Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

for the great picture in the Louvre, of the Marriage of Henry IV. and
Marie de Medicis.

VAN DYCK (4).-Three-quarter portrait of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel,
seated in an arm-chair (very fine and admirably engraved by Sharp).
Two Portraits. St. Martin dividing his Cloak (in a circle).
WATTEAU (5).—All fine.

D. TENIERS (2).-A Witch performing her Cantations. Ducks in a Reedy
Pool.

TERBURG.-Gentleman bowing to a Lady (very fine).

SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.-Dr. Johnson without his Wig, and with his hands up. SIR D. WILKIE. The Breakfast Table, painted for the first Duke of

Sutherland.

Sir T. LawrenCE.—Lady Gower and Child (afterwards Duchess of Sutherland, and her daughter, the Duchess of Argyll).

E. BIRD, R.A.-Day after the Battle of Chevy Chase.

E. LANDSEER, R.A.—Lord Stafford and Lady Evelyn Gower (Lady Blantyre), W. ETTY, R.A.-Festival before the Flood.

JOHN MARTIN.-The Assuaging of the Waters.

PAUL DELAROCHE.-Lord Strafford on his way to the Scaffold receives the blessing of Archbishop Laud.

WINTERHALTER.-Scene from the Decameron.

A collection of 150 portraits, illustrative of French history and French memoirs. The land on which Stafford House stands belongs to the Crown, and the duke pays an annual ground rent for the same of £758. At least £250,000 were spent on Stafford House up to 1850.

Stafford Row, PIMLICO, extended from Buckingham Palace Gate to Brewer Street, and was so called after Sir William Howard, Lord Viscount Stafford, beheaded (1680) on the perjured evidence of Titus Oates and others. [See Tart Hall.] Stafford Row has been pretty well cleared away for the office of the Duchy of Cornwall, the Buckingham Palace Hotel, etc., and is now included in Buckingham Palace Gate and Buckingham Palace Road. Here (1767) lived William Wynne Ryland, the engraver, executed for forgery, August 29, 1783. Here lived for many years; and died, December 1781, Judith Cowper (Mrs. Madan), Pope's correspondent. No. 9 was the residence of Grosvenor Bedford, the correspondent of Horace Walpole. O'Keefe, the actor, was for some time a resident in Stafford Row. Here too resided Anna Maria Yates, the celebrated tragic actress. Her house was a favourite resort of Arthur Murphy, John Home, Richard Cumberland, and other literary men connected with the stage. She died here in 1787; and in 1796 was followed by her husband, Richard Yates, also actor, and famous for his old men's parts. Yates had ordered eels for dinner, and died the same day of rage and disappointment because his housekeeper was unable to obtain them. The actor's great-nephew was, a few months after, August 22, 1796, killed while endeavouring to force an entry into the house of his uncle, to whose property he thought, as heir at law, he had a just claim. was a lieutenant in the navy, and an artist of some merit. Mrs. Radcliffe, author of the Mysteries of Udolpho, died here, February 7, 1823, in her sixty-second year.

Stafford Street, OLD BOND STREET to ALBEMARLE STREET, occupies the exact site of the Chancellor Clarendon's mansion. A public-house, "The Duke of Albemarle," perpetuates the name of the next possessor. A stone was formerly let into the wall with the inscription, "This is Stafford Street, 1686."

Staining Lane, WOOD STREET, Gresham Street West to Oat Lane. Staining Lane of old time so called, as may be supposed, of painter stainers dwelling there.—Stow, p. 114.

[ocr errors]

When Charles V. was about to visit England in 1522 an inventory was taken of the accommodation afforded by the London, when "The signe of the Egle in Stanyng Lane," was returned as having "vi beddes, and a stable for xvi horses.' The old church of St. Mary Staining was at the north end of the lane. [See St. Mary Staining.] The hall and chapel of the Haberdashers' Company are on the east side. The houses in the lane are chiefly occupied by wholesale warehouse

men.

Stamford Bridge, FULHAM ROAD, nearly opposite the Chelsea Station of the West London Extension Railway. Here, on the west of the West London Cemetery, and close to the Lillie Bridge Grounds, are the grounds of the London Athletic Club, opened February 3, 1878, one of the principal metropolitan places for the practice of general athletic sports, lawn tennis, and the like.

Stamford Street runs from WATERLOO ROAD to the BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE ROAD, and was built in the present century on part of Lambeth Marsh. John Rennie, the engineer, the builder of Waterloo and Southwark Bridges, lived at No. 52 (now 18), and died there, October 16, 1821, in his sixty-first year. He was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. On the east side are the Stamford Street Unitarian Chapel (1827) noticeable by its massive Doric portico, and a Gothic Wesleyan Chapel. On the north side is the Hospital for Diseases of the Skin. In Duke Street, Stamford Street, is Messrs. Clowes's vast printing-office.

