 "wide demeifns are in many parts fpread with 
 lieath, which is one of the favorite vege- 
 tables of this induftrious infed. Where this 
 abounds, the cottager commonly carries out 
 his hives in winter, hiding them, as he can, 
 from obfervation ; and fencing them from the 
 annoyance of cattle. There he leaves them, 
 till fwarming-time, when they neceffarily 
 become the objeds of his care ; and if he is 
 fortunate, his profits are confiderable. 1 knew 
 a cottager who made above fifteen guineas, in 
 one year, of his foreft-honey ; tho he fold it 
 only at three pence a pound. Sometimes the 
 hive is difcovered, and ftolen ; tho in general 
 it is a garrifon, which can defend itfelf pretty 
 well : however as the prudent peafant never 
 places all his wealth in one place, he generally 
 at worfl, fecures enough to repay his trouble. 
 — — — Hampfliire-honey is in good efteem ; but 
 it is rather the honey produced in the northern 
 parts of the county, than what is commonly 
 called f or ejl -honey , 
 
 Another 
 
( 297 ) 
 
 Another fpecies of fly fhould not be pafled 
 over, which is one of the greateft nuifances of 
 the foreft. In form it is not unlike the com- 
 mon black fly, and about it's fize ; but it's 
 colour is difl^erent. It is a bright-coated, 
 brown infed: -, well-cafed -, ftrong -, and very 
 retentive of life*. It has a flde-long, crawling 
 motion, like a crab. The horfe is it's favo- 
 rite quarry, tho it attacks the cow, and other 
 animals. You may fometimes fee hundreds 
 of thefe infedls neflling under the tail, and 
 belly of fuch horfes, as are patient of them ; 
 as the New-forefl: horfe commonly is by 
 long fufferance. But to fuch horfes, as 'are 
 unaccuftomed to thefe teafmg infeds, they 
 are a grievous torment ; tho it is doubtful, 
 whether they are blood-fuckers, or fubfifl 
 only on fuch juices as exude through the 
 fkin. In this latter cafe they oifend the 
 horfe only by tickling him ; for which opera- 
 tion their legs are well adapted, appearing, in 
 a microfcope, armed with fharp talons, like 
 pot-hooks. 
 
 Vivit, curfxtat, immo coit, dempto licet capite. 
 
 Linneus de hippobofca. 
 
 Such 
 
( 298 ) 
 
 Such are the inmates of the internal parts 
 of the foreft. Along it's fhores, bordering on 
 the ifle of Wight, it is furnifhed with a new 
 
 fet of inhabitants thofe various tribes of 
 
 fea-fowl, which frequent the brackifh waters 
 of an eftuary. 
 
 Among the moft common, as well as the 
 rnofl: beautiful, is the gull. Water- fowl, in a 
 particular manner, difcover in their flight fome 
 determined aim. They eagerly coafl: the river, 
 or return to the fea; bent on fome purpofe, 
 of which they never lofe light. But the evo- 
 lutions of the gull appear capricious, and un- 
 direded, both when fhe flies alone, and, as 
 
 fhe often does, in large companies. The 
 
 more however her character fuifers as a loiterer, 
 the more it is raifed in pidurefque value, by 
 her continuing longer before the eye ; and 
 difplaying, in her elegant fweeps along the air, 
 her fliarp-pointed wings, and bright filvery 
 
 hue. She is beautiful alfo, not only on the 
 
 -wing, but when fhe floats, in numerous afl"em- 
 blies, on the water -, or when fhe refls on the 
 fhore, dotting either one, or the other with 
 white fpots; which, minute as they are, are 
 
 very 
 
( 299 ) 
 
 very piiflurefque ^ and may properly be intro- 
 duced in landfcape ; giving life and fpirit to 
 a view. Sea-painters particularly make great 
 life of this bird, and often with good effedt. 
 The younger Vandervelt was fond of intro- 
 ducing it : he knew the value of a fingle bright 
 touch in heightening his florms. 
 
 As the wheeling motion of the gull is beau- 
 tiful, fo alfo is the figured flight of the goofe, 
 the duck, and the widgeon ; all of which are 
 highly ornamental to coaft-views, bays and 
 eftuaries. We often fee innumerable bodies 
 of thefe, and other fea-fowl, congregated in 
 clofe array, and filling the air with their re- 
 founding cries*'. They are not hyperbolically 
 defcribed as 
 
 ■ '■■ ■ living clouds. 
 
 Infinite wings ; till all the plume-dark air. 
 And rude refounding fhor^, are one wild cry. 
 
 In a pidurefque light thefe living clouds are 
 of little va uc 5 unlefs indeed fome wild, for- 
 lorn, and rocky coaft is prefented, where thefe 
 
 • See page 192. 
 
 fea-fowls 
 
( 300 ) 
 
 fea-fowls commonly breed ; and where in great 
 bodies they are charaBeriJiic, 
 
 Amonf^ tht foUtary birds, which frequent 
 the eftuaries of rivers, the hern, and the 
 cormorant are of too much confequence to be 
 omitted. 
 
 The form, in which the hern contradts his 
 long neck in flying — his out-flretched legs — 
 the folemn flapping of his wings — his ealy 
 deliberation in taking the ground — the blueifh 
 tint of his plumes, foftening into white — and 
 his patient, and attentive pofl:ure, as he fliands 
 fifliing on the fhore — are all, circumfliances 
 as far as they go, pidlurefque. His hoarfe note 
 too, at pauflng intervals, as he paflTes through 
 the air, tho harfh and difcordant when un- 
 aided by it's proper accompaniments, like 
 other notes of the fame kind, when the fcenes 
 of nature aft in concert with it, hath it's 
 
 full energy, and eifedl. 1 call the hern a 
 
 folitary bird, becaufe his common habits, and 
 manner of feeking his food, are folitary : we 
 feldom fee more than two in company -, tho, 
 like the rook, he breeds in large focieties. 
 
 Nor 
 
30I 
 
 Nor is the cormorant without his beauty. 
 
 His eager, fteady, determined flight his 
 
 plunging into the waters his wild look> 
 
 as if confcious of guilt — his buftle on being 
 alarmed; fhaking the moifture from his fea- 
 thers, and dafliing about, till he get fairly dif- 
 engaged, are all amufing circumflances in his 
 hiflory. But he is a mercilefs villain -, fup- 
 pofed by naturalifts to be furniihed with a 
 greater variety of predatory arts, than any bird 
 that inhabits the waters. When the tide re- 
 tires, he wings his ardent flight with ftrong 
 pinions, and out-ftretched neck, along the 
 fhores of the deferted river ; with all the chan- 
 nels, and curients of which he is better ac- 
 quainted, than the mariner with his chart. 
 Here he commits infinite fpoil. Or, if he find 
 his prey lefs plentiful in the fliallows, he is at 
 no lofs in deeper water. He dives to the bot- 
 tom, and vifits the eel in her retirement, of 
 
 all others his favourite morfel*. In vain 
 
 the fowler eyes him from the bank ; and takes 
 his ftand behind the bufh. The cormorant. 
 
