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borious work, the Tranflation of Father Brumoy's Greek Theatre, in 3 vols. quarto. The late Earl of Corke and Orrery, and fome other eminent perfons, favoured her with tranflations of feveral pieces in this work, which are pointed out and acknowledged in an advertisement prefixed; and that bright ftar of literature, Dr. Samuel Johnson, fuffered his great name to appear to a tranfla tion of one of the articles. work was dedicated to his present Majefty, then Prince of Wales, who had before honoured Mrs. Lenox with his notice; and who, in confequence of the generous reprefentations of the Earl of Bute, made her a munificent prefent. To the earl's amiable lady The has likewife been often heard' to acknowledge herself most highly obliged.

This

Mrs. Lenox, after this, wrote Henrietta, a novel, in two volumes, which was given to the public in 1758. The Ladies Mufeum, published monthly, then came out under Mrs. Lenox's name; to which her friends largely contributed, whofe favours are all feparately acknowledged. In this work Mrs. Lenox's novel of Harriet and Sophia first appeared, which has fince been reprinted under the title of Sophia.

Mrs. Lenox dedicated the fecond edition of Henrietta to the Dutchefs of Newcastle, who had always honoured her with her friendship and Her Grace procured the long promifed place for Mr. Lenox; and, fome years after, did Mrs. Lenox the honour of ftanding godmother to her daughter.

After this period we do not find any work published by Mrs. Lenox, except Eliza, a novel, in two fmall volumes; and the Life of Madame de la Valliere, with a tranflation of her Devotions, in a fingle volume.

Mrs. Lenox's dramatic pieces are, the Sifter, a comedy; Old City Manners, a comedy, altered from Ben Johnson; and Philander, a dramatic paftoral. She also published a small

volume of Poems very early in life, of which we have never been able to procure a copy: but if we may judge from the fingle fpecimen we have feen, (the Art of Coquetry, in Mr. Harrifon's Collection, Vol. IV. p. 303) as well as from the several diftinguished friends thefe juvenile productions appear to have obtained her, they certainly poffefs very extraordinary merit.

The character of this lady cannot be better illustrated, than by the obfervations of two great men: that of the late Bishop of Gloucefter, mentioned in the beginning of these memoirs; and a remark of the univerfally celebrated Dr. Johnfon, who obferves, in his pointed way, that Mrs. Lenox writes as well as if the could do nothing elfe, and does every thing elfe as well as if the could not write.”

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After the eulogiums of thefe elevated characters, it might appear as prefumptuous, as it is certainly unneceffary, for us to add that teftimony which we should proudly contribute to the diftinguished merits of this fprightly, humorous, fatirical, and fenfible writer; whofe novelty and genius as an original author, and whofe elegance and fidelity as a tranflator, have not often been exceeded."

It is with real pain we feel ourfelves obliged to add, that this lady's ill ftate of health forbids us to expeet many future productions from her elegant pen; though we have, at the fame time, fome reafon to hope, that he will yet favour the world with at least one or two other performances which he has long had in contemplation.

Mrs. Lenox has had three children; two fons, and a daughter. Mifs Harriet, now about fixteen, is the eldeft. One of the fons died in infancy; and the other is that most aftonishing proof of early and extraordinary genius, Maker George Lewis Lenox, who is not yet twelve years of age, and whofe elegant productions enrich the poetical department of

our

our last and present numbers. The number of poems, on various fubjects, this young gentleman has written, is truly furprizing t: nor is the uncommon genius of this extraordinary youth by any means confined to verfi fication; his familiar letters to his friends are pregnant with good fenfe,

as well as remarkably accurate; and he has actually compleated at leaft one dramatic piece, which is far from being ill conducted, and contains fome lively ftrokes of genuine wit, fuperior to what we can difcover in fome of the entertainments lately produced at our Theatres Royal.

