BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 161 



Windsor by an iron bridge, and virtually a suburb of it. At tbis scbool tbe 

 flower of tbe Englisb nobility and gentry are educated, and its muster-roll of 

 eminent sebolars is wortby of tbe position it bas attained. Tbe college was 

 founded in 1440 by Henry VI. for tbe support of twenty-five poor grammar 

 sebolars, and tbe like number of poor men, wbo were to pray for tbe King. In 

 tbe course of time, bowever, it bas grown into tbe most aristocratic scbool of 

 England.* 



Tbe deligbts of tbe environs of Windsor bave inspired tbe muse of England's 

 poets since tbe days of Sbakspere. Historical associations abound. It was not 

 far from Windsor, at Runnymead, tbat King Jobn was forced, in 1215, to sign tbe 

 Cbarter, wbicb for ever limited tbe royal prerogatives. Tbe large park wbich 

 adjoins tbe castle abounds in deligbtful walks and drives tbrougb forest scenery, 

 and is stocked witb berds of deer. Tbe " Long Walk," an avenue of noble elms, 

 3 miles in lengtb, traverses it, and terminates on Snow Hill, wbicb is sur- 

 mounted by Westmacott's equestrian statue of George III. Tbree miles fartber 

 is a mucb-admired artificial lake, known as Virginia Water. Tbe famous race- 

 course of Ascot adjoins tbis park on tbe soutb. Frogmore House and tbe 

 magnificently decorated mausoleum of tbe Prince Consort are in tbe Home Park, 

 to tbe east of tbe castle. Manor Lodge, in tbe Great Park, bas recently been 

 converted into a manufactory of tapestry, directed by Frencb workmen. 



BucKiNGHAMSHiKE, wbicb derivcs its name from tbe beecbes abounding in its 

 woods, forms a narrow slip of land, extending from tbe Tbames nortbward into 

 tbe basin of tbe Ouse. Tbe cbalky downs of tbe Cbiltern range cross tbe soutbern 

 part of tbe county, and separate tbe beautifully diversified tract of country 

 bordering upon tbe Tbames from tbe fruitful vale of Ay]esbu^3^ Tbis vale, noted 

 for its dairy farms, is drained by tbe river Tbame, and bounded on tbe nortb by a 

 range of sandy bills, beyond wbicb lies tbat part of tbe county wbicb is drained by 

 tbe Ouse and its tributaries. Agriculture, dairy-farming, and tbe raising of 

 poultry are tbe principal occupations of tbe people, in addition to wbicb tbe manu- 

 facture of pillow lace, paper, straw plait, bcots, and wooden cbairs is carried on. 



Great Mavlow, tbe principal town on tbe Tbames, is bere spanned by a suspen- 

 sion bridge. A few miles to tbe nortb of it, in a deligbtful valley of tbe Cbiltern 

 Hills, surrounded by villas and sbrubberies, lies High or Chipping Wycomhe, 

 one of tbe leading manufacturing towns of tbe county, producing paper, wooden 

 (Windsor) cbairs, pillow lace, parcbment, and plaited straw. It has tbe finest and 

 largest cburcb in Buckingbamsbire. Two miles to tbe nortb of it is Hughenden, 

 tbe residence of tbe Earl of Beaconsfield, wbose title is derived from tbe neigbbour- 

 ing market town of Beaconsjield, a place of some trade: Burke and Waller tbe 

 poet are buried tbere. 



Tbe Tbames between Great Marlow and Windsor is studded witb villas and 

 mansions, most prominent amongst tbem being princely Cliefden, already men- 

 tioned, and Dropmore, wbose deligbtful grounds abound in exotic pine-trees, 



* At present there are 70 foundation or King's Scholars (Collegers) admitted after a competitive 

 examination, -vvho are lodged and boarded in the college, and 880 " Oppidans." 



