At the farther End of the Room, is

A fine Greek Buft of Alexander, in very good prefervation, on a Therm, defigned by Sir William Chambers. And in this Room are two antique Statues, of Diana and Julia Domua on Mahogany Therms.

The Whole-length PORTRAITS are,
Queen Anne.

King William the third.

John Duke, and Sarah Duchefs of Marlborough.

Charles Duke of Marlborough,

Francis Earl of Godolphin.

Anne Countefs of Sunderland.

Elizabeth Countess of Bridgewater.

The Hon. John Spencer.

The Right Hon. Lady Georgiana Spencer, now Countess Cowper.

John Duke of Montagu.

A Lady in Blue.

In the Galleries of the Attic Story there is a large Collection of Family Portraits, by different Mafters.

Before we leave this Gallery, I must direct the Spectator to its Bow-windows, from whence we have a delightful Profpect of the Declivity defcending to the Water, and the gradual Afcent of the Groves which cover the oppifite Hill.

The CHAPEL.

THIS is one of the Wings; in which is a fuperb Monument to the memory of the firft Duke and Duchefs, by Ryfbrack. They are reprefented with their two fons who died young, as fupported by Fame and Hiftory. Beneath, in a Baffo-relievo, is the taking of Marshal Tallard.

The Altar-Piece is

Our Saviour taken down from the Crofs, by Jordaens, of Antwerp.

The CHINA-ROO M.

THIS Apartment, which is fituated below Stairs, will afford entertainment to the Curious. It is furnished

with a most elegant and valuable Collection of Drefden China, given to the Duke of Marlborough by the King of Poland, in return for a Pack, of Stag hounds. E confifts of Tureens, Sets of Plate, and fantaftic Figures. The Colours are remarkably lively, and the Reprefentations highly Natural. Here are likewife fome beautiful and Coftly Jars, collected at a great expenfe by the late Dutchess Dowager.

The GARDENS

Include a great variety of Ground. The Defcent on the South-weft Side; the extent and beauty of the Water; the grandeur of the oppofite Bank; the Cascade ; the new Bridge and lower Piece of Water; form an affemblage of great and beautiful Objects in no other Place to be met with.

The Ground on the South-eaft is a happy contrast to the South-weft Side: the Gardens here feem to lofe themselves in the Park, amidst a profufion of venerable Oaks and interfected Avenues, from whence they derive an air of moft indeterminate extent, which is very pleafing. Laftly, the beautiful Plain in the Front of the Houfe, and the picturefque effect of the Village rifing out of the Wood below, call for our Attention.

Thefe Gardens have been confiderably enlarged, and thrown into the form they now wear, by the present Duke, who has likewife farther beautified them by the addition of fome 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 fome Copies of Antique Vafes, in Stone.

The PARK

Is eleven Miles in Circumference, and contains many delightful Scenes. The Lover of rural Variety will be entertained here with every circumftance of Beauty which he can expect from diverfified Nature; from Hill, and Valley, Water and Woods. About

About the Middle of the grand Approach is a magnificent BRIDGE, chiefly confifting 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, furrounded by an Artificial Declivity of a prodigious Depth, and is indifputably, both with regard to its Acompanyments and Extent, the moft capital Piece of Water in this Kingdom.

In this Park originally stood a Royal Palace, where King Etheldred called a Parliament. Henry I. inclosed the Park with a Wall, Part of which is now remaining. His fucceffor Henry II. principally refided at this Seat, and erected in the Park a Houfe encompaffed with a Labyrinth of extraordinary contrivance, for the Habitation of his Concubine Fair Rofamond. This romantic Retreat, commonly ftyled Fair Rofamond's Bower, was fituated on the Hill, to the North-weft of the Bridge, above a remarkable Bath, or Spring, called at present Rofamond's Well.

In this Palace Edmund, the fecond Son of Edward I. was born, and thence denominated Edmund of Woodftock; as was Edward the Black Prince. The Princess Elizabeth, afterwards Queen, was kept a Prifoner here, under the perfecutions 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 fucceeding Times of Confufion. Its magnificent Ruins were remaining within the Memory of Man, near the Bridge, to the North, on the spot where two Sycamores have been fince planted as a Memorial.

The Park and Manor of Woodstock, with other Appurtenances, were granted with concurrence of Parlia ment, by Queen Anne, in the fourth Year of her Reign, to John Duke of Marlborough, and his Heirs, in recompence of the many illuftrious Victories obtained under his command against the French and Bavarian Armies; particularly at Blenheim.

The

The Grant of the Crown, and the Services of the Duke, are fully fpecified on the Pedestal of a stately Column, 130 Feet in Height; on the Top of which is a Statue of the Duke, fituated in a grand Avenue. On one Side is the following Infcription, fupposed 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 Chriftian Era 1705.
A Monument defigned to perpetuate the Memory of the
Signal Victory

Obtained over the French and Bavarians,
Near the Village of Blenheim,

On the Banks of the Danube,

By JOHN Duke of MARLBOROUGH, The Hero not only of this Nation, but of this Age; Whofe Glory was equal in the Council and in the Field; Who, by Wisdom, Juftice, Candour, and Address, Reconciled various, and even oppofite, Interests; Acquired an Influence

Which no Rank, no Authority can give,
Nor any Force, but that of fuperior Virtue:
Became the fixed important Centre,

Which united in one common Cause,
The principal States of Europe;

Who by military Knowledge, and irresistible Valour,
In a long Series of uninterrupted Triumphs,
Broke the Power of France,

When raised the higheft, when exerted the most; Refcued the Empire from Defolation;

Afferted and confirmed the Liberties of Europe.

The House itself was built at the Publick Expence; but the Bridge, the Column juft mentioned, and the Portal contiguous to the Town, were erected folely at the charge of Sarah Duchefs Dowager of Marlborough.

DITCHLEY,

DITCHLEY,

THE SEAT OF

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF LITCHFIELD.

ITCHLEY is a modern Fabric, lofty, and ele

D'gantly built, fituated on an Hill, which commands

much of the Country, having Blenheim, Oxford, and the Hills beyond it in full View. Over the Front of the House are two grand Statues, Loyalty and Fame, with their proper Emblems. The Offices, which form two beautiful Wings, have a communication with the prin cipal Building by circular Colonades. In the Houfe are many valuable and mafterly Portraits by Rubens, Vandyck, Sir Peter Lely, Johnfon, and Wotton.

The HALL.

This Room is finely proportioned and elegantly decorated. Its Sides and Roof are onamented with Stucco, which is at once bold and delicate. Its Door-cafes, Pediments, Entablatures, and Columns of the Corinthian and Compofite Orders, are all richly ornamented with Gildings, &c. The Ceiling contains an Affembly of the Gods, painted by Kent. Two of the Compartments are filled with hiftorical Pièces from the Eneid, by the fame Hand; one of which reprefents Eneas meeting Venus, his Mother, in the Wood near Carthage; and the other, Venus presenting Æneas with the new Armour. The Sciences are introduced as Ornaments, with Bufts of Philofophers, Poets, Hiftorians, and Orators, viz.