At the foot of Hay Hill, to the right, is BERKELEY SQUARE, containing about three acres of ground, well laid out, and handsomely built. In the centre is a fine equestrian statue of king George III. by WILTON. On the east side is a handsome street, denominated BRUTON STREET; the north side is but indifferently occupied by tradesmens shops; but the west side is built in a grand stile, the houses mostly belonging to the nobility. On the west side are HILL STREET, and CHARLES STREET, both handsome, with stately houses; at the top of the latter is JOHN STREET CHAPEL, a chapel of ease to St. George. The south side of Berkeley Square is occupied by the beautiful and stately structure and gardens of the MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE. The house, fronted with stone, was built by the ADAMS; the late lord accumulated a rich library of printed books and manuscripts, the latter of which have been purchased by parliament, and placed in the British Museum. The gardens are well laid out.

BERKELEY STREET is built on the site of BERKELEY HOUSE, a fine antieut mansion belonging to the noble family of that name and title.

At the corner of this street, in Piccadilly, is DEVONSHIRE HOUSE. This part of Piccadilly was formerly called Portugal Street, as far as the turnpike. Devonshire House was the last house in the street, long after the year 1700. In the antient mansion lived Christiana, wife of William, second earl of Devon, in splendor and hospitality; she died at a great age in 1674. This house, according to Pennant, "was the great resort of wits in her days. Waller made it his theatre, and Denham is said here to have prated more than ever."

The house was taken down by the first duke, and another built; this fabric was destroyed by fire, in the reign of George II. and the present building constructed from a design of Kent, and cost 20,000l. including 1000l. presented by the third duke, to the architect, for his plans and designs, The various apartments are noble, and built in a masterly stile. His grace has a fine library, and a capital assortment of medals.

Among

Among the paintings are the following: A fine portrait of MARC ANTONIO DE DOMINIS, archbishop of Spalato,. painted by Tintoret. ARTHUR GOODWIN, the friend of Hampden. JANE, lady WHARTON. The famous lord FALKLAND.. Sir THOMAS BROWN, (author of the Religio Medici), his lady, and four daughters, painted by Dobson. Rembrandt's JEWISH RABBI. TITIAN, by himself. CARLO CIGNANI, by himself. PHILIP II. of Spain, by Titian. The OLD COUNTESS OF DESMOND. Here is also a fine collection of paintings by the Italian masters.

The south side of Piccadilly, to the turnpike, is bounded by the iron railing of the Green Park, and the ranger's house and gardens. This side affords most enchanting views over St. James's Park, Westminster, the Queen's Palace, Chelsea, and the Surrey hills. The north side is composed of an assemblage of mansions belonging to the nobility, the shops of tradesmen, and livery stables; among the former are the houses of the duke of Grafton, the duke of Queensbury, and earl Bathurst.

On this side are also several good streets. In STRATTON STREET is the house of the late RICHARD BULL, Esq. formerly member of parliament for Newport, in the Isle of Wight; but more particularly to be revered for his condescension, and useful information to the literati, from his extensive and fine collection of drawings, prints, books, and MSS. This work is much benefited by him. Mr. Bull departed this life in 1805.

BOLTON STREET, HALF MOON STREET, and CLARGES STREET, built on the site of Clarges House, lead to MAY FAIR; this was originally called Brook Field; and when the antient fair granted by Edward I. to St. James's hospital, on the eve of the holiday of that saint, ceased, on account of the dissolution of the hospital, and the increase of buildings, the fair was removed to Brook Field, and assumed the name of MAY FAIR; the original fair having been granted to be held for seven days. In process of time. this resort of low company was productive of such dis

orders,

orders, that in the year 1708, the following presentment was made by the grand jury of Westminster for the body of the county of Middlesex:

"That being sensible of their duty to make presentment of such matters and things as were public enormities and inconve niences, and being encouraged by the example of the worthy magistracy of the city of London, in their late proceedings against Bartholomew Fair, did present, as a public nuisance and inconvenience, the yearly riotous and tumultuous assembly, in a place called Brook Field, in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields, in this county, called May Fair. In which place many loose, idle, and disorderly persons did rendezvous, and draw and allure young persons, servants, and others, to meet there, to game, and commit lewdness and disorderly practices, to the great corruption and debauchery of their virtue and morals; and in which many and great riots, tumults, breaches of the peace, open and notorious lewdness, and murder itself had been committed; and were like to be committed again, if not prevented by some wise and prudent method: and for that the said fair being so near her majesty's royal person and government, by seditious and unreasonable men; taking thereby occasion to execute their most wicked and treasonable designs. Wherefore and because the said fair, as it was then used, both actually was, and had so fatal a tendency to the corruption of her majesty's subjects, violation of her peace, and the danger of her person; they humbly conceived it worthy the care of those in power and authority to rectify the same, &c."

The consequence was, that the fair was abolished for that time; but having been revived, the place was covered with booths, temporary theatres, and every inticement to low pleasure; but it received its final dissolution during the reign of George II. when a riot having commenced, a peace officer was killed in endeavouring to quell it. The fair was kept on the spot where at present are situated MAY FAIR CHAPEL, CURZON STREET, and all the elegant surrounding avenues to the residences of the nobility and gentry.

SHEPHERD'S MARKET is at present a very trifling reposifory for butcher's meat, poultry, and vegetables; and is but little frequented.

VOL. IV. No. 92.

3. A

DOWN

DOWN STREET, HAMILTON STREET, and PARk Street, are the only avenues of any consequence till we arrive at HYDE PARK CORNER. This is one of the principal entrances into London from the western counties; and from its elevation, and the number of elegant structures adjoining and in progression, cannot fail of impressing very powerfully the ideas of the stranger who visits the metropolis. The mass of buildings on the right side of the street, erected from the designs of the Adams, Apsley House, built by lord chancellor Bathurst, Hyde Park, and the enchanting views which in every quarter attract the eye, form such an assemblage of picturesque beauty, as is seldom to be met with at the entrance of a vast and populous city. The TOLL HOUSES, and their multiplicity of lamps, add also to the variety of the scene.

Close by this much-crouded entrance into London, are the entrances into the two royal parks; a circumstance that has excited the ingenuity of different architects, to combine the three entrances into one magnificent national fabric; a noble idea, of which the situation is worthy, but it is scarcely probable that it will ever be carried into effect."*

There is a capital improvement intended near this place, Sir Drummond Smith, to whom the estate of Hamilton Street, and its vicinity, lately devolved, has it in contemplation to form the whole into a grand crescent, facing the Green Park, and has begun to pull down part of the estate, for that purpose.

PARK LANE, was called TYBORN LANE, till its more fashionable inhabitants changed the name. This forms a most pleasant and airy row of houses facing Hyde Park, to TYBORN TURNPIKE. The first street of peculiar notice is Stanhope Street, facing which is CHESTERFIELD HOUSE, built by the celebrated earl of Chesterfield, in the reign of George II. It is an elegant structure; and the stone colonades, leading from the house to the wings, are very beautiful. The staircase was that which belonged to the vast mansion of the duke of Chandos, at Canons.

Malton's Picturesque Tour, p. 108.

CHAPEL