 * See other parts of liis hiftory, p. 172. 
 
 quicker- 
 
( 302 ) 
 
 quicker-fighted, knows his danger ; and parries 
 it with a glance of his eye. If he chufe not 
 to trufl his pinions, in a moment he is un- 
 der water — rifes again in fome diftant part — 
 inftantly finks a fecond time ; and eludes the 
 poffibility of taking aim. Even if a raiidom- 
 fhot fliould touch him, unlefs it carry a weight 
 of metal, his fides are fo well cafed, and his 
 mufcular frame fo robuft, that he efcapes 
 mifchief. — —If the weather fuit, he fiflies 
 alfo dexteroufly at fea. Or perhaps he only 
 varies his food between fea-fifh, and river-fifh, 
 
 as his palate prompts. When he has filled 
 
 his maw, he retires to the ledge of fome pro- 
 jecting rockj where he liftens to the furges 
 below in dofing contemplation, till hunger 
 again awaken his powers of rapine. 
 
 SECT, 
 
( 303 ) 
 
 SECT. XII. 
 
 Conclulion of the whole. 
 
 THUS I have carried my reader through 
 all the varieties I know, of wood- 
 land fcenes. 1 confidered firft the fingle tree 
 as the origin, and foundation of all. I con- 
 fidered next the various combinations of trees, 
 under the feveral beautiful forms of fcenery, 
 which they compofe : and as the foreft is of 
 all others, the grandeft, and moil: interefting 
 combination of trees, I dwelt the longeft on 
 this part of my fubjed;; feleding New-foreffc 
 in Hamp(hire as an example to illuflrate the 
 feveral obfervations I had made. Through 
 this pidurefque country I have led my reader 
 geographically; and have prefented him with 
 a great variety of beautiful fcenes— woods- 
 lawns — heaths — foreft-diftances — and fea- coaft 
 
 views. 
 
( 304 ) 
 
 views. I have adorned thefe fcenes alfo with 
 their proper appendages, wild horfes, deer, 
 
 and other pidurefque inhabitants. 1 might 
 
 greatly have multiplied both my general and 
 particular remaks ; but I fear I ought rather 
 to apologize for my redundances, than my 
 omijpons. 
 
 I now clofe my obfervations with a ligh 
 over the tranfitory ftate of the feveral fcenes, 
 I have defcribed. I mean not, with unphi- 
 lofophic weaknefs, to bemoan the perifhable 
 condition of fublunary things ; but to lament 
 only, that, of all fublunary things, the 
 wood-land-fcene, which is among the mofi 
 beautiful, fhould be among the moji perifiable. 
 
 Some ipecies of landfcape are of permanent 
 nature ; fuch particularly as depend on rocks, 
 mountains, lakes, and rivers. The ornamen- 
 tal appendages indeed of thefe fcenes, the 
 oaks, and elms, that adorn them, are of a 
 more tranfient kind. But the grand con- 
 Aituent parts of them may be fuppofed coeval 
 with nature itfelf. Nothing lefs than fome 
 general convullion can injure them. 
 
 Such landfcape again as depends for beauty 
 on old caftles, abbeys, and other ruins, ge- 
 nerally efcapes for ages the depredations of 
 
 time. 
 
( 3^5 ) 
 
 time. If the woody appendages of thcfe fcenes, 
 like thofe of lakes, and mountains, are open 
 to injury, yet a quick vegetation reftores them 
 fpeedily to nature — unlefs indeed the perjever^ 
 ing hand of improvemait intervene. 
 
 But the Jandfcape, which depends chiefly 
 on weed-land fcefiery, is always open to in- 
 jury. Every gracelefs, hand can fell a tree. 
 The value of timber is it's misfortune. It is 
 rarely fuffered to ftand, when it is fit for ufe ; 
 and in a cultivated country, woods are con- 
 Udered only as large corn-fields ; cut, as foon 
 as ripe; and when they are cut for the ufes, 
 to which they are properly defigned, tho we 
 may lament, we fhould not repine. But when 
 they are cut, as they often are, yet imma- 
 ture, to make up a matrimonial purfe, or to 
 carry the profits of them to race-grounds, 
 and gaming-houfes, we cannot help wiQiing 
 the profligate pofl^eflbrs had been placed, like 
 lunatics, and idiots, under the care of guardians, 
 who might have prevented fuch ruinous, and 
 unwarrantable wafte. 
 
 The depredations, which we have feen made 
 in every part of New-forefl:; and the vafl: 
 quantities of timber, which are felled, every 
 year, for the navy ; and regularly affigned for 
 
 VOL. II. X various 
 
( 3=6 ) 
 
 various other . purpofes, cannot but make a 
 confiderable change in it's fcenery. The de- 
 fcription therefore, which I have given of it, 
 is not the defcription of what it was in the 
 lafl: century, nor of what it will be in the next. 
 Many alterations in particular fcenes have 
 taken place, even fince this work was begun. 
 In a fore-ground, the cutting down of two 
 or three flately trees makes an elTential al- 
 teration ', and much change of this kind hath 
 been made in many places. In thefe inftances 
 therefore the remarks here offered muft be 
 confidered as hijlory^ rather than as defcription. 
 They attempt to chronicle fcenes, which once 
 exifled, and are now gone. That grand vifla, 
 which hath been defcribed between Brokenhuril, 
 and Lyndhurft, hath, lince thefe remarks were 
 made, undergone much change. Many of the 
 nobler trees, which adorned it, have been felled : 
 and many of the old decaying trees, and others 
 which had been flunted under the fliade of thofe, 
 that had been felled, are now grown ftill more 
 decayed, and ragged. They are ill-clad and thin ; 
 and their withered branches every where ftare 
 out, unadorned, and naked through their meagre 
 foliage. From thefe caufes, and the deformed 
 gaps, which the felling of good trees hath oc- 
 
 cafioned. 
 
( 2^7 ) 
 
 cafioned, this avenue hath loft much of it's 
 
 beauty. The reader will ftill remember, 
 
 that when in the early part of the work*, I 
 confidered the maladies of trees as a fource of 
 pidiurefque beauty, I meant it only with regard 
 to individuals placed in particular circumftances. 
 Here, where we are contemplating the beauties 
 of what fhould be a rich foreft-fcene, they are 
 
 out of place. It muft however be added, 
 
 that altho thefe changes are continually hap- 
 pening among the ancient oaks of the foreft ; 
 yet as young trees are growing old, nature is 
 alfo continually working up new fore-grounds 
 to her landfcapes ; tho it is a much eafier 
 bulinefs to deform y than to reflore. 
 
