which gave him a real and heart-felt concern; that besides a monthly fast, he kept the anniversary with great fasting and humility. The following account of this hospital, in the words of the celebrated Mr. Speaker Onslow, is the most unfeigned encomium on the founder.

"He was

eminent for piety, and a care for the poor; and his hospitality fully answered the injunction king James laid on him, which was to carry his house nobly, and to live like an archbishop. He had no thoughts of heaping up riches; what he did save was laid out by him in the erecting and endowing an handsome hospital for decayed tradesmen, and the widows of such in the town of Guildford; under the statutes of which, for near one hundred years [1723] that hospital has maintained the best credit of any I know in England."

In Guildford is an antient Gothic structure, called the FRIARY, belonging to the earl of Onslow, in one part of which the judges are accommodated, during the assizes: assemblies and public feasts are usually kept here; but the other part was converted into a boarding school for young gentlemen. This friary formerly belonged to an order of mendicants.

The Grammar School is a most elegant structure of the Gothic order, and was founded and endowed in 1509 by Robert Beckingham, of London, grocer; it has been liberally augmented by contributions before and since the time of king Edward the Sixth, who, by his letters patent in 1551, established it into a free grammar school, by the name of "Schola Regia Grammaticalis Edwardi Sexti," After whom William and gave 201. per annum for ever. Hammond, Esq. and Dr. John Parkhurst, bishop of Norwich, were liberal benefactors; it is at this time in a very flourishing state. At this school have been educated among other very eminent persons, GEORGE ABBOт, archbishop of Canterbury; his brothers, ROBERT, bi hop of Salisbury; and Sir MAURICE ABBOT, lord mayor of London, in 1638. Dr. JOHN PARKHURST, bishop of Norwich, 1650. HENRY COTTON, bishop of Salisbury, 1598. Y y

VOL. V. No. 116.

Dr.

Dr. WIL

LIAM

Sir ROBERT

The right ho

LIAM COTTON, bishop of Exeter, 1621. PARKHURST*, lord mayor of London. nourable ARTHUR ONSLOW, speaker of the House of Commons, &c.

The Hall wherein the county assizes were long held being much decayed, an elegant structure, with suitable offices, was built for that purpose in the year 1789, at the expence of lords Onslow and Grantley; adjoining to which was also built in the same year a commodious Playhouse.

Guildford has a small remainder of an old manufacture in the clothing trade; which extends itself to Godelmin, Haslemere, and the vale country on the east side of the Holmwood. This trade, however small, affords great assistance to the poor of this part of the county, where the lands are but very indifferent, and the inhabitants, generally cottagers, living chiefly by the commons and heathground in the vicinity.

The town draws great support from travellers on account of its elegance, and the public road from London to Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, and other capital towns in the south and west parts of England.

A fine circular, course near the town is used for horseracing. King William III. gave a plate of one hundred guineas value to be run for in the Whitsun week, at which time three subscription plates are annually run for exclusive of matches. At these diversions some of the royal family, and the numerous surrounding nobility and gentry, sometimes attend.

On DRAKE, or St. CATHARINE'S HILL, are the ruins of a chapel, formerly a chapel of ease to the church of St. Nicholas. This chapel was built with a sort of tile, which when broken has the appearance of iron, and the cement of them is so hard, that it is in a manner impenetrable.

The house in which Sir Robert was born is still remaining, and is an antique mansion, in which the family were resident till within a few years. A tradition prevails that hounds were kept here from the time of the Conquest; it bears the name of Hound House.-Russell's Guildford.

The

The river Wey was made navigable to Guildford about the year 1656, under the patronage of Sir Richard Weston, bart. of Sutton Place, who first introduced into England those useful inventions of river locks, tumbling bays, and turnpike roads, which now, and for many years past, have enabled the inhabitants of Guildford and its vicinity to convoy their merchandise to and from London, and to supply the surrounding villages on the easiest terms; as well as to carry on a very considerable trade in corn, malt, beer, &c. This navigation is also of great support to Farnham market, corn bought there being brought to the mills on this river within seven miles distance, and, after being ground and dressed, sent down in barges to London. The road from Farnham to Guildford, runs along the ridge of a high chalky hill, which is not much wider than the road itself; whence is an extensive prospect to the north and north-west over Bagshot Heath, aud the other way into Sussex, and almost to the South Downs; in short, the prospect to the west appears as it were unbounded. This hill being of chalk, the reflection of the sun makes the heat almost insupportable to the traveller in summer. This hill reaches from Guildford to within two miles and an half of Farnham, The cross road hence to London, by way of Leatherhead and Epsom, over Banstead Downs, is not much frequented by coaches, or the common stages; but, though not the nearest to London, is by much the pleasantest in this part of England.

