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From the Hall, we go to the grand Staircase, the Walls and Ceiling of which are ornamented with Pannels and Feftoons of Stucco. We next come to

The BREAKFASTING PARLOUR.

A Neat and commodious Room. Over the Chimney is a fine Landscape by Pouffin; and four other Landfcapes, by an eminent Italian Mafter; as likewise an excellent Portrait of fome unknown Perfon, by Hans. Holben with fome other Landscapes and Portraits.

From hence we are conducted into the Family Apartments. -To the right of the Ante Chamber, enriched with fome Prints and fome Family Portraits, is his Lordship's Dreffing-Room; on the left is her Ladyfhip's Dreffing-Room.

The LITTLE BLUE DRAWING ROOM.

THIS is an Apartment of twenty-one Feet by eighteen and an half, and enriched with an elegant Chimney-piece, of Sienna Marble, executed by the late Mr. Carter.

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Over the Chimney is a Family Piece of King Charles II. by Vandyck and on the Sides of the Room the Portraits of the prefent Earl and Countess of Shrewfbury, by Mr. Hoare.

The PRINCIPAL BED CHAMBER

Is fitted up with Tapestry, with a rich blue Damask Bed and Furniture. The adjoining Closet is an elegant Apartment hung with Chinese Paper; from whence we command an extenfive Prospect over the adjacent Country.

From the Bedchamber before mentioned we come to

The LIBRARY,

Which is a fuperb Room, 83 Feet in length, and 20 in height.

The

The Ornaments of this Room are mafterly: They confift chiefly of the moft elegant and highly finished Stucco, by the late and prefent Mr. Roberts of Oxford;-the Defigns of which are admirably adapted to the purposes of the Place.

On the North Side are feven Receffes, one of which is the entrance from the Hall, and the other fix are filled with elegant Book-cafes, over which are curious Medallions of Cicero, Plato, Thucidides, Homer, Shakefpeare, and Inigo Jones. In this Side are alfo two fuperb Chimney pieces, by Carter, compofed of rich antique Marble. The Entrances at each End are formed to correfpond with the other receffès the femi. circular Arches over which, as well as that leading from the Hall, are ornamented in Stucco with Fables from Efop, admirably executed; with a Medallion of the fame kind over each Chimney. The South Side, which fronts the Garden, confifts of eight magnificent Windows, with a pair of folding Glass Doors, which open to the Terrace, and afford a moft delightful and extenfive Profpect.

The Ceiling, which is entirely plain, is fupported by Columns of the Corinthian Order; and is encompaffed by an exceeding rich Ionic Entablature. This Room is likewife enriched by pendant Ornaments, in alto relievo, of Still-life, Military, Mufical, and Mathematical Inftruments; with a judicious mixture of Fruit and Flowers.

The SMALLER DRAWING ROOM

Is furnished with Genoa Flowered Damask, and has a Chimney-piece of fine Marble, and very curious workmanship. The Ceiling and Cove are in Fret-work Compartments, ornamented with Birds, Foliages, and Feftoons of Flowers.

The GREAT DRAWING ROOM. THIS Apartment is 47 Feet long, 25 broad, and 20 high. It is furnished with excellent Tapeftry, which

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for Colour as well as Expreffion, engages the attention of the Curious. It is the work of Vanderborght, and represents the Four Quarters of the World, well expreffed by Affemblages of the Natives, in their various Habits and Employments, except Europe, which is in Masquerade Over the four Doors are the Seasons and Elements painted in a very peculiar Style. Thefe figures, in Claro Obfcuro appear as if ftarting from the Canvas. From the vast expreffion, yet exceeding light tint of these Pieces, the Spectator is at firft fight ready to pronounce them Bas Reliefs in white Marble.

