the year 1625 by Lord Zouch, and a statue of him decorates the east front. The west front is composed of an union of Grecian and gothic ornaments, surrounded in the centre of the pediment by a coronet. The whole forms a curious and interesting specimen of the architecture of the time of James the First.

The entrance hall is very striking, and has probably been the scene of much early English hospitality. There is a large gothic chimney-piece, and some oak carving, with a fine bay window. Nor must I omit to mention a very large massive screen, on which a number of shields have been carved.

The dining-room is of fine proportions, having also a chimney-piece reaching to the ceiling, and the walls are covered with fine old tapestry, in excellent preservation, from designs by Rubens. The brass-dogs on each side of the fire-place are unusually high, and remind one of the huge logs of wood which must formerly have been burnt in it.

The staircase is wide and handsome, with some pictures against the walls. At the top of it is a room called the chapel-room, full of interesting portraits, and on the other side a fine proportioned library well filled with books. The library opens into a noble gallery, 120 feet long, having an oriel window in the centre. Its width is about twenty feet.

Many of the rooms are wainscoted with oak, having chimney-pieces of black marble reaching to the ceilings, and are about sixteen feet in heighth.

This is a short description of some of the rooms I saw during a very short visit. It will, however, serve to give an idea of this interesting old house, which I cannot but think, take it altogether, is almost unequalled as the residence of a private gentleman in this country. It was once in contemplation to purchase it, instead of Strathfieldsay, for the Duke of Wellington, and it is much to be regretted that this arrangement did not take place. Strathfieldsay is not to be compared with Bramshill either for the beauty of its situation, or the extent and accommodation of the house. It is said that an architect reported that the expence of a new roof at the latter place would come to so large a sum, that it was not thought advisable to make the purchase. The old roof, however, still does good service, no rain ever penetrating through it, thus proving that it is wind and weather tight.

The park at Bramshill has that agreeable wildness of character which assorts well with the fine old house. It is well known that Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1618 resisted the publication of the Book of Sports, had the misfortune on the following summer, while on a hunting party with

Lord Zouch in the park of Bramshill, accidentally to shoot that nobleman's keeper, instead of the deer, with a cross-bow. This accident made a great noise, and, for a short time, the archiepiscopal office was suspended, till a commission had decided upon the affair. By them the case was left to the king, who passed a pardon and dispensation under the great seal. Archbishop Abbot was one of three brothers, all eminent

men.

Bramshill is about one mile and a half from Hartford Bridge, and eight miles from Reading.