THOMPSONS
LIBRARY OF
Architecture, Archceology,
and the Sciences,
NEW ROAD,
Regent's Park.
n
S TO IV E:
A
DESCRIPTION
Of the Magnificent
HOUSE and GARDENS
Of the Right Honourable
RICHARD,
Earl TEMPLE,
Vifcount and Baron COB HA M,
One of his Majefty's moft honourable Privy Council, and
Knight of the moft Noble Order of the Garter.
Embellidied with a General Plan of the Gardens,
and alfo a feparate Plan of each Building, with
Perspective Views of the fame.
A NEW EDITION,
With all the Alterations and Improvements that have been
made therein, to the prefent Time.
With the Description of the Infide of the Houfe.
Here Order in Variety <we fee,
Where all Things differ, yet where all agree. PoPE,
LONDON:
Print ^d for John Rivington in St. Paul's Church-yard;
B. Seeley in Buckingham; and T. Hodgkinson
at the New Inn at Stowe. 1763.
The Defcription of the Houfe and Gardens, without the Plans and Views
of the Temples, may be had alone, Price Six -pence.
A List of the Prints,
Drawn in Perfpedive by B. Seeley.
A Plan of Earl Temple's Houfe and Gardens.
One of the Pavilions at the En-
trance.
The Hermitage.
An artificial Piece of Ruins.
The Temple dedicated to Venus.
An Egyptian Pyramid.
The Fane of Diana.
Two Pavilions at the Entrance
to the Park.
St. Augufthe's Cave.
The Temple of Bacchus.
(Toucher's Obelifk.
Nelfon's Seat.
The South Front of the Houfe.
An -Equedrian Statue of George I.
Dido's Cave.
The Rotundo.
King George II. 1
Queen Caroline, )
A Gate-way, by Kent
on Columns
The Witch Houfe.
The Temple of Modern Virtue.
The Temple of Ancient Virtue,
The Shell Bridge.
The Temple of B ritifh Worthies.
A Gate-way, by Leoni,
The Cold Bath.
The Grotto.
The Temple of Concord and
Viclory.
Capt. Grenville's Monument.
The Lady's Temple.
The Keeper's Lodge in
Park.
Lord Cobham's Monument.
The Gothic Temple.
The Paliadian Bridge."
The Temple of Friendfhip.
The Pebble Alcove.
Con^reve's Monument.
the
A!fo a Plan of the principal Floor of the Houfe,
and Plans of the Buildings in the Gardens.-- — Adl
accurately drawn by Mr. Fairchild, Surveyor and Ar-
chitect.
The DtTcription of the Koufe and Gardens without
. the Plans and Views of the Temples, Pi ice
Ditto —with the Plan or the Gardens - — —
Ditto— — with the Plans and Views bjund
s.
I
4
d.
6
p
o
A
DESCRIPTION
OF THE
HOUSE.
Y a noble Flight of Steps, defigned by
Signor Borra^ ornamented with Stone Bal-
luitrades, you afcend to a grand Apart-
ment, called
The Saloon,
43 Feet by 22 Feet*
It is hung with fine Tapeftry, reprefenting the Func-
tions of the Cavalry, with Crimfon Cafoy Chairs and
Settees.
The Paintings are,
1. A Landfchape.
2. A Fiower- Piece,
3. A Fruit-Piece.
A great French Cabinet, ornamented with fine China
Jars, and three Marble Bulls over the Chimney,
A 2
U]
The Hall.
36 Feet by 22 Feet 9 Inches; defigned and painted
by Kent.
The Cieling is finely adorned with the Signs of the
Zodiac,
Over the Chimney, is a very curious Piece of Alt-
Relief : The Story is Darius*s Tent.
The Statue of a Narcijfus.
Eleven Marble Bufts.
The Walls are adorned with Ornaments of Fef-
toons, iSc.
Two Marble Tables of oriental Alabafter.
The Dining Room.
30 Feet by 21 Feet.
The Paintings are,
Two large Landfchapes, by Horozonti.
Two fmall ditto, by Loton.
Over the Chimney.
A Pifture of a Dancing at the Marriage of the
Duke of Mantua, by Tintoretto.
A fmall Land fch ape of Acts and Galatea* by Mills.
A Landfchape, by Claude Lorain.
A large Pidture of young Bacchanals.
A Sea- port, by a Flemijh Mafter.
A Landfchape, with Figures and Cattle, by Bajfan.
A Landfchape, with a Mill.
Vulcan and Venus, by Primatioio.
The Marriage at Cana, by Baffan.
Mofes burying the Egyptian* by Poujjin.
A Spanifh Landfchape.
A Piece of Ruins, by Viviano.
A
[ S ]
A Dreffing-Room.
Prince Henry at full Length over the Chimney,
A fine Cabinet with old China Jars upon it.
A Bed-Chamber,
With a rich Crimfon Cafoy Bed and Furniture.
A Portrait of a late Countefs of Borjet at full
Length, over the Chimney.
A Drefling-Room.
A Piece of ftill Life over the Chimney.
A IJead over one Door. Four fighting Cupids
over the other Door.
The Hangings and Furniture of the above three
Rooms are of Crimfon Cafoy.
The Grand Stair-Cafe,
Ornamented with Iron Work.
Three Cieling-Pieces, painted by Sclater> viz.
1. Juftice and Peace.
2. Fame and Victory.
3. Plenty and Conftancy.
The Walls are adorned with warlike Pieces.
The Stone Stair-Cafe,
With Iron Ballufters ; the Walls ornamented with
Medallions. Leading into a private Apartment,
below Stairs,
A Billiard-Room.
A Parlour.
A Breakfafting-Room, and
A Waiting- Room.
Second
[ 6 ]
Second and third Pair of Stairs, a Numbef of
Bedchambers, and two Dreffing- Rooms to each Bed-
chamber.
The Chapel,
37 Feet by 20 Feet 10 Inches, and 26 Feet high,
Wainfcoted with Cedar, with a Gallery of the fame,
hung with Crimfon Velvet, under which are Seats for
the Servants.
Over the Communion Table is a fine Painting of
the Refurre&ion, by Tintoretto, and over that is the
King's Arms finely carved and ornamented.
