Over the marble Door is A Bust of Milo Crotoniensis, by Wilton. Over the left-hand Chimney is A Bust of Charles Earl of Sunderland, who collected this Library, Over each Chimney are Landscapes after Gaspard Poussin. Over the right-hand Chimney is A Bust of Charles Spencer Duke of Marlborough, by Rysbrack. At the farther end of the room is A fine Greek Bust of Alexander, in very good preservation, on a Therm, designed by Sir William Chambers. And in this room are two antique Statues, of Diana and Julia Domna, on Mahogany Therms. The Whole-length PORTRAITS are, King William the Third.-Queen Anne. Elizabeth Duchess of Marlborough. Francis Earl of Godolphin. Anne Countess of Sunderland. Elizabeth Countess of Bridgewater. The Hon. John Spencer. The Right Honourable Lady Georgiana Spencer, now Countess Cowper. John Duke of Montagu. Before we leave this Gallery, I must direct the Spectator to its Bow-windows, from whence we have a delightful prospect of the declivity descending to the wa ter, and the gradual ascent of the groves which cover the opposite hill. N. B. In the Galleries of the Attic Story there is a large Collection of Family Portraits, by different Masters. THE CHAPEL.. This is one of the wings: in which is a superb Monument to the memory of the first Duke and Duchess, by Rysbrack. They are represented with their two sons, who died young, as supported by Fame and History. Beneath, in a basso relievo, is the taking of Marshal Tallard. The Altar-piece is Our Saviour taking down from the cross, by Jordaens of Antwerp. THE GARDENS include a great variety of ground. The descent on the south-west side; the extent and beauty of the water; the grandeur of the opposite bank, the cascade, the new bridge and lower piece of water, form an assemblage of great and beautiful objects in no other place to be met with. The ground on the south-east is a happy contrast to the south-west side; the Gardens here seem to lose themselves in the Park, amidst a profusion of venerable oaks and intersected avenues, from whence they derive an air of most indeterminate extent, which is very pleasing. Lastly, the beautiful plain in the front of the House, and the picturesque effect of the Village rising out of the Wood below, call for our attention. These Gardens have been considerably enlarged, and thrown into the form they now wear, by the present Duke, who has likewise farther beautified them by the addition of some judicious and well-placed ornaments; particularly the Temple of Diana, and an elegant little temple in what is called the Flower Garden: to which we may add two noble Bronzes, and some copies of antique Vases in stone. THE PARK is eleven miles in circumference, and contains mang delightful scenes. The lover of rural variety will be entertained here with every circumstance of beauty which he can expect from diversified nature; from hill and valley, water and woods. The pleasure-grounds have lately received a considerable improvement and enlargement, by throwing a neat Chinese bridge over the lake, near the cascade and inclosing and laying down, in the most elegant style, a pretty large tract of the opposite hill. In this delightful spot several grottos are so naturally introduced, that art scarcely appears. But the most capital object is a magnificent fountain, a present to John Duke of Marlborough; which, after lying neglected for many years, has been recently erected in the vale, near the eastern limits of the new improvements. On one side of this fountain is the subsequent Latin inscription ¿ and on the three other sides is the same in three diffe rent languages, Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Ad Innocentium XI. Summum Pontificem. Pro. Carolo. II. Hispaniarum Rege. Excelc: D: D: Gazpar: De. Haro, et Guzman. Murchio. De. Carpio. Et Helicheo Orator. Ad Typum Molis. In Agonali Foro Erectæ. Ab Equite. Bernino. Opus. Hoc. Exstrui. Anno Dom. M.DC.LXXXI. At a small distance from this noble piece of sculpture is a mineral spring, commonly called Newfound Well ; which, flowing into a beautiful antique bason, externally adorned with numerous figures in basso relievo, is from thence discharged by the mouths of two lions near the top, and immediately disappearing, soon enters the lake. About the middle of the grand approach is a magnificent Bridge, chiefly consisting of three arches, the centre one of which is larger than the Rialto at Venice: the water is formed into a spacious lake, which covers the whole extent of a capacious valley, surrounded by an artificial declivity of a prodigious depth, and is indisputably, both with regard to its accompaniments and extent, the most capital piece of water in this kingdom. In this Park originally stood a Royal Palace, where King Ethelred called a Parliament. Henry I. inclosed the Park with a wall, part of which is now remaining. His successor Henry II. principally resided at this seat, and erected in the Park a house encompassed with a Labyrinth of extraordinary contrivance, for the habitation of his concubine Fair Rosamond. This romantic retreat, commonly styled Fair Rosamond's Bower, was situated on the hill, to the north-west of the bridge, above a remarkable bath, or spring, called at present Rosamond's Well. In this palace Edmund, the second son of Edward I was born, and thence denominated Edmund of Woodstock; as was Edward the Black Prince. The Princess Elizabeth, afterwards Queen, was kept a prisoner here, under the persecutions of Queen Mary. This palace retained its original splendor, and was inhabited by our kings, till the reign of Charles I. but began to be demolished in the succeeding times of confusion. Its magnificent ruins were remaining within the memory of man, near the bridge, to the north, on the spot where two sycamores have been since planted as a memorial. The Park and Manor of Woodstock, with other appurtenances, were granted, with concurrence of Parliament, by Queen Anne, in the fourth year of her reign, to John Duke of Marlborough, and his heirs, in recompense of the many illustrious victories obtained under his command against the French and Bavarian armies; particularly at Blenheim. The grant of the crown, and the services of the Duke, are fully specified on the pedestal of a stately. column, 130 feet in height; on the top of which is a Statue of the Duke, situated in a grand avenue. On one side is the following inscription, supposed to be written by the late Lord Bolingbroke. The Castle of BLENHEIM was founded by Queen ANNE, In the Fourth Year of her Reign, In the Year of the Christian Æra 1705. A Monument designed to perpetuate the Memory of the Obtained over the French and Bavarians, |