dertaking still went forward, but the property was divided into thirty-six shares; and the concern was subject to such a division until its dissolution. This place of public amusement consisted of an elegant rotunda, one hundred and fifty feet in diameter in the clear, and large attached gardens. The rowunda was first opened, with a public breakfast, April 5, 1742; and, for some time after, morning concerts were given, consisting of selections from Oratorios. But these soon gave place to evening amusements, combining chiefly musical performances and occasional exhibitions of fire-works. For many years Ranelagh constituted one of the most fashionable spots of resort for the gay and affluent. But all circumstances depending on fashion must be expected to witness its instability. The inherent attractions of this place were, perhaps, few. The company went chiefly to look at each other; and, when distinguished faces were no longer to be seen, the tide of popu larity sought another course. The whole of the premises were taken down about the year 1805. The site is now a dreary waste, and not a fragment remains of the gay rotunda to "point a moral" for the benefit of those who remember it when thronged by the pride and beauty of the country.

The persons distinguished by birth, title, or action of public life, who have resided in Chelsea, although the site of their dwellings is not known or only imperfectly described, are very numerous. From this illustrious catalogue we collect the following names,* as an interesting and necessary appendage to our notice of the village. Robert, Earl of Sussex, Lord High Chamberlain of England, died at "his place at Chelsea," in the year 1542. Richard Fletcher, successively Bishop of Bristol, Worcester, and London, appears from the parish register to have resided here a few years previous to his death. It will be recollected that this prelate offended Queen Elizabeth, by entering into a second marriage. The Queen was, however,

D3

• For information concerning which we are principally indebted to the works of Lysons and Faulkner.

however, afterwards imperfectly reconciled, and honoured him with a visit at his Chelsea residence. Fletcher, the dramatic poet, was a son of this Bishop.

John Pym, the celebrated parliamentarian, occupied a house here for several years. The Earl of Manchester, who lived to regret the active part which he took against his King in the early part of the civil war, resided at Chelsea, in 1647. Charles, Duke of St. Albans, natural son of Charles II. by Eleanor Gwynn, had a house in this village about the year 1692. Henry, Duke of Kent, a courtier of much eminence in the reign of George I. was a resident about the year 1715. Sir Francis Windham occupied a house in Paradise Row, in the year 1700. This worthy Baronet is memorable in national story, from the circumstance of having entertained Charles II. at his house at Trent, after the battle of Worcester, where the King remained concealed for several days.

John, Earl of Radnor, and the eminent statesman Sir Thomas (afterwards Baron) Pelham, occupied at different times, houses in Paradise Row.

Chelsea has, also, the boast of having afforded a residence, or occasional retirement, to many persons conspicuous in the annals of literature :-Mrs. Mary Astell, who was born in 1668, and was one of the most learned women of her age, passed the greater portion of her life at a house in Paradise Row. Here she composed those numerous writings on religi ous and moral subjects, to the merits of which Atterbury, Dodwell, Evelyn, and other eminent scholars have borne honourable testimony; and here she died, a bright example of the precepts which she taught, in the year 1731.

The celebrated Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, resided for several years in Church Lane. Dean Swift took a lodging opposite to the Doctor's house, in 1711, and his "Journal to Stella" contains a minute detail of many particulars connected with this period of his life.

Dr. Mead, eminent as a physician and a scholar, was a resident

2

sident in the year 1714.

The amiable and learned Dr. Arbuthnot had, likewise, a house, for a short time, at Chelsea. He was succeeded in this dwelling by Sir John Shadwell, whose father, the Poet Laureat, died in this village.

Sir Richard Steele appears from the parish books to have rented a house by the water-side, rated at 141. per ann. about the year 1716.

Elizabeth Blackwell, who published "A curious Herbal, containing five hundred cuts of the most useful Plants," &c. resided in a house facing the Physic Garden, while composing that work. The Herbal was published in 1739.

Thomas Stackhouse, whose writings are very extensive, but who is now chiefly known by his "History of the Bible," had a residence here about the year 1750.

