On the site of this extensive pile of buildings formerly stood the elegant palace, built about the year , by Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset, uncle to Edward VI. and protector of England; who, to make room for it, besides demolishing , and the inns and town residences of the bishops of Chester and Worcester, sacrificed part of the conventual church of St. John of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell, the tower and cloisters on the north side of , with the charnel houses and adjoining chapel, to furnish materials for the new structure; even the beautiful pile of was only rescued from the sacrilegious dilapidations by immense contributions. No recompense was made the owners for these robberies; and, strange as it may appear, among the numerous articles exhibited on the duke's attainder, not accused him of sacrilege; his accusers and judges were deeply involved in the rapacious plunder, and therefore forbore to tax him with what must have recoiled on their own seared consciences. The architect of the fabric is supposed to have been John of Padua, who was termed

deviser

Somerset-house had devolved to the crown by the protector Somerset's attainder; and queen Elizabeth often resided here. Here also Anne of Denmark, queen of James I. kept her court. As Charles II. did not find it compatible with his gallantries that his queen should be resident at , he lodged her during some part of his reign in this palace. This made it the resort of the Roman catholics; and possibly, during the fanatic rage of the nation at that period against the professors of her religion, occasioned it to have been made the pretended scene of the murder of sir Edmondbury Godfrey, in the year . Queen Catherine remained here after Charles's decease, till her return to Lisbon. The buildings were afterwards appropriated to be the residence of the queen dowager, and very often appointed for the reception of ambassadors: the last who staid here any considerable time were the Venetian residents, who made their public entry in .

Although the ancient building and garden occupied a considerable space, they did not, by any means, comprise the intended ground plan of the new erections. This palace had a large addition made to it, which contained all the apartments fronting the garden dedicated to the purposes of the royal academy, the keeper's lodgings, those of the chaplain, the house-keeper, &c.; these, with the chapel, screen, and offices, were the works of Inigo Jones, though they probably rose upon the ruins of a magnificent part of the old fabric. At the extremity of the royal apartments, which might be termed semi-modern, large folding doors connected the architecture of Jones's with the ancient structure; these opened into a long gallery, on the floor of a building which occupied side of the water garden; at the lower end of this was another gallery, or suite of apartments, which made an angle forming the original front toward the river, and extending to . This old part of the mansion had long been shut, when sir William Chambers wishing, or being directed, to survey it, the folding doors of the royal bed-chamber (the keeper's drawing-room) were opened; a number of persons entered with the surveyor. The of the apartments, the long gallery, was lined with oak in small pannels; the heights of their mouldings had been touched with gold; it had an oaken floor and stuccoed ceiling, from which still depended part of the chains, &c. to which had hung chandeliers. Some of the sconces remained against the sides, and the marks of the glasses were still to be distinguished upon the wainscot.

From several circumstances it was evident, that this gallery had been used as a bed-room. The furniture which had decorated the royal apartments had, for the convenience of the academy, and perhaps prior to that establishment, with respect to some of the rooms, been removed to this and the adjoining suite of apartments. It was extremely curious to observe thrown together, in the utmost confusion, various articles, the fashion and forms of which shewed that they were the production of different periods. In part

In these rooms, which had been adorned in a style of splendour and magnificence creditable to the taste of the age of Edward the , part of the ancient furniture remained; and, indeed, from the stability of its materials and construction, might have remained for centuries, had proper attention been paid to its preservation. The audience chamber had been hung with silk, which was in tatters, as were the curtains, gilt leather covers, and painted screens. There was in this, and a much longer room, a number of articles which had been removed from other apartments, and the same confusion and appearance of neglect was evident. Some of the sconces, though reserved, were still against the hangings; and of the brass gilt chandeliers still depended from the ceiling. The general stale of this building, its mouldering walls and decaying furniture, broken casements, falling roof, and the long ranges of its uninhabited and uninhabitable apartments, presented to the mind in strong, though gloomy colours, a correct picture of those dilapidated castles, the haunts of spectres, and residence of magicians and murderers, that have, since the period alluded to, made such a figure in romance.

Somerset-yard, on the west side of the palace, extended as far as the end of . Latterly, in this yard, were built coach-houses, stables, and a spacious guard-room. Mr. Pennant observes, that

possibly the founder never enjoyed the use of this palace, for in

1552

, he fell a just victim on the scaffold.

Spiritual Pearl,

From oure house at Somerset-place, the VIth day of May, anno

1552

.

To this palace queen Elizabeth was in the habit of resorting, as a visitor to her kinsman, lord Hunsdon; to whom, with characteristic frugality, her majesty lent, not gave, Somerset-place Anne of Denmark, (consort of king James I.) kept her court here. Wilson says,

that the queen's court was a continued mascarado, where

she and her ladies, like so many sea-nymphs, or nereides, appeared in various dresses, to the ravishment of the beholders.

