the loudest applauses of a theatre. Whatever had passed it, he thought might without any imputation of immodesty refer want of success to want of judgment in an audience." In this house he wrote his most famous work Tom Jones, which was published in 1746. Horace Walpole, with much less than his usual taste, refers to Fielding's "unimaginable wit" in his Parish Register of Twickenham.*

Fielding did not come to reside in the parish until after the death of his first wife—the original of Amelia -after which event he married her maid Mary Macdaniel: the baptism of their son, William, which was solemnized in 1747, has been quoted in the extracts from the registers. He left Twickenham on being appointed, in 1748, through Lord Lyttelton's interest, a Middlesex magistrate, and died on a foreign excursion, undertaken on account of ill-health, at Lisbon, in 1754Hogarth made a sketch of him from memory after death, and Lady Montague wrote of him thus:

I am sorry for H. Fielding's death, not only as I shall read no more of his writings, but I believe he lost more than others, as no man enjoyed life more than he did, though few had less reason to do so . . . His happy constitution (even when he had with great pains half demolished it) made him forget everything when he was before a venison pasty, or over a flask of champagne; and I am persuaded he has known more happy moments than any prince upon earth.

HOLLY HOUSE. The large house at the back of this, called "Holly House," now, in common with most Twickenham residences, despoiled of its country-like isolation, and approached from a road lined with “neat villas," was for many years the abode of Mr. John

See p. 306.

Spackman, and afterwards of his son-in-law Lieutenant Thomas Hill, of his Majesty's navy. It has until very lately remained in the possession of the descendants of the same family, although it has been let by them to various tenants, amongst whom was Miss Chownes, who kept a ladies' school here. Mr. Swanston, an eminent chancery lawyer, and a gentleman of great literary and artistic tastes, whose valuable library has been recently sold, resided in it for many years. His son, Mr. C. T. Swanston, Q.C., succeeded his father in the occupation of the house: but within the last few years he has left and disposed of it.* It is now occupied by the Rev. J. Twentyman, M.A., Vicemaster of King's College School.

GROSVENOR HOUSE.-The old house near the first additional grave-yard at the back of the London Road, now called "Grosvenor House" (the residence of Mr. Booth) is mentioned by Ironside as the residence of "Thomas Budgen, Esq., of Darking in the county of Surrey; sometime the residence of the Dowager Lady Harborough." It next belonged to "Mr. J. Spyres, draftsman," and it was for many years the residence of Mr. Charles Coombs Clark, a medical

It may be mentioned here that Mr. Swanston possesses a very curious Twickenham relic, a fork and spoon which belonged to the great Lord Bacon. It is composed of three materials, “—gold, silver, and glass; and is so contrived that to the fork may be attached a bowl, by which is formed an elegant and useful spoon. The bowl is of silver and is fastened to the two silver prongs of the fork by four silver loops through which they pass. The handle of the fork is of glass, set in silver, which is joined to the fork by an ornament of gold; and at the top modelled in gold is a boar, the crest of Lord Bacon. The length of the fork inclusive of the crest is five inches and the circumference of the bowl seven inches. The entire weight is 594 grains, or I oz. 4 dwts. 18 grains." This description was communicated to the Illustrated London News of January 22nd, 1848, and an engraving was given with it.

man who had a considerable practice in Twickenham in his day.

Opposite this house on the east-side of the London Road is "Twickenham School," which is now conducted by Dr. Clayton Palmer, L.C.P., who was preceded immediately by the Rev. J. Wilkie, and before him by the Rev. Dr. Lewis. The house was in the beginning of the century a ladies' school under Mrs. Pomeroy. It had previously been the residence of a very aged lady, Mrs. Nepheune, the widow of an admiral in the Dutch service.

WALNUT-TREE HOUSE. The old house at the corner of the road joining the London Road to Arragon Road, is evidently a portion of the out-buildings of Arragon House; it appears in the map prefixed to Ironside's History exactly in its present shape, and was then used as a shop by Mr. Pritchard, a carver and gilder.

CHAPTER XX.

THE HOUSES—Continued.

FORTESCUE HOUSE-THE RESIDENCE OF MR. S. T. COLEBATH HOUSE-PERRYN HOUSE: MR. TWINING'S MUSEUM— HEATHAM HOUSE-NEVILLE HOUSE AND COLNE COTTAGE -BROOK HOUSE-IVY LODGE-THE LIMES-AMYAND HOUSE -NEWLAND HOUSE-GROVE COTTAGE-S. STEPHEN'S-MR. LAING'S NURSERY GROUND-HIGHSHOT HOUSE-NORTH END HOUSE: MR. H. G. BOHN'S ART COLLECTION-MONTPELIER ROW-SANDYCOMB LODGE-AILSA PARK VILLAS: RESIDENCES OF CHARLES DICKENS AND MR. HORMUZD RASSAM.

FORTESCUE HOUSE. THE rather dreary-looking mansion, called "Fortescue House," at the corner of Shews Lane, derives its name from its having been the residence of a former Lord Fortescue, who possessed in it several valuable pictures, by Vandyck, Rembrandt, and other painters of celebrity. It soon degenerated from its earlier uses, and became a ladies' boarding school, kept by Miss Dutton. Since that time it has been continually used (conspicuously by Mrs. Lewis, amongst others), for educational purposes. Amongst many occupants may be mentioned Dr. Henry Nicholson, M. Raymond De Vericour, and the Rev. James Balfour. The raising of the road on account of the railway bridge has spoilt its approach and given to it the appearance of lying in a hollow, which it did not originally present. It is

now rented as an orphanage for the destitute children. of members of the Metropolitan and City Police.

Beyond it was a small house belonging to Mr. Stephen Cole, where lived Mrs. Huddy, the widow of Mr. Thomas Huddy, an elder of the Trinity House. This has long since been taken down.

On the site where now is a most unhealthy double row of cottages called Cole's Buildings, stood the residence of Mr. Stephen Thomas Cole, and his wife Lady Elizabeth. This gentleman succeeded his father, Mr. Stephen Cole, who was in the commission of the peace for the county of Middlesex.

BATH HOUSE.-Nearly opposite to Fortescue House is the house used for the last few years by the late Mr. Merrett, as a boys' school of considerable excellence: predecessors of whom, in a like profession, have been, amongst others, the Rev. L. M. Stretch and Mr. Gittins. It was until about the year 1830 the residence of Colonel Espinasse, who moved hence to Heatham House.

PERRYN HOUSE.-At the junction of the roads leading to Whitton, on the left, and to Isleworth, on the right, is "Perryn House," so called from its having been originally the residence of Sir Richard Perryn, Knt., a baron of the Exchequer. The judge, who died in 1803, left the house to his daughter Mary, who married Captain Hatfield, whom she survived two years, dying in 1834. One of their four daughters married a cousin, and the second son of this couple