Above the Cedar Wainfcot, are the following
Paintings at full length :
Mofes and Aaron.
Two of the Apoftles, St. Peter and St. Paul.
The four Evangelifts.
There are three other Paintings, viz.
1. The Afcenfion.
2. Baptifm.
3. The Salutation of the Virgin Mary,
The Cieling is the fame as at the Chapel Royal at
5/. James's, and the Cedar Wainfcot enriched with
elegant Carving, by Gybbons.
Her Ladyfhip's Dreffing-Room,
With Hangings, Chairs, and Window- Curtains, of
fine printed Cotton.
A fine old Japan Cabinet, ornamented with China
Jars.
A fine View of Pekin, over the Chimney-Piece,
by lollu
The.
The Bedchamber,
With Hangings, Chairs, and Window-Curtains of
the fame.
A Pifture of a Cbinefe Temple over the Chimney,
by lolli.
A Cbinefe Clofet,
Or a Repofitory of her Ladyfhip's valuable China.
The Japan and Ornaments were a Prefent of the
late Prince and Princefs of Wales, — From this Clofet
you enter a Colonade, ornamented with Paintings,
by Sclater.
It is likewife curioufly embellifhed with Exoticks
and flowering Shrubs.
The Grenville Room,
29 Feet 8 Inches, by 26 Feet 3 Inches, and 19 Feet
4 Inches high,
Hung with green Velvet, and ornamented with the
following Portraits, all at full Length, except the
firft:
Over the Chimney,
1 i The late Countefs Temple, Mother to the pre-
fent Earl.
On her Right Hand,
2. The prefent Countefs Temple.
On her Left,
3, The prefent Earl Temple.
. 1 he Right Honourable George Grenville, firft
L r< of the Treafury, and Chancellor of the Ex-
C coo r.
5 The Right Honourable James Grenville, one of
his Majefty's mod honourable Privy Council.
6. His Excellency Henry Grenville, Ambaflador to
the Ottoman Porte. 7. The
[ 8 ]
y. The Honourable Thomas Grenville y who was
killed in the Defence of his Country, on board the
Defiance^ of which Ship he was Captain.
8. The Right Honourable Lady Chatham.
The Gallery,
74 Feet by 25 Feet, and 20 Feet high,
Is a magnificent Apartment, hung with three fine
Pieces of Tapeftry, as follows :
1. A Dutch Fiftiery, from Tenters.
2. A Dutch Wake, from Tenters.
3. A beautiful Representation of a Farm*
Furnifhed with Gobelin Tape (try Chairs.
Two Chimnies, with a Pifture of Roman Ruins
over each, by Panini.
Four Doors with a rural Fi&ure over each, viz.
1. Hay-making.
2. Sheep-fhearing.
ig. Plowing.
4. Reaping.
A rich Cabinet at each End, containing Books.
Tea Marbje Bufts of Roman Emperors.
A Drcffing-Room,
Hung with Yellow Silk Damafk trimmed with Silver \
with the following Paintings :
Joan of Arc^ over the Chimney.
A Portrait of Sir Thomas T emple.
Ditto of Lady Hefier Temple.
A Bedchamber,
Hung and ornamented as above, with a Bed and
Chairs of the fame.
The
[ 9 ]
The Paintings are,
The Reprefentation of the Holy Lamb.
A Flower-Piece.
Two Landfchapes, one over each Door,
A Dreffing-Room,
Hung with green Damafk, trimm'd with Gold.
The Paintings are,
A Picture over the Chimney, by Rembrandt.
Two Saints, a St. Laurence and St. Stephen^ one
over each Door.
On one Side Orodes ordering melted Gold to be
poured into the Mouth of Crajjus.
On the other, two Pieces of Ruins, and a Land-
fchape, with dancing Satyrs, by Paul Brill.
The Rape of Helen^ by Thefeus.
The Return of Chryfe'is to her Father, both by
Primaticio.,
A Bedchamber,
With a green Damafl^ Bed, Hangings and Chairs,
trimm'd with Gold.
The Paintings are,
1 . An original Portrait of Oliver Cromwell.
2. A Silenus.
3. A Portrait of Colonel Stanyan.
A Drefiing-Room,
The Paintings are,
A Portrait of Rubens's Wife over one Door, by
Rubens. I
Over the other, a Knight of the Bath, by Vandyke,
Cymon and Iphigenia.
Sampfon and Dalila.
Four Landfchapes. % *
B The
[ t* I
"JThe State Apartment.
I. The Stale Gallery,
70 Feet 9 Inches, by 25 Feet,— -and 22 Feet high.
Two Marble Chimney Pieces of Sienna, &c. by
Mr. LoveL
The Cleling finely ornamented with Paintings and
Gilding, by Sclater.
Two fine Marble Tables, with two large Pier-
Glaffes.
The Walls are adorned w 7 ith curious Pieces of
Tapeftry, viz.
1. The Triumph of Ceres.
2. The Triumph of Bacchus.
3. The Triumph of Venus.
4. The Triumph of Mars.
5. The Triumph of Diana.
The Piers adorned with Trophies.
Two Chimnies, the upper Part of which are adorn-
ed with Gilding and Carving.
1. A Goddefs conducing Learning to Truth.
2. Representing Mercury conducting tragic and
comic Poetry to the Hill of Parnajfus.
Four Emblematical Paintings in Clare- Obfcure.
The Chairs, Settees and Window-Curtains of blue
Damafk.
II. The State Drcjjing-jaoom,
24. Feet 8 Inches, by 30 Feet — and 19 Feet 4 Inches
high,
Hung with blue Damafk, Chairs and Window-Cur-
taijis of the fame.
The Doots and Cieling are finely ornamented with
Carving and Gilding.
* The Chimney- Piece, by Mr. LoveL
The
[ M 1
The Paintings are,
A fine Portrait of the late Lord Cobham, by Sir
Godfrey Kneller.
Four Converfation Pieces, by Francifco Cippo.
Venus binding the Eyes of a Cupid, and the Graces
offering Tribute.
A Marble Table, with a fine Pier-Glafs.
Two whole Lengths, by Vandyke.
III. The State Bedchamber,
50 Feet 8 Inches, by 25 Feet 10 Inches — and 18 Feet
8 Inches high.
The Bed and Cieling by Signor Borra — The Chairs
and Hangings of Crimfon Damafk. — Pillars of the
Corinthian Order, the whole finely carved and gilt.