 In the diftant fcenery of the foreft indeed, 
 where effedt depends on vaft combinations of 
 trees, and may be produced even from the 
 inferior kinds, the inroads of the axe are lefs 
 obferved. Tho the choiceft oaks therefore may 
 be removed ; yet if a fufficiency of meaner trees 
 is left, no confiderable change will happen, for 
 many years, in the diftant landfcapes of the 
 foreft. The lawns, and heaths, in which it's 
 
 • See vol. I. p. 8. 
 
 greateft 
 
( 3o8 ) 
 
 greateft beauty coniifts, will preferve their or- 
 naments : and, unlefs where their dimenfions 
 are fmall (in which cafe Oately trees are re- 
 quired as fore-grounds,) they may long remain 
 the objed:s of admiration. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 i 
 
TRANSLATION 
 
 O F 
 
 Quotations in the Second Volume. 
 
 Pase 
 
 G" 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 6. TN that wood, which is called New-forefl, 
 A he ordered the churches, and villages to 
 
 be deflroycd, the people to be driven out, 
 and the whole to be inhabited by wild beafts. 
 
 Hen. of Huntingdon. 
 
 7. That tradt of country, a fpace of more than 
 thirty miles in extent, now called New-foreft, 
 but formerly called Ytene, William, the baf- 
 tard, ordered to be defpoiled of all its 
 churches, villages, and inhabitants, and to 
 be turned into a habitation for beafts. 
 
 Brompton. 
 
 7. Through the fpace of thirty miles, the whole 
 
 county, which was fruitful in a high degree, 
 
 was laid wafte. The churches, gardens, and 
 
 * houfes 
 
[ " ] 
 
 houfes were all deflroyed ; and the whole 
 reduced by the king's order into a chace for 
 beads. Winchefter chronicle. 
 
 7. This prince (Rufus) made forefts in various 
 parts : but his capital foreft occupied that 
 tra6t of country, which lies between South- 
 ampton, and Chriftchurch. Here, to make 
 room for his beafts of chace, he deftroyed 
 twenty-two churches, fome fay fifty-two, 
 together with villages, chapels, and private 
 houfes, and formed New-foreft, which he 
 called his garden; filling it with game; 
 which he fpared for feven years. 
 
 Knighton. 
 
 44. No inquiry muft be made, how venifon is 
 procured. 
 As tending to dcftroy the harbour of beafts — 
 to injure the forefl-rand to increafc the 
 poor. 
 
 116. A hog from Epicurus's herd. 
 
 252. Sprung from mighty Jove. 
 
 264. Hail to that public vvifdom, which defends 
 
 The docking kings, and fteeds at different ends. 
 
 Alas ! in France the folly Jlill prevails 
 
 Of leaving kings their heads, and fteeds their tails. 
 
 267. — — Or if the found 
 
 Of war approach, he points his quivering ears. 
 And paws the ground- 1 . , - , . 
 
 275. 
 
[ iii ] 
 
 Page 
 
 275. — — A favorite flag 
 
 Was of this dire diftrefs the leading caufe. 
 It raifed fuipicions firft, then roufed the fons 
 Of \'iolence to war. i ■ ■ . . 
 
INDEX. 
 
 
 Page 
 
 I. 
 
 32 
 
 I- 
 
 35 
 64 
 68 
 
 
 103 
 
 I. 
 
 117 
 
 I. 
 
 15+ 
 
 I. 
 
 217 
 
 ASH, defcrlbed -. ' — — ' Vol. I. 
 
 Animals, figures of, in ftone and wood ; re- 
 marks upon them — -_ 1 — 
 Alder defcribed — ' — __ __ . — . 
 Acacia defcribed _ ^— _ ^— 
 
 Allegory on the fall of the leaf — , .— — 
 Addrefs of the oak to the faplin on his removal from 
 
 the foreft — — _, — ^ 
 
 Arbor-de-rays, or Banian-tree — — _ ►.^ 
 Aquadu£^, how it may be introduced -— — 
 Autumn, the moft replete with incidental beauty of 
 
 any feafon — — — — I. 257 
 
 Angel-inn at Lymington; a good view from the 
 
 ftable-yard there — — — » — II. 85 
 Atmofphere, it's various efFeds on landfcape de- 
 fcribed — — — — —.II. 241 
 Afs i a foreft-animal — « — — — II. 268 
 
 B 
 
 Balance of trees — 1 _, — , — ^ I. 5 
 
 Blafted tree, often beautiful — — — I. 14 
 
 b Brionies, 
 
Page 
 Brionies, beautiful — — — — !• i? 
 
 Beech defcribed — — ' — > ■ — 1-43 
 
 Birch defcribed — — — — — I. 66 
 Bloom of different trees — — — 
 
 Britannia, dimenfions of her bowfprit — — 
 Boabab, an uncommon tree found in Senegal — 
 Brown, Mr. ; his refources in landfcape — 
 
 Bramble, an unaccommodating plant — — 
 Britain, defpoiled of wood — — — 
 
 Beafton-caftle -^ — — — — 
 Bull-running, a diverfion in Needwood-foreft 
 Beanmanour-park in Charnwood-foreft — 
 
 Bofworth-field, on the borders of Leicefter-foreft 
 Berkly-caftle, on the confines of Micklewood-foreft 
 Bradon-foreft, a fcene of great flaughter, when in- 
 vaded by the Danes 905 — — 
 Boldre, vicar of; his aflignment of foreft-timber 
 Bedford, duke of; his fruitlefs attempt to remove a 
 
 hamlet of trefpalTers in New-forefl — 
 
 Bogs, frequent in New-foreft — — 
 
 Brokenhurft, a pleafant village; view from the 
 
 church-yard — — — — . 
 Bute, lord ; views from his houfe — — 
 Buckland-ring, a Roman camp — — 
 
 Bottom, it's meaning in foreft-language -^ 
 
 Burley-hill ; view from it — — »— 
 Burley-lodge — — _. __ — 
 Boldre-wood lodge — — — ■ — 
 Beech, remarks on it's mode of growth — 
 
 Blackamfley-hill ; view from it _- — 
 
 Boldre-church ; view from it — - — . 
 
 Buckler's-hard — _ — » -« 
 
 Bcaulieu-abbey _..«_« *^ 
 
 Beau< 
 
 I. 
 
 no 
 
 I. 
 
 128 
 
 I. 
 
 152 
 
 I. 
 
 183 
 
 I. 
 
 220 
 
 I. 
 
 293 
 
 I. 
 
 313 
 
 I. 
 
 316 
 
 I. 
 
 316 
 
 I. 
 
 317 
 
 I. 
 
 320 
 
 I. 
 
 321 
 
 II. 
 
 20 
 
 II. 
 
 45 
 
 II. 
 
 56 
 
 II. 
 
 62 
 
 II. 
 
 83 
 
 II. 
 
 98 
 
 II. 
 
 106 
 
 II. 
 
 108 
 
 11. 
 
 109 
 
 II. 
 
 no 
 
 II. 
 
 in 
 
 11. 
 
 124 
 
 II. 
 
 , 129 
 
 II. 
 
