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THE GREAT DRAWING-ROOM.

This apartment is 47 feet long, 25 broad, and 20 high. It is furnished with excellent Tapeftry, which, for colour as well as expreffion, engages the attention of the curious. It is the work of Vanderborght, and represents the four Quarters of the World, well expreffed by affemblages of the natives, in their various habits and employments, except Europe, which is in Masquerade. Over the four Doors are the Seafons and Elements painted in a very peculiar ftyle. These figures, in Claro Obfcuro, appear as if starting from the Canvas. From the vast expreffion, yet exceeding light tint of these Pieces, the fpectator is at firft fight ready to pronounce them bas-reliefs in white marble.

The Chimney piece is extremely fuperb, compofed of rich Egyptian marble, executed by Carter. The Cornice is fupported by highly carved and polifhed Figures of Ceres and Flora, about five feet high: the Drapery of thefe Figures, one in the ancient, the other in the modern ftyle, as well as their Attitudes, are peculiarly ftriking and expreffive. In the centre of the Freeze is a raised Tablet of the Choice of Hercules. Over it is a Painting of the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Hoft in the Red Sea.-Suitable to the other Ornaments of this apartment, the Ceiling confifts of reprefentations of the four Quarters of the World, with the Elements, and Seafons, in ftucco, interfperfed with Fables and other Decorations; and furrounded by a full enriched Corinthian Entablature.-On the oppofite fide to the Chimney piece are two fuperb Glaffes, upwards of four feet in breadth, and nine feet high.-Under thefe Glaffes are two rich Tables of Egyptian marble, upon gilt and carved Frames; and on the other Piers are two Girandoles of exquifite workmanship, by Anfell.

THE MUSIC-PARLOUR

Is a fmall neat room, with a light and well executed Ceiling.

THE

THE DINING-PARLOUR,

A very commodious apartment, of 27 feet by 25. The Walls, with the Cove and Ceiling, are decorated with varied compartments of highly finished Ornaments, in ftucco. Over the Chimney is a Portrait of the late Duke of Shrewsbury.

The Environs, or Gardens, are well laid out. A variety of beautiful fcenes ftrike the spectator in a moft agreeable fucceffion. With very little appearance of art, nature has received much affiftance from tafte. To the fouth-weft, lofty trees afford a moft refreshing shade, interfperfed with openings edged with flowers. Eastward, a fmall ftream is improved into a winding river, broke by cafcades, whose banks are adorned with a curious fancybuilding called

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This edifice is covered with reeds, and conftructed of ruftic oak; the infide is lined with mofs of various colours, and the floor paved in Mofaic work, with horfe's teeth polished. Upon entering this building, we ́have a striking view of two Cascades, which afford an agreeable furprise.

This piece of water is croffed by a ftone bridge, under which is an engine that fupplies the house with water; and above it, at the diftance of about four hundred paces, is the most natural, if not the most striking of the Cafcades found here. It is built with petrifactions, and other curious ftones; and on the top is a Terrace, planted with flowering fhrubs.

From this bridge, in another direction through a grove, we afcend to a beautiful ferpentine walk, alfo planted with flowering fhrubs on each fide, which terminates in an octagon Bowling-Green, where we command feveral extenfive, different, and moft delightful profpects.

NUNEHAM.

NUNEHAM-COURTENAY,

THE SEAT OF.

THE EARL OF HARCOURT.

T the general furvey this manor belonged to

A Richard de Curcy: afterwards to the Family of

Riparys, or Redvers. Mary, youngest daughter of William de Redvers, Earl of Devon (who, as well as his uncle William, was furnamed de Vernon), married Robert de Courtenay, Baron of Okenhampton, in 1214. -It is probable, that by this marriage the manor of Nuneham was carried into the Family of Courtenay, and thence affumed the name of Nuneham-Courtenay. After them fucceeded (the Pollards) Sir John Pollard of Devon. From them it came to Audley of the Court of Wards, called the Rich Audley.

From him to Robert Wright, Bifhop of Litchfield, whofe fon, Calvert Wright, fold it to John Robinson, of London, Merchant, (temp. Ol. Cromwell), knighted in 1660, by King Charles II. and made Lieutenant of the Tower.