The front of Somerset--place, next , was appointed by his late majesty to the use and accommodation of literature and the sciences, and is occupied by the Royal and Antiquarian societies, and the Royal Academy. The Royal Society was begun in the chambers of bishop Wilkins,

then no more than a member of Wadham-college, Oxford, about the year

1650

. In

1658

the members hired an apartment in Gresham college, and formed themselves into a body under lord Brounker, their

first

president. Their reputation was so well established at the Restoration, that king Charles II. incorporated them by a charter, in which his majesty was pleased to style himself their founder, patron, and companion, which gave them the name of the Royal Society. By that charter the corporation was to consist of a president, a council of

twenty-four

, and as many fellows as should be found worthy of admission; with a treasurer, secretary, curators, &c. From this time benefactions flowed in upon them;

three thousand two hundred and eighty-seven

printed books, in most languages and faculties, chiefly the

first

editions after the invention of printing; and

five hundred and fifty-four

volumes of M.S. in Hebrew, Greek, Turkish, and Latin, part of the library of the once kings of Hungary, and purchased by the earl of Arundel, ambassador at Vienna, were given to the society's library in

1666

, by the hon. Henry Howard, afterwards duke of Norfolk. In

1715

this library was augmented with

three thousand six hundred

books, chiefly in natural and experimental philosophy, by Francis Aster, esq. &c. A museum was founded by Daniel Calwall, esq. in

1677

, containing an excellent collection of natural and artificial curiosities; which has been considerably increased by generous benefactions. In the year

1711

the society removed from Gresham college to Crane-court,

Fleet-street

.

Vide ante, vol. iii. p. 678.

In the year

1725

, king George I. enabled the Royal Society, by letters patent, to purchase

1000l.

in mortmain: and in the number of their members appear king George II. and many of the greatest princes in Europe. The officers chosen from among the members are the president, treasurer, and

two

secretaries. The curators have the charge of making experiments, &c. Every person to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society, must be propounded and recommended at a meeting of the society, by

three

or more members, who must then deliver to

one

of the secretaries a paper, signed by themselves with their own names, specifying the name, addition, profession, occupation, and chief qualifications; the inventions, discoveries, works, writings, or other productions of the candidate for election; as also notifying the usual place of his abode, and recommending him on their own personal knowledge; a plain copy of which paper, with the date of the day when delivered, is fixed up in the common meeting-room of the

society, at

ten

several ordinary meetings, before the nomination of the candidate is put to the ballot;

that he will endeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of London, for the improvement of natural knowledge.

The Antiquarian Society was formed in London about the year , by some of the most eminent literary characters in the country, at the head of which was the learned and benevolent archbishop Parker.- Their meetings were held weekly, at the house of sir William Dethick, knight, garter king at arms, in the College of Heralds. The society had increased to such magnitude in the course of years, that archbishop Whitgift, in , proposed, though unsuccessfully, to queen Elizabeth, to form a college of English antiquaries. A similar attempt was made under James I.; and, though these applications were equally unsuccessful, the society had frequent though not stated meetings, to discuss curious points in their profession, till their revival in , since which they have met without interruption, preserving and publishing valuable antiquities belonging to the British empire. The society obtained a royal charter on the d of , by which they were incorporated

The Society of Antiquaries of London,

The Royal Academy. The history of this establishment comprises, in a great measure, the history of the fine arts in Great . This society was formed by some artists, who, by a voluntary subscription among themselves, established an Academy in , Charing-cross.

In the year the exhibition of the artists was made, under the sanction of the Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. The success of these exhibitions, and the harmony which at that time subsisted among exhibitors, naturally led them to the thoughts of soliciting an establishment, and forming themselves into a body: in consequence of which, his majesty king George III. granted them his royal charter, incorporating them by the name of

The Society of Artists of Great

Britain

;

There are professors, of painting, architecture, anatomy, and ancient literature. The business of these gentlemen is to instruct the students by lectures, &c. in the principles of composition, to form their taste, and strengthen their judgment; to point out to them the beauties and imperfections of celebrated works of art; to fit them for an unprejudiced study of books, and to lead them into the readiest and most efficacious paths of study. The professors continue in office during the king's pleasure, and have a small annual salary. The schools are furnished with living models of both sexes, plaister figures, bas-reliefs, and lay-men, with proper draperies, under certain regulations.

The library consists of books, prints, models, &c. relating to architecture, sculpture, painting, and the relative sciences; and is open to all students properly qualified. The annual exhibition of the artists commences in May, and continues open to the public weeks, or longer, at the discretion of the council; and the money received, after payment of the annual and contingent expences, is placed out to increase the stock in the per cent. consolidated annuities, to be called

the pension fund,

all students (painters, sculptors, or architects,) having obtained gold medals, shall have the privilege of becoming candidates (by rotation), to be sent abroad on his majesty's pension, which allows the successful candidate

30

l. for his journey there,

100l.

per annum for

three

years, and

30l.

for his journey back.