DESCRIPTION OF BLENHEIM,

THE SEAT OF HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

HE palace or caftle of Blenheim, which is confeffedly the most magnificent pile of architecture in this kingdom, or perhaps in the whole world, is fituated within half a mile of the borough of Woodstock, being nearly eight miles diftant from the city of Oxford; and was built at the public expence in the reign of Queen Anne, by whom it was given, together with the park and manor of Woodstock, to the moft illuftrious John Duke of Marlborough, and his heirs for ever, as a teftimony of royal favour and national gratitude, for his tranfcendent fervice, and the many fignal victories he had gained over the French and Bavarians; particularly near the village of Blenheim, on the banks of the Danube, from which this noble palace receives it's

name.

The architect of this fuperb. ftructure was Sir John Vanbrugh; who, though he has been perhaps justly blamed for a heavinefs in his general defigns, muft at leaft ftand acquitted in this inftance, when it is confidered that ftrength and durability were principal objects to be regarded in a pile that was intended to remain a monument of British valour, and British generofity, till the remoteft periods of time.

The north front is three hundred and forty-eight feet from wing to wing, highly ornamented, and the roof is concealed by a ftone balu

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ftrade and ftatues. This is the grand approach; to which we are conducted over a valley, by a moft magnificent bridge, the diameter of whofe centrearch is one hundred and ninety feet, being conftructed in the tile of the Rialto at Venice.

Beyond this, in a direct line, and on a confiderable eminence, ftands a ftately column, one hundred and thirty feet in height, on the top of which is a ftatue of the immortal John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough; and, on it's pedestal, his eminent atchievements, and the acts of the British parliament in his favour, are fully infcribed.

The fouth front is lefs highly finished, but extremely elegant; and commands a delightful view of the pleafure-grounds, and plantations, as well as of the diftant village of Bladon.

Over it's entrance, which is fupported by Corinthian columns, ftands the Buft of Louis XIV. of France, adorned with proper military emblems, taken from the gates of Tournay; and, near the eastern angle, the prefent duke is fitting up a commodious and elegant obfervatory, properly furnished with the best inftruments and glaffes that can be procured, under the direction of that eminent aftronomer, Dr. Hornfby of Oxford.

The apartments of this palace are finished with princely magnificence;

See Vol. II. p. 461. and p. 49, of the prefent Volume. + These productions, which are now collecting, and preparing for the prefs, by Mafter Lenox, will in a short time be published together, thy fubfcription, for the young gentleman's emolument.

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and the tapestry, paintings, and ftatues, are exquifitely fine. But as it is impoffible to do them justice by any general defcription, we think a particular account of the most cele brated productions of art, to be feen in this noble and ftupendous edifice, must prove highly acceptable to our readers.

The common entrance is by the eaft gate, which leads into a quadrangle, confifting of offices: from thence we proceed into the area; and, through a moft fuperb portico, on maffy columns, enter the hall, which is fupported by Corinthian pillars, in elegance and dimenfions almost unrivalled. The cieling, which is the height of the building, is painted by Sir James Thornhill; and allegorically reprefents Victory crowning John Duke of Marlborough, as the points to a Plan of the Battle of Blenheim. This room contains a Buft of John Duke of Marlborough, a Venus de Medicis and Faun in bronze, from the original in the Grand Duke of Tufcany's Collection; feveral marble Termini, and two beautiful ftatues of a Nymph and Bacchanal.

From the Hall, we enter the Bowwindow Room, the tapeftry of which reprefents the Battle of Blenheim, and other exploits of John Duke of Marlborough, in the moft glowing colours, and moft exact proportions. Among other elegant paintings of approved artifts, this room is adorned with a moft capital original picture of the Virgin and Child, St. John, and St. Nicholas, by Raphael; formerly belonging to the Cappela degli Anfidei, at Perugia, and brought over by the Right Honourable Lord Robert Spencer, brother of the prefent duke. Adjoining to this, is the duke's Dreffing Room; which, befides a variety of other celebrated productions of the pencil, contains a very fine Holy Family by Rubens; Our Saviour in the Virgin's Lap, crowning two Female Martyrs, by Titian; and an enchantingly beautiful picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds, reprefenting Lady Char

lotte Spencer, in the character of a Gypfey, telling her brother Lord Henry his fortune: the archness of expreffion thrown into thefe laft delightful portraits, by the masterly pencil of Sir Joshua, is fuperior to all defcription.

