6 EEIIIXISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



these occasions annoyed him exceedingly, and they were 

 unable to get a shot at them. The major having a 

 good income, particularly whilst living in the country in 

 France, he was enabled to keep a handsome establish- 

 ment of servants and horses. He never hunted the red 

 deer or roebuck, as they were strictly preserved by the 

 duke's gamekeepers. A year or two after my visit to 

 Araboise a sad misfortune befel his hounds : a mad dog 

 unfortunately contrived to get into the kennel, and bit 

 several of the hounds, which obliged my friend to have 

 them destroyed ; but as it was his intention to remove to 

 Paris, this untoward event was less annoying to him. 

 One day my friend and myself visited the once noble 

 chateau of Amboise, a short distance from his residence. 

 In walking through the antiquated apartments of this 

 palace, the splendour and festivities of which it had 

 been the scenes in the chivalrous times of Francis I. 

 and Charles VIII. were brought vividly to my recol- 

 lection. The royal Chateau of Amboise is delightfully 

 situated on au eminence commanding an extensive view 

 of the beautiful surrounding country and the course of 

 the fine river Loire, which is navigable for ninety miles 

 for vessels requiring only a small draught of water. 

 The two above-named monarchs, particularly the latter, 

 passed much of their time, when not engaged in foreign 

 wars, at this palace, which at that period possessed every 

 charm and attraction that art and unbounded wealth 

 could confer ; this part of the country being denominated 

 " le Jardin de la France." Francis I. was considered 

 the mirror of chivalry, and at the tournaments frequently 

 carried off the prizes, which he made an offering to the 

 most beautiful ladies of his court. He was brave, 

 generous, and a liberal patron of the fine arts, which 



