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NOTES AND QUERIES.
[No. 28.
The conquering Roman when he urged his way,
That led to triumph, through the neighbouring plain,
And oped the gloomy grove to glare of day,
Awe-stricken gazed, and spared the sacred fane!
One stone of all its circle now remains,
Saved from the modern Goth's destructive hand;
And by its side I muse: and Fancy reigns;
And giant oaks on Penniel waving stand;
With snowy robe and flowing beard sweep bye
The aged Druid-train beneath the star lit sky.
II
"The Druid-train has moved into the wood,
Oh! draw a veil before the hideous scene!
For theirs were offerings of human bloody
With sound of trump and shriek of fear between:
Their sacred grove is fallen, their creed is gone;
And record none remains save this gray stone!
Then come the warlike Saxons; and the years
Roll on in conflict: and the pirate Dane
Uprears his bloody raven; and his spears
Bristling upon the Broadlaw summit's plain
Spread terror e'er the vale: and still rude times
Succeed; and Border feuds with conflagration light
Nightly, the Teviot's wave, and ceaseless crimes
Chase from the holy towers their inmates in affright.
III.
"Land of the South! Oh, lovely land of song!
And is my dwelling by thy classic streams;
And is the fate so fondly wished and long,
Mine in the fulfest measure of my dreams,—
By thy green hills and sunny glades to roam,
To live among thy fo-appy shepherd swains
Where now the peaceful virtues have their home;
A blissful lot! nor aught of grief; remains.
Save far that friend, beloved, bewailed, revered,
To whom my heart for thrice ten years was bound.
By truest love and gratitude endeared:
The glory of his land, in whom were found
Genius unmatched, and mastery of the soul,
Beyond all human wight, save Shakspeare's own controul."
NOTES ON CUNNINGHAM'S HANDBOOK FOR LONDON.
Soho Square.—Your correspondent "Naso" (p. 244.) has anticipated me in noticing Mr. Cunningham's is take about Mrs. Cornellys' house in this square; but he has left unnoticed some particulars which deserve to be recorded. Mrs. Cornellys', or Carlisle House as it was called, was pulled down at the beginning of the present century (1803 or 1804), and two houses built upon its site, now Jeffery's Music Warehouse and Weippert's Quadrille Office. Some curious old paintings representing banquetting scenes, formerly in Carlisle House, were carefully preserved until the last few years, in the drawing-room of the corner house; when they were removed to make room for some of the "elegancies" of the modern print shops. The Catholic Chapel in Sutton Street was the banquetting-room of Carlisle House; and the connecting passage between it and the house in Sobo Square was originally the "Chinese bridge."
"Teresa Cornelys, Carlisle House, St. Ann, Soho, dealer " appears in the bankrupt list of The London Gazette of November, 1772; and in December of the same year, this temple of festivity, and all its gorgeous contents, were thus advertised to be sold by public auction:—
"Carlisle House, Soho.—At twelve o'clock on Monday the 14th instant, by Order of the Assignees, Mr. Marshall will sell by Auction on the Premises, in one Lot, All that extensive, commodious, and magnificent House in Soho Square, lately occupied by Mrs. Cornelys, and used for the Public Assemblies of the Nobility and Gentry. Together with, all the rich and elegant Furniture, Decorations, China, &c., thereunto belonging, too well-known and universally admired for their aptness and taste to require here any public and extraordinary description thereof. Catalogues to be had at the House, and at Mr. Marshall's, in St. Martin's Lane. The curiosity of many to see the house, to prevent improper crowds, and the great damage that might happen therefrom (and the badness of this season) by admitting indifferent and disinterested people, must be an excuse to the public for the Assignees ordering the Catalogues to be sold at 5s. each, which will admit two to see the house, &c., from Monday the 7th instant to the time of sale, Sundays excepted, from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon, and they hope no person or persons will take amiss being refused admittance without Catalogues."
In December, 1774, the nobility and gentry were informed (by advertisement), "That the Assemblies at Carlisle House will commence soon, under the conduct and direction of a New Manager;" but notwithstanding the efforts of this person, we find that Mrs. Cornellys resumed her revels here with great spirit in 1776. In 1778, Carlisle House was again publicly advertised to be sold by private contract, or "to be hired as usual;" and subsequently, after having been used as a common exhibition room of "Monstrosities," a "School of Eloquence," and "An Infant School of Genius," it closed its public career through the interference of the magistracy in 1797.
A full and particular account of the rise and fall of "Mrs. Cornelys' Entertainments at Carlisle House, Soho," was privately printed two or three years ago, by Thomas Mackinlay, Esq., of the firm of Dalmaine and Co., Soho Square.
Carlisle Street, Soho Square.—The large house at the end of this street, looking into the square, was formerly called Carlisle House. In 1770 it was purchased of Lord Delaval by the elder Angelo; who resided in it many years, and built a large riding-school at the back. Bach and Abel, of "Concert" notoriety, resided in the adjoining house. Carlisle Street was then called King's Square Court.
