HAMPTON COURT

S fituated on the North bank of the river I Thames, about two miles from Kingston. It was built by Cardinal Wolfey, and given by him to King Henry VIII. who greatly enlarged it. King William pulled down the old apartments, and rebuilt them in the manner in which they now appear. The Park and Gardens are about 3 miles in circumference. On a pediment at the front of the palace on this fide is a bas-relief of the triumphs of Hercules over Envy; and facing it a large oval bafon, anfwering to the form of this part of the Garden, which is a large oval divided into gravel walks and parterres, laid out in the old tafte by London and Wife.

At the entrance of the grand walk are two large marble vafes of exquifite workmanship; one faid to be performed by Mr. Cibber, and the other by a foreigner, as a trial of skill. They are beautifully adorned with bas-relief; that on the right-hand representing the triumphs of Bacchus, and the other on the left, Amphitrite and the Nereids.

At

At the bottom of this walk facing a large canal which runs into the park, are two other large Vafes, the bas-relief on one representing the judgment of Paris; and that of the other Meleager hunting the wild Boar.

In four of the parterres are four fine brafs ftatues. The first is a Gladiator, from the original antique in the Borghefe Palace at Rome. The fecond is a young Apollo. The third a Diana; and the fourth Saturn going to devour one of his Children. All after fine antiques.

At the Gates of the Palace are four large brick piers adorned with the Lion and Unicorn and feveral trophies of war well carved in ftone. Paffing through a long Court-yard we come to the firft portal, decorated by Wolfey with the heads of Trajan, Adrian, Tiberius and Vitellius. Through this portal we pass into a large quadrangle. This leads into a fecond, where is the aftronomical clock made by the celebrated Tompion. On the left hand of this quadrangle is the great old Hall, in which Q Caroline erected a Theatre. In the front is a portal of brick decorated with four Cæfar's heads. On the oppofite fide is a ftone colonade of 14 columns. This leads to a great ftair-cafe, which with the "ciefing is painted by Verrio.

Hence

Hence we pafs into the Guard Chamber; and from this into the King's first Presence chamber: on the left hand of the entrance behind the door is a fine picture 18 feet by 15, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. K. William III. is in armour on a stately grey horfe, trampling on trophies of war, by which lies a flaming torch. In the clouds Mercury and Peace fupport his helmet decorated with laurel, and a Cupid holds a fcroll. At the bottom appears Neptune and his attendants by the fide of a rock, welcoming the hero to fhore; and at a diftance is feen a fleet of fhips, their fails fwelled with the E. wind. In the front Plenty with his cornucopia offers him an olive branch, and Flora prefents Flowers.

Over the Chimney: the Marquis of Hamilton Lord Steward of the houfhold to K. Charles I. a whole length by Van Somer.Over the doors are two pieces of architecture, by Roffo.

In the fecond Prefence Chamber, over the chimney is a whole length of Chriftiern IV. K. of Denmark, by Van Somer. Over the three doors are pieces of ruins and landscapes, by Roffo.

In the fourth room the tapestry reprefents part of the story of Abraham. Over the chim

ney

ney is a whole length picture of Elizabeth Q. of Bohemia, daughter of K. James I. and over each of the two doors is a Madona by Domenico Feti

In the fifth room the tapestry is ancient and richly wove with gold; the fubject Abraham fending his fervant to get a wife for Ifaac. Over the chimney is an admirable whole length of K. Charles I. by Van Dyck; and over the doors two capital pictures; David with Goliah's head by Feti; and the Holy Family, by Correggio.

In the King's ftate Bed-chamber, the cieling is painted by Verrio. Over the doors are two flower pieces, by Baptifte; and over the chimney is a whole length of the Dutchefs of York, by Van Somer.

The King's Dreffing Room has the cieling painted, by Verrio. Over the doors are flower pieces, by Baptifte.

In the King's writing elofet, over each door is a flower-piece, by Baptifte, and over the chimney a Picture of a great variety of Birds, by Bougdane.

Q. Mary's closet is hung with needle-work, faid to be wrought by her own hand; the

1

chairs and screen are also said to be her work. Over the chimney-piece is an old painting faid to be Raphael's, reprefenting Jupiter's throne, by which is the thunder, and his eagle in the clouds.

The Queen's Gallery is 70 feet long and 25 wide, and is hung with 7 pieces of Tapestry, reprefenting the hiftory of Alexander the Great, from Le Brun's paintings.

The cieling of the Queen's ftate Bed-chamber is painted by Sir James Thornhill.

King James I. whole length, by Van Somer.
Queen Anne his Confort, by Ditto.

Princess Elizabeth their Daughter, by Ditto. Henry Prince of Wales; whole length, by Van Dyck.

George I.-George II.-Queen CarolineFrederic Prince of Wales.

The Queen's drawing-room has the cieling painted by Verrio. It is hung with green Damask, on which are placed nine pictures, representing the triumph of Julius Cæfar, painted in water colours upon canvas, by Andrea Mantegna. These were formerly all in one piece.

In the Queen's ftate audience room are, the Duke, Dutchefs, and Marchionefs of Brunswick

their