A Madona from the School of Rubens.
A large Glafs over the Chimney.
A very curious Chimney- Piece of white Marble,
defigned by Signor Borra, and executed by Mr. Level.
Two Cupids, with Branches for Candles in their
Hatfds, by Mr. Lovel.
Two Marble Tables.
Two fine large Pier-GlaiTes.
The Cieling ornamented with the Infignia of thd
Garter.
IV. The State Clofet,
Hung with Crimfon Damafk, finely ornamented with
Carving and Gilding. — Out of which you go into a:
Colonade, where you have at beautiful View' of the
Gardens arid Country.
A Paffage,
Ornamented with Marble Bufts.
A Grand Stair- Cafe,
Adorned wi,th Paintings of the Four Seafons.
The Cieling reprefents the Rifing Sun, by Phxbus,.
in his Ca:rr.
The whole Length of the Houfe,, including the
©likes, is 900. Feet.
B 2 A D E-
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A
DESCRIPTION
OF THE
GARDENS.
A T the South Entrance of the Gardens are
ZJ&L two Pavilions fupported by Doric Pillars :
JL JL The Infide of each is adorned with Paint-
ings by Mr. Nollikins. The Stories taken from
P aft or Fido.
The difconfolate Nymph there, poor Dorinda, had
long been in Love with Sylvio, a wild Hunter of bar-
barous Manners, in whofe Breaft fhe had no Reafon
to believe fhe had raifed an anfwering PalTion. As (he
was roving in the Woods, fhe accidently met his
Dog, and law her beloved Hunter himfelf at a Dif-
tance hallooing, and running after it. She imme-
diately calls the Hound to her, and hides it amongft
the Bufhes. Syhio cornes up to her, and enquires
very eagerly after the Dog: The poor Nymph puts
him off, and tries all her Art to infpire him with
Love, but to no Purpofe ; the cold Youth was quite
infcnfible, and his Thoughts could admit no other
Objedt but his Dog. Almoft difpairing, fhe at
length hopes to bribe his Affe&ions, and lets him
know fhe has his Dog, which (he will return, if he
will promife to love her, and give her a Kifs : Sylvia
[ >3 ]
is overjoyed at the Propofal, and promifes to give
her ten thoufand Kifies. Dorinda upon this brings
the Dog : But alas I fee there the Succefs of all her
Pains. The Youth tranfported at the Sight of his
Dog, throws his Arms round its Neck, and lavifhes
upon it thofe Kifies and Endearments, in the very
Sight of the poor afflifted Lady, which (he had been
flattering herfelf would have fallen to her Share.
On the other Wall, Difdain and Love have taken
different Sides ; the Youth is warm, and the Nymph
is coy : Poor Myrtillo had long loved Amaryllis ; the
Lady was engaged to another, and rejefted his
Paffion. Gladly would he only have fpoke his Grief,
but the cruel fair One abfolutely forbid him her
Prefence. At length a Scheme was laid by Corifca^
the young Lover's Confidant, which was to gain
him Admiffion into his dear Amaryllises Company.
The Lady is enticed into the Fields with fome of
Corifca's Companions, (who ivere let into the Plot)
to play at Blindman's-Buff, where Myrtillo was to
furprize her ; where he (lands hefitating what Ufe to
make of fo favourable an Opportunity which Love
has put into his Hands. — See Pajior Fido> A<5t IL
Scene 2. and Aft III. Scene 2.
Here you have a magnificent View, very (Inking
at firft Entrance, the two Rivers on the Right-hand
meeting in one Stream, run into a Kind of Bay,
which was formerly an Oftagon, and in the Centre
ftood an Obeli(k, now removed into the Park, The
beautiful Difpofition of Trees and Buildings at a
Diftance, gives us a Kind of Earned of what our Ex-
pectation is railed to.
Turning to the Left Hand you defcend to,
An Artificial Piece of Ruins,
Covered with Evergreens, and adorned with the
Statues of Fauns, Satyrs, and River Gods ; a beau-
tiful
[ H ]
tiful Cafcade of three Sheets of Water falls from the
River above into a large Lake of ten Acres, where
floats a Model of a Man of War with all her Rigging;
The Hermitage i Defigned by Mr. Kent,
is feated in a riling Wood, on the Banks of the Lake*
The Temple dedicated to Venus,
With this Infcription,
Veneri Hortensi.
It is a fquare Building, with Colonade Wings, de-
figned by Mr. Kent; the Infide adorned with Paint-
ings by Mr. Sleter^ taken from Spenfer's Fairy ^ueen.-
— The Lady is the fair Hellinore, who having left a
difagreeable Hufband, and wandering in the Woods,
was met by the polite Set of Gentry fhe is dancing
with : She likes their Manner of Life, and refolves
to enjoy it with them. Her old Spoufe Malbacco is
inconfolable for his Lofs he wanders many Days in
Search of her, and at length finds her (you fee him at
a Diftance peeping from behind a Tree) revelling with
a beaftly Herd of Satyrs. When the Evening comes
on, he follows the Company to their Retirement,
takes a commodious Stand, and to his great Torment
fees every Thing that pafles among them. After they
were all laid afleep, he creeps gently to his Lady, and
you fee him in the other Painting offering to be re-
conciled to her again, if fhe will return back with
him. But Hellinore threatens to wake the Satyrs, and
get him feverely handled if he does not immediately
leave her. Upon which the poor ufelefs old Man is
obliged to fly, and foon after runs diftra&ed. See
Book HI. of the Fairy Queen % Canto 10. The Roof
is adorned with a naked Venus \ and the fmaller Com-
partments
[ '5 ]
partments with a Variety of Intrigues. Upon the
Frize is the following Motto from Catullus :
Nunc amet qui ntindum amavit ;
Quique amavit \ nunc amet.
Let him love now, who never lov'd before :
Let him, who always lov'd, now love the more.
The Fane of Diana,
with 4 Terms and Buftos.
A Statue of Ve n u s.
Two Pavilions.
