PARK,—in its plain construction, is an extensive tract of ground, or country, enclosed with WALL or PALING, well variegated with WOOD and WATER, for the support of cattle, and preservation of VENISON and GAME. It becomes a park by the privilege of prescription, or by the King's grant. There are many parks in possession of the Crown, (as well as of opulent individuals,) of which WINDSOR GREAT PARK is the largest in the kingdom. It is upon record, that the Park of WOODSTOCK was the _first_ in ENGLAND, formed and enclosed about the year 1124, and bounded by a stone wall _seven miles_ in circumference. The example was followed by Henry EARL of WARWICK; after which park-making became a common practice in different parts of the country.
PARTNER.—There were five famous horses of this name in succession, from _Old Partner_, in 1718, to _Little Partner_, in 1745. The first was called CROFT'S; the second, MOORE'S; the third, GRISEWOOD'S; the fourth, BRIGHT'S; and the last, PEARSON'S. _Old Partner_ was got by _Jigg_, out of a sister to _Mixbury_; he was a most excellent runner, and produced an astonishing progeny of winners; from whom his blood is ramified through most of the studs in the kingdom. He was sire of _Sedbury_, _Tartar_, _Cato_, _Traveller_, _Badger_, GRISEWOOD'S _Partner_, _Little John_, LARKIN'S _Looby_, DUKE OF BOLTON'S _Little John_, _Barforth_, the _Witherington Mare_, VANE'S _Little Partner_, PARKER'S _Lady Thigh_, GRISEWOOD'S _Lady Thigh_, LODGE'S _Roan Mare_, &c. &c.
PARTRIDGES—are those well known timid, harmless, inoffensive branches of the feathered creation, the beautiful variegations of whose plumage, and the nutritive property of whose flesh, have entitled them to the distinguished appellation of GAME, and the honour of parliamentary protection. They begin to pair off from the fragmental remains of COVIES, about the last week in FEBRUARY, and through the month of MARCH; make their nests upon the ground, in hedges, and the banks of hedge-rows principally; though they are sometimes found in fields of CLOVER, but very rarely in standing CORN. The hen usually deposits from fifteen to twenty eggs, and produces mostly a bird from every egg she lays. They hatch about the second or third week in June. The young in the aggregate are called COVIES, and they are known to _run_ almost as soon as they are _hatched_. Although they are sometimes reduced by VERMIN, or unexpected _torrents_ of _rain_, yet from SIX to EIGHT BRACE are generally brought up to fly with the old ones. They are included in every Act of Parliament for the preservation of the game; and the penalty for killing a partridge by any unqualified person, is FIVE POUNDS: if such unqualified person kills a partridge, without having taken out an ANNUAL CERTIFICATE from the CLERK of the PEACE for the county in which he resides, (or where such partridge may have been killed,) he is then liable to a farther penalty of twenty pounds; making a forfeiture of TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS in the whole.