tion, with the arms, sword and cap of maintenance, supported by Thame and Isis, with other small rivers offering up their treasures to her. The river Tine pouring forth sacks of coals. In the gallery on each side the ship are the Arts and Sciences that re'late to navigation with the great Archimedes, many old philosophers consulting the compass, &c. "At the other end, as you return out of the Hall, is a gallery in the same manner, in the middle of which is the stern of a beautiful galley filled with Spanish trophies. Under which is the Humber with his pigs of lead. The Severn with the Avon falling into her, with other lesser rivers. In the north end of the gallery is the famous Ticho Brahe, that noble Danish knight, and great ornament of his profession and human nature. Near him is Copernicus with his Pythagorean system in his hand; next to him is an old mathematician holding a large table, and on it are described two principal figures, of the incomparable Sir Isaac Newton, on which many extraordinary things in that art are built. On the other end of the gallery, to the south, is our learned Mr. Flamstead, reg. astron. profess. with his ingenious disciple, Mr. Thomas Weston. In Mr. Flamstead's hand is a large scroll of paper, on which is drawn the great eclipse of the sun that will happen in April-1715; near him is an old man with a pendulum counting the seconds of Time, as Mr. Flamstead makes his observations with his great mural arch and tube on the descent of the moon on the Severn, which at certain times form such a roll of the tides as the sailors corruptly call the Higre, instead of the Eager, and is very dangerous to all ships in ́its way. This is also expressed by rivers tumbling down by the moon's influence into the Severn. In this gallery are more arts and sciences relating to navigation. "All the great rivers, at each end of the IIall, have their roper product of fish issuing out of their vases. "In the four great angles of the cieling, which are over the arches of the galleries, are the four elements, as Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, represented by Jupiter, Juno, Cybele, and Neptune, with their lesser deities accompanying, as Vulcan, Iris, the Fauni, Amphitrite, with all their proper attitudes, &c. "At one end of the great oval is a large figure of Fame descending, riding on the winds, and sounding forth the praises of the royal pair. N 2 AH "All the sides of the Hall are adorned with fluted pilasters, trophies of shells, corals, pearls; the jambs of the windows or namented with roses impaneled, or the opus reticulamium, heightened with green gold. "The whole raises in the spectator the most lively images of Glory and Victory, and cannot be beheld without much passion and emotion." Another flight of steps leads into the upper Hall: the centre of the cieling represents queen Anne and prince George of Denmark, accompanied with various emblematical figures. On the left hand side is a painting in imitation of bassorelievo, representing the landing of king William. On the right hand over the chimney the landing of king George the First at Greenwich. At the further end of this Hall are painted the portraits of king George the First and his family, with many emblematical figures; amongst which Sir James Thornhill has also introduced his own portrait. On the right and left of the entrance are allegorical paintings representing The Public Weal, and Public Safety. Over the three doors are large oval tables, with the names, in gold letters, of such benefactors as have given 100%. or upward, toward the building; among the most considerable of which were, king WILLIAM, who gave 19,500l. Queen ANNE, 6,4721. JOHN DE LA FONTAIN, Esq. 20007. ROBERT OSBOLSTON, Esq. 2000l. Sir JOHN CROPLE and Mr. EVELYN, each 20001. JOHN EVELYN, Esq. 10007. Each table is attended by two charity boys, as if carved in white marble, sitting on great corbels, pointing up to the figure of Charity, in a niche, intimating that what money is given there is for their support. The whole of this celebrated work was not completed till 1727, and cost 6,6837. being after the rate of 31. per yard for the ceiling, and 17. per yard for the sides, agreeable to a resolution of the directors, after consulting the following eminent painters, viz. Vandervelt, Cooper, Richardson, Sykes, Sykes, and Degard, who reported the performance to be equal to any of the like kind in England, and superior in number of figures and ornaments*. At the upper end of the COUNCIL ROOM is a wholeJength portrait of king George the Second in his robes, by Schakleton, the bequest of admiral Townsend. Two halflengths of king William and queen Mary, by Kneller. Also a whole-length, by Gainsborough, of the late earl of Sandwich, the gift of Sir Hugh Palliser, bart. A halflength portrait, by Lely, of Edward the first earl of Sandwich, who was killed in the engagement in Solbay in 1672, the gift of the late earl. A half-length of lord viscount Torrington, by Davison. A whole-length portrait of Robert Osbolston, Esq. (whose munificent benefaction has al ready When Sir James had finished the ceiling and sides of the great saloon in 1717, he delivered in a memorial to the directors, stating the. prices which were given for paintings of the like kind at the Banqueting House, Whitehall, the duke of Montague's, the palaces of Windsor-and Hampton Court, Bulstrode chapel, and other works at the duke of Portland's, and at the earl of Burlington's, which is too curious to be omitted, and the following copy of it is therefore inserted: To the Right Honourable the Commissioners for building the Royal Hospital at Greenwich. The