ground, that one would wonder how it should find a new set of inhabitants. It is said it will be called by the name of Hanover Square. On the opposite side of the way, towards Mary-le-bone, which seems a higher and finer situation, is marked out a very spacious and noble Square, and many streets that are to form avenues to it. This Square, we hear, is to be called Oxford-square, and that ground has been taken to build houses in it by the Right Honourable Lords, the Earl of Oxford, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Lord Harcourt, the Lord Harley, and several other Noble Peers of Great Britain. The ground sold at first for 2s. 6d. per foot, afterwards for 15s."

The following ill-natured observations also appeared in the Weekly Medley, of Sept. 1719:

"Not far from Tavistock-street, lives a man by profession a Measurer and Surveyor; this fellow is everlastingly boasting of himself, and vapouring of his performances, and has the boldness to style himself the Prince of that calling. If towards being a Prince of a trade, it is necessary to make himself wealthy and great, by undoing all that are subject to his management, he richly deserves the name; for you must understand, that as among authors there is a cacoëthes scribendi, so there is an ædificandi cacoëthes, or an itch of building, that prevails much among our tribe that dabble in mortar. All the raw and inexperienced workmen that lie under this evil, have been drawn by this boaster to build in and about Hanover-square, till they have built themselves quite out of doors in this part of the world, and so are obliged to cross the water, to another climate, and take up their lodgings in Mint Square; where they still rear palaces in their imaginations, and metamorphose themselves into that species of men called castle-builders; and there they and their families fill their mouths with curses against their projecting Prince."

In the centre of the enclosure is an equestrian Statue of William Duke of Cumberland, by Chew, erected in 1770, at the expense of LieutenantGeneral William Strode," in gratitude for private kindness, and in honour of public virtue." There

is a burlesque representation of this statue as a vignette to a work entitled, Critical Observations on the Buildings and Improvements of London, by J. Stuart, 4to. 1771. This Statue was re-gilt in 1783, at the expense of the Princess Amelia. Adjoining to Harcourt House, formerly_resided the celebrated Shute Barrington, Bishop of Durham. At the south-east corner of the square is the Banking-house of Sir Claude Scott, and Co. convenient offices having been erected on the garden at the back for carrying on the business: the entrance to these offices is in Margaret Street.

Cavendish Square now contains 37 houses; those on the south side extending from the corner of Old Cavendish Street to the corner of Margaret Street, being numbered in the square: the following persons of high rank reside in this square. The Dukes of Portland and Richmond; Marquis of Titchfield, Earls of Wicklow, Charleville; Lords George and Henry Bentinck; Viscounts Duncannon and Beresford; Countess of Antrim; Lord C. Townshend, Lord Dufferin; Honourable William and Lady Louisa Duncombe; Sir George G. Tuthill, M. D.; Marquis of Winchester; Sir W. Browne Folkes; Sir Edward C. Dering, Bart.; Major-General Sir Charles Dalbiac; LieutenantColonel Reid; Sir Martin A. Shee, P. R. A.; S. Love Hammick, Surgeon; Mrs. Baillie; Dr. A. P. W. Philip; Edmund Macdonnel, Esq.; Captain and Mrs. Polhill; Charles Scott Murray, Esq.; Sir R. Frankland; Hon. Mrs. Marley; Stephen Thornton, Esq.; Thomas Hamlet, Esq.; Dowager Lady Astley; Walter Calvert, Esq.; Frederick Reade, Esq.; Mrs. Bertie Matthew; Richard Parrott, Esq.; Dr. John Sims; John Ogilvie, Esq. Here is also, at the corner of Holles Street, a large Hotel comprising two extensive houses, kept by Marshall Thompson.

To induce the builders to speculate, a Chapel

and a Market was projected for the convenience of the inhabitants. The Chapel was erected in Vere Street, from the designs of Gibbs, and completed about 1724, but the Market, although erected about the same period, was not opened until the year 1731, owing to the opposition of Lord Craven, who was fearful that it would affect the profits of Carnaby Market. Edward, Earl of Oxford, however, finally obtained a grant, under the great Seal, in 1731,"authorising himself, his lady, and their heirs, to hold a Market, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, for the sale of flesh, fish, fowls, herbs, and all other provisions." However this Market may have answered the expectations of the projectors at the time of its erection, does not appear, but it is certain, that its trade has not kept pace in a proportionate ratio with the increase of population, and upon its being repaired a few years since, the interior was converted into a large room, and used as an office for the payment of the Outpensioners of Chelsea Hospital. The shops in this Market-place are quite of an ordinary description.

