THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH'S VILLA.

from the water. From the building, the river is broken. by the plantations into several pleasing parts, while a commanding view is reserved over the beautiful meadows of Mr. Cambridge on the other side of the stream. Such is the disposition of which this place was susceptible; and such it received from the taste of its late noble possessor.

RICHMOND,

ANCIENTLY CALLED SHEEN.

It is a remarkable circumstance that this delightful spot should not have been mentioned in the Doomsday survey. Mr. Lysons supposes it was then included in the manor of Kingston, which belonged to the crown: the first mention he found of it was in the reign of King John, when it was the property of Michael Belet, who held it by the service of being the king's butler, having been granted to his ancestors, with that office annexed, by Henry I. After passing through a few families it reverted to the crown in the reign of Edward I. It has generally been granted to some branches of the royal family, and is at present held by her majesty. Lands in this manor, as well as that of Ham and Petersham, descend to the youngest son, or in default to the youngest daughter. The manor-house of Sheen was first made the residence of royalty by Edward I. it was afterwards occupied by Edward II. and III. and by Richard II. who abandoned it in grief for the loss of his queen, and suffered it to go to ruin. Henry VII. restored it to its former magnificence: it was burnt by accident in his reign, rebuilt by him, and then received its present name of Richmond.

Henry VIII. on accepting the magnificent palace of Hampton-court from Cardinal Wolsey, permitted him to reside in that of Richmond, where he kept a large establishment.

Queen Elizabeth spent much of her time at this place, and there closed her glorious political life. Charles I. is supposed to have formed a large collection of pictures* here, and the place was well calculated for it. From the

• Thomas Creser, Esq. of Turnham-green, has in his possession a portrait of Henry VIII. by Holbein, which was once a pannel in this palace.

survey taken by order of parliament, in 1649, it appears the great hall" was 100 feet in length, and 40 in breadth," and that "adjoining the privy garden there was an open gallery 200 feet long, over which was a close gallery of the same length." The palace, of which there are now several prints engraved, was indeed of "a rude disordered order," "a thing of shreds and patches;" turrets, towers, and steeples, of all shapes and sizes: it appears, however, of considerable magnitude, when compared with the figures near it, in the plate engraved by Vandergutcht, now in the Bodleian Library, and supposed to have been from a drawing by Hollar. This print, which Mr. Lysons obtained for his Environs of London, may be esteemed the best view now extant it is an exact representation of the place; and there is a threemasted pleasure vessel lying before it, with the royal standard flying at the main top-mast.

The palace reverted to the crown at the restoration and although it had been sold by the parliament, it does not appear to have been completely stripped of its contents, for several boats, laden with rich and curious effigies, formerly belonging to Charles I. but since alienated, are said to have been brought from Richmond to Whitehall*. What the ravages of time left of this palace, were probably pulled down by those who obtained leases of the crown soon after the revolution. The present Duke of Queensberry's house is on the site of the old palace, as is that of the late Sir Charles Asgill. Some of the offices still exist, and the floods have washed down a wall which formed a part of them.

About a quarter of a mile from this place formerly stood the hamlet of West Sheen, where Henry V. founded a convent of Carthusian friars, in which Perkin Warbeck sought an asylum, and solicited the prior to beg his life of the king.

This convent, after various changes, became the residence of Sir William Temple, where he was frequently visited by King William, at the time Dean Swift was his amanuensis.

* Lysons, from Exact Accompt.