Memorial of James Thornhill, History-painter, Sheweth, That, in pursuance of an order of the 10th inst. signified to me by Mr. Corbet that I should make a demand and valuation of the painting done by me at the said hospital, I have made diligent enquiry into the prices of history painting in this kingdom, and find, that when money was at much greater value, greater prices were given, and beg leave to instance in one, not presuming to a parallel, Sir Peter Paul Rubens had 40001. for the ceiling of the Banqueting House, at Whitehall, which is little more than four hundred yards of work, so was near 101. a yard. The late duke of Montague paid monsieur Rosso for his salloon 20001. and kept an extraordinary table for him, his friends and servants, for two years, whilst the work was doing, at an expence computed at 5001. per ann.; which is near four hundred and fifty yards, amounting to about 71. per yard, ceiling and sides. Signior Varrio was paid for the whole palaces of Windsor and Hampton Court, ceilings, sides, stairs, and back stairs, 8s. per foot, which is 31. 12s. per ready been noticed) copied from an original in the possession of lord Aylmer, a former governor, at the expence of the hospital, by Degard. A whole-length portrait of lord Torrington, by Davison; and of admiral Sir John Jennings, a former governor. Near the window at the upper end of the room is a three quarters oval of captain Clements, by Greenhill, pupil of Lely. At the lower end the head of a venerable old man, said to have been the first pensioner who was admitted into the hospital. In the pannel opposite the chimney is a spring clock, by Holmes, ornamented with the signs of the Zodiac, beauti per yard, exclusive of gilding, had wine daily allowed him, lodgings in the palaces; and, when his eye-sight failed him, a pension of 2001. per ann. and allowance of wine for his life. £. Signior Rizzi had of the present duke of Portland for three rooms 1000 For the little chapel at Bulstrode 600 Of the lord Burlington for his staircase 700 Signior Pellegrini of the duke of Portland for work at his house 800 50 Of the earl of Burlington for the sides of his hall 200 All which prices are by measure, more than signior Varrio's; and I was Jately paid for a ceiling at Hampton Court, upon a reference from the right honourable the lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury to the honourable board of works, 31. 15s. per yard, including gilding. And, although these painters were foreigners, yet since the several ingenious gentlemen painters and artists, to whom your honours have been pleased to refer this for a parallel to be drawn, have not thought this inferior in performance, and more full of work, I have no reason to apprehend any discouragement from your honours, but that you will be pleased to allow me as good a price as any of these modern painters, especially since I have spent six years of the prime of my life therein; and, though I have in that time done several small works, yet they have chiefly served to enable me by experience and money to carry on this great one, which must otherwise necessarily have required a considerable imprest for which a large interest would have been paid. And also hope that this being an hospital will make no difference, since royal hospitals are as well embellished as palaces, and with as much expence. Therefore humbly submit myself to your honours justice herein, and am, your honours most faithful, 24th August, 1717. And obedient humble servant, JAMES THORNHILL. fully fully carved and gilt, from a design of the late Mr. Stuart, when surveyor of the hospital. Under several of the above pictures are some of Sir James Thornhill's original sketches, for the paintings in the Great Hall, presented by the said Mr. Stuart, and Mr. Cox of Badbey, Northamptonshire. Near the door of the ANTICHAMBER is a month equation clock with a double pendulum, by Quire; and, in different parts of the room, the following paintings, viz. Two large sea pieces, given by Philip Harman, Esq. representing the naval exploits of his ancestor, captain Thomas Harman, in the reign of king Charles II.; one, at the upper end of the room, being an engagement between the Tyger frigate, commanded by captain Harman, and eight Dutch privateers, in opposition to which he conducted a large fleet of colliers into the river Thames, without the loss of one, when, there was the greatest want of coals in London. The other, over the door at the lower end, being an engagement between the same captain, in the same frigate, and a Dutch man of man, in the bay of Bulls; in which the latter was taken and towed into the harbour of Cadiz, in sight of a squadron of Dutch ships riding there. In other parts of the room are six small pictures, representing the loss of the Luxemburgh galley, commanded by William Kellaway, (which was burnt in the year 1727, on her passage from Jamaica to London) and the subsequent distresses of part of her crew; the gift of Mr. Parker, executor to captain Maplesden, late lieutenant-governor of the hospital. The circumstances of this disaster are interesting and extraordinary, as related by captain Boys himself, late lieutenantgovernor of the hospital, who was second mate of the ship at that time. They are inserted in the account of the Hospital by the rev. Messrs. Cooke and Maule. In 1763 it was submitted to the general court by the directors, whether it would not be adviseable to build an * Lieutenant-governor Boys was accustomed to pass annually in prayer and fasting the number of days the ship's crew were in distress, in commemoration of his wonderful deliverance, INFIRMARY |