Theory is the knowledge of what is truly nature.

The compartments, by Cipriani, are distinctive of Nature, History, Allegory, and Fable. The council-room is richly stuccoed, and the ceiling exhibits paintings from the pencil of West. The centre picture represents the Graces unveiling Nature, surrounded by pictures of the Elements, from which the imitative arts collect their objects, under the description of female figures attended by

At the commencement of the reign of his late majesty George directions were given to sir William Chambers, master of the board of works, for the designing and superintending the new building of Somerset-house. After a design of sir William's the building was begun; and though never entirely completed, it must certainly be allowed, in many respects, to redound to the credit of his taste and ingenuity. Somerset-house occupies a space of feet in depth, and nearly in width. This astonishing extension of site is distributed into a quadrangular court, feet long, and wide, with a street on each side, lying parallel with the court, feet in length, and in breadth, leading to a terrace ( feet in width) on the banks of the Thames. is raised feet above the bed of the river, and occupies the entire length of the building. front of the building is no more than feet long. This division of the building consists of a rustic basement, supporting Corinthian columns, crowned in the centre with an attic, and at the extremities with a ballustrade. large arches compose the basement; the in the centre are open, and form the entrance to the quadrangle; the at each end are filled with windows of the Doric order, and adorned with pilasters, entablatures, and pediments. The key-stones of the arches are carved in alto-relievo, with colossal masks, representing Ocean and the chief rivers of Great , viz. Thames, Humber, Mersey, Dee, Medway, Tweed, Tyne, and Severn, all decorated with suitable emblems. Above the basement rise Corinthian columns, on pedestals, with regular entablatures correctly executed. floors are comprehended in this order; the windows of the interior being only surrounded with architraves, while those of the principal floor have a ballustrade before them, and are ornamented with Ionic pilasters, entablatures, and pediments. The central windows have likewise large tablets, covering part of the architrave and frieze, on which are represented, in basso-relievo, medallions of the king, queen, and prince of Wales, supported by lions, and adorned respectively with garlands of laurel, of myrtle, and of oak. The attic extends over intercolumniations, and distinguishes the centre of the front. It is divided into parts by colossal statues placed over the columns of the order; the centre division being reserved for an

The front next the Thames corresponds with the south front of the quadrangle, and is ornamented in the same manner. Before it is a spacious terrace, supported by arches resting on the artificial embankment of the Thames. These arches are of massy rustic work, and the centre, or water-gate, is ornamented with a colossal mask of the Thames, in alto-relievo. There are arches on each side of the centre; the of which, on both sides, is considerably more lofty than the others, and serves as a landing-place to the warehouses under the terrace. Above these landing-places, upon the ballustrade which runs along the terrace, are figures of lions couchant, larger than life, and well executed.

The principal offices held in Somerset-house are those of the privy-seal, and signet; the navy; navy pay; victualling, and sick and wounded seaman's: the stamp; tax; hawkers' and pedlars'; the surveyor-general of crown lands; the duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster; the auditors of imprests; the pipe; the comptroller; legacy duty, and the treasurer remembrancer's.

In the streets on each side are dwelling-houses for the treasurer, paymaster, and commissioners of the navy; commissioners of the victualling-office, and their secretary; a commissioner of stamps, and of sick and wounded.

It appears from the papers laid before the house of commons, that the architect's estimate of the probable expense of the projected structure was comparatively trifling: on Somerset-house, however, has already been expended more than half a million of money.

The considerable difference between conjecture and reality, with regard to the expense of this undertaking, is not to be entirely attributed to the natural disdain of restraint, invariable with the practitioner of the fine arts. The building was commenced when the nation was plunged in its destructive war with the colonies. When it is recollected that Portland stone is brought by sea upwards of miles, from the island of that name in Dorsetshire; that Purbeck stone is likewise conveyed by water upwards of miles, from Sandwich; and Moor stone upwards of miles, from Devonshire or Cornwall, the effect that a state of national hostility must have on the charge and convenience of removing so many tons as were required for Somerset-house, must be allowed to operate materially, producing the alleged disproportion.

[] Moser's Vestiges, in Europ. Mag.

[] Vide Some Account of London, p. 129.

[] During the occupancy of this queen, the building was called Denmark-place.

[] Why this restriction should extend to such useful and respectable artists as the body of engravers, is not for us to examine. Trifling distinctions, where great objects are in view, appear invidious, and too often give the vulgar an opportunity of depreciating the whole fabric.