THE LAST OF THE RED DEER. 32 I 



handed round, with the inscription, " From Long Wellesley 

 abroad to Tommy Rounding- at home." 



Latterly the red deer kept to Hainault Forest, and 

 rarely crossed the River Roding'. The forest had ceased 

 to be a sanctuary for them, and at length it was thought 

 best to transport what was left of the herd to Windsor 

 Forest. Tradition says that Tom Rounding's last day's 

 sport with a red deer ended at Plaistow. A note, which 

 probably refers to this run, has been unearthed by Mr. 

 Harting. It occurs in a copy of Gary's " Survey of the 

 Country Fifteen Miles round London," and is in the 

 author's own handwriting. 



" 1827, Oct. 20. — I met the staghounds at Hoghill 

 House, in Hainault Forest, to unharbour a stag. After 

 drawinof the coverts a short time a fine old statr was roused, 

 and took a turn round the forest away to Packnall Corner, 

 hence to Dagenham, and was taken at Plaistow." He 

 adds : " Red deer to be so near the metropolis I consider 

 as a singular circumstance." 



It appears from the above entry that, on this occasion, 

 the hunted stag was not enlarged from a cart but foLind on 

 Hainault Forest. The verses in the " Sportsman's 

 Vocal Cabinet" describe the " rousing " of a stag which, 

 when taken, was sent to Hale End. The deer were 



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