huntsmen, where the royal stag-hounds are kept. This fine heath is thus noticed by an ingenious poet:

As my devious course I steer,
Fancy, in fairy vision clear,

Bids, to beguile my 'tranced eyes,
Past joys in sweet succession rise:
Refreshing airs she bids me breathe
Where, Ascot, thine enchanting heath,
Impregnated with mild perfume,
Bares its broad bosom's purple bloom;
Gives me to view the splendid crowd,
The high-born racer neighing loud,
The manag'd steeds that side by side
Precede the glittering chariot's pride,
Within whose silken coverture
Some peerless Beauty sits secure,
And, fatal to the soul's repose,

Around her thrilling glances throws!

ASCOT PLACE, on the site of Ascot Heath, near Winkfield, is a modern well-built edifice, erected by the late Andrew Lindegreen, Esq. and in the possession of Mr. Aggatt.

ASHFORD, a village near Staines, in Middlesex, in which is the seat of Mr. Shaw. On Ashford Common are frequent reviews, chiefly of cavalry, and of course much frequented.

ASHTED, a village 214 miles beyond Epsom, in which is the handsome seat and park of Richard Bagot Howard, Esq. brother to Lord Bagot, who took the name of Howard, after his marriage with the Hon. Miss Howard, sister of Henry the twelfth Earl of Suffolk.

AVELEY, a pleasant village in Essex, near Purfleet, comprises the Manors of ALVELEY, BELHOUSE, BRETTS, and BUMPSTED. Alveley church stands in the middle of the village, and is a peculiarly clean and neat structure. It belonged to the Convent of Caen in Normandy, afterwards to that of Lesnes. Henry VIII, gave it to Cardinal Wolsey towards his collegiate foundations; but upon his disgrace, it was again granted to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, London.

There are several handsome monuments erected to the memory of the Dacre family. In the village Lord Newburgh, in 1639, built a lofty almshouse of brick for 12 families; on the front was inscribed, Domum Dei 1639. See Belhouse.

B.

AGNIGGE WELLS, a noted place of public enter

valley between the New-River-Head, and the Foundling Hospital, was formerly the residence of Mrs. Eleanor Gwyn, one of King Charles's mistresses, of whom here is a bust. It was opened about the year 1767, in consequence of the discovery of two springs of mineral water; the one chalybeate, the other cathartic. There is something romantic and pleasant in the situation.

BAILEYS, between Slough and Salt Hill, is a neat modern edifice, the residence of the Earl of Chesterfield. The approach to it is by an avenue of stately firs.

BANCROFT's beautiful Almshouses, School, and Chapel, on the N. side of the Mile-end-road, in the parish of Stepney, were erected in 1735, pursuant to the will of Francis Bancroft, who bequeathed 28,000. for purchasing a site, and erecting and endowing the building; a not uncommon expedient this, to compound with Heaven for a life of rapine and extortion. This man was one of the Lord Mayor's officers, and, as he rose to be senior officer often sold out, and became " Young Man," receiving a gratuity from each for the sake of seniority; and living to be old, he got a considerable sum of money by this practice, by informations, and summoning the citizens before the Lord Mayor, upon the most trifling occasions.

The almshouses are for 24 poor old men, who were allow ed by the founder's will 81, per ann. and coals; but the improvements in the estate have allowed the pensions to be augmented to 181. per ann. The school room is for 100 boys, with dwelling-houses for two masters. The boys, who are appointed by the Draper's company, are clothed, and taught reading, writing, and accounts. They are admitted between the age of 7 and 10, and suffered to remain till 15, when they are allowed by the will 47. for an apprentice fee, or 27. 10s. to fit them for service *.

* In the founder's will (which, as well as the rules and orders for the pensioners and boys, are in print) is the following singular clause: "My body I desire may be embalmed within six days after my death, and my entrails to be put into a leaden box, and inclosed in my coffin, or placed in my vault next the same, as shall be most convenient; and that my coffin be made of oak, lined with lead; and that the top or lid thereof be hung with strong hinges, neither to be

This structure occupies three sides of a spacious quadrangle. On the N. side are the chapel, the school, and the dwelling-houses for the masters; the former having a handsome stone portico of the Ionic order. On the E. and W. sides are the habitations of the pensioners. It has a respectable appearance from the great road leading to Bow and Stratford.

BANSTED, a village between Dorking and Croydon. Lady Tyron's Park here was famous for walnuts, and there are abundance of them still; but her Ladyship has ordered many of the trees to be cut down. Bansted is much more celebrated for its downs, one of the most delightful spots in England, on account of the pleasant seats, the prospect on both sides of the Thames; and the fineness of the turf, covered with a short grass, intermixed with thyme, and other fragrant herbs, that render the mutton of this tract, though small, remarkable for its sweetness: but the plough has made such encroachments upon it, that the pastures and flocks are greatly diminished. Dyer, describing the situation most proper for sheep, says:

Such are the downs of Bansted, edg'd with woods

And towery villas!

On these downs is a four mile course for horse-races, which is much frequented. See The Oaks.