We next enter the Eaft DrawingRoom, which is adorned with many fuperb paintings; particularly a very capital and ftrikingly picturefque Bacchanalian piece, the offerings of the Magi, and Rubens with his Wife and Child, all by that celebrated mafter; the laft being a prefent from the town of Bruffels to John Duke of Marlborough: alfo a Man's Head, by Titian; and a Holy Family, efteemed the work of Raphael, given to his grace by the town of Ghent.

The Grand Cabinet is filled with fome of the most capital original paintings in any collection: among which we must not forbear to notice a Madona ftanding on a Globe, furrounded by Angels, by Carlo Marratti; Chrift Bleffing the Little Children, by Vandyck; with the Roman Charity; Lot's Departure out of Sodom, a prefent from the town of Antwerp; the Flight into Egypt; a Portrait of Paracelfus; and the Head of Rubens himself; all by that great mafter. Pope Gregory in his Robes, and a Female Martyr with a palmbranch, by Titian; a Magdalen of inimitable tints by Carlo Dolci; and a Holy Family by Ludovico Carracci.

The Blue Drawing Room, likewife, contains fever I elegant paintings; the principal of which are, Catharine de Medicis, by Rubens; Time clipping Cupid's Wings, by Vandyck; an Aftronomer and his Family, by Dobfon; two Family Portraits; and a collection of beautiful Miniatures, in one frame, with a curtain before them.

The tapestry in the adjoining Winter Drawing Room is of the moft vivid beauty, and attracts the notice of every fpectator of tafte. It reprefents the Four Cardinal Virtues, with their proper emblems, and approaches nearer to painting than any thing of

the

the kind we ever remember to have feen. Vandyck's pencil has produced a very fine portrait of Mary Dutchefs of Richmond, Lord Stafford and his Secretary, and two Favourites of King Charles II. which are the only paintings in this room.

We next enter the Dining Room, which is remarkable for a very capital painting of the prefent Duke, Dutchefs, and Children, by Sir Joshua Reynolds. The figures are as large as life, and afford the most striking likeneffes that were perhaps ever difplayed on canvas. This is much the largest piece Sir Joshua ever executed, and is most deservedly admired. In this room are likewife elegant paintings by Rubens, of Lot and his Daughters, and Venus and Adonis, both prefents from the Emperor of Germany. A Bacchanalian piece, by Vandyck; and a glowing landfcape, by Claude.

From the Dining Room we proceed to the Saloon; which is a noble and highly-finished room, lined in the lower part with marble, several compartments above containing reprefentations of the different nations of the world in their characteristic dreffes and expreffions, by La Guerre. The cieling, which is executed by the fame artist, emblematically defcribes John Duke of Marlborough, in the midst of his victories, arrested by the hand of Peace, while Time reminds him of the rapidity of his own flight.

Several of the victories of John Duke of Marlborough are delineated in the tapestry of the Drawing Room, to the right of the Saloon; and, over the chimney, there is a bust of the Emperor Adrian. The principal paintings are Meleager and Atalanta, by Rubens; the Adoration of the Shepherds, by Lucca Giordano; and fome pieces of Pouffin.

The tapestry of the Middle Drawing Room, to the right of the Saloon, exhibits more battles of John Duke of Marlborough; and contains a capital painting on black marble, by Alef

fandro Veronefe, with fome others of lefs importance.

From this room we enter the State Bedchamber; the chimney of which is adorned with a Buft of Diana, and over it is a fuperb painting by Lucca Giordano, reprefenting the Death of Seneca. A portrait of Edward VI. by Holbein; the Burning of Troy, by Old Frank; and two pieces of Still Life, by Maltefe; are the only other paintings which deferve particular attention in this apartment.

From this ftately fuit of rooms, where the profufion of fplendid objects is apt to dazzle the organs of fight, the eye is both charmed and relieved on entering the Library. This noble room is one hundred and eighty-three feet long, and thirtyone feet nine inches wide.