One of thepi is made ufe of as a Dwelling- Houfe ;
the other ftands in the Garden ; the Space between
forms a grand Gate-way, defigned by Kent, which is
the Entrance into the Park. From hence there is
a noble View of a Bridge, with a fine Serpentine
River, and a Road at prefent, terminated by two
Lodges, which are a grand Approach to the Park
and Houfe.
An Egyptian Pyramid,
is fixty Feet high. On the Outfide is this Infcription :
Inter plurima hortorum horum tedificia a Johanne
Vanbrugh, equite, defignata^ banc pyramidem illius me-
fnoria facram voluit Cobham.
To the Memory of Sir John Vanbrugh, by whom
feveral of the Buildings in thefe Gardens were defign-
ed, Lord Cobham hath ere£ted this Pyramid.
And in the Infide,
Lufijli fat is, tdi/li fat is , atque bibifti,
Tempus abire tibi efi \ ne potum largius aquo
Rideat G? pulfet lafciva dccentius atas.
HOR AT,
With
mi
With Pleafure forfeited, advanc'd in Age,
Man-like retire from Life's fantaftic Stage :
Left Youth the great Indecency contemn,
And hifs thee from a Scene defign'd for them,
A fmall Obelifk, with this Infcription,
To the Memory of Robin Coucher.
St* Augustine's Cave,
is a Cell formed of Mofs and Roots of Trees inter-
woven j this is fituated in a retired Thicket, and
very artfully contrived, in the fame Manner as Shades
in a Pi&ure, or Paufes in Mufic.
In this Cave is a Straw Couch, a wooden Chair,
three Windows or Holes, over which are three In-
fcriptions in Monkifh Latin Verfe.
On the Right-hand,
Sanftus Pater Auguftinijs,
(Prout aliquis divinus
Narrat ) contra fenfualem
ARum Veneris lethalem
(Audiat clericus ) ex nhi
Similem puellam viv<e
Arte mira conformabat,
Qua cum bonus vir cubabat
Quod fi fas eft in err or em
Tantum cadere dottorem ;
Qu<eri pot eft - 9 an carnalis
Mulier, potius quam nivalis^
Non fit apta ad domandum y
Subigendum, debellandum
Carnis tumidum furorem,
Et importunem ardor em ?
JNam ignis igni pellitur>
Fetus ut verbum loquitur \
Sed^ inuptus hac in lite
Appellabo te> marite.
Saint
[ 17 1
Saint Augujline, holy Father,
(As from Tome Divines we gather)
Againft the Sin of leud Embrace,
And A6t venereal, his Grace
To fortify (Divines, give Ear,
The pious Precedent revere)
With wond'rous Art a Girl of Snow
Did make, the Life refembling fo,
That th'one from t'other fcarce you'd know.
This done, the good Man Side by Side
Lay down t'enjoy his new form'd Bride.
But if a learned Doftor can
Fall, as might any other Man,
It may be afk'd, with Reafon good,
Whether a Girl of F!e(h and Blood,
More certain far than one of Snow,
Would not controul, fubdue, o'erthrow,
The fwelling, rebel Flefh below ;
Of PafTion cool the Rage and boiling,
And hinder Nature from recoiling ?
For Fire and Fire, two mortal Foes,
Expel themfelves, the Proverb goes.
But I, unmarried, for Decree,
O married Man, appeal to thee.
On the Left,
Apparnit mihi, nuper in fomnio cum nudis & anhelan
tibus mollis er Papillis £s? hianti fuavitef vultu — Eheu
benedicite !
Cur gaudes, Sat ana muliebrem fumere fcrmam
Non fades voli cafii me rumpere normam,
tjftfs fugiie in cellam - 9 pulchram vitale puellam \
Nam radix mortis fuit climfamina in hortis.
Vis fieri fortis ? Noli concumbere fcortis.
In fanSlum Originem Eunucbum.
Filius Ec cleft* Origines fortajfe probe tur :
EJfz pattern nuvquam fejine tefie pre bet.
Virtus diaboli ejl in lumbis.
C Satan
[ i8 ]
Satan, why, decked in female Charms,
Doft thou attack my Heart ?
My Vow is Proof againft thy Arms,
'Gainft all thy Wiles and Art.
Ah ! Hermits, flee into your Cells,
Nor Beauty's Poifon feed on,
—The Root of Death (as Story tells)
Was Woman firft in Eden.
Would'ft: thou thyfelf a dauntlefs Hero prove.
Deteft th* Enjoyments vile of lawlefs Love.
That Origen's true Son of Church, agreed
But could not for a Father be decreed.
In what we call the Loins, they fay,
The Devil bears the greateft Sway.
Fronting the Door.
Mente pie elatd, feragro dum dulcia prat a,
Dormiit abfque dolo pulchra puella folo ;
Multa oftendebat, dum femifupina jacebat,
Pulchrum os, divinum pettus, aperta finum.
Ut vidi mammas, concepLextempore flammas y
Et ditturus ave dico, Maria, cave :
Nam magno totus violentur turbine motus
Pcene Mam invade, pome £s? in or a cado.
Ilia fed baud lent e fur git, curritque repente^
Currit 6f , invito me, fugit ilia citb,
Fugit caafa mali tamen effeffus fantanali,
Jnternoque meum cor vorat igne reum ;
O Tnferne canis, cur quo ti die eft tibi panis,
Per vifus miros follicitare viros ? |
Cur rnonachos velles fieri tarn came rebelles 9
Nec caft<e legi turbida membra regi ?
Jam tibi jam bellum dico, jam trifle fiagellum
Efuriemque paro, quels fubigenda caro.
£>uin abfeindatur, ne pars fincera trahatur,
Radix > qua folus nafcitur ufque dolus.
[ 19 I
As loft in Thought, and Contemplation deep*
I wander o'er the V erdant Meads — in Sleep
Sleep undefigning, lo ! repos'd a Maid,
Frelh as the Verdure of her grafly Bed,
RechVd in Pofture half fupine fhe lay,
A World of Beauties did her Form difplay :
Her Face, her Neck divine, her Bofom too,
With all their Charms were open to my View.
Her heaving Globes no fooner ftruck my Eye,
But ftrait the Flames thro' all my Vitals fly.
I would have faid my Ave-Mary-Pray'r,
But, ftead of that, I cry out, Maid beware.
