248 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
line of road is well designed, as every part of it seen in advance 
evidently trends in t.he direction of the house; and as from the point 
or situation whence it is first, but only at intervals, seen, it is rather 
graceful than otherwise; and as the direction is diagonally down one 
slope and up the other, the labour for carriage horses is rendered 
easy. 
In riding along this approach, many interesting glades become open 
to the view on either hand. These are not narrow vistas, but wide, 
spacious openings between the equally extensive masses of wood : the 
whole has an air of grandeur, as rvell from the amplitude of the fea¬ 
tures themselves, as from the objects composing them. A very large 
stock of deer is kept, and these being seen in various groups scattered 
over the park, serve not a little to enrich and give animation to the 
scenery. 
Except immediately in front, the mansion-house and offices are 
embosomed among stately trees, of which a numerous colony of rooks 
have seemingly long had possession. I mention this trivial circum¬ 
stance, not because it is peculiar to this place and no other, but that 
the incessant cawing of those clamorous birds convey a somewhat 
higher idea of an embellished rural residence than we otherwise should 
have. This impression arises from the frequency with which we wit¬ 
ness rookeries in high trees near the habitations of man; the first for 
safety against climbing animals, and the second to avoid the persecu¬ 
tions of their natural enemies, the raven and crow, which seldom allow 
them a peaceful abode to nestle in in distant or lonely woods. 
Though rookeries are common in almost every place where there 
are high trees near country-seats, there is, however, here a colony of 
birds, which colonies are by no means plentiful in Britain. This is a 
heronry, and at no great distance from the house; and its existence is 
a proof not only of the stateliness of the trees, but of their antiquity, 
because herons rarely shift their quarters, especially if near a river, 
which is the case here. As they are such old residents, and an orna¬ 
ment to the place, the keeper takes special care that no sportsman or 
bird of prey annoys them. 
On arriving at the house we dismounted, and entered the front court 
of a noble old Elizabethan mansion, consisting of a centre and two 
wings of two stories. The principal entrance is under a square tower 
of three stories, surmounted by pyramidal turrets at the angles, and a 
balustrade parapet. The same kind of parapet is carried along the 
eaves of the centre and the two wings. The gables of the latter are 
highly ornamented, having bay windows, &c.; and in the centre of 
each wing there are square projections, each containing bay windows, 