It is impoffible to conceive any thing more highly finished, than the folid columns of marble, which fupport a rich entablature, the Doric pilafters of the fame, the furrounding basement of black marble, and the ftuccoed compartments of the lofty vaulted cieling.

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This fpacious room was originally intended as a Gallery for paintings; but has fince been furnished with a noble collection of books, comprizing near twenty-four thousand volumes, in various languages, arts, and sciences.

At the upper end of the Library ftands a highly finished ftatue of Queen Anne, in her coronation robes, by Ryfbrack; on the pedestal of which is this infcription

To the Memory of Queen ANNE!
Under whofe aufpices
JOHN Duke of MARLBOROUGH
Conquered,

And to whofe munificence
He and his pofterity

With gratitude

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dern pedestal defigned by Sir William Chambers.

On one fide, above the book-cafes, are several bufts, and a number of whole-length family portraits; and, on the other, large bow-windows, the frames of which are exquifitely finished, from whence there is an Elysian profpect of the beautifullycovered descent to the canal, and of the rifing groves on the oppofite hill. From the Library we proceed along an open gallery to the Chapel in the western wing of the palace; in which is a ftately monument, by Ryfbrack, to the memory of John Duke of Marl borough and his Dutchefs. They are represented with their two fons, who died young, as fupported by Fame and History. Beneath, in a baffo-relievo, is the taking of Marshal Tallard. The altar-piece represents Christ taking down from the Crofs, painted by Jordans of Antwerp.

Thus, having curforily remarked the most ftriking beauties in this fuperb palace, it would be unpardonable to overlook the gardens and park; which, whether we regard delightfulness of fituation, or the most captivating charms of nature, improved by the chafteft defigns of art, equally demand our attention and warmeft admiration. The pleasure. grounds and garden occupy about 200 acres, and are laid out with aftonishing tafte, principally under the infpection of the prefent duke, whofe love of the fine arts, and of rural and elegant fimplicity, is every where confpicuous. The Flower Basket is one of the most beautiful wildernesses of sweets, any where to be feen; the interfecting walks, as well as the temples, and other artificial objects, are at once elegant and neat, and the whole is preferved in a state of the utmost perfection.

The canal, which covers the whole extent of a fpacious valley, bordered by an artificial declivity, being taught to wind according to the defigns of taste, to fall in broken murmurs over the rough cafcade, and again to fmoothe it's bofom, and move imper

ceptibly along, is certainly one of the fineft pieces of water in this kingdom.

The Park, which, under the aufpices of the prefent duke, has received every poffible improvement, is one continued galaxy of charming profpects, and agreeably diverfified fcenes, The utmoft circumference of this delightful park is fourteen miles; round which are the most enchanting rides, fhaded principally by evergreens; the roads are difpofed to the greateft advantage, and new plantations are continually rifing, whereever they can contribute to the richnefs or luxuriance of the view. Indeed, the effect of polished taste, and the fu- · blime in defign, is no where more perceptible than in the boundless profpects which continually prefent themfelves, the walls of the park being in general quite concealed, and the whole fúrrounding country, variegated with hills and vales, fpires, towers, and villas, appearing as one wideextended landfcape. In this park originally ftood a magnificent royal palace, which was the favourite retreat of feveral kings of England, at various periods, till the reign of Charles I. when the fucceeding interval of civil diffenfion and anarchy laid it almost wholly in ruins. It was not, however, entirely demolished, till after the building of Blenheim; when every trace of the ancient edifice was removed, and two elm-trees planted on it's fcite.

Hiftory informs us, that King Ethelred held a parliament at Woodflock Palace; and that Alfred the Great tranflated, Boetius de Confolatione Philofophiæ,' at the fame place.

King Henry I. beautified the palace, and furrounded the park with a wall, which in many places ftill remains. And who has not heard of the beautiful and unfortunate Rofamond, daughter of Lord Clifford, and favourite of Henry II. with whom that prince long indulged himself in Woodstock's bowers, where he is faid to have contrived a labyrinth, by which her romantic retreat (placed by

tradition

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