From the Robinfons it defcended to David Earl of Wemys (who married Mary, daughter and coheiress of Sir John Robinson, Baronet), from whom it was purchafed in the year 1710, by Simon, firft Lord Harcourt, Lord High Chancellor of England.

The House was built by the late Earl, but has fince been much altered and enlarged (by the addition of a Court of Offices, &c.) according to the plans of Mr. Brown it ftands in a park of fix miles and an half in circumference, well wooded, and containing near twelve hundred acres, in which "are Scenes worthy of the bold pencil of Rubens, or to be fubjects for the tranquil

See Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes of Painters, octavo Edition, Vo lume the fecond, page 145,

funshines

funfhines of Claude Lorrain." The Gardens contain thirty-eight acres, and (except the Terrace and FlowerGarden) were laid out by Mr. Brown.

From the centre window of the Breakfast Room, round the fouth fide of the Garden, and back again, is half a mile and fixteen poles.

From the fame place along the Terrace, round the hill, at the termination of it, and back again, is a mile and a furlong.

In entering the House you pass through a Veftibule, which is ornamented with Doric Columns, and Cafts of Antique Statues; and afcend by an oval Geometrical Stair-cafe, to

THE SALOON,

30 Feet by 16, and 18 and an half high, hung with blue Damask, and the following Pictures:

Over one of the Chimnies, Sufannah and the Elders, by Annibale Caracci. Over the other, two Beggar Boys, by Murillio. It came from Penshurst.

The following eight Heads hang on either fide of them William fifth Lord Paget, by Sir Peter Lely; Lady Ann Finch, fecond daughter of Sir Thomas Finch, Bart. and first Earl of Winchelfea, wife to Sir William Waller, General of the Parliament Army in the Civil War, by Vandyck. A Portrait of one of the Harcourt Family, by Mirevelt; fine. George Simon Viscount Nuneham (now Earl Harcourt), at the age of seventeen, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, capital.

Another Portrait of one of the Harcourt Family, which, as well as the former, was a prefent from Harcourt Powell, Efq. Simon Harcourt (afterwards Viscount and Earl), only fon of the Hon. Simon Harcourt; the Head by Sir Godfrey Kneller; Mrs. Siddons, the celebrated Actress, in the character of Isabella in the Fatal Marriage, by Hamilton; Elizabeth, daughter of King James the Firft, Electress Palatine and Queen of Bohemia, by Honthorft; a prefent from her to Sir Simon Harcourt. Over the centre Door, a Nymph

with Cupids, reprefenting Evening, by Valerio Caftelli. Over the other two Doors, Aubrey Vere, twentieth and laft Earl of Oxford of that Houfe, by Walker. Baron Rhynwick, by Mirevelt; a very good Portrait; the Hands remarkably fine. At one end of the room, Henrietta Maria, Queen to King Charles the Firft, by Van. dyck under it the Nativity, by Pietro da Pietri. At the other end of the room, Lady Mary Tufton, fifth daughter of John, fecond Earl of Thanet, firft wife to Sir William Walter, Bart. of Sarfden in Oxfordshire, by Sir Peter Lely under it, Dead Game, by Fytt, from the collection of Mr. Bagnols.

THE ANTE-ROOM,

24 feet by 15, and 18 and a half high.

Over the Chimney, Sarah, daughter of Richard Jennings, Efq. of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, wife to John Churchill, firft Duke of Marlborough, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; a prefent from her to the firft Lord Harcourt. Over one Arch a View of part of the Quay and Bay of Naples, by Gafpar Occhiali. Over the other Arch, a View of part of Rome and the Tiber, by the fame hand.

Under them, two Heads, by Cornelius Janfen. At one end of the room, King William, hunting, with feveral Figures, by Wooton. Under it the two following Pictures: a Herdsman with Cattle, by Peter Vander Leuw; from the collection of Mr. Bagnols: a Landfcape, with Cattle, by Rogman. At the other end, a ruined Bridge, with Figures, by Crabetje. Under it the two following Pictures: Chrift driving the MoneyChangers out of the Temple, on marble, by Baffan the Holy Family, by Albano. Over one Door, the Hon. Simon Harcourt, only fon of Simon first Viscount Harcourt, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Over the other Door, Elizabeth, daughter of John Evelyn, Efq. of Wooton in Surrey, his Wife, by Dahl.

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THE

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