"These are the Actions of the DUKE of MARLBOROUGH, Will be conveyed to latest Posterity, In the Histories even of the Enemies of BRITAIN. Of his transcendant Merit, was expressed In the most solemn, most effectual, most durable manner. last, Illustrious monuments Of MARLBOROUGH's Glory, and Of BRITAIN'S Gratitude." These acts are inscribed on the three remaining faces of the pedestal, together with an abstract of the entail of the Duke's honours and estates on the descendants of his daughters. The Spencer family, in whom the honours now centre, inherit from the Countess of Sunderland, the second daughter. It may be here observed, that the whole of the sum voted by Parliament, was expended on the palace. This costly pillar, and the grand bridge, were erected at the sole expense of the family. We have before remarked, that the Akeman Street crosses the Park. Its progress is from east to west, and it may be distinctly traced near the North Lodge. In many places this ancient street has been broken up, and " its materials appear to have been an immense congestion of rubble and stones, such as the vicinity supplied." Some few particulars connected with the park* yet remain to be noticed. The following meteorological phenomenon respecting this district is recorded by Dr. Mavor:-"On the evening of the 29th of November, 1797, a freezing Near the Home Lodge is a handsome stone building, separated from the park by iron palisadoes, termed the China Gallery. This building is divided into five compartments, and was constructed for the reception of a superb assortment of porcelain, collected by a Mr. Spalding, and presented by him, "on certain conditions, as an appendant to Blenheim." The gallery is well contrived for its purpose; the light is chiefly obtained from the top; and the whole of the valuable collection is arranged with much taste. We freely admit, that we want judgment to particularize, with due discrimination, the articles most estimable on account of rareness; but Dr. Mavor, whose intelligence appears universal, enables us to make the following observations: "Some specimens of this elegant manufacture exhibit its infant state, which, according to the Abbé Raynal, may be reasonably supposed to be three thousand years ago. The remote antiquity of these may be inferred from the rudeness of the designs, and the imperfect crackled appearance of the baking. Among other varieties are many of the choicest pieces of the old blue, and white, and pale japan brown edge, so much esteemed by the curious. Likewise a numerous assortment of those very scarce and valuable sorts, the antique bleu celeste, and deep purple. Many of the specimens here preserved are unique in their kind.” Several also gain a collateral interest from having belonged to personages, familiar by repute to the student of history. A room adjoining the entrance is filled with specimens of Roman and old earthen ware. The a freezing rain began to fall, and in the course of the night, incrusted every tree, shrub, and blade of grass, to a thickness almost incredible. In consequence of this, many trees and an immense number of branches were brought to the ground. In Blenheim Park, to which, and a small surrounding space, this phenomenon was confined, nearly one thousand loads of wood were destroyed. The very rooks had their wings frozen, and fell from their perches. Nothing could be more beautiful than the trees in their brilliant coats of mail. By candle light, every leaf of evergreens seemed to have a diamond pend ant at its extremity." The High Lodge is a venerable building, embattled in character, and occupying a beautiful situation. This structure was once the residence of the witty Earl of Rochester; and here he died, at the age of thirty-four, a penitent victim to the evil examples of King Charles and his court. Dr. Plot mentions, a remarkable polysyllabical articulate echo, which in the day time, little wind being stirring, returns very distinctly seventeen syllables; and in the night twenty." The Centrum Phonicum, or Speaker's place, is at a short distance from the portal, by which the park is usually entered. But, owing to the demolition of the Manor house, which stood on the brow of the opposite hill, and the extension of the river, the powers of this echo are much diminished. A very superior echo may still be elicited by a person who places himself near an ancient cedar tree, in the vicinity of Rosamond's Well. Much depends on the stillness of the day. A monosyllable is usually returned twice or thrice, with great distinctness; but, when we visited the spot, complex sounds appeared fatiguing to the nymph, and her responses were confused and inarticulate. The village of STONESFIELD, is distant somewhat less than two miles from the western boundary of Blenheim park. At a small remove from the park, and a little to the right of the Akeman Street, was discovered in this parish, a tesselated pavement, in the year 1711. The dimensions were 35 feet