Standard in Cheap, a water standard or conduit, situated “about the midst of this street" [Cheapside], opposite Honey Lane, but “of what antiquity the first foundation," added Stow, "I have not read." The Standard in Cheap was a place for the execution of capital and minor punishments, the making of proclamations, etc. Stow mentions that in 1293 "three men had their right hands smitten off there, tor rescuing of a prisoner arrested by an officer of the City." Wat Tyler in 1381 beheaded Richard Lions and others; and in 1450 Jack Cade beheaded Lord Saye at the Standard in Cheap.2

Also the same yere [17 Hen. VI., 1439], in hervest tyme were brent at the Standard in Chepe diverse nettes, cappes, sadelys and other chaffare, for they were falsely mad and deseyvebly to the peple.-London Chronicle, edited by Sir N. H. Nicolas.

[See Cheapside.]

1 Rutland Papers, p. 29.

2 Stow, p. 100,

レー

Standard in Cornhill, a water-standard, with four spouts, made (1582) by Peter Morris, a German, and supplied with water conveyed from the Thames, by pipes of lead. It stood at the east end of Cornhill, at its junction with Gracechurch Street, Bishopsgate Street, and Leadenhall Street, and with the waste water from its four spouts cleansed the channels of the four streets. The water ceased to run between 1598 and 1603; but the Standard itself remained for a long time after. It was long in use as a point of measurement for distances from the City, and several of our suburban milestones were, but a very few years ago, and some perhaps are still, inscribed with so many miles "from the Standard in Cornhill." There was a Standard in Cornhill as early as the 2d of Henry V.1 [See Cornhill.]

Standard Theatre, SHOREDITCH, opposite the former terminus, now the Goods Station of the Great Eastern Railway, with an entrance from Holywell Street, occupies in part the site of the old Curtain. Theatre. It was burnt down in October 1866, but immediately rebuilt on an improved plan, and is now one of the largest theatres in London. It will, it is said, accommodate an audience of 4500 persons.

Stangate, LAMBETH, from the west foot of Westminster Bridge to Lambeth Marsh. Stukeley, who calls it Stanega Ferry, traces the old Roman road from Chester to Dover through St. James's Park and Old Palace Yard to Stanegate and Canterbury, and so to the three famous seaports, Rutupiæ, Dubris, and Lemanis.2 His itinerary is not quite accurate, but Stangate was a part of or on the Roman road to the South Coast, and it has been stated that "from Lambeth to Fisher's Gate on the Sussex Coast, the word Gate is added to the names of nearly all the places through which the Roman road passes.'

[ocr errors]

Had they a standynge at Shooter's Hill, or at Stangat Hole to take a pourse? Why: dyd they stande by hyghe waye? Did they robbe? or break open any man's house or dore?-Latimer's Third Sermon to Edward VI., 1549.

A large tract of ground was here rescued from the river, upon which the new St. Thomas's Hospital was built, 1868-1871.

Stanhope House, WHITEHALL, the residence of George Monk, Duke of Albemarle.

There was a Trunk on Saturday last, being the 18th inst. [July, 1672-1673] cut off from behind the Duke of Albemarle's coach, wherein there was a Gold George, 18 Shirts, a Tennis Sute laced, with several fronts and laced Cravats and other Linen; if any can give tidings of them to Mr. Lymbyery the Duke's Steward at Stanhope House near Whitehall, they shall have five pounds for their pains and all charges otherwise defrayed.-London Gazette, No. 748.

Stanhope Street, CLARE MARKET, so called after Ann Stanhope, wife of John Holles, first Earl of Clare, and mother of the celebrated Denzil Holles: she died in 1651 in "the corner house of the Middle

1 Stow, p. 71; London Chronicle (Nicholas), p. 99.

2 Iter. Curiosum, p. 113.

3 Edinb. Rev., May 1828, p. 515.

Piazza in Covent Garden." Joe Grimaldi, the greatest of clowns, was born in this street, December 18, 1778.1 He was baptized at St. Clement Danes. John [Lord] Campbell rented, Michaelmas 1800, "the second floor [Scoticè, the third storey] of No. 6 Stanhope Street, Clare Market. . . . I get it, unfurnished, at the rate of £18 a year, including £2 a year for service. . . . I have three rooms-a parlour, a bedroom, and a large dressing closet." 2

Stanhope Street, MAY FAIR, now Great Stanhope Street, consists of fifteen spacious houses, built on ground belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, and runs from South Audley Street to Park Lane. No. I is the town residence of the Duke of Manchester; No. 3 of the Earl of Jersey; No. 8 of the Earl of Lanesborough.

