a canopy was borne over the effigies in wax, as it proceeded, in a goodly hearse, to the church of Chelsey."

The Earl of Nottingham resided in this mansion for many years, and was honoured with several visits from Queen Elizabeth. But the connection of Sir Hans Sloane with the build-` ing is the circumstance best calculated to render its site an ob ject of curiosity with posterity. It was in the decline of this good and great man's life that he retired to Chelsea; and here, in the large and numerous rooms of the manor-house, he assembled round him those books, and curious collections, which since his death have formed the foundation of the British Museum. He resided on this spot from the latter part of the year 1740, to the close of his life in 1753. And, during the intervening years, the mansion enriched by his collections was visited by numerous persons, of all countries, distinguished by birth, situation, or scientific acquirements. We shall state some further particulars respecting this eminent inhabitant of the manor-house, when we notice the spot rendered sacred to his remains.

We have observed that the manorial building raised by King Henry abutted to the west on the spot now occupied by Winchester House. It extended eastward to the house of entertainment known by the name of Don Saltero's coffee house. The building was of a quadrangular form, enclosing a spacious court. Some additions, of rather an incongruous character, had been made, at an uncertain era, towards the west. The whole of the structure was taken down shortly after the death of Sir Hans Sloane, and a row of houses erected on the site. These dwellings form part of that fine and spacious line of buildings termed Cheyne Walk, which highly ornaments the Chelsea bank of the Thames in the vicinity of the church. The views from the paved road in the front of these houses embrace the river in some of its most picturesque points, totogether

A view of the north front, from an original drawing in the possession of Thomas Richardson, Esq. is engraved in Faulkner's History of Chelsea.

gether with a rich display of the Surrey and Kent undulations, in the distance of the opposite shore.

A great part of the grounds formerly attached to the manor house is now occupied by the Rev. Thomas Clare, who resides in the house contiguous to the mansion appropriated to the Bishops of Winchester. The gardens possessed by this gentleman comprise about four acres, and they are laid out with an accuracy of taste that cannot be too highly commended. Mr. Clare has taken nature for his guide, and has studied for the attainment of variety by means at once simple and elegant. From each devious walk and intervening plot of greensward, the clustering buildings in the neighbourhood, and every mean or ill-assimilating object, are excluded by plantations, which would appear to be placed without design, and which are trained to assume a natural and irregular form. The straight line and fantastical parterre find here no place. in the vicinity of the metropolis evince more decidedly the superiority of the present age in the disposal of garden

scenery.

Few grounds

In the opinion of many, this agreeable retirement must acquire an additional charm from its connection with ancient story. It was here that Elizabeth walked when a girl, and when her proud mind (destined to awe the most elevated and confident) was obedient to the nod of a governess. In one part of the gardens is a mulberry tree, banked round and propped some ages back, which probably yielded fruit and afforded shade, even in the early days of the "virgin-queen." Large portions of the wall which formed the ancient boundary of the home-domain, are still preserved.*

The Danvers family had a seat at Chelsea, which was taken down about the year 1696, at which time the present rather mean buildings, forming Danvers Street, were erected on the PART IV.

Ꭰ

site.

This wall ran eastward as far as Durham Mews; and is, in the present year (1814) remaining to the whole of its original extent, except the break occasioned by Robinson's Lane, or, as it is now termed, Queen Street.

site.. Sir John Danvers married the relict of Sir Richard Herbert, who was mother of the celebrated Lord Herbert of Cherbury.

Winchester House, the episcopal residence of the Bishops of Winchester, adjoins the site of the manor-house constructed by Henry VIII. It will be recollected that the ancient palace of the Bishops stood in Southwark.* In consequence of the injuries sustained by that mansion in the troubles of the 17th century, an act of Parliament was passed, in the year 1663, empowering George Morley, then Bishop of Winchester, to lease out the building and some other estates appertaining to the see, on condition that he expended the sum of seven thousand pounds; a part of which (four thousand pounds at the least) was to be appropriated to the purchase of a convenient house, not distant more than three miles from London, for the residence of himself and his successors. In the ensuing year the Bishop purchased for 4,2501. a house at Chelsea, then lately built by James, Duke of Hamilton. The mansion, according to the act under which it was purchased, is considered to be within the diocese of Winchester.

