CHARLTON HOUSE-ITS ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES.

building, belonging to no pure architectural style, erected by Sir Adam Newton in the reign of James the First. It is perched upon a hill of gradual ascent, and commands the noble prospect of the Thames. It is of red brick, faced here and there with stone, with an open balustrade running round its summit; above this ornamental parapet may be seen straggling groups of clustered chimneys, and two small towers that surmount the projecting wings of the principal front, and agreeably diversify the general outline. The entrance is ornamented in a style both varied and elaborate, which, though displaying great incongruity in its various parts, puts forth strong claims to our approval by reason of its admirable picturesqueness. This would appear to have been the one great aim of the architects of the Elizabethan period. In this centre part we have dwarfish columns and deep bay windows, garnished with heraldic ornaments and grotesque devices, producing great variety of parts, yet leaving no one blank upon which the eye might light and there repose.

The interior of Charlton House is exactly what might be expected from its outward appearance.* A large manorial hall, with

music-gallery; a noble staircase, snug wainscotted parlours, and long oaklined galleries, now converted into prim saloons and showy drawing-rooms, but which still boast their antique windows and quaintlymoulded ceilings; these, with innumerable bed-chambers, make up its chief extent. In point of

*We may observe that an order for admission is necessary from the steward of Sir Thomas Wilson; and visiters will do well to inquire whether the family be at home before they proceed on a special visit to Charlton House; as, if so, an inconvenient disappointment will await them on their arrival.

ENTRANCE HALL-THE STAIRCASE-ITS RECENT RESTORATION.

order, we first arrive at the spacious entrance-hall; and here we must stay to notice its richly-ornamented roof,-each moulded compartment of which displays the illuminated monogram of Sir William Ducie, a possessor of this mansion in by-gone times. From the centre drops an elegant pendant, and statues on pedestals are ranged around the apartment, whilst a large table of beautiful mosaic work stands on our immediate left. Passing from the hall, we stop to admire the ancient staircase of massive

chesnut, lately relieved from sundry coatings of vile white paint, with which it was besmeared in the reigns of Anne and the early Georges. This is not to be wondered at, when the taste progressed so far, that it became the prevailing fashion for both men and women to paint themselves. Other salutary restorations have been effected by the good taste of the present proprietor, whose armorial bearings,

DINING HALL AND CHAPEL-HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES.

supported by a wolf, surmount the principal banister at the foot of the stairs. The carved panels have been stripped of their mean plaster of Paris flounces, which the conceit of the same artificial age had thought to impose on us for marble.

We now enter through two massive oaken doors, ornamented with bright steel hinges, and find ourselves within a splendid dininghall. The arabesque pattern of this ceiling, we are informed, is a design made by Sir Thomas Wilson, the present owner of Charlton House. Communicating with this apartment is a small chapel, which has been recently fitted up in keeping with the other portions of the building. After viewing this, we proceed once more to the staircase, noting, as we ascend, the progressive additions to the design, from the plain figure of the banister of the first flight to the more elaborately ornamented upper ones. On arriving at the first floor, numerous objects of curiosity attract our attention; among others, a cabinet decorated with fresco gems, after the style of those discovered at Pompeii, being highly-coloured miniature grotesque figures upon a dark ground. From here we are conducted into a magnificent room to the right, extending the whole depth of the mansion, with large bay windows on either side. In the roof of that which faces the west are seen the arms of James the First, and in the opposite recess the device and arms of his eldest son Henry, Prince of Wales, who here spent a considerable portion of his short life, under the care of Sir Adam Newton, his officially appointed tutor, and whose untimely death placed the crown on his brother Charles's head, and brought about those lamentable results, which we may fairly presume under other circumstances would never have transpired. Newton, although a strict disciplinarian, still encouraged in the Prince that playful spirit of humour for which he was early remarkable, and allowed him "a freedom of jesting that appears to have been carried, at times, to a degree of momentary irritability on the side of the tutor by the keen humour of the boy." It were no difficult task to recall to mind some of these amusing incidents, which exhibit not only the prince's ready wit, but what is the more to be commended, his invariable amiability of disposition.

