INTRODUCTION xix 



gambol are cut down and others have grown up in their 

 place, whilst the actual scene of the grass-yard is now an 

 osier-bed. This, I think, shows that the ornamental lake 

 was not in Peter's reign, as the damming up of the water 

 must have caused the hounds' playground to become a 

 swamp. 



Back to the house we went by way of the stables, which 

 have evidently been shorn of much of their ancient glory ; 

 but the main building has not suffered any alteration, 

 and only the wings have been pulled down. Close to the 

 house are some outbuildings, which have certainly been 

 kennels at some period, and they may have been used 

 for shooting-dogs, but according to my fancy it was there 

 that young Peter kept his pack of beagles. 



In the drawing-room Peter welcomes me from his portrait 

 with a pleasant smile, and I can almost imagine him pressing 

 me to see the pictures of his hounds in the next room. 

 There I see three excellent oil-paintings of hounds by 

 Sartorius, a well-known animal painter of that period, 

 which are here reproduced. After looking at these pictures 

 it is easy to believe that Beckford's pack had a great 

 reputation in those days. On the staircase is a large picture 

 without either name or date, containing one large hound, 

 which I believe to be a harrier, and some smaller ones 

 which are undoubtedly portraits of his beagles. This 

 picture is not nearly so well painted as the others, but 

 it gives one a very fair idea of the type of hound. The 

 painting of the pack with the two hunt servants is par- 

 ticularly interesting as showing the costumes of that 

 period. It will be noticed that the men carry short swords 

 or hangers by their sides, and I believe they wore them 

 by virtue of their master's office as Ranger of the Chase. 

 This picture, however, met with an accident and had to 

 be restored, so that the outlines of the hounds are not 

 so good as in the two others. 