 138 
 
 IL 
 
 • 139 
 
 i 
 
( ili ) 
 
 Page 
 
 Beaulieu-river ; entrance of it defcribed — ■ II. 159 
 
 " * character of it — — « — ■ II. 165 
 
 Birds, which frequent BeauUeu-river — - II. 17 1 
 
 Beaulieu-bridge ; view from it to the right -— 11. 177 
 
 Butt's-afh-fann _„ « ^ — II. 206 
 
 Bcaulicu-heath, weftern fide of it — • — II. 212 
 
 Bramble-hill, a view from it — — — II. 231 
 
 Bere-foreft ; care taken there in breeding horfes II. 252 
 
 Black-cock j a foreft-bird — — ' — H- 285 
 
 Birds, fmging ; frequent in the forcft — > II. 288 
 
 c 
 
 Curtailed trunk — — — . — < I. 8 
 
 Chequered {hade — — — — I. 21 
 
 Chefnut defcribed — — — — I. 58 
 
 Cedar of Lebanon defcribed — — — I. 73 
 
 Clufter-pine defcribed — — — — I. 82 
 
 Colour in general, remarks on it — — - I. 86 
 ■ farther remarks on the fame fub- 
 
 Crown, a French-fhip, dimenfions of her keel I. 127 
 Chefnut, a celebrated one on Mount Etna — !• 130 
 Cleves, account of a remarkable lime-tree there I. 133 
 Chaucer's oaks, account of them — * — !• ^34 
 Cadenham-oak — — — — — I. 165 
 Clump; properties required in a fmall one — I. 172 
 ■ properties required in a large one ' — I. 177 
 Copfe defcribed — — — — — I. 191 
 Claude, fubjects of his pictures — — I. 215 
 Cottage, how far the introduction of it may be al- 
 lowed in landfcape • — — — I. 216 
 Caefar, his account of the early Britons in their 
 
 forefts ~ — _ ^ — , I. 275 
 
 b 2 Cougar 
 
( iv ) 
 
 Page 
 
 Cougar — — — — I. 280 
 
 Caradacus taken by the Romans in Clune-forefl: I. 315 
 
 Corft-caftle in the forcft of Purbeclc — I. 327 
 
 Compton, Mr. ; his park . — — II. 82 
 
 Chrift.*church — — ' _ II. 82 
 
 Churches, foreft; their common fituation — ' II. 129 
 
 Choulfeyj a large abbey-barn there — II. 137 
 
 Culverly-heath ; view over it — — ■ II. 147 
 
 Creek, one near Leap — — — II. 196 
 
 Calftiot-caftle — — — II. 201 
 
 Cadland, Mr. Drumond's — — II. 202 
 
 CuiFnals, Mr. Rofe's — — — II. 219 
 
 Chafm, a gaping one in the vifta beyond Lyndhurft II. 221 
 
 Cleavland, Mr. ; his views over Lymington-river II. 238 
 
 Colts, in New-foreft i how caught — II. 251 
 
 Cattle, horned; abound in the foreft — II. 271 
 
 Cawing of rooks, a pleafing found — II. 295 
 
 Cormorant defcribed — — ■ — - II, 301 
 
 I 
 
 D 
 
 Difcafes of trees often beautiful — — 1. 
 
 Damory's oak, a celebrated tree near Blandford, in 
 
 Dorfetfhire — — — 
 
 Deception ; of little eflimation in painting »— < 
 Dog, the firfl aflbciate of man in a ftate of nature 
 Deftrudlion of forefts — — — 
 
 Deer-ftealer, the hiftory of a noted one — 
 
 Dialedt of New-foreft — — — 
 
 Divifion, under which New-foreft is confidered in 
 
 this work — — — 
 
 Divifions of property Oifenfive to the pi£lurefque eye II. 
 Dells, feveral in the road between Chriftchurch and 
 
 Lymington — — — II. 
 
 I. 
 
 142 
 
 I. 
 
 265 
 
 I. 
 
 273 
 
 I. 
 
 285 
 
 II. 
 
 43 
 
 II. 
 
 48 
 
 II. 
 
 51 
 
 II. 
 
 79 
 
 85 
 
 D'Oyly- 
 

 Page 
 
 II. 
 
 133 
 
 II. 
 
 148 
 
 II. 
 
 189 
 
 11. 
 
 199 
 
 II. 
 
 207 
 
 II. 
 
 211 
 
 II. 
 
 255 
 
 D'Oyly-park 
 
 Denny-wood 
 
 Dauphin, fuppofed to imbark near Exbury — 
 Diftances, and foregrounds, fliould be balanced in a 
 
 view ' 
 
 Dibden, views about it 
 
 Deer-leap 
 
 Docking-horfes, the abfurdity of the pradice 
 Deer, fellow; more incouraged in the foreft, than 
 
 theftag II. 278 
 
 Elm, defcription of it — — . ^ I. 39 
 
 EfFe£ls of light,* not enough ftudied by landfcape 
 
 painters ■ - 
 
 Elephant ■ ■- - 
 
 Englifh-foreft, charafter of it ■■ 
 
 Edwin, k. of Northumberland, flain in Hatfield- 
 
 chace ■ — — 
 
 Edelfleda, a town built by her in Delamere-foreft 
 Enfield-foreft divided into farms by Cromwell 
 
 Even- water-bottom 
 
 Exbury, a defcription of the fcenery about it 
 Ear, horfe's J the abfurdity of cropping it 
 Eagle, often found in the foreft 
 
 Form of trees — — ■ I. 3 
 Firs in different parts of the world, fuppofitions about 
 
 them I. 91 
 
 Fairlop, a celebrated oak in Hainhault-foreft in 
 
 Eflex I. 141 
 
 b 3 Fig- 
 
 I. 
 
 249 
 
 I. 
 
 278 
 
 I. 
 
 303 
 
 I. 
 
 313 
 
 I. 
 
 313 
 
 I. 
 
 324 
 
 II. 
 
 106 
 
 n. 
 
 183 
 
 II. 
 
 265 
 
 II. 
 
 ^93 
 
( vi ) 
 
 Fig-tree in the Deanery-garden at Winchefler 
 
 Fig-trees at Lambeth ■■ 
 
 Foreft, a general idea of it's fcenery 
 
 Fore-ground, in a foreft ■ 
 
 Fern, it's ufe in fcenery — — 
 
 Foreft-diftance confidered • 
 
 Foreft-lawn 
 
 Forcft-heath — ■ 
 
 FelHng trees accidentally has often a goo4 effedt 
 Fitz- Stephen's account of the woods near London 
 
 in the time of Henry IL — — 
 
 Forefts of Derry-more, and Derry-monach 
 
 ■ of Coygach, and Loch Mais — — 
 
 ■ of Abernethy, and Rothimurcha — 
 
 ■ of Loch-loyn, and Glenmorirton 
 
 ■ of Strath-glafs, and Loch-garrie •— 
 • 'of Loch-artrig, and Kinloch-leven — 
 
 ■ of Glenmore, and Glentaner ■ 
 
 I of Braemar, and Invercald — — - 
 
 — of Loch-rannoc, and Loch-tulla — 
 ■• of Torwood, Tiviot, and Cheviot 
 
 »■ of Rothbury, and Lowes ■ ■ 
 
 — ■ ■ - of Nicol, and Knaresdale . ■ 
 
 — ■• of Weftwood, Inglewood, and Copeland 
 » ofMilburn, Whinfield, and Martindale 
 
 — — — • of Thornthwait, Stainmer, and Mellerftang 
 
 ■ of Langden, or Teefdale ■ 
 
 -• of Lancafter, Bowland, and Simonfwood 
 
 - of Lime, and Applegarth — . 
 