For in the Whirlwind of ftrong Paffion toft,
And Reafon in the vi'lent Tranfport loft
I almoft feize the fair, inviting Prey,
And to her Lips impatient urge my Way •,
She fudden ftarts, and with a rapid Flight,
Shoots from my Touch, and leaves my ravifh'd Sight.
The Caufe of Evil's fled -th' Effedt remains,
And ftill too furious revels in my Veins :
Has kindled an infernal, fatal Flame,
Which inward burns thro" all mv guilty Frame.
Why is't thy daily Food, O hellifh Cur!
Man up to Vice by wond'rous Sights to fpur ?
Why is't thy Pleafure, Monks fhould thus rebel,
Their flefhly Members 'gainft their Laws fhould fwell ?
'Gainft thee I now eternal War declare,
The Lafh fevere, and Hunger I prepare \
With thefe to mortify my carnal Luft,
To thefe my Virtue, Chaftity to truft.
But left the Part that's whole, fhould be infedted,
That Modefty may better be protected,
Beft, once for all, to cut away the Root,
From which alone our guilty Pafiions flioot.
The Temple of B a c c h u s
is a ftucco'd Building ; the Infidc adorned
Revels Qf Bacchus, painted by Nottkins.-—? This
C 2 Building
[ 20 ]
Building commands great Part of the Gardens, and
a beautiful Profped: over the Country.
Nelson's Seat
is an airy Building to the North -weft of the Houfe,
from whence there is an open Profpeft ; and in it are
the following Infcriptions, defcribing the Paintings.
On the Right Hand.
Ultra Eitphratem £5? Tigrim
ufque ad Gceanum propagatd ditione
Orhis terrarum imperium Roma adfignat optimus princeps?
cut fap er advolat Victoria
laurigerum fertum hinc inde
utraque manu extendens
tomitantipus Pietate & Abundantid.
In arcu Conjiantinu
Having extended his Power beyond the Euphrates and Tygris,
as far as the Ocean,
this molt potent Prince
affigns the Empire of the World to Rome :
over whom Viftory flies,
waving a Laurel Crown,
accompanied with Piety and Plenty.
Upon Conjlantine's Arch.
I On the Left.
Poft obi turn L. Feri y
in imperio cum Marco wnfortis,
Roma
integrant orbis terrarum
poiejlaiem ei Csf in eo contulit.
In Capitolio,
After the Death of Lucius Ferus,
Partner in the Empire with Marcus,
Rome
conferred on him
tfte Empire of the World.
In the Capitol.
Oppofite
[ 21 ]
Oppofite the North Front of the Houfe, at the
Head of the Canal, is the Equeftrian Statue of King
George I. in Armour with this Infcription :
In medio mihi Cafar erit y
Et viridi in campo fignum de marmore ponam
CoBHA Mm
Imperial C*efar 9 s Statue I will place,
Full in the Centre, on the verdant Grafs.
To this Front there is a Wall ornamented with
Niches, and two Gateways into the Courts, by Kent y
two Gateways into the Gardens, by Leoni.
Oppofite the South Front is a grand Parterre,
where you have a diftant View of many beautiful
Obje&s in the Garden, and a fine Profpeft 6ver the
Country.
The Statue of his late Majefty,
creeled on a Corinthian Pillar, with this Infcription :
Georgio August q.
Dido's Cave,
with this Infcription :
Speluncam Dido, dux £5? Trojanus^ eandem
Deveniunt- Virg.
Repairing to the fame dark Cave are feen,
The Trojan Hero and the Tyrian Queen.
The Rotundo
is raifed upon Ionic Pillars, and is ornamented with a
Statue of the Venus of Medicis. The Building by
Sir John Vanburgh, altered by Bona.
The late Queen's Statue
is erefted on four Ionic Columns, in a green Amphi-
theatre, laid out in the rural Way. — On the Pedeftal
is this Infcription :
Honoris Laudi> Virtuti Div<e Carolina.
To the Honour, Praife, and Virtue of the Divine
Caroline.
And round her Statues of Nymphs and Swains.
From
[ 22 ]
From hence you come into the great Avenue, where,
on the Right Hand, you have the Profpeft of the
Entrance to the Gardens (mentioned before) 5 and, on
the Left, the Manfion Houfe.
The Witch Houfe
is a fmall Building of Brick, on the infide Walls are
painted in Frefco the Midnight Merriment of Hags,
by a Servant of the late Lord's, wherein alfo is the
following Infcription.
To the Memory
of
SlGNIOR FlDO,
an Italian of good Extraction ;
who came into England,
not to bite us, like moll of his Countrymen,
but to gain an honeft Livelihood.
He hunted not after Fame,
yet acquired it ;
regardlefs of the rraife of his Friends,
but moft fenfible of their Love,
Tho' he liv'd amongft the Great,
he neither learn'd nor flatter'd any Vice.
He was no Bigot,
Thb* he doubted of none of the 39 Articles.
And, if to follow Nature,
and to refpeft the Laws of Society,
be Philofophy,
he was a perfeft Philofopher ;
a faithful Friend,
£n agreeable Companion,
a loving Hufband,
diftinguifh'd by a numerous Offspring,
all which he lived to fee take good Courfes,
In his old Age he retir'4
to the Houfe of a Clergyman in the Country,
where he finifti'd his earthly Race,
And died an Honour and an Example to the whole Species.
Reader,
[ 2 3 ]
Reader,
This Stone is guiltlefs of Flattery,
for he to whom it is infcrib'd
was not a Man,
but a
Grey-hound.
Near this Place, at the Entrance into the Elyfian
Fields, are the Statues of
Appollo and the Nine Mujes round the Spring
of Helicon.
At a Seat clofe by the Statue of Apollo is a beautiful
View.
A Ruin.
The Temple of Antient Virtue,
in a very flourifhing Condition ; the Building is aRo-
tundo of the Ionic Order by Mr. Kent $ on the Outfide,
over each Door, is this Motto :
Prifca Virtuti.
To Antient Virtue.
And in four Niches within, Handing at full Length,
are the Statues of Lycurgus, Socrates, Homer, and Epa-
minondas : Under which are the following Infcriptions :
Under Lycurgus,
Qui fumtno cum confilio inveniis legibus,
Omnemque contra corruptelam munitis optime>
Pater Patriae
Libertatem firmiffimam
Et mores fanftijfimos,
Expulfa cum divitiis avaritid, luxurid, libidine,
In multa fecula
Civibus Juis inftituit.
