86 SECOND DIVISION OF THE 



steps leading above. The huntsman's rooms, four in number, first present 

 themselves, and are marked in the plan before us by the letter C ; each of 

 them is fifteen feet fourteen inches, by fourteen feet six inches. 



At each end of the side towards the court is one of the feeding-rooms, 

 twenty-nine feet by fourteen feet four inches, and nobly constructed rooms 

 they are ; they are designated by the letters B. At the back of the 

 feeding-rooms, are one set of the lodging-rooms, from thirty-five feet six 

 inches, to fourteen feet four inches, and marked by the letters A, and at 

 either extremity is another lodging-room, thirty-two feet six inches in 

 length, and fourteen feet six inches in width : this is also marked by the 

 letter A. 



Coming into the court we find the store-room twenty-four feet by four- 

 teen and a half, marked by the letter D, and the stable, of the same dimen- 

 sions, by the letter E. 



At the top of the buildings are openings for the admission of cold air, 

 and stoves to warm the air when too cold. There are plentiful supplies of 

 water from tanks holding 10,000 gallons ; so that there is no incon- 

 venience from the smell, and the whole can at any time be drained, and 

 not be rendered altogether useless. 



Round the whole building is a pavement five feet wide ; airy yards and 

 places for breeding, &c., making part of each wing. For the huntsman 

 and whipper-in there are sleeping-rooms, and a neat parlour or kitchen. 



Soon after the kennel was erected, it would contain two packs of 

 hounds. 



THE STAG -HOUND. 



The largest of the English hounds that has been lately used, is de- 

 voted, as his name implies, to the chace of the deer. He is taller than 

 the fox-hound, and with far more delicate scent, but he is not so speedy. 

 He answers better than any other to the description given of the old 

 English hound, so much valued when the country, less enclosed, and the 

 forests, numerous and extensive, were the harbours of the wild deer. The 

 deer-hound and the harrier were for many centuries the only hunting-dogs. 

 The fox-hound has been much more recently bred. 



The most tyrannic and cruel laws were enforced for the preservation of 

 this species of game, and the life of the deer, except when sacrificed in the 

 chace, and by those who were privileged to join in it, was guarded with 

 even more strictness than the life of the human being. When, however, 

 the country became more generally cultivated, and the stag was confined 

 to enclosed parks, and was seldom sought in his lair, but brought into the 

 field, and turned out before the dogs, so much interest was taken from the 

 affair, that this species of hunting grew out of fashion, and was confined 

 to the neighbourhood of the scattered forests that remained, and enjoyed 

 only by royalty and a few noblemen, of whose establishment a kennel of 

 deer-hounds had, from time immemorial, formed a part. 



Since the death of George III., who was much attached to this sport, 

 stag-hunting has rapidly declined, and the principal pleasure seems now to 

 consist in the concourse of people brought together to an appointed place 

 and hour, to witness the turning out of the deer. There is still main- 

 tained a royal establishment for the continuance of this noble sport ; but, 

 unless better supported than it has of late years been, it will gradually 

 decline. 