Dr. Benjamin Hoadly, lived, for some time, in a house adjoining the present mansion of Lady Cremorne.*

John Martyn, F. R. S. distinguished for the ardour with which he cultivated Natural History, resided at Chelsea, as a practitioner of Physic, for more than twenty years. His house was in Church Lane; and here he became the father of eight children, by his wife, Eulalia, the younger daughter of Dr. John King, rector of this parish, whose manuscripts have been quoted in several previous pages. Mr. Martyn was the son of a merchant of London, and was born in Queen Street, Cheapside, in the year 1699. He was intended for his father's profession, but his love of science induced him to quit the counting-house; and, for some time, he pursued solely the study of botany, on which subject he read lectures at London and at Cambridge. When he first applied to physic as a profession, he kept five terms at Emanuel College, Cambridge, with a view of proceeding regularly in his degrees; but he did. not prosecute this design, though his medical practice at Chelsea was attended with great reputation. In 1733, he was D 4 chosen

• See his house noticed, p. 58.

chosen professor of botany in the University of Cambridge; and the works which he has left on this science, sufficiently prove his capacity to fill the chair to which he was nominated. Mr. Martyn died at Chelsea, on the 29th of January, 1768.*

This village reckons among the most interesting of its former inhabitants, Tobias Smollett, M. D. whose judgment, probably, has informed the understanding, and whose wit has amused the fancy, of most who will peruse this page. Dr. Smollett removed to Chelsea in 1757, and rented the building, termed Monmouth House,+ in Lawrence Street, now occupied as a Boarding School by Mrs. Pilsbury. His manner of living in this place, and the unostentatious plenitude of his hospitality, are humourously described, by himself, in the novel termed " Humphrey Clinker." It appears that he first selected Chelsea as a residence, with a fallacious hope that the salubrity of its air might prove beneficial to a beloved daughter, who shortly sunk the martyr of a consumptive habit. From the date of publication, and from internal evidence, it would appear that "Sir Launcelot Greaves" and "Humphrey Clinker" were written at Chelsea. It is, also probable that several of his translations were performed in this retirement. The chief events connected with the biography of this able writer are well known. It only remains for us to lament that a man to whom we are so much indebted for instruction and entertainment, should have closed his life in disappointment and in woe, with a compulsory impression of the ingratitude or neglect of mankind.

We close the list of departed literary inhabitants, with the mention of Dr. Burney, who was, for many years, organist of

the

An extensive biographical notice of Mr. Martyn (contributed by his son,' the present professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge) is given in Faulkner's History of Chelsea.

Formerly the residence of Anne, Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleugh, relict of the unfortunate Duke James. The poet Gay was, for some time, secretary to this lady.

the Royal Hospital. This gentleman whose name will be known to posterity as the author of "The General History of Music," and the "Account of the musical performances in commemoration of Handel," died in Chelsea College, at the advanced age of 88 years, on the 12th of April, 1814.

The modern villas of Chelsea, if not numerous, are of a respectable character, and are well adorned with productions of art. The Pavilion, Hans Place, is situate to the west of Sloane Street, and is the property and residence of Peter Denys, Esq. The building (which was chiefly constructed by the late Mr. Holland,) is somewhat of an eccentric character, but is not devoid of elegance in several of its features. The south front is ornamented with a colonnade, of the Doric order, extending to the whole length of the structure, and opening to an extensive lawn; and the grounds, though not large, are disposed with judgment. On the west side of the lawn are some artificial ruins, intended to represent the remains of a priory. Such toys of architectural embellishment are ever incumbrances, if not designed with consummate taste. This mimic-ruin attains an interest from the real connection of its component parts with ancient story; the stone-work of which it is chiefly composed, was brought from the recently demolished residence of Cardinal Wolsey, at Esher, in Surrey; and several portions have been introduced with an attention to their form and appearance before taken down.

The interior of the Pavilion is ornamented by some pictures, and by several gratifying busts and casts. Among these we noticed a proof cast from the original bust of Lord Nelson. A cast in plaister of the eminent professor Porson, taken immediately after his death. This representation is rendered pungently affecting, by the circumstance of some hair of the head and eyebrows adhering to the plaister. A good bust of Dr. Burney; and two, extremely fine, in statuary marble, of the late senators Pitt and Fox, by Nollekens. 1

At