 - of Swale-dale, and Wenfely-dale — 
 
 - of Pickering, and Knarefborough — 
 -ofHarewood, and Galtries ■ 
 -of HaUi fax, and Hatfield ■ 
 
 - of Delamere, and Macclesfield »-— 
 
 
 Page 
 
 
 148 
 
 
 148 
 
 
 209 
 
 
 211 
 
 
 219 
 
 
 225 
 
 
 225 
 
 
 226 
 
 
 266 
 
 
 293 
 
 
 304 
 
 
 304 
 
 
 305 • 
 
 
 305 
 
 
 30s 
 
 
 305 
 
 
 305 
 
 
 305 
 
 
 307 
 
 
 307 
 
 
 308 
 
 
 308 
 
 
 308 
 
 
 309 
 
 
 309 
 
 
 310 
 
 
 310 
 
 
 3" 
 
 
 311 
 
 
 312 
 
 
 312 
 
 
 312 
 
 
 313 
 
 Forefts 
 
( vii ) 
 
 Page 
 
 Forefts of Wiicall, and Sherwood ' I. 313 
 
 — — — of Huckftow, and Kingfwood — !• 3^4 
 
 — of Bridgenorth, and Qune • I. 315 
 
 — ■- of Needwood, and Cankwood — I. 316 
 
 . ^ of Charnwood, and Leicefter — I. 316 
 
 — — of Lyfield, Bringwood, and Deerfield I. 317 
 
 ———of Ha wood, and Acombury — !• 3^7 
 
 — of Wire, Malvern, and Fackingham I. 317 
 
 — of Arden, Rockingham, and Sacy I. 318 
 
 . of Yardly, Whittlebury, and Wabrldge I. 318 
 
 ^ ■ of Dean, Micklewood, and King's wood I. 320 
 
 - of Which-wood, Bernwood, and Clitern I. 320 
 
 . . of Epping, and Hainhault ■ I. 3^* 
 
 — — of Peeviftiam, and Blakemore — I- 3^^ 
 
 ^. - of Bradon, and Savernack — — I. 3^^ 
 
 of Windfor, and Enfield I. 3^2 
 
 >. lofTunbridge ' ■ I. 3^4 
 
 I of St. Leonard's, Word, and Afhdown I. 325 
 
 ... of Waterdown and Dallington — !• 3'^S 
 
 • of Arundel, and Charlton • • !• 3^S 
 
 ■ of Dartmore, and Exmore — — I. 325 
 
 — — of Neroke, and Sclwood ■ I. 3^^ 
 
 — of Gillingham, and Cranburn — 1. 3^7 
 — . of Blackmore, and Purbeck — I- 3^7 
 
 of Chute, and Harewood — — I. 327 
 
 of Holt, and Waltham I. 328 
 
 of Bere and New-forcft — I. 328 
 
 Foreft-law, it's grievances — — II. 9 
 
 Fire, often mifchievous in the fore ft — II. 34 
 
 Forefter, and mountaneer compared, to the difad- 
 
 vantage of the former — II. 4^ 
 
 Foxlees — - II. 74 
 
 Foflil {hells i a variety of them found at Hordwell- 
 
 clifF, near Lymington — — II. 87 
 
 b 4 Flat 
 
( viii ) 
 
 Page 
 
 Flat furfaces, remarks on them — — II. 121 
 
 Fifliing, and fowling — — II. iqd 
 
 Fowler, ftoryofone - — ^ II. 193 
 
 Fawley — — — i II. 202 
 
 Farm-yardj ill ftatloned near a great houfe II. 204 
 
 Fritham, heathy-grounds about it — II. 236 
 
 Farmer ; ftory of one, who fhot his own horfc II. 282 
 
 Fly, horfej a troublefome infecl in the forcft II. 297 
 
 G 
 
 Groaning-tree of Badefley — — I. 162 
 
 Gates as the entrances into parks ; remarks upon 
 
 them — — — I. 186 
 
 Glen defcribed — -— — !• ^97 
 
 Grove, the open one defcribed — I. 201 
 
 Greenland, and other northern conntriesj accounts 
 
 of great quantities of drift-timber thrown on 
 
 them — — . — . I. 288 
 
 Gibraltar ; drift-timber throvm up there — I. 289 
 
 Germany defpoiled of wood — — I. 29a 
 
 Ghent, John of; deftroyed the foreft of Caledonia I. 298 
 Gillingham-foreft ; Danes defeated on the confines 
 
 of it by Edmund Ironfide — I. 326 
 
 Game-law arofe in the room of foreft-law II. 14 
 
 Gradation, remarks on this principle — II. 125 
 
 George III. his vifit to New-foreft — II. 218 
 
 H 
 
 Hop, the growth of, beautiful 
 Horn-beam — 
 
 Horfe-chefnut — 
 
 Hemlock-fpruce — 
 
 — I. 18 
 
 — I. 48 
 
 — I. 61 
 I. 91 
 
 Holly 
 
I. 
 
 125 
 
 ( ix ) 
 
 Page 
 Holly — — I. 98 and 218 
 
 Haw-thorn — — I. 99 and 219 
 
 Holm-trees, four of great antiquity, at Tybur, and 
 Rome — — — 
 
 Hitchin-priory in Hertfordftiire ; account of an im- 
 menle chefnut tliere — 
 
 Hern's oak, near Windfor — 
 
 Hazinefs, it's efFedl in foreft-fcenery 
 
 Hunting in Braemar-foroft — . 
 
 Hallifax-law — — 
 
 Haftirigs, Henry ; account of iiim 
 
 Hordwell-clifF; a defcription of it 
 
 Hurft-caftlej it's fituation, and the views it com- 
 mands — — 
 
 Hogarth, an inftance of his humour 
 
 Hinchelfea-wood — 
 
 Hogs ; method of feeding them in the foreft 
 
 Hampfliire, coaft of, defcribed n 
 
 Hill-top-gate, views from thence 
 
 Houfe, fituation for one, difficult to choofe 
 
 Hethe, views from it — 
 
 Hound's- down defcribed — 
 
 Horfe, New-foreft ; defcription of him 
 
 Hart — — 
 
 Hind, her fpirit In defending her calf 
 
 Hares abound in the foreft — 
 
 Harmony, local ; remarks upon it 
 
 Honey-bee ; frequent in the foreft 
 
 Honey, foreft ; not in efteem 
 
 Hern defcribed — — 
 
 Ivy, often beautiful 
 Jlex, Oj^ ever-green oak 
 
 — I. 
 