Here is a school for clothing and educating twentyfive boys.

Guildford has a good market on Saturday, and three considerable fairs annually, viz. on May 4, October 2, (which is held on St. Catharine's Hill before-mentioned,) and November 22.

A number of other very curious particulars may be found by consulting Mr. Russell's ingenious and well authenticated History of Guildford, to which we are indebted for much useful information.

In the road from Guildford to Letherhead, are fituated many elegant seats; among others was one inhabited by the posterity of Sir Thomas Bludworth, lord mayor of London, in 1666*. Sir Thomas himself lived and died at Camden House, near Kensington.

WEST CLANDON, three miles from Guildford, on this road, is called Clandon Regis, to distinguish it from Clandon Abbatis, or East Clandon. The manor and advowson were purchased by Sir Richard Onslow, bart. first lord Onslow, 1716, His son Thomas built the noble seat at this place, in 1731, after a design of Leoni. "The hall, a cube of forty feet, forms a magnificent entrance. In this apartment are two elegant chimney pieces, the work of that celebrated sculptor Rysbrack: the first a sacrifice to Bacchus, and said to be this great master's chef de œuvre in bas-relief; the other a sacrifice to Diana, executed with prodigious taste and ability. The rooms, in general, are stately and convenieut; the pictures good, but not numerous: two of Barlow's best pieces, however, deserve particular notice; they hang in the saloon. On the chamber floor is a fine portrait of Sir Edward Onslow, by Cornelius Jansen, in his best manner. In the gallery is a very curious painting of the antient mansion, with a bird's-eye view of the parish: here also is a portrait of Thomas de Woodstock, duke of Glocester.

The south-west prospect of Clandon House commands a lively and extensive prospect; the park affords rich pasture, and is plentifully stocked with deer; the pleasure grounds are neat and romantic. The ascent near the house commands a view of the race ground near Guildford; and a chalk pit has been tastefully transformed into a rich scene

* An implacable resentment of the citizens of London, subsisted against this magistrate, for his inconsiderate expression at the commencement of the great fire during his mayoralty; "that the fire was of no consequence, and they might it out." The joke was never forgotten; but was fixed upon him and his family as an indelible reproach.-Tour through Great Britain, 1724, Vol. I. p. 90.

of

of picturesque beauty. The brick stables, built by lord Onslow, from a design of Brown, have the appearance of stone, and are seen to great advantage, surrounded by stately elms. The earl of Onslow is high steward of Guildford, from which town also the noble family of NORTH take the title of earl.

Guildford, being very advantageously situated, has other numerous mansions in its neighbourhood belonging to noblemen and gentlemen, particularly those of lord Grantley, at Wonersh; lord King, at Ockham; Sir Frederic Evelyn, at Wotton.

Two miles from Guildford, on the banks of the Wey, was a fine seat belonging to lord Onslow. The house was large, but being out of repair, was therefore pulled down, and most of the timber about it sold. Adjoining to the park is a very convenient and ingenious decoy, the first of the kind in this part of England.

The gardens at Ockham, the seat of lord King, have been lately much improved, the waters enlarged, and the whole opened according to the modern taste; the house however is inadequate for the residence of a nobleman.

In this village are wells of a purgative nature; and a mill over the Wey. The inhabitants have a tradition, there was formerly a nunnery at Ockham Court; and that a subterraneous passage went from it, under the river, to Newark Abbey, by which there was a communication between the monks and nuns.

RIPLEY, twenty-three miles and a half from London, in the road to Portsmouth, has a chapel of ease to the parish of Send. It is one of the neatest villages in the county, and was formerly famous for cricket players. A handsome house, on the green, belongs to the Onslow family.

Near Ripley are the ruins of NEWARK PRIORY, situated on the banks of the Wey. This was a priory of Black Canons, supposed to have been founded in the reign of Henry I. and dedicated to the Virgin. The ruins exhibit the remains of a large structure. This foundation, at its dissolution,