Having planned, with confummate Wifdom, a
Syftem of Laws firmly fecured againft every Incroach-
ment
[ 2 4 ]
ment of Corruption, and having by the Expulfion of
Riches, banilhed Luxury, Avarice, and Intemperance,
he eftablifhed in the State for many Ages, perfedl Li-
berty and inviolable Purity of Manners — The Father
of his Country.
Under Socrates.
Qui corruptiffima in civitate innocens,
Bonorum hortator, unici cultor DEL
Ab inutili o(io 9 £sf vanis difputationibus y
Ad officio, vit<e, £s? focietatis commoda
Philofophiam avocavit,
Hominum fapientiffimus.
Innocent in the midft of a moft corrupted People,
the Encourager of the Good, a Worlhipper of the one
God : Who recalled Philofophy from ufelefs Specu-
lations, and vain Difputes to the Duties of Life and
the Benefit of Society. — The wifeft of Men !
Under Homer.
Qui poetarum princeps, idem £s? maximus %
Virtutis pracO} immortalitatis largitor^
Divino carmine
Ad pulchre audendum 9 6f patiendum fortiter 9
Omnibus notus gentibus, omnes incitat.
The firft and the greateft of Poets The Herald
of Virtue The Giver of Immortality ; who by his
divine Genius, known to all Nations, incites all, nobly
to dare, and to fuffer firmly.
Under Epaminondas.
Cujus a virtute, prudentia^ verecundia^
Thebanorum refpublica
Libertatem fimul & imperium,
Difciplinam bellicam^ civilem & domejlicam
Accepit ;
Eoque amijjo, perdidit.
By
[ 25 ]
By whofe Valour, Prudence, Modefty, the Theban
Commonwealth gained Liberty and Empire, Mili-
tary Difcipline, Civil and domeftic Policy, all which,
by lofing him, flie loft.
Over one Door,
Cbarum ejje civem* bene de republica mereri y laudari y
coli, diligi, gloriojum eft: metui ' vero, & in odio ejfe in-
vidiofum, deteftabile y tmbecillum^ caducum.
To be dear to our Country, to deferve well of the
Public, to be honoured, reverenced, loved, is glori-
ous •, but to be dreaded and hated is odious, deteft-
able, weak, ruinous.
Over the other.
Juftitiam cole 6? pietatem, qu<e cum fit magna in pa-
rentibus 6? propinquis* turn in patria maxima eft. Ea
vita via eft in cesium* & in hunc ccetum eorum qui jam
vixemnt.
Cultivate Juftice and Benevolence, which in an
eminent Manner is due to Relations and to Friends,
but In the higheft Degree, to our Country ; this Path
leads to the Manfions of the Blefled, and to the Af-
fembly of thofe who are now no more.
From the Doors of this Temple, and from the
Periftylium the Views are charming : From one Door
you fee the Caftle, being a Farm-Houfe Handing at
the End of a Line in the Park three Miles long:
From the other Door you fee the Temple of Britijb
Worthies, and the Palladian Bridge at a Diflance ; as
alfo
Captain Grenvilk's Monument, being a naval Co-
lumn erefted by the late Lord Cobham in Honour of
Captain Grenville, upon the Top of which heroic Poe-
try, fuppofed to light, holds in her Hand a Scroll
with
Non Nifi Grandia Canto.
Heroic Deeds alone my Theme.
D Upon
[ 26 ]
Upon the Plinth and .on the Pedcftat are the fol-
lowing Infcriptions :
D1GNVM LAVDE VIRVM MVSA VETAT MORL
The Mufe forbids Heroic Worth to die.
Sororis fuse Filio,
Thom/e Grenville,
Qui navis praefeftus regiae,
Ducente ciaffem Britannicam Georgio An/on,
Dum contra Gallos fortiffime pugnaret,
Dilaceratas navis ingenti fragmine
Femore graviter percuffo,
Perire, dixit moribundus, omnino fatius effe,
Qiiam inertia reum in judicio fifti •
Columriam hanc roftratam
Laudans & mcerens pofuit
Cobham.
Infjgne virtutis, eheu ! rariflimse
Exempium habes ;
Ex quo difcas
Quid virum praefeftura militari ornatum
Deceat
M.DCC.XLVII.
To his Nephew
Thomas Grenville,
Who
Captain of a Ship of War,
In the Britifh Fleet
Commanded by Admiral Anfon
In an Engagement with the French*
Being wounded mortally in the Thigh,
By a Fragment of his (liattered Ship,
Expiring faid
c: How much better it is thus to di ; e
" Than to be tried for Cowardice
%i Before a Court Martial
[ *7l
This Naval Column
was eredted
By Richard Vifcount Cobham ;
As a Monument of his Applaufe and Grief.
M.DCC.XLVII.
From this animating Example
Learn
When honoured with Command,
To think, and aft, as becomes
An Officer.
Here you crofs the Serpentine River, which brings
you into the Elyfian Fields.
The Shell-Bridge^by Kent.
The Temple of Britijh Worthies, by Kent>
a Building cut into Niches, wherein are placed the
following Buftos.
Mr. Pope,
without any Infcription.
Sir Thomas G r e s h a m,
who, by the honourable Profeflion of a Merchant*
having enriched himfelf and his Country, for carry-
ing on the Commerce of the World, built the Royal
Exchange.
I g n at i u s Jones,
who, to adorn his Country, introduc'd and rivalled
the Greek and Roman Architecture.
John Milton,
whofe fublime and unbounded Genius equall'd a Sub-
ject that carried him beyond the Limits of the World.
William Shakespeare,
whofe excellent Genius opened to him the whole
Heart of Man, all the Mines of Fancy, all the Stores
D 2 of
[ 28 ]
of Nature ; and gave him Power, beyond all other
Writers, to move, aftonilh, and delight Mankind.
John Locke,
who, beft of all Philofophers, underftood the Powers
of the human Mind, the Nature, End, and Bounds
of Civil Government ; and with equal Courage and
Sagacity, refuted the flavifti Syftems of ufurped Au-
thority over the Rights, the Confciences, or the Rea-
fon of Mankind.