 140 
 
 — I. 
 
 145 
 
 — I. 
 
 234 
 
 — I. 
 
 306 
 
 — I. 
 
 312 
 
 — II. 
 
 22 
 
 — II. 
 
 86 
 
 it com- 
 
 
 — n. 
 
 89 
 
 — II. 
 
 91 
 
 — n. 
 
 104 
 
 II. 
 
 "3 
 
 — n. 
 
 158 
 
 — n. 
 
 178 
 
 n. 
 
 205 
 
 - n. 
 
 206 
 
 - II. 
 
 208 
 
 - II. 
 
 250 
 
 - II. 
 
 V3 
 
 - II. 
 
 278 
 
 — II. 
 
 283 
 
 - n. 
 
 289 
 
 - II. 
 
 296 
 
 - II. 
 
 296 
 
 - n. 
 
 300 
 
 r- I. 
 
 15 
 
 — I. 
 
 97 
 
 Johnfon, 
 

 Page 
 
 I. 
 
 222 
 
 I. 
 
 233 
 
 I. 
 
 290 
 
 I. 
 
 290 
 
 II. 
 
 212 
 
 II. 
 
 291 
 
 I. 
 
 131 
 
 I. 
 
 318 
 
 II. 
 
 18 
 
 ( ^ ) 
 
 Johnfon, Dr. ; a paflage quoted from him — 
 Incidental beauties of diftant foreft-fcenery 
 Italy defpoiled of wood — — 
 
 Iceland alfo ■. ■ ■■ « 
 
 Iron's-hill-lodge — . 
 
 K 
 
 KIrcher's account of a chefnut on mount Etna 
 Kenelworth-caftle in the foreft of Arden — 
 Keepers, and groom-keepers of New-foreft 
 Kitchens, thofe of abbeys commonly very fubftantial II. 144 
 King, capt. j his defcription of a river-fcene II. 167 
 
 King's-houfe at Lyndhurft — — II. 216 
 
 Kite — — ... _ II. 291 
 
 King's-wood, frequented by eagles — II. 293 
 
 Lightnefs, a chara£leriftic of beauty in a tree 
 
 Lombardy-poplar, defcribed — — — — 
 
 Lime-tree defcribed . ■ 
 
 Larch defcribed . -i. . 
 
 Luccam-oak defcribed ■ ■ 
 
 Lycian-plane ■ - »-»i 
 
 Longleat, fituationof — - — 
 
 Lymington, town of, defcribed — - 
 
 Longflade-bottom, a vaft bog ■ 
 
 Leonard's, St. j a large barn ■ — — 
 
 Lady-crofs-lodge •— .^ — » 
 
 Lymington, harbour of, defcribed — 
 
 Leap, views about it — ^— ^ II. 188 
 
 Lutterel's 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 52 
 
 
 55 
 
 
 70 
 
 
 97 
 
 
 123 
 
 
 182 
 
 
 277 
 
 
 94 
 
 
 104 
 
 
 136 
 
 
 ISO 
 
 
 157 
 
{ xi ) 
 
 Page 
 
 Lutterel's tower — — ■ ■ ■ II. 196 
 
 Lyndhurft II. 216 
 
 Landfcape, woodland j moft fubje(Sl to injury II. 304 
 
 M 
 
 Mofs, often beautiful In trees ■ ■■ I. lO 
 
 Motion, beautiful in trees — — •■ — I. 20 
 
 Mountain-afh defcribed « ■ I. 37 
 
 Maple defcribed » ■ I. 5^ 
 
 Menalaid-plane — I. 123 
 
 Maundrel, his account of the cedars of Lebanon I. 128 
 Magdalen college in Oxford, an account of a cele- 
 brated oak there — — ■■ I. 135 
 Mift, it's efFedl on foreft-fcenery — — I. 235 
 Meridian-fun, it's efFedls on foreft-fcenery I. 242 
 Man, in his early ftate, a foreft-animal I. 271 
 
 Monkey ■ '■ I. 279 
 
 Moufe-deer — ^ I. 280 
 
 Marfden, Mr. ; his account of the woods of Sumatra I. 287 
 
 Mansfield, miliar of — — I. 314 
 
 Morant, Mr. j view from his park ■ II. 63 
 Monmouth, duke of j where taken, arter the battle 
 
 ofSedgmore ■ ■.. ■ II. 81 
 
 Marl-pit-oak, a landmark . II. 102 
 
 Mark- way-bottom ' II. 108 
 
 Mudlands, how dangerous ■ II. 171 
 
 Maniac, ftory of one •^' » ■ ■ II. 188 
 
 Mud-pattens ■ _. II. 193 
 
 Mount-royal, Mr. Ballard's ■ II. 220 
 
 Malwood caftle ; a view from it » II. 231 
 
 Miniature, landfcapes in j remarks upon them II. 232 
 
 Mule, a foreft animal n ■ 1 ■ II. 269 
 
 Newfoundland 
 
( xii ) 
 
 N 
 
 Newfoundland (or black) fpruce ■ 
 
 Kewftadt, account of a remarkable lime-tree there 
 North-wind, it's efFedl on foreft-fcenery 
 New-forcft, firft made ' 
 
 ■ reafons given for making it 
 
 — ^ queftion examined, how far William I 
 
 depopulated the country ■ ■ 
 
 » — it's ancient boundaries 
 
 Nature's fuperiority to art in forming combinations 
 
 of trees - ■ 
 
 New-park in New-foreft ■ 
 
 Needles ; account of them — — — 
 
 No-man's-walk — — — ■ ■ 
 
 Page 
 
 Norley-wood j defcription of it - 
 
 Needfore-point '■. ■ — 
 
 Nag-tail, it's abfurdity ■' ■ 
 
 Nature j ideas of improving her works, abfurd 
 Nightingale, frequent in the foreft ' 
 
 I. 
 
 91 
 
 I. 
 
 131 
 
 I. 
 
 236 
 
 II. 
 
 2 
 
 II. 
 
 2 
 
 II. 
 
 4 
 
 II. 
 
 8 
 
 II. 
 
 65 
 
 II. 
 
 70 
 
 II. 
 
 91 
 
 II. 
 
 119 
 
 II. 
 
 151 
 
 II. 
 
 160 
 
 II. 
 
 256 
 
 II. 
 
 272 
 
 II. 
 