About 1729, most of the streets leading to Cavendish Square were began to be built, and the ground laid out for others: these streets were named after the families of the proprietors of the land, their titles, or country-seats, a fashion which has prevailed ever since all over the parish, viz. Henrietta Street, Vere Street,* Holles Street,

This Street was named after the Veres Earls of Oxford.March 12, 1703, died Aubrey de Vere, the twentieth and last Earl of Oxford of the de Veres. The changes of the eventful times in which he lived did not seem to affect him; he was so passive under Oliver the Protector that he was not even fined; and, when William came over, he went over to him from James I. He had been easy with the gay and frolicsome Charles II, grave with William III., and was graceful in old age at the Court of Queen Anne. After the death of Charles I, to whom he was Lord of the Bedchamber, he became Lieutenant-General of the Forces, Colonel and Captain of the Horse Guards, Justice in Eyre, Lord Lieute

Margaret Street, Cavendish Street, Welbeck Street, Wimpole Street, Princes Street, Bolsover Street, (not now existing) Castle Street, John Street, Market Street, Harley Street, Mortimer Street, &c. Captain Rathbone commenced the erection of Rathbone Place about 1720; he died in 1721: Wells Street was also commenced about this period. In a Map published in 1742, the diminutive church of St. Mary-le-bone is exhibited detached from London, with two zig-zag ways leading to it, one near Vere Street, which was the then western boundary of the new buildings, and the second from Tottenham-Court-Road. Rows of houses

with their backs to the fields extended from St. Giles's Pound to Oxford Market, but TottenhamCourt-Road, had only one cluster on the west side, and the spring-water house. Hence it will be observed, that Oxford Street, from Oxford Market to Vere Street on the south and west, and Marybone Street on the north, and the site of Titchfield Street on the east, formed the outline of the new buildings. The zig-zag way above-mentioned near Vere Street, still retaining its original name of Mary-le-bone Lane, was the communication between the high road and the village.

nant and Custos Rotulorum of the County of Essex. He had been a Privy Counsellor to him and each subsequent sovereign, and was Hereditary Lord Chamberlain, Senior Knight of the Garter, and Premier Farl of England. He married Anne, daughter of Paul, Viscount Bayning. He may be said to have commi ted polygamy by the following act: a lady, whose name is not known, was celebrated for the performance of the part of Roxana on the stage; influenced by violent love, and unable to succeed in his purpose by other means, he prevailed on her to consent to a private marriage. It was afterwards discovered to have been celebrated by the Earl's trumpeter in the character of a priest, and witnessed by his kettle drummer. His father, the valiant Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, had nobly married Beatrix Vau Hemims, a boor's daughter of Friezeland.-Noble.

HIGH STREET,

Being situated in the centre of the Parish, formerly comprised the principal part of the Village of Mary-le-bone: the Church, the Royal Palace, the Rose Tavern, and Bowling-greens, the splendid mansion built for the purpose of containing the Earl of Oxford's Library, the Rose of Normandy, and a few detached houses with gardens formed the prominent features of its early days; the eastern entrance to the Parish Church yard, and the Infant School, the National School, the Police Office, and the Parish Charity School being the principal modern additions. The houses have nothing to recommend them in point of architectural beauty, being plain brick buildings; and from their having been built at various periods are destitute of uniformity; they are however, principally occupied by respectable tradesmen.

THE ROSE OF NORMANDY.

This House, supposed to have been built about 200 years ago, and the oldest now existing in the Parish, is situated on the East side of the street; was formerly a detached building, used as the house of entertainment in connection with the Bowling-green at the back. The following description of this Bowling-green, from Mem. by Sam. Sainthill, 1659, appeared in the Gent. Mag. vol. 83, pt i. p. 524. "The outside a square brick wall, set with fruit trees, gravel walks, 204 paces long, seven broad; the circular walk 485 paces, six broad, the centre square, a Bowling-green, 112 paces one way, 88 another; all except the first, double set with quickset hedges, full grown and kept in excellent order, and indented-like town walls."* The entrance to this House is by

* In a map of the Duke of Portland's estate of 1708, there are