BARKING, a market town in Essex, 7 miles from London, on the river Roding, and a creek on the Thames, had once a magnificent nunnery, founded in 675. It stood on the N. side of the church-yard; and a gateway, and a considerable part of the wall, are still visible. In this parish is Bifrons, the seat of Bamber Gascoyne, Esq. and, in the road to Dagenham, is Eastbury House, an ancient structure, supposed to have been built by Sir W. Denham, to whom Edward VI. granted the estate. An unfounded tradition prevails in this neighbourhood, that the discovery of the gunpowder plot was owing to a mistake, in delivering a letter which was designed for Lord Monteagle, to an inhabitant of this house named Montagu. In this parish also is the celebrated Fairlop Oak; and its boundaries in

nailed, screwed, locked down, or fastened any other way, but to open freely, and without any trouble, like to the top of a trunk!" This singular order gave rise to the report that the old gentleman made his appearance after his death at certain seasons of the year.

clude Claybury Hall, the seat of James Hatch, Esq. near Woodford Bridge, and Anbury Hall, the villa of William Raikes, Esq. near Barking Side. See Fairlop.

BARNES, a village in Surry, on the Thames, six miles from London. On Barnes Terrace, Lady Archer had a villa, noted for its fine greenhouses: it is now the residence of the Marquis de Chabe, a French emigrant. The church is an ancient structure. On the outside of the S. wall is a stone tablet, inclosed by pales; and some rose trees are planted on each side of the tablet. This is to the memory of Edward Rose, citizen of London, who died in 1653, and left 201. to the poor of Barnes, for the purchase of an acre of land, on condition that the pales should be kept up, and the rose trees preserved. Upon the monument of Ann Baynard, a learned and pious Lady, who died in 1697, and which used to be seen in the east end of the church yard, were these singular lines:

Here lies that happy Maiden, who often said,
That no man is happy until he is dead,
That the business of life is but playing the fool,
Which hath no relation to saving the soul,
For all the transaction that's under the sun

Is doing of nothing-if that be not done,

All wisdom and knowledge does lie in this one!

A quarter of a mile from the church, is

BARN ELMS, so called from its majestic trees, the theme of many a pastoral poet. It consists of two houses only. The first is an ancient mansion, called Queen Elizabeth's Dairy. In this house lived and died Jacob Tonson, the Bookseller, who built a gallery near it, at the time he was Secretary, for the occasional accommodation of the meeting of the nobility, gentry, and celebrated wits of the time, known by the appellation of the Kit Kat Club; so denominated from Christopher Kat, the landlord, at whose house the meetings were generally held. Garth wrote the verses for the toasting glasses of the club, which, as they are preserved in his works, have immortalized four of the principal beauties at the commencement of this century; Lady Carlisle, Lady Essex, Lady Hyde, and Lady Wharton. In this gallery, Tonson placed the portraits of all the members of the club, which were painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller. These have been removed to Hertingfordbury, the seat of Samuel Baker,

Esq. near Hertford; but the gallery remains, and the house is the residence of Mr. Ackland. The other house, is the Manor house. Queen Elizabeth, who had a lease of it, granted her interest in it to Sir Francis Walsingham and his heirs. Here, in 1589, that great man entertained the Queen and her whole court. The unfortunate Earl of Essex, who married his daughter (the widow of Sir Philip Sydney) resided frequently at Barn Elms *. This house is seated in a small paddock, at some distance from the Thames. It was purchased by the late Sir Richard Hoare, Bart. who enlarged and modernized it, adding the two wings; and it is now the jointure and residence of Lady Hoare. In the dining parlour and drawing room are some good pictures, particularly two admirable landscapes by G. Poussin. The pleasure grounds are laid out with great taste. At Barn Elms, Cowley, the poet resided, before he went to Chertsey.

BARNET, a market town, in Herts, 11 miles from London, on the top of a hill, whence it is called High Barnet, and also Chipping Barnet, from the privilege granted to the monks of St. Alban's of holding a market here the word Cheap being an ancient word for a market. The church has been reported, though erroneously, a chapel of ease to East Barnet. Queen Elizabeth built a free school of brick, which is under the control of 24 governors, who elect the master and usher. Nine children are taught gratis, all the rest in the parish at 5s. per quarter. In this town is also a handsome row of almshouses

* Mr. Heydegger, Master of the Revels to George II. was, for some time, the tenant of this house. His Majesty gave him notice, that he would sup with him one evening, and that he should come from Richmond by water. It was Heydegger's profession to invent novel amusements, and he was resolved to surprise his Majesty with a specimen of his art. The King's attendants, who were in the se. cret, contrived that he should not arrive at Barn Elms before night, and it was with difficulty that he found his way up the avenue to the house. When he came to the door, all was dark; and he began to be angry that Heydegger should be so ill prepared for his reception. Heydegger suffered his Majesty to vent his anger, and affected to make some awkward apologies, when, in an instant, the house and avenues were in a blaze of light, a great number of lamps having been so disposed, as to communicate with each other, and to be lit at the same instant. The King laughed heartily at the device, and went away much pleased with his entertainment.