Sir Isaac Newton,
whom the God of Nature made to comprehend his
Works 5 arid from fimple Principles, to difcover the
Laws never known before, and to explain the Ap-
pearance, never underftood, of this ftupendous Uni-
verfe.
Sir Francis Bacon Lord Verulam,
who, by the Strength and Light of a fuperior Genius,
reje&ing vain Speculation and fallacious Theory,
taught to purfue Truth, and improve Philofophy by
the certain Method of Experiment.
In the Niche of a Pyramid is placed a Mercury^
with thefe Words fubfcribed :
— - Campos ducit ad Elyjtos.
Leads to the Elyfian Fields.
And below this Figure is fixed a Square of black
Marble with the following Lines :
Hie manus oh patriam fugnando vulnera pqffi,
Quique pii vales, & Phcebo digna locuti y
Inventas aut qui vitam excoluere per arles,
Unique fui memcres alios fecere merendo.
Here
f 29 ]
Here are the Bands, who for their Country bled,
And Bards, whofe pure and facred Vcrfe is read :
Thofe who, by Arts invented, Life improved,
And, by their Merits, made their Mem'ries lov'd.
King Alfred,
the mildeft, jufteft, moft beneficent of Kings ; who
drove out the Danes, fecured the Seas, prote&ed
Learning, eftablifhed Juries, crufhed Corruption,
guarded Liberty, and was the Founder of the Eng-
UJh Conftitution.
E d w a r d Prince of Wa l e s,
the Terror of Europe, the Delight of England ; who
preferved, unaltered in the Height of Glory and
Fortune, his natural Gentlenefs and Modefty.
Queen Elizabeth,
who confounded the Projects, and deftroyed the Power
that threatened to opprefs the Liberties of Europe \
ihook off the Yoke of Eccldi^ftical Tyranny ; re-
ftored Religion from the Corruptions of Popery ; and
by a wife, a moderate, and a popular Government,
gave Wealth, Security, and Refpedt to England.
King Wl L L 1 a M III.
who, by his Virtue and Conftancy, havings faved hi$
Country from a foreign Mafter, by a bold and gene-
rous Enterprize, preferved the Liberty and Religion
of Great-Britain.
Sir Wa lter Raleigh,
a valiant Soldier, and an able Statefman % t who ert-
deavouring to^ rouze the Spirit of his Mafter, for
the Honour of his Country, againft the Ambition of
Spain, fell a Sacrifice to the Influence of that Court*
whole
[ 30 ]
whofe Arms he had vanquifhed, and whofe Defigns
he oppofed.
Sir Francis Drake,
who, through many Perils, was the firft of Britons
that adventured to fail round the Globe ; and carried
into unknown Seas and Nations, the Knowledge and
Glory of the Engli/b Name.
John Hampden,
who, with great Spirit and confummate Abilities, be-
gun a noble Oppofition to an arbitrary Court, in De-
fence of the Liberties of his Country ; fupported
them in Parliament, and died for them in the Field.
Sir John Barnard,
without any Infcription.
The Cold Bath.
The Grotto
ftands at the Head of the Serpentine River, and on
each Side a Pavilion, the one ornamented with Shells,
the other with Pebbles and Flints broke to Pieces.
The Grotto is furnilhed with a great Number of
Looking-glaffes both on the Walls and Cieling, all in
Frames of Plaifter-work, fet with Shells and Flints.
A Marble Statue of Venus> on a Pedeftal ftuck
with the fame.
The Temple of Concord and Vi&ory,
is a large beautiful Building of the Ionic Order in the
antique Tafte, and one of the principal Ornaments in
the Garden. — It has fix Statues on the Top as big as
Life, and the front Pediment is adorned with a Piece
of Alt- Relief, by Mr, Scbeemaker* reprefenting the
[ 3i ]
Four Quarters of the World bringing their various
Prod ufts to Britannia. — In the Frize of the Portico
is this Infcription,
Concordia £5? Vi£lori<e.
To Concord and Vidtory.
In the Anti- Temple there are two Medallions de-
fcribing
Concordia Fcederatorum : Concordia Civium :
Concord of the Allies : National Concord :
r Over the Door this Infcription from Valerius
Maximus :
Quo Tempore Saks eorum in ultimus Anguftias de-
dutta nullum Ambiiioni Locum relinquebat.
The Times with fuch alarming Dangers fraught,
Left not a Hope for any fadlious Thought.
r In a Niche in the Temple is to be placed the Statue
of Libertas Publica, Public Liberty ; over which in a
Tablet from the fame Author,
Candidis autem Animis Voluptatem prabuerint in con~
fpicuo pofita qua cuique magnified merito contigerunt*
A fweet Senfation touches every Breaft
Of Candour's gen'rous Sentiment poffeft,
When publick Services with Honour due,
Are gratefully mark'd out to publick View.
On the Walls are fourteen Medallions to reprefent
the taking of Quebec, Martinico, &c. Louijbourg,
Guadeloupe, &c. Montreal, Pondicherry, &c. naval
Victory off Belleijle, naval Vi&ory off Lagos, Crevelt
and Minden, Felinghaufcn> Goree and Senegal, Crown
Pointy
1 32 ]
Point , Niagara ahd Fort du §>uefne* Havannah and
Manilla* Beau Sejour, Cberburgb and Belleifle exe-
cuted from feveral of the Medals,
There are two Marble Groupes, one of
Verturynus and Pomona , by Delvot,
The other Venus and Adonis* by Scbeemaker.
Here is a large and delightful Vale adorned with
Statues of various Kinds, intermixed with Clumps of
Trees beautifully difpofed.
From this Portico you fee in a Diagonal Line, an
Obelifk in the Park above an hundred Feet high, in-
scribed to Major General Wolfe.
^ OJlendunt Terris hunc tantum Fata ■ ■
The Fates but fhew him to the World.
*759-
This Obelifk ftands upon a Hill in the Approach
from Northamptonjhire* which is very magnificent :
At the Entrance there are two Lodges, from whence
a very broad and long Line conducting you through
Woods, is terminated by the Temple of Concord
and Victory. In the other Diagonal Line from
the Temple ftandt
A lofty fluted Column
erecled to the Memory of the late Lord Vif. Cobbam*
Round the Bafe of the Column is written
Ut L. Luculli furnmi Viri Virtutem quis ? At quam
mulli Villarum Magnificent! am imitali funt ?