This episcopal residence is a heavy brick building, of low proportions, and quite devoid of architectural ornament. The interior is fairly commodious, and is much enriched by the collection of antiques, and specimens of natural history, plaeed there by the present Bishop, the Hon. Brownlow North. The former were collected by his Lordship in Italy, and consist principally of Etruscan vases, ancient marbles, and relies from Herculaneum. The specimens of natural history are equally creditable to the industry ahd judgment of the dignified collector; and the house is likewise adorned by many efforts of art, in modelling, painting, &c. by Miss North, Mr. Brownlow North, and other branches of his lordship's family.

In the reign of the second Charles, this village was rendered

attractive

* See "BEAUTIES" for Surrey, p. 54.

attractive to the very gay part of the fashionable world, by the residence of the celebrated Duchess of Mazarine. This lady, of whom Charles had been enamoured during his exile, and who was invited to England under a hope that she might supplant the Duchess of Portsmouth in the King's affections, occupied a house which stood on the site of the buildings now termed George Place. Here the game of Basset was systematically pursued, and concerts were given weekly, for which St. Evremond wrote the words and composed some of the music. The singers were chosen from the most distinguished performers at the theatres, and it has been supposed that the design of introducing the Italian opera into England was first discussed in these assemblies. The Duchess died at Chelsea, in the midst of her meretricious splendour, in the year 1699. It is observed by Faulkner*that she appears, from the parish books, to have been in arrears for the poor's rate during the whole time of her residing in this village."

Edward Russell, Earl of Orford, who commanded the English force at the celebrated battle of La Hogue, resided in Chelsea, from 1703 to 1707. His premises were between the stable-yard of the royal hospital, and the building now termed Gough House. In the year 1723, Sir Robert Walpole obtained from the crown a lease of the house and gardens formerly occupied by this distinguished nobleman. He enlarged the latter by a purchase of ground from the Gough family, and made this spot his occasional residence. "Sir Robert built a large octagon summer-house facing the water, and a green-house, in a style of architecture corresponding with the outer buildings of the hospital. Here he made a large collection of exotics. Lady Walpole took great delight in improving the gardens, and spared no expense in procuring natural and artificial curiosities from foreign parts. Her grotto excited much of the attention of the curious at that time. Queen Caroline, duD2 ring

• Historical Account of Chelsea, p. 340.

ring the King's absence in Germany, one summer, honoured Lady Walpole with a visit, and dined in the green-house, which was laid out with choice flowers and plants, and hung with some of the fine paintings afterwards removed to Houghton." On the death of Sir Robert Walpole (Earl of Orford) the house was sold to the Earl of Dunmore; and after passing through the possession of the late George Aufrere, Esq. and the Earl of Yarborough, the premises were purchased, in 1808, by government; under whose direction an infirmary, intended as an adjunct to the Royal Hospital, is now erecting.

Bordering on the spot formerly occupied by the residence of“ Sir Robert Walpole, is Gough House, a respectable and spacious mansion built by John Earl of Carberry,+ in the latter part of the 17th century. His Lordship died in his coach, as he was proceeding from London towards Chelsea. The estate afterwards came to the Gough family, and has been for some time occupied as a School for Ladies.

On the eastern side of the royal Hospital stood the mansion of Richard, Earl of Ranelagh. This house was built by the Earl (he being then Paymaster-general of the forces, one of the Commissioners of Chelsea hospital, &c.) on land originally belonging to the hospital, but of which he first obtained a lease, and afterwards a grant in fee. The house was formed after a design of his own, and the grounds were extensive. Here his lordship chiefly resided, from the completion of the building shortly after the year 1690, till his death in 1712, and the place was subsequently, for many years, in the possession of his daughter. In the year 1733, this estate was sold in lots; and, about this period, Lacy, the patentee of Drury Lane Theatre, in conjunction with a person named Rietti, took a lease of the premises, with a view of establishing a place of entertainment on a large and splendid scale. But the first projectors were unable to accomplish the design. The undertaking

Faulkner, 370–371.

One of the "noble authors" mentioned by Horace Walpole.