by 20. In a circle, placed centrally in one of the compartments, was the figure of Apollo or Bacchus, holding a Thyrsus in the left, and elevating a flaggon in the right hand, and bestriding a tiger or dragon. The other compartment was square, and enclosed an ornamented circle of wreath-work. The pavement was not more than two feet beneath the surface, and was covered with burned wood and corn. The greater portion of it was suffered to be destroyed by the country people, but some fragments are yet preserved; and Hearne caused a drawing and engraving to be made before the compartments were disarranged. At the time of discovery this was thought to be nothing more than the flooring of a Roman General's tent; but, in the year 1779, the areas of several other large apartments, with curious tessellations and borders, were found near the same spot. Adjoining were a hypocaust of brick, and a bath, six feet four inches, by five feet four, and three feet deep, with leaden pipes in the sides, which, according to Gough, were eighteen inches thick, and covered with plaster, painted red. We observe with regret, that these curious remains were also removed and demolished.* Correct drawings of the whole, by Lewington of Woodstock, are in the possession of the Antiquary Society; and an engraving has been made of the two largest apartments, by Fowler. YARNTON is a village situated four miles from Woodstock, on the south-east. The manor of Yarnton (Hardintone in Doomsday, and often termed Erdington in old writings) was, for many years, in the possession of Eynsham abbey. In an arrangement which took place between the monastery of Stow, and the abbey of Eynsham, Remigius, Bishop of Lincoln, " desired that he might have the loan of the manor of Erdington, that, as often as he had occasion, he might dwell therein." On the death of that bishop, Henry II. seized on his property, and gave this manor to Bernard de Sancto Walenco," in contempt of many remonstrances proffered by the abbot of Eynsham. The manor was afterwards possessed by Edmund Earl of Cornwall, who presented it to Rewley Abbey, as a part of the foundation. Shortly after the Dissolution it was procured by the family of Spencer, and remained with them till the early part of the 18th century. In 1695, Sir Robert Dashwood, of Kirtlington, purchased the Reversion, of the heirs of Sir Thomas Spencer, after the death of Lady "On the inclosure of the parish of Stonesfield, in 1801," says Dr. Mavor, "by a tasteless allotment of property, the site of these venerable remains of the Romans has been divided among three different proprietors, so that not a vestige of them will soon be left. While the field was enclosing, the writer of this saw a very beautiful border of one of the tesselated arcas uncovered. It lay only about six inches from the surface, and must have been grazed by the plough every year that the spot was in cultivation." Lady Spencer, for the sum of 31,0001. ; and, about the year 1711, he came into possession. This branch of the honourable family of Spencer descended from the common ancestor, Robert, one of the barons of William the first, and were closely allied to the Spencers, Earls of Sunderland. They constructed a mansion house, near the church of Yarnton, in which they long resided in a style of hospitality rather exceeding the usual bounty, even of those hospitable ages. Their local liberality was unbounded; as a proof of which it may be observed, that the tower at the west end of the church, was erected at their entire expense, in 1612. In a chapel on the south side of the chancel, built by Sir Thomas Spencer, Bart. is an alabaster monument, with the effigies of a man armed, and lying on his back, with his helmet and crest under his head, and gauntlets at his feet. On his left side is the proportion of his lady, in the same posture. The inscription informs us, that the monument is for Sir William Spencer, of Althorp, in Northamptonshire, Knight, who died in 1609, and Margaret his wife, who died in 1608. The building, likewise, contains many other monuments of the same family. Sir Thomas Spencer left ten pounds a year to be appropriated in the following manner: three pounds per annum to the vicar of Yarnton, on condition that he shall every year, on the birthday of Sir Thomas, and on the recurrence of the day on which his wife died, read the morning service, as directed in the Liturgy, in his chapel. The remainder to be distributed amoug the poor of the parish. WOLVERCOTE is a village of some extent, built partly on the level at the edge of Port Meadow, in the vicinity of Oxford, and partly on the side of the gentle ascent that leads to the Woodstock road. In the latter division stands the church, a neat Gothic building, with a low embattled tower at the west. in a wood near Wolvercote that Memphric, the supposed founder of the city of Oxford, was destroyed by wolves, while hunting, according to the fabulous legends of early writers, It was Proceeding |