On some sunny afternoon in hot July, the day's studies over, the prince and his tutor are recreating themselves at the fashionable game of shuffle-board. The table has been drawn into the very

ANECDOTES OF HENRY AND HIS TUTOR.

recess where we now stand, that they may enjoy the pleasant breeze which is at the moment springing up from the rippling Thames, and which plays in through the open casement, charged with the perfume of the trailing honeysuckle and daintier jessamine, that blossom in gay profusion around. The prince, in his play, has been changing sundry pieces, which draws forth the remark from his tutor, that he did ill to change so frequently. Sir Adam, taking a piece in his hand, observes that he would play well enough therewith, without changing, then throws the piece on the board, yet not so well but the prince with a smile exclaims-" Well thrown, sir!"

Master Newton at this bites his lips and replies, somewhat vexed, -"He would not strive any longer with a prince at shuffle-board." "And yet you gownsmen should be best at such exercises, being not meet for those that are more stirring," quietly observes the prince.

"Yes," retorts Sir Adam, sharply, "I am meet for whipping of boys."

"You need not vaunt, sir," the other replies, "at that which a ploughman or cart-driver can do better than you."

"Yet I can do more," exclaims the tutor somewhat testily, "I can govern foolish children."

At this the prince, who respected him even in jesting, smilingly remarks in a low voice to those standing by,-"He had need be a wise man himself who could do that."

We have another anecdote at our pen's end :-
:-

Henry is out one day with a gay party, hunting over the waste lands in the neighbourhood, when the stag, exhausted by a long run, makes a last effort, clears the boundary fence, and darts across a roadway along which a butcher and his dog are at that moment passing. The dog brings down the stag, and soon worries him to death. His master, astonished at the circumstance, and seeing no one at hand, endeavours to make off with the carcass, but finds his burthen too heavy for him. At this juncture the prince and his party ride up, some of whom immediately endeavour to incense him against the man, observing, absurdly enough for their argument, "that if the king his father had been there, he would have sworn so no man could have borne it." To this, Henry, turning

HENRY'S DEATH-INTERIOR DECORATIONS OF CHARLTON House. towards them, calmly replies,-"My friends, all the pleasures of the world are not worth a vain oath!"

That Henry was addicted to manly sports, the anecdotes usually related of him furnish ample evidence. We find one or two youthful animosities had their origin at his favourite game of tennis. At other times these occupations furnished him, not with the materials for a quarrel, but for the exercise of his ready wit. Once, while amusing himself at golf, just as he was about to strike the ball, a bystander exclaimed, "Beware, sir, that you do not hit Mr. Newton," who, unknown to the prince, was then just behind him. Newton, it should be remembered, was no courtly sparer of the rod; we can, therefore, understand the prince's reply, made in an undertone, as he desisted from the stroke,-"If I had done so, I had but paid my debts."

His love for active amusements caused him perhaps to neglect his studies, which drew forth a remark from the king, that his brother Charles would soon outstrip him in learning. When afterwards reminded of this expression by his tutor, he showed some insight into Charles's character by observing readily,— "Well, then, I will make my brother Charles archbishop of Canterbury."

That Henry died a foul death in the bloom of life and promise, and that his father had some hand in his slow assassination, we fear there is too much reason to believe. Chief Justice Coke lost the king's favour, and, eventually, his place, through his remark at the trial of the vile Somerset,-"God knew what went with the good Prince Henry-but I have heard something."

Ere we leave the room in which we have loitered so long, we may casually notice its elegant decorations. Amongst other matters, a variegated marble fire-place, handsomely arranged with supporting statues of white marble, should not be overlooked. Charlton House is rich in this kind of decoration. In an adjoining apartment may be seen the ornamented chimney-piece, represented in the annexed sketch.

We now proceed through a room, the walls of which are hung with numerous family portraits, into an apartment to which belongs the legend of the place. Here was, till within these last few months, a very remarkable fire-place of highly-polished black