July 3, 1687, by the public entry of a nuncio from the pope. But that prince had the mortification to see that, notwithstanding the ceremony was conducted with much state and outward show, the whole proceffion gave offence to a people too fenfible to be deluded by the idle parade of popish pageantry; and, at court, the duke of Somerset, lord of the bedchamber in waiting, refused to introduce the nuncio to audience, chusing rather to incur his sovereign's displeasure than to perform a task unsuitable to his high rank, and contrary to the laws of the kingdom. Queen Anne made feveral additions to Windsor Castle, particularly the flight of steps on the east side of the Terrace; and, though the court seldom resided at Windsor in the reigns of their late majesties George I. and II. the necessary repair of this castle and the royal apartments were always continued. His present majesty George III. has made Windsor his summer residence, and, by new-erected buildings and alterations, added greatly to the splendour and magnificence of this royal castle.

The several foundations within this structure are, the royal college of St. George, consisting of a dean, twelve canons or prebendaries, seven minor canons, eleven vicars choral, one organist, one verger, and two sacrists. The most noble Order of the Garter, consisting of the sovereign and twenty-five knights companions. The alms knights, eighteen in number, viz. thirteen of the royal foundation, and five of the foundation of Sir Peter le Maire, in the reign of king James I.*

* It is proper to notice, that William of Wickham, afterwards bishop of Winchester, was principally employed by Edward III. in building this castle, which when he had finished, in one of the towers he caused to be cut this doubtful sentence, "This made Wickham," which was reported to the king, as if that bishop assumed to himself the honour of building this royal castle. And had not the prelate, by a ready address, assured his royal master, that he intended no meaning derogatory to his sovereign, but only an acknowledgment that this building had made him great in the favour of his prince, and was the cause of his present high station, the prelate had probably fallen under the displeasure of that monarch by this inscription, which possibly in time might have occasioned a double interpretation.

The

The castle is surrounded by a most noble terrace, faced on all sides with a noble and solid rampart of free-stone, with beautiful and easy slopes to the lower part of the park underneath. This Terrace may, with justice, be said to be the noblest walk in Europe, both with regard to the strength and grandeur of the building, and the fine and extensive prospect over the river Thames, and the adjacent country on every side, where nature and art vie with each other in beauty.

The royal apartments in the castle are on the north side, and commonly. go under the name of the STAR Building, from the garter and star largely displayed in gold in the middle of the building, on the outside next to the Terrace. The usual entrance into the apartments is from the upper court or ward, through a handsome vestibule supported by pillars of the Ionic order, with some antique brass bustos in the several niches; the principal of which are, a Roman vestal, and a slave in the action of picking a thorn out of his foot. The great staircare is finely painted with several fabulous stories from Ovid's Metamorphoses, particularly the story of Phaeton, who is represented on the dome petitioning Apollo for leave to drive the chariot of the Sun; and on the staircase, in large compartments, are the transformation of Phaeton's sisters into poplars, their tears distilling amber from the trees; also the story of Cycnus king of Liguria, who, being inconsolable for Phaeton's death, was transformed into a swan. Over these, and on the several parts of the ceiling, supported by the Winds, are represented the signs of the Zodiac, with baskets of flowers, beautifully disposed; and at each corner are the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, expressed by Cornucopiæ, Birds, Zephyrs, Flaming Censers, Water Nymphs with fishes, and a variety of other representations expressing each element; also Aurora, with her Nymphs in waiting, giving water to her horses. In proper attitudes, in several parts of this staircase, are also represented Comedy, Tragedy, Music, Painting, and the other sciences; and the whole staircase

3 F 2

staircase is beautifully disposed, and heightened with gold, and has a view to the back stairs, whereon is painted the story of Meleager and Atalanta. The painting of this staircase by Sir James Thornhill.

The QUEEN'S GUARD CHAMBER, is completely furnished with fire arms, beautifully ranged and disposed into va rious forms, with the star and garter, the royal cypher, and other ornaments intermixed, cut in lime wood. Over the

chimney is a full portrait of prince George of Denmark in armour on horseback, by DAHL, with a view of shipping, by VANDERVELD. On the cieling is Britannia, personified by queen Catharine, consort to Charles II. seated on a globe, bearing the arms of England and Portugal, with the four quarters of the world, and their respective symbols, attended by deities, presenting their several offerings, and surrounded by the signs of the Zodiac; the other embellishments consist of the heathen deities, &c.

THE QUEEN'S PRESENCE CHAMBER. Portrait of queen Catharine, attended by Religion, Prudence, Fortitude, and the other virtues. The room is hung with tapestry, representing the beheading of St. Paul, and the persecution of the primitive Christians; it is also adorned with paintings of Edward III. and the Black Prince, both by BELCAMP; and of James I. by VANDYCK. In this room also were the

three following cartoons of Raphael:

The Sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, at Lystra; the Miraculous Draught of Fishes; Healing of the Cripple at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. Here it is proper to mention, that the Cartoons have been lately removed to Hampton Court, where Mr. Holloway is taking exact copies of them for publication.