 288 
 
 o 
 
 Oak defcribed • - ■•'-* I, 23 
 
 Occidental-plane defcribed ■ I. 48 
 
 Oriental-plane defcribed ■ I. 50 
 Oak, againft which the arrow of fir Walter Tyrrel 
 
 glanced • ■ .- I. 160 
 
 Officers of New-foreft II. 17 
 
 Oak-woods converted into beech-woods II. 33 
 
 Oak of New-foreft, it's piclurefque charafler II. 73 
 
 Oak-brow — - ■■ 11. 105 
 
 Oaks, remarkable, at Burlcy-lodge m II. no 
 
 Ober-green 
 
Xlll 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 52 
 
 
 81 
 
 
 181 
 
 
 182 
 
 
 185 
 
 
 188 
 
 
 214 
 
 
 217 
 
 
 229 
 
 Page 
 Obcr-green ■ • ■ ■■« "■ II. 121 
 
 Orford, earl of i account of his training two ftags In 
 
 a carriage ■ II. 279 
 
 Poets not always uniform in their ideas of beauty 
 Pliny's account of the rooting of trees — 
 
 Poplar defcribed — — — — 
 
 Pinafter defcribed __ — ^ — , »_ 
 
 Park-fcenery — — — — — 
 Petworth-houfe, fituation of — — . __ 
 Park-ornaments __ —1 — — 
 
 Pleafure-ground — — — — 
 
 Pouflin, fubjeds of his pictures — — 
 
 Pont-du-Gard, in Languedoc, an account of it 
 Permanent beauties of foreft-fcenery — »— • 
 Parts in painting fhould always be fubordinate to the 
 
 whole — '— — — — I. 253 
 Planters in vain attempt, by afTorting their trees, to 
 
 aflbrt the beauties of autumn — — . J. 260 
 PiiSlurefque pleafure ; its fources — — I. 265 
 
 Purchas's account of the drift-timber carried down 
 
 the Oby, and Jenifca — — — I. 288 
 Polidore Virgil's account of the ftate of forefts in 
 
 England in the time of Henry VII. — I. 293 
 
 Pines, which yield excellent timber, found in the 
 
 foreft of Invercald in Scotland — — 'I. 306 
 Pendragon-caftle — — — — I. 309 
 
 Purlieus of New-foreft — — ^-^ II. 15 
 
 Purveyor, in New-foreft — — ■ — II. 22 
 
 Planting oak ; different opinions about it — II. 35 
 Planting different trees alternately, difagreeable If. 75 
 
 Prieftlands ; a good view of the ille of Wight from it II. 93 
 
 Pawnage 
 
( xiv ) 
 
 Pawnage month ——.—,.,»_ 
 
 Pilcwell — -, — , — . -_ 
 
 Pidurefque ideas, and their limits, explained 
 Palatines, a fcheme to fettle them in New-foreft 
 Plano-convex-mirror examined — — . 
 
 Paultons — • ^» , 
 
 Pheafants abound in the foreft — — 
 
 Partridges, lefs frequent ^— . — — 
 
 Plover, common in its heathy parts — 
 
 Page 
 
 II. 112 
 
 II. 134 
 
 II. 166 
 
 II. 222 
 
 II. 224 
 
 II. 228 
 
 II. 284 
 
 II. 285 
 
 II. 287 
 
 Queen Elizabeth's oak — — — I. j^^y 
 
 Queen Ann, a fcheme in her reign to fettle a body 
 
 of Palatines in New-foreft — — II. 222 
 
 Rooting of trees, a fource of beauty — — 
 Royal Sovereign j dimenfions of her main-maft 
 Ravenna in Italy ; gates of the great church there, 
 
 made of vine-planks — — -*- 
 
 Rifmg-fun, its efFe£t on woods — — 
 
 Rubens, his faulty introduction of fpots of light 
 Rein-deer — — ^ ^_ — __ 
 
 Robin-Hood, and other banditti, frequented Sher- 
 
 wrood-forefl — * — __ _ 
 
 Rockingham-caftle in the foreft of Rockingham 
 Rapacity exercifed in forefts — — — 
 Rope-hill j view from thence of the eftuary of Ly- 
 
 mington-river ■ — 
 Regular forms allied to greatnefs 
 Ruffian foreft ; defer! piion of one •— 
 Rhapfody, and verbal defcription, compared 
 
 I 
 
 . 19 
 
 . 127 
 
 • 131 
 
 • 239 
 
 . 24s 
 
 . 282 
 
 • 3H 
 . 318 
 . 32 
 
 . 6r 
 
 . 65 
 . 68 
 . 69 
 Rufus, 
 
( XV ) 
 
 Rufus, fcene of his death .— — . — 
 
 Ringwood — — — , »_ — , 
 
 Rabbits injurious to feedling oaks — — 
 
 ■ ' abound in the foreft — — • 
 
 Rhinfield-lodge _„__ — — 
 
 Roads, when ftraight, disfigure an open country 
 
 Rails, a good mode of fencing ■ — ■ — 
 
 Ring-dove, a foreft-bird — — — 
 
 Rook, haunts the foreft only at night — 
 
 Sycamore, defcription of it — — — 
 
 Stone-pine defcribed — ■ — ■ — — 
 
 Scotch-fir defcribed >— — —, — , 
 
 Spruce-fir defcribed — — — . »— 
 
 Silver-fir defcribed — — — • — 
 
 Spray of trees, the ftudy of; ufeful to landfcape- 
 
 painters — « — — , —, 
 
 Spray of the oak — — — — ' 
 
 .- ■ of the afti — — — , — 
 
 of the beech — — — -— 
 
 Stavv^el, lord ; fituation of his houfe in Holt-foreft 
 Swanevelt, fubjedls of his pi6lures — » — 
 Salvator, fubje£ts of his pidlures — -r-. 
 Smoke, its efFedt in foreft-fcenery — « — 
 Setting-fun, its effect on foreft-fcenery — 
 Storms, their effedt on foreft-fcenery — 
 Shade, predominancy of; produces the beft effect 
 Seafons, a fource of incidental beauty 
 
 Summer 
 
 
 Page 
 
 II. 
 
 76 
 
 II. 
 
 80 
 
 II. 
 
 107 
 
 II. 
 
 283 
 
 II. 
 
 120 
 
 II. 
 
 128 
 
 II. 
 
 210 
 
 11. 
 
 216 
 
 II. 
 
 286 
 
 II. 
 
 293 
 
 58 
 
 78 
 
 84 
 
 88 
 
 90 
 
 102 
 106 
 107 
 108 
 109 
 182 
 214. 
 215 
 236 
 
 243 
 247 
 251 
 25s 
 255 
 256 
 Strabo, 
 
( xvi ) 
 
 Strabo, his account of certain Afiatics — — 
 
 • '— ' and of the ancient Britons 
 
 Subterraneous-timber accounted for « 
 
 Spaniards in 1588 intended to cut down the foreft of 
 
 Dean — — 
 
 Scotch foreft, chara6t:er of it 
 
 Selwood-foreft, remarkable for a victory obtained 
 
 near it by Alfred over the Danes 
 
 Sopley, view there 
 
 Salt-works near Lymington 
 
 Shingles, an ifland on the Hamplhire coaft ; account 
 
 of it . 
 
 SkifFin motion, defcribed — — . 
 
