which compose the sylvan screen, it is not only a beautiful object in itself, but forms a most pleasing accompaniment of the water; and, in the sultry days of the summer, must be most delightfully refreshing to the inmates of the place, which the Plate correctly displays, and this description will be found, we trust, in some degree, to illustrate.

SION HOUSE.

THIS magnificent house is one of the seats of the Duke of Northumberland, and is situated on the banks of the Thames, between Isleworth and Brentford, in the parish of the former village. It received its name from a monastery founded by Henry the Fifth, in 1414, for sixty nuns, under the government of an abbess; and for thirteen priests, four deacons, and eight lay brethren, under the government of a confessor; each sex to live in separate cloisters, and follow the rule of St. Augustin. This was one of the first monasteries suppressed by Henry the Eighth, on account of the members of that society having been favourable to the king's enemies, (we suppose spiritual ones,) and particularly the Maid of Kent, who had so far induced Sir Thomas More to attend to her vagaries, that he submitted to two private conferences with her at this place.-On its being suppressed, the revenues of the house amounted to 19441. 11s. 11d., a proof of its great splendour; and, on account of its fine situation, it was appropriated to the king's particular use.

In the next reign this monastery was given by the king to his uncle, the Protector Somerset; who, about the year 1547, began to erect the present structure, but only lived to finish the shell of it.-The house is built on the spot where the church belonging to the monastery formerly stood, and is a large venerable edifice. It is built round a spacious quadrangular court, and possesses four equal fronts.-The roof is flat, covered with lead, and surrounded with battlements. At each corner is a flat square turret, in the same style as the rest of the building. The East front, which faces the Thames, is supported by an handsome cloistral arcade.— The gardens formed two square arcas, inclosed with high walls, and in the best fashion of that day, when as much

anxiety was displayed to preclude prospects, as is now eur ployed to disclose them.

After the attainder and execution of the Duke of Somerset, on the twenty-second of January 1552, Sion House was confiscated to the crown, and was soon after given to the Duke of Northumberland, when it became the residence of his son Lord Guilford, and his daughter the incomparable but unfortunate Lady Jane Grey.-The Duke having fallen a victim to his ambition, and suffered on the scaffold on the twenty-second of August 1553, Sion House once more reverted to the crown, when Queen Mary restored it to the nuns, who retained it in their possession, till they were expelled by Queen Elizabeth in the first year of her reign.

Some years after the second dissolution of this monastery, it was granted, by a long lease, to Henry, Earl of Northumberland; who, on account of his eminent services to the government, was permitted to enjoy it, on paying a small annual rent, which, when offered, was generally remitted.— King James the First afterwards granted it to him and his heirs for ever, when he greatly embellished and improved it. His son Algernon succeeded to the estate in 1631; and employed Inigo Jones to make alterations for its more splendid appearance.

To Sion House the Dukes of York and Gloucester, with the Princess Elizabeth, were sent by an order of Parliament, in 1646; where, according to Lord Clarendon, they were treated by the Earl and Countess of Northumberland in a inanner suitable to their birth.-The king frequently visited them there, in 1647, and represented it as a great alleviation of his misfortunes to find his children treated with so much respect and kindness. The Duke of Gloucester and the Princess Elizabeth continued at Sion till the year 1649, when the Earl of Northumberland resigned them to the care of his sister, the Countess of Leicester.

On the thirtieth of May 1682, Charles Duke of Somerset. married the Lady Elizabeth Percy, the only daughter and heiress of Jocelyn Earl of Northumberland; in consequence