The Chimney-piece is extremely fuperb, compofed of rich Egyptian Marble, executed by Carter. The Cornice is fupported by highly carved and polished Figures of Ceres and Flora, about five Feet high: The Drapery of thefe Figures, one in the ancient, the other in the modern Style, as well as their Attitudes, are peculiarly ftriking and expreffive. In the centre of the Freeze is a raifed Tablet of the Choice of Hercules. Over it is a Painting of the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Hoft in the Red Sea.-Suitable to the other Ornaments of this Apartment, the Cieling confifts of representations of the Four Quarters of the World, with the Elements, and Seafons, in Stucco, interspersed with Fables and other Decorations; and furrounded by a full enriched Corinthian Entablature.-On the oppofite fide to the Chimney-piece are two fuperb Glaffes, upwards of four Feet in breath, and nine Feet high. Under thefe Glaffes are two rich Tables of Egyptian Marble, upon gilt and carved Frames; and on the other Piers are two Girandoles of exquifite workmanship, by Anfell.

The MUSICK PARLOUR

Is a small neat Room, with a light and well executed Ceiling.

The DINING PARLOUR.

A VERY commodious Apartment, of 27 Feet, by

25. The Walls, with the Cove and Ceiling, are decorated with varied compartments of highly finished Ornaments, in Stucco. Oyer the Chimney, is a Portrait of the late Duke of Shrewsbury.

The Environs, or Gardens, are well laid out. A variety of beautiful Scenes ftrike the Spectator in a moft agreeable Succeffion. With very little appearance of Art, Nature has received much Affiftance from Tafte. To the South Weft, lofty Treès afford a most refreshing Shade, interfperfed with Openings edged with Flowers. Eaftward, a fmall Stream is improved into a winding River, broke by Cafcades, whofe Banks are adorned with a curious Fancy-building called

The Moss HOUSE.

THIS Edifice is covered with Reeds, and conAtructed of ruftic Oak; the Infide is lined with Mofs of various Colours, and the Floor paved in MosaicWork, with Horfe's Teeth polifhed. Upon entering this Building we have a striking View of two Caf cades, which afford an agreeable Surprize.

This Piece of Water is croffed by a Stone Bridge, under which is an Engine that fupplies the House with Water; and above it, at the diftance of about four hundred Paces, is the most natural, if not the most ftriking of the Cascades found here. It is built with Petrefactions, and other curious Stones; and on the Top is a Terrace, planted with Flowering Shrubs.

From this Bridge, in another direction, through a Grove, we afcend to a Beautiful Serpentine Walk, alfo planted with Flowering Shrubs on each Side, which terminates in an octagon Bowling-Green, where we command feveral extenfive, different, and moft delightful Prospects.

NUNEHAM.

NUNEHAM-COURTNAY,

THE SEAT OF

THE EARL OF HARCOURT.

AT

T the General Survey this Manor belonged to Richard de Curcy: afterwards to the Family of Riparys, or Redvers. Mary, youngest Daughter of William de Redvers, Earl of Devon, (who as well as his Uncle William was furnamed de Vernon,) married Robert de Courtenay, Baron of Okehampton, in 1214. -It is probable, that by this marriage the Manor of Nuneham was carried into the Family of Courtenay, and thence affumed the Name of Nuneham-Courtenay. After them fucceeded (the Pollards) Sir John Pollard of Devon. From them it came to-Audley of the Court of Wards, called the Rich Audley.

From him to Robert Wright, Bishop of Litchfield, whofe Son, Calvert Wright, fold it to John Robinson, of London, Merchant (temp. O1. Cromwell) Knighted in 1660, by King Charles II. and made Lieutenant of the Tower.

From the Robinfons it defcended to David Earl of Wemys (who married Mary, Daughter and coheir of Sir John Robinson, Baronet,) from whom it was purchased in the Year 1710, by Simon, firft Lord Harcourt, Lord High Chancellor of England."

The Houfe was built by the late Earl, but has fince been much altered and enlarged (by the addition of a Court of Offices, &c.) according to the Plans of Mr. Brown: it ftands in a Park of fix Miles and an half in circumference, well wooded, and containing near

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