Eminent Inhabitants.-Right Hon. Charles Townshend in 1777. George Canning writes to Crabbe the poet from "Stanhope Street, November 13, 1817." Colonel Barré, Adjutant-General of Wolfe's army at Quebec, and, as a politician, the faithful adherent of Chatham, lived and died (1802) at No. 12 in this street. In this house Sir Robert Peel the statesman lived (1820-1825), and here his heroic son, William, was born, November 2, 1824, as is recorded on his tomb at Cawnpore. Lord Palmerston at No. 9. Henry Fitzroy, first Lord Raglan (died before Sebastopol, June 28, 1855), at No. 5. FieldMarshal Henry, first Viscount Hardinge (died, September 24, 1856), at No. 15.

Staple Inn, HOLBORN, an Inn of Chancery (before 1415) appertaining to Gray's Inn, extends from No. 2 Holborn Bars to Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane. The houses are built about an open quadrangle, and behind is a pleasant garden.

Staple Inn was the Inne or Hostell of the Merchants of the Staple (as the tradition is), wherewith until I can learne better matter, concerning the antiquity and foundation thereof, I must rest satisfied. But for latter matters I cannot chuse but make report, and much to the prayse and commendation of the Gentlemen of this House, that they have bestowed great costs in new-building a fayre Hall of brick, and two parts of the outward Courtyards, besides other lodging in the garden and elsewhere, and have thereby made it the fayrest Inne of Chauncery in this Universitie.-Sir George Buc (Howes, ed. 1631, p. 1065).

Staple Inn was purchased by the Benchers of Gray's Inn in 1529. In Elizabeth's reign there were 145 students in term and 69 out of term. Sir Simond D'Ewes mentions that on February 17, 1624, in the morning, he went to Staple Inn and there argued a moot point or law case with others, and was engaged until near 3 P.M. The inn was sold in 1884 to the Prudential Assurance Company for £68,000, and the Holborn front was restored and cleared from the plaster covering the timber beams. The houses are let as offices and chambers, and are largely tenanted by solicitors. The new buildings on the terrace leading into Southampton Buildings were erected in 1843 (Messrs.

1 Life, by Dickens.

2 Life, vol. i. pp. 56, 57.

Wigg and Parnell architects) for the Taxing Masters, but are now occupied by the Patent Office and the Land Registry Office.

Dr. Johnson was living here in 1758; in 1759 he removed to Gray's Inn. Isaac Reed, the Shakespeare commentator, had chambers at No. 11, where he died, January 5, 1807. In Reed's chambers Steevens corrected the proof sheets of his edition of Shakespeare. He used to leave his house at Hampstead at one in the morning, and walk to Staple Inn. Reed, who went to bed at the usual hour, allowed his fellow-commentator a key to the chambers, so that Steevens stole quietly to his proof sheets, without, it is said, disturbing the repose of his friend.

Star Chamber, a judicial court in the palace of our Kings at Westminster, commonly said to have been erected by Henry VIII., but which was in fact, as Hallam pointed out, the old Concilium Regis or Ordinarium, and the object of statute 3, Henry VII. c. 1, was to revive the Council and place its jurisdiction on a permanent and unquestionable basis. "The Judges of the Court" were "the Privy Council and the Messengers of the Court, the Warden of the Fleet's servants, the Chancellor, Treasurer, and Keeper of the Privy Seal, with a Bishop and temporal Lord of the Council; and the Chief Justices of the King's Bench and Common Pleas, or two other justices in their absence," are empowered to summon before them certain specified offenders, and after examination to punish them "as if convicted by course of law." But the jurisdiction of the court soon stretched far beyond the boundaries assigned by law. It took cognisance among other offences of "forgery, perjury, riot, maintenance, fraud, libel, and conspiracy." The King was often present at the sittings of the court, and both the Stuarts too often acted the part of prosecutor. Under the Tudors the Star Chamber formed a terrible instrument for the punishment, short of death, of any who had fallen under the displeasure of the Government, but its full capacity in this respect only became manifest under the Stuarts, when by its means, as Macaulay remarks, "the Government was able to fine, imprison, pillory, and mutilate at pleasure." The most famous prosecution of this court was that of the learned Puritan lawyer Prynne, in the reign of Charles I., by the Attorney-General Noy, at the instigation of Archbishop Laud. Prynne had published a bulky volume called Histriomastix, in condemnation of plays and actors, full of erudition, and if possible fuller of invective, some of which were specially directed against female actors. Unfortunately for the author the Queen took part in a court masque about the time of the publication of his book, when attention was directed to an entry in the index, "Women Actors notorious whores." The reference was to the Roman courtesans, but Prynne was summoned before the Star Chamber; other offensive passages were cited, and he was condemned and sentenced to stand twice in the pillory, to have both his ears cut off by the common hangman, to be branded in the forehead, pay a fine of £5000, and to be imprisoned for life. This was

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »