AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION, VOL. 13, ISSUE 368, MAY 2, 1829***


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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

VOL. 13, No. 368.] SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1829. [PRICE 2d.



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CLARENDON HOUSE, PICCADILLY.


[Illustration: CLARENDON HOUSE, PICCADILLY.]


The virtuous and uncompromising chancellor, the Earl of Clarendon, had
a splendid mansion facing the upper end of St. James's-street, on the
site of the present Grafton-street. Of this princely pile, the above
is an accurate engraving. It was built by Clarendon with the stone
intended for the rebuilding of St. Paul's. "He purchased the
materials," says Pennant, "but a nation soured with an unsuccessful
war, with fire, and with pestilence, imputed everything as a crime to
this great and envied character; his enemies called it Dunkirk House,
calumniating him with having built it with the money arising from the
sale of that town, which had just before been given up to the French,
for a large sum, by his Master."

It is true that Clarendon built this mansion in a season of
discontent; but so sensible was he of his vanity and imprudence in
building so large a house, and of the envy it drew upon him, that he
afterwards apologized for the act; which he declares, so far exceeded
the proposed expense, as to add greatly to the embarrassment of his
affairs.

This mansion cost L50,000. and 300 men were employed in the building.
It was purchased from his lordship by George Monk, Duke of Albemarle,
and afterwards by another nobleman, inferior indeed in abilities, but
not inferior in virtues. In 1670, James, Duke of Ormond, resided at
Clarendon House; and on his way thither, he was one day dragged out of
his coach by the infamous Blood and his associates, who intended to
hang his Grace at Tyburn, in revenge for justice done, under his
administration in Ireland, on some of their companions. "This
refinement in revenge," says Pennant, "saved the duke's life; he had
leisure to disengage himself from the villain on horseback, to whom he
was tied; by which time he was discovered by his servants, and rescued
from death."

The original of our Engraving was copied from a rare print, which, in
the year 1790, was in the collection of Thomas Allen, Esq. Appended to
the former is a section, showing the relative situation of Clarendon
House, which was taken from a map of London (supposed to be unique) in
an illustrated _Clarendon's History_, in the possession of John
Charles Crowle, Esq. By the section, the entrance-gate to the
court-yard of the house appears to have been in Piccadilly, in a
direct line with St. James's Street, and the grounds to have extended
to Bruton Street at the back, where there was likewise a
communication. The site of the front gate is now, therefore, the
commencement of _Albemarle Street_, named after one of the
distinguished occupants of Clarendon House.

Notwithstanding the revolutions of time and fashion in this quarter,
the illustrious name of the founder of Clarendon House is still
preserved in the "_Clarendon Hotel_," which occupies a portion of the
original ground already described. One of the changes is, that instead
of the Chancellor meditating upon his dismissal from office, which his
very virtues and stately dignity, and a weak king, and a more wicked
and envious faction had brought about,--we have well-living twos and
fours hob-nobbing over Chateau-Margaux, or yielding to the delightful
inspirations of Ay Champagne. Not a few more of the good things of
this great town are assembled near the same spot. Albemarle Street has
many first-rate hotels, and two handsome club-houses; while on the
Bond Street side of the quadrangle are two or three extensive
libraries, an immense porcelain repository, and a score of fashionable
_artistes_. What idle delights are all these compared with the wisdom
and virtue which once dwelt on the same spot. But had Clarendon lived
to see Crockford's splendid subscription-house rise after a golden
shower, in St. James's Street, (and this he might have done from the
front-windows of Clarendon House) he would, perhaps, have given us an
extra volume of _Essays_. We would that he _had_ so lived, if only
that his sublime truths might thus nave been multiplied for the good
of mankind, if not for the weak heads of St. James's Street.

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THE GLANCIN' E'E.


  Oh lassie tell me can'st thou lo'e,
    I hae gaz'd upon thy glancin' e'e;
  It soars aboon, it rolls below,
    But, ah, it never rests on me.

  Oh lassie I hae socht the hour
    When pity wak'nin' lo'e might be,
  Tell my sair heart a gauldin' flower
    Has droopit in thy glancin' e'e.

  Oh lassie, turn not sae awa'
    Disdainfu', gie na death to me;
  Does pity mark the tears that fa'?
    Exhale them wi' thy glancin' e'e.