As in the In'ftance of L. Lucullus* a truly great
Man ! who hath imitated his Virtues ? But how many
his
[ 33 ]
his Example, in magnificently adorning their Coun-
try-Seats ?
On the Pedeftal are the following Infcriptions :
On one Side,
To preferve the Memory of her Hulband,
Anne Vifcountefs Cobham
Caufed this Pillar to be eredled
In the Year 1 747.
On the uppuiite Side,
Quatenus nobis denegatur diu vivere,
relinquamus aliquid,
quo nos vixijfe tejiemur.
Inafmuch as the Portion of Life allotted to us is fhoit 5
let us leave fomething behind us,
to ftiew that we have lived.
The Lady's Temple
is built upon Groin Arches, with Venetian Windows ;
a neat Stair-cafe leads you up to a Hall, the Walls of
which are adorned with the following Paintings by
Mr. Sleter.
On the Right-hand are Ladies employing them-
ielves in Needle and Shell-work*— On the oppofite
Side, are Ladies diverting themfelves with Painting
and Mufiic.
£ The
[ 34 ]
The Gothic Temple
is a large Building of red Stone 70 Feet high, upon
a rifing Ground, adorned in the Gothic Way with
carved Work, and painted Glafs. The Difpofuion
within is very beautiful. You enter a Dome round
which, on the fecond Story, is a Gallery : The third
affords a very extenfive View round the Country.
The Hill round the Temple, is adorned with very
good Statues of the feven Saxon Deities, who gave
Nam-rs to the Days of the Week. — The Manfion
Ho ufe, and Grecian Temple, have a beautiful Effect
from the Place.
The Falladian Bridge,
The Roof of which is fupported by Ionic Pillars.
From hence you pafs inco the great Terras-walk,
which is 3000 Feet long.
The Temple of Friendship
is a large Strudure of the Doric Order. On the Out-
fide is this Motto :
Amicitite S. Sacred to Friend (hi p.
The Infide is furnifhed with the Bufts of the late
Lord and his Friends, viz. Frederic Prince of Wales ;
the Earls of Chejlerfield, Wejlmoreland, and March-
wont \ the Lords, Cobham, Gower, and Bathurft \ the
prefent Earl Richard Grenville* William Pitt and George
Littleton, Efqrs; now Lord Littleton.
The Roof is painted emblematically, and orna-
mented in a very gay Manner.
The Pebble Alcove
is a little Grot neatly adorned with Pebbles ; his Lord-
fhip's Arms are curioufly wrought upon the Back Wal
with the fame Materials.
Con-
C 35 ]
Cqngreve's Monument^ by Kent, r
The Embellifhments round it are defigned to ex-
prefs the Poet's Genius in the Dramatic Way ; upon
the Top fits a Monkey viewing himfelf in a Mirror,
with this Infcription :
Vita imitatio,
Confuetudinis fpeculum^
Comadia.
Comedy is the Imitation cf Life, and the Mirror of
Falhion.
\
The Poet's Effigies lies in a carelefs Poftureonone
Side, and on the other is placed this Epitaph :
Ingenio
Acriy facetOy expolito 9
Moribufque
Urbanis, candtdis^ factllimis^
GULIELMI CaNGREVE,
Hoc
Qualecunque defiderii fui
Solamen fimul ac
Monumentum
Pofuit C o B H A M.
1736.
To the fprightly, entertaining, elegant
Wit
and the polifhed, candid, eafy
Manners
Of William Congreve.
This
in fome fort a Confolation ;
and a Memorial of his affe&ionate Regret
was eredted by
COBHAM,
FINIS,
Explanation
of the PLANS.
A The principal Floor of
Stowe-Houfe.
a The Scate Bed -Chamber.
b The State Dreffing Room.
c The State Gallery.
d The Corridui e.
e TheServants Bed-Chamber.
f An open Gallery.
g The Drawing Room.
h The Stucco Gallery.
i The Dining Room
k The Bed- Chamber, and
Dreffing Room.
/ The Hall.
m A Dreffing Room.
n A Bed Chamber.
o The great Stair-Cafe.
f The Corridore.
q The Gallery.
r The Gren<ville Room.
f The Dreffing Room.
/ The Bed-Chamber.
*v An Open Gallery, and Chi-
nefe Clofet.
fiv A Bed-Chamber.
x The Chapel.
Tig* i . The Temple of Concord
and Victory.
Fig. 2. The Gothic Temple.
Fig. 3. The Lady's Temple.
Fig. 4. The Temple of Friendftiip.
Fig. 5. A Piece of Ruins.
Fig. 6. The Temple of Venus.
Fig. 7. The Rotundo.
Fig. 8. The Temple of Bacchus.
Fig. 9. The fane of Diana.
Fig. 10. The Egyptian Pyramid.
Fig. 1 1 . One of the Pavilions at
the Entrance to the Gar-
den.
Fig. 12. One of the Pavilions at the
Entrance to the Park.
Fig. 15. Dido's Cave.
Fig. 14. The Temple of Britijk
Worthies.
Fig. 15. The Hermitage.
Fig. 16. Nelfons Seat.
Fig. 17. The Grotto.
Fig. 18. The Cold Bath.
Fig. 19. The Falladian Bridge.
Fig. 20. The Shell Bridge, by the
fame Scale.
Fig. 2 1 . The New Bridge, leading t©
the Lodges.
Note, Where there is but one Scale in a Plate, it is applicable to all thf
Plans in that Plate.
The Scales are of Feet.
Feet iinm i iiT I I — t- \-
Knight of the molt ^sioble
Tbefe Views of Temples and J? fans of all
t&e J^rthcipalJi wilding j at STOWjE
^tre // // rs?/>/y J^/Jr/Z/rs/frrY iy /?^f
JLo/rl/h7jt>'s
f
I
H. Seeley dduiy Publtftul according to a&crf Parliament, 4 JJyO.
7/ '<./%//*•{•/< </t //A //// .
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/flats' c/ij/d^ de/itt.
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