 Sethorn-wood ■ ■ — — 
 
 Scotch-cattle at Burly-lodge — — 
 
 Sandy- down — — — — 
 
 Spits of land remarkable at the mouths of the foreft- 
 
 ^ Singing-birds frequent the banks of Beaulieu-river 
 Sea-views, when feen from lofty ftands, will not 
 
 admit proportion in the fore-grounds 
 Stables, how they may be Rationed — — 
 
 Stobland-common, view from it ■■ 
 
 Stag, defcribed — — 
 
 Sheep ; the foreft not much frequented by them 
 Squirrel abounds in the foreft — 
 
 Snipe, frequent in the foreft — 
 
 Sea-gull, his manners defcribed — 
 
 Sea-fowl in general — — ■ ■■■* 
 
 Page 
 I. 2:72 
 I. 276 
 I. 294 
 
 I. 298 
 I. 3or 
 
 I. 326 
 I. 82 
 I. 88 
 
 I. 92 
 
 L 96 
 
 I. 104 
 
 I. no 
 
 I. 128 
 
 I- 134 
 
 I. 160 
 I- ^7i 
 
 I. 200 
 I. 204 
 I. 206 
 
 r. 271 
 I. 283 
 I. 284 
 1. 287 
 I. 298 
 I. 299 
 
 Trees 
 
( xvii ) 
 
 Page 
 
 T 
 
 Trees compared with animal life — — I. 2 
 
 Traveller's joy, beautiful — — — !• ^7 
 
 Tugg, a fort of wane ufed in Suflex for conveying 
 
 timber — — — — — I. Il6 
 
 Trees, which have attained large dimenfions j cata- 
 logue of — — — — — I. 120 
 
 Tiberius's larch — — — — I. 126 
 
 Tortworth in Glocefterlhire, account of a chefnut 
 
 there — — — — — I. 139 
 
 Tyrrel, fir Walter; tree, on which his arrow 
 
 glanced — — — — — I. 1 60 
 
 Timber-v/ane, drawn by oxen, has often a good 
 
 effect — _ -^ — — I. 267 
 Tiger — — — — — — I. 278 
 
 Turks great admirers of wood — — I. 291 
 
 Tees, fall of — — — • — — I- 310 
 Tutbury-caftle on the confines of Needwood-foreft I. 315 
 Turkies, an ornament to parks — — I. 323 
 
 Timber, care of government in providing a fupply 
 
 in New-foreft — — — — II. 28 
 
 TrefpafTes on foreft-lands — — • — - II. 39 
 
 Tafte, comparifon between it, and expence — II. 186 
 Tail, horfe's ; abfurdity of docking it — — II. 255 
 
 U 
 
 Upas, or poifon-tree, in Java — — — • I. 156 
 
 Uncommon appearances in nature, to be avoided I. 237 
 
 UndcrwooJ, it's ufe in landfcape — — < II. 72 
 
 c Vines, 
 
( xviii ) 
 
 Pa»e 
 
 V 
 
 Vines, beantiful ^— — — — !• ^7 
 Vanier, his lamentation over the deftruftion of 
 
 timber •— >— — — ■ — I. 117 
 Velitrae, a famous plane-tree there — >— I. 125 
 Van Egmont, his account of the cedars of Le- 
 banon — — — — — I. 129 
 Valentine-houfe, near Ilford in ElTex ; a remarkable 
 
 vine there — — — — I. 149 
 Voltair's reafoning about depopulating New-foreft, 
 
 examined — — — — > II. 4 
 
 ■ his epigram on docking horfes — II. 264 
 
 Verderors, judges of the for eft-courts — II. 20 
 Vifta, a very grand one between Brokenhurft, and 
 
 Lyndhurft — — — — II. 64 
 
 Valley of Lymington-river >— — — II. 128 
 
 Vegetation, extraordinary inftance of — ■ — 11. 141 
 
 Voyage up Beaulieu-river — — — II. 161 
 
 Vifta beyond Lyndhurft, of little value — II. 220 
 
 Vicar's-hill — — — — — II. 239 
 
 Vanderveldt makes great ufe of the fea-guU — II. 299 
 
 W 
 
 Withered top — .— — — — I. 8 
 
 Wreathed fafcia —^ — — — I. 36 
 
 Witch-elm defcribed — — — — I. 41 
 
 Weeping elm defcribed — — — I. 41 
 
 Walnut-tree defcribed — — — I. 54 
 
 Weeping-willovj^ defcribed — -^ — I. 62 
 
 Willows of different kinds — — — I. 63 
 
 Withy defcribed — — — — I. 64 
 
 Weymouth* 
 

 Page 
 
 
 82 
 
 
 138 
 
 
 143 
 
 
 214 
 
 
 219 
 
 
 233 
 
 
 261 
 
 
 281 
 
 
 282 
 
 ( xlx ) 
 
 Weymouth-pine defcribed — . — — . 
 
 Workfop, an account of a celebrated oak there 
 Wallace-tree, a celebrated oak near Sterling — 
 Waterlo, fubjedls of his pl6lures — — 
 
 Weeds, their ufe in landfcape — — 
 
 Weather, a fource of incidental beauty — 
 
 Winter, the pi£lurefque efFe£l of that feafon — 
 Wild-boar — — — — _ 
 
 Wolf — — — — — _- 
 Windfor-foreft formerly the property of queen Emma I. 322 
 
 Windfor great park ■ L 323 
 
 Whorwell-abby, founded by Elfrida in the foreft of 
 
 Hare wood ■ ■ I. 327 
 
 Walks, different; into which New- foreft is divided II. 18 
 Woodward, and regarders, officers in New-foreft, 
 
 who fuperintend the timber — — II. 20 
 
 William III, a falutary ad in his reign, for pro- 
 viding a fupply of timber in New-foreft 
 Widow ; ftory of one on the borders of the foreft 
 Wilverly-lodge - — — 
 
 Wild-boar introduced into New-foreft by Charles I 
 Warwickfted ■ ■ ■ 
 
 Whitley-ridge-lodge ; a beautiful foreft-lawn there 
 
 Wood-cutters, their different modes of felling timber II. 
 Wight, ifland of; it's coaft defcribed — — 
 
 White-hart-filver — — II. 274 
 
 Wood-cock, not often found in the foreft II. 287 
 
 Wood-pecker — — «■■ — - II. 289 
 
 Xerxes's plane •— — . » ■■■ " I. 122 
 
 Yew 
 
 11. 
 
 30 
 
 II. 
 
 46 
 
 II. 
 
 107 
 
 II. 
 
 118 
 
 II. 
 
 120 
 
 II. 
 
 131 
 
 II. 
 
 149 
 
 II. 
 
 155 
 
 II. 
 
 158 
 
C XX ) 
 
 Page 
 
 Yew ■ - I. 92 
 
 Ytene, the ancient name of New-forell ■ II. 2 
 
 Yew-tree-bottom — — ■ II. 106 
 
 Z 
 
 Zcilaadj account of a bleak fea-coaft there I. 269 
 

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