C.C.

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WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

(_For the Mirror_.)

"There is a voice from the grave sweeter than song."--_Washington
Irving_.


  Illustrious dead! one tributary sigh,
  In that great temple where the mighty lie,
  I breath'd for you--a magic charm was there
  Where rest the great and good, the wise and fair;
  Their glittering day of fame has had its close
  And beauty, genius, grandeur, there repose.
  Immortal names! kings, queens, and statesmen rise
  In marble forms before the gazer's eyes.
  Cold, pale, and silent, down each lessening aisle
  They clustering stand, and mimic life awhile.
  The warrior chief, in sculptur'd beauty dies,
  And in Fame's clasping arms for ever lies.
  "Each in his place of state," the rivals stand,
  The senators, who saved a sinking land;
  Majestic, graceful,--each with "lips apart"
  Whose eloquence subdued and won the heart.
  Pitt! round thy name how bright a halo burns,
  When memory to thy day of glory turns;
  And views thee in life's bright meridian lie,
  And victim to thy patriot spirit die!
  Round Fox's tomb, what forms angelic weep,
  And ever watch that chill and marble sleep!
  Silence, how eloquent! how deep--profound--
  She holds her reign above the hallow'd ground.
  Here sceptred monarchs in death's slumbers lie,
  Tudors, Plantagenets--they too could die!
  Beneath a'scutcheon'd arch, with banners spread,
  Unhappy, murdered, Richard rests his head.
  While Pomfret's walls in "ruin greenly tell,"
  How fought the brave and how the noble fell!
  Pale rose of York! thy sanguine rival rears
  Full many a tomb, and many a trophy bears.
  But who lies here? in marble lovely still,
  Here let me pause, and fancy take her fill.
  Poor ill-starr'd Mary; Melancholy gloom
  And fond regrets are waking o'er thy tomb.
  Bright was thy morn of promise, dark the day,
  That clos'd thy fate in murderous Fotheringay!
  How near thee lies that "bright star of the west,"
  Elizabeth, of queens the wisest, best;
  Her "lion port," and her imperial brow,
  The dark grey stone essays in vain to show.
  Ye royal rivals of a former day,
  How has your love and hatred pass'd away!
  To future times how faint the voice of fame,
  For greatness here but "stalks an empty name."
  Around, above, how sorrow builds her throne,
  To snatch from death's embrace each treasure gone.
  See, how the horrid phantom bends his bow,
  And points his dart to lay that victim low![1]
  She sinks, she falls, and her fond husband's breast
  Is the cold pillow to that marble rest!
  But softly tread upon the sacred ground,
  Where Britain's bards lie sepulchred round.
  Sons of the muse, who woke the magic spell,
  From the deep windings of "Apollo's shell!"
  Mute is each lyre, their silent strings are bound
  With willow, yew, and cypress wreath'd around.
  Their hopes, joys, sorrows, rest within the grave
  Admiring nations to their relics gave.
  Hail, mighty shades! bright spirits of the past;
  Here may your ashes sleep while time shall last.
  Let kindred genius shed the pensive tear,
  And grace with votive elegy each bier.
  While far beyond this melancholy vale,
  When faded sorrow tells her mournful tale,
  "O'er this dim spot of earth," in regions fair
  Your spirits dwell, and joys eternal share.

    [1] The tomb of Mrs. Nightingale.

_Kirton Lindsey_.

ANNIE R.

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THE COSMOPOLITE.

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THE TIMES NEWSPAPER.


We are not about to write an advertisement for this advertised of all
advertisers--nor to talk of its square feet--its crowded broadside--or
the myriads of letters that make it resemble a sea of animalculae. We
are content to leave all the pride of its machinery to Messrs.
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purlieus of Printing-house Square. Yet these are interesting items in
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taken mechanically or morally, the _Times_ is, without exception, the
newspaper of all newspapers, "the observed of all _observers_" and
altogether, the most extraordinary production of this or any other
age.

But we are more anxious to reach what may be called the philosophy of
a newspaper--that broad volume of human life, in which "the follies,
vices, and consequent miseries of multitudes are displayed." To prove
this, only let the reader glance over the twenty-four