formerly belonged to Bridget, one of Oliver Cromwell's daughters, with spiral columns and bars of great strength; the interior is also of ebony on the doors and drawers the panels are highly finished with oil paintings on copper, by "Old Ffranks."

The backs of the chairs were high, and the middle part and the seats often filled up with cane, and then covered with cushions. Brilliant foreign mirrors, and these generally accompanied with candle-brackets.

Turkey carpets were the first introduced; they were then put upon tables, and the floors covered with rushes; no doubt as the carpets became shabby or distasteful, they would be condemned to the floor.

Arras or tapestry (for they mean the same) was used on the walls, or served as screens before door-ways. After that came

leather, which, when first introduced, was gilded in various ingenious patterns. After that France had the merit of supplying them with paper-hangings.

Professor Beekman says the flock paper was first made by Jerome Langer, in London, in the reign of Charles I., who obtained a patent in 1634. In 1712 a duty of 13d. per yard was laid upon paper-hangings.

In the "Mercurio Politicus," 1660, is an advertisement stating "that Richard Bailey, at the Sun and Rainbow, maketh oil-cloth the German way, and is very skilful in the art of oiling linen cloth, taffeta, woollen, &c., so as to make it impenetrable against wet or weather." Aubrey says: "There were painted texts of Scripture on these painted cloths when fixed to the walls of houses."

A Mr. Shaw, who published a work on furniture, states that "the tables, cabinets, wardrobes, and clock-cases began to exhibit that beautiful workmanship called Marquetry, from its inventor, M. Marquet, an ingenious Frenchman."

The carved and gilded furniture which commenced in the reign of Queen Anne, never went quite out of fashion.

In 1703 a work (and I believe the first) was published by Sieur de Marot, architect to William III. It contains the most elegant designs for fanteuils, canopies, bed-tables, mirrors, girandoles, candelabras, mantel-pieces, &c. How elaborate the carving, how graceful the scrolls, and how chaste and appropriate are the decorations, any one would immediately recognise if they could see Penshurst, in Kent, Warwick Castle, or many of the houses of the olden time, which are models of imitation at the present day-proudly challenging all rivalry.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century the mansions began to be furnished with every article of luxury they need possess, and made in so very superior a manner to any of the flimsy things of latter times, that such old furniture, if not much broken, is now eagerly sought after, and high prices paid for it. Japanned cabinets and folding-screens, to shut off a glaring light from the declining summer sun, or make all close and warm from currents of cold air on winter evenings,

"Around the firo an evening group to draw,

To tell of all they felt and all they saw,"

seem to have been at this period the last and only wanting luxury for the hall or drawing-room.

Early in the eighteenth century a block of mahogany was sent to Dr. Gibbons, a London physician: this wood, from its not requiring any additional embellishment, soon got into general use.

The sofas* were always large, and had a grand appearance in their large, well-proportioned rooms; and, when occupied by the noble owners in their full dresses, and their dresses added fulness to the general appearance, it gave a grace to the whole, inspiring a pleasing awe on a first introduction.

How delightful, after the toils of the day, to sit on one by the side of an old and valued friend, whose business visit is annually renewed; and

"Who every year can mend your cheer

With tales both old and new."

The writer will never forget being once introduced to a young female of great poetic talent, (who, a few months after, dropped into the grave, of consumption,) who had reclined on one of these useful, as well as ornamental, articles of furniture; but he could not speak to her then; he was told

* See the one represented on p. 193.

And from the parted lips the gentle breath
Comes like fragrance from the lips of flowers;
Her delicate limbs are still, and o'er her breast
The cross she pray'd to 'ere she fell asleep,
Rises and falls with the soft tide of dreams,
Like a light barge safe moor'd!"

The amiable Cowper, we are told, was once asked, by a lady fond of blank verse, to write a poem of that kind, and gave him the sofa for a subject. His gallantry could not refuse. I regret that it is too long for this work, or I would give it; but it is not too long for perusal. He states:

"Thus first necessity invented stools,
Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs,

And luxury th' accomplished sofa last." TASK.

MASTER OF THE CEREMONIES.

"Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry!"

ENGLISH PRoverb.

"Better be the head of a pike than the tail of a sturgeon!"

ITALIAN PROverb.

"The first place of an inferior degree is worse than the last of a superior !" VENITIAN PROVERB.

"AT this time (1603) the King's Majestie, in regard of the great repayre into this Kingdome of Foraine Princes and their ambassadores, made an office of Master of the Ceremonies, and appointed Sir Lewis Lukenor, Knt., with a salary of £200 per year."*

His badge of office was a gold chain, to which hung a medal that had on one side an emblem of peace placed under a crown of England, with King James's motto, "Beatti Pacifici ;" and on the other an emblem of war, with "Dieu et mon Droit."

There is an amusing chapter under this title in D'Israeli's "Curiosities of Literature," by which it appears Sir Lewis was assisted in his office by Sir John Finett, who afterward succeeded him in the reign of Charles I., and who has left behind a diary entitled "Finetti Philoxensis," touching the reception and precedence, the treatment and audience, the

* Nichol's Progresses.

punctilios and contests of foreign ambassadors in England, 1656. This very curious diary was published by his friend, James Howell.

By this work it appears that all foreign ambassadors were entirely entertained, for their diet, lodgings, and coaches, with all their train, at the cost of the English monarch; and, on their departure, received customary presents of considerable value, from 1000 ounces to 1500 ounces of plate; and in more cases than one the meanest complaints were made by the ambassadors about short allowances. The foreign ambassadors, in return, made presents to the master of the ceremonies of from thirty to fifty pieces, or in plate or jewels, and so grudgingly that Sir John Finett often vents his indignation, and commemorates the indignity; as thus: On one of the Spanish ambassadors-extraordinary, waiting at Deal for three days, Sir John expecting the wind with the patience of a hungry entertainment from a close-handed ambassador, as his present to me at his parting from Dover being but an old gilt livery pot, that had lost its fellow, not worth above £12, accompanied with two pair of Spanish gloves, to make it almost £13, to my shame and his. When he left this scurvy ambassador-extraordinary to his fate aboard the ship, he exults that the cross winds held him in the Downs almost a seven-night before they would blow him over.

The perpetual jars of punctilios, and their singular intrigues to obtain precedence, so completely harassed the patience of the most pacific sovereign, that James was compelled to make great alterations in his domestic comforts, and was perpetually embroiled in the most ridiculous contests. At length Charles I. perceived the great charges of these embassies, ordinary and extraordinary, often on frivolous pretences, and, with an empty treasury and an uncomplying_parliament, he grew less anxious for such ruinous honours. He gave notice to foreign ambassadors that he should not any more fray their diet, nor provide coaches for them."*

"de

Charles II., who was no admirer of these regulated formalities of court etiquette, seems to have broken up the pomp and pride of the former master of the ceremonies; and "the grave and the great chancellor of human nature," as Warburton calls Clarendon, censured and felt all the inconveniences of this open intercourse with the king. Thus, he observed in the case of the Spanish ambassador, who, he writes, "took advantage of the license of the court, where no rules or forma

* The foreign ambassadors generally resided at Crosby Hall, BishopgateIn 1603 M. de Rosny, afterward the celebrated Duc de Sully, resided there for a short time.

street.