THE QUEEN'S AUDIENCE CHAMBER. The cieling represents queen Catharine as Britannia, in a car drawn by swans to the temple of Virtue, attended by Flora, Ceres, &c. The canopy is of fine English velvet, set up by queen Anne; and the tapestry was made at Coblentz, and presented to Henry VIII. The portraits are, William and

Frederic

Frederic Henry, princes of Orange, HONTHORST; and Anne of Denmark, queen of James I. VANSOMER.

THE BALL ROOM. On the cieling Charles II. is represented giving freedom to Europe, by the figures of Perseus and Andromeda: on the shield of Perseus is inscribed Perseus Britannicus, and over the head of Andromeda is written Europa Liberata! Mars, attended by the celestial deities, offers the olive branch. The tapestry, exhibiting the Months, was made at Brussels, and set up by Charles II. the room is adorned with portraits and pictures of William earl of Pembroke, VANSOMER; St. John, after CORREGIO; countess of Dorset, after VANDYCK; duchess of Richmond, VANDYCK; a Madonna; and the duchess of Hamilton, HANNEMAN.

THE QUEEN'S DRAWING ROOм. On the cicling the assembly of the gods and goddesses. The room is hung with tapestry, representing the Seasons; the pictures are Judith and Holofernes, GUIDO; a Magdalen, LELY; Henrietta, duchess of Orleans, in the character of Minerva; lady Digby, wife of Sir Kenelm Digby, VANDYCK; De Bray and his family, by himself; Killegrew and Carew, VANDYCK. In this room is a beautiful clock by VULLUAMY. THE QUEEN'S BEDCHAMBER. The bed of state in this room was put up by queen Charlotte. It is said to have cost 14,000l. On the cieling is represented the story of Diana and Endymion; the room is adorned with the picture of her majesty at full length, accompanied by all her children, WEST; six landscapes, ZUCCARELLI; and two flower pieces.

THE ROOM OF BEAUTIES, is so named from the original portraits of fourteen of the most celebrated beauties in the reign of Charles II.; viz. Mrs. Knot and Mrs. Lawson, WISSING; lady Sunderland, lady Rochester, lady Denham and her sister, and Mrs. Middleton, LELY; lady Byron, HOUSE. MAN; duchess of Richmond, countess of Northumberland, lady Grammont, duchess of Cleveland, and duchess of Somerset, LELY; and lady Ossory, WISSING; with thirteen portraits of ladies, after VANDYCK, by RUSSEL.

THE

THE QUEEN'S DRESSING ROOM. Anne, queen to James I.;' in a closet, is the banner of France, annually delivered on the second of August by the duke of Marlborough; the tenure by which he holds Blenheim House.

QUEEN ELIZABETH's, or THE PICTURE GALLERY, is adorned with the paintings of James I. VANSOMER; the Holy Family, after RAPHAEL; Charles V. after TITIAN; the Offering of the Wise Men, PAUL VERONESE; the Misers, QUINTIN MATSYS, the blacksmith of Antwerp; Perseus and Andromeda, SCHIAVONE; Titian and a Senator of Venice, by TITIAN; Henry VIII. HOLBEIN; two Italian Markets, BAMBOCCIO; a Conversation, TENIERS; Sir John Lawson, Sir Christopher Minnes, earl of Sandwich, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir William Penn, Sir George Ayscough, Sir Thomas Tiddyman, Anne duchess of York, prince Rupert, Sir Jeremiah Smith, Sir Joseph Jordan, Sir William Berkeley, duke of Albemarle, and Sir John Harman, LELY; a Boy with Puppies, MURILLO*; Our Saviour and St. John, VANDYCK; St. Joseph, FETTI; a Man's Head, CARLO CIGNANI; a Boy paring Fruit; MICHAEL ANGELO; Men playing at Bowls, TENIERS; Ascension of the Virgin, BASSAN; Boors drinking, TENIERS; St. Charles de Borromeo, FETTI; Angel and Shepherds, N. POUSSIN; Our Saviour in the Garden, N. POUSSIN; Emmanuel Phillibert duke of Savoy, MORE; Angel and Peter, STEENWYCK; Indian Market, PosT; Marquis del Guasto and Family, after TITIAN; and Rinaldo and Armida, ROMANelli.

QUEEN CAROLINE'S CHINA CLOSET, filled with a great variety of curious china, elegantly disposed; and the whole room finely gilt and ornamented: the pictures are, the Children of Henry VII. MABUSE; a Woman with a Kitten; and a Woman squeezing Blood out of a Sponge. In this closet is also a fine ember cabinet, presented to queen Anne by Dr. Robinson, bishop of London.

THE KING'S CLOSET. The cieling painted with the story

This is ascertained by Mr. West to be a genuine work of LUCA GIORDANO.

of