orshipper in such prime style. Many were the rooms which we entered, of
which I shall say nothing, save that they were noble in size and rich in
objects of interest. At last we came to what was called the picture
gallery. It was a long panelled room, extending nearly the whole length
of the northern side. The first thing which struck us on entering was
the huge skin of a lion stretched out upon the floor; the head, however,
which was towards the door, was stuffed, and with its monstrous teeth
looked so formidable and life-like, that we were almost afraid to touch
it. Against every panel was a portrait; amongst others was that of Sir
Thomas Middleton, the stout governor of the castle, during the time of
the siege. Near to it was the portrait of his rib, Dame Middleton.
Farther down on the same side were two portraits of Nell Gwynn; the one
painted when she was a girl; the other when she had attained a more
mature age. They were both by Lely, the Apelles of the Court of wanton
Charles. On the other side was one of the Duke of Gloucester, the son of
Queen Anne, who, had he lived, would have kept the Georges from the
throne. In this gallery on the southern side was a cabinet of ebony and
silver, presented by Charles the Second to the brave warrior Sir Thomas,
and which, according to tradition, cost seven thousand pounds. This
room, which was perhaps the most magnificent in the castle, was the last
we visited. The candle of God, whilst we wandered through these
magnificent halls, was flaming in the firmament, and its rays,
penetrating through the long narrow windows, showed them off, and all the
gorgeous things which they contained to great advantage. When we left
the castle we all said, not excepting John Jones, that we had never seen
in our lives anything more princely and delightful than the interior.

After a little time, my wife and daughter complaining of being rather
faint, I asked John Jones whether there was an inn in the neighbourhood
where some refreshment could be procured. He said there was, and that he
would conduct us to it. We directed our course towards the east, rousing
successively, and setting a-scampering, three large herds of deer--the
common ones were yellow and of no particular size--but at the head of
each herd we observed a big old black fellow with immense antlers; one of
these was particularly large, indeed as huge as a bull. We soon came to
the verge of a steep descent, down which we