bric retains many of its characteristics,
thanks to the soundness of the workmanship of two centuries ago. The
decorations in the form of plaster mouldings that cover the beams, and
the medallion or panel pictures, being partly historical and partly
classical, all exhibit the Renaissance feeling of the early eighteenth
century.

The ceilings of two lower rooms are in a splendid state of preservation,
and contain excellent work. One room is square with beams across the
middle; the ceiling on one side of the beam representing "The Seasons,"
and on the other side "The Elements." The Seasons are severally depicted
as follows:--A young face, with the hair of the head bedecked with
flowers, for "Spring"; a face in the bloom of womanhood, with the hair
bedecked with corn, represents "Summer"; a well-matured face, having the
hair bedecked with fruit, "Autumn'"; while a pleasing aged face, the brow
bedecked with holly, stands for "Winter." Painted on the wall over the
fireplace is the Castle of St. Angelo, and the bridge crossing the Tiber
at Rome. The Elements, (so called by the old alchemists) are also
figuratively, represented by four heads; one bearing a castle, with three
towers and other buildings in the background (Earth); one surmounted by
an eagle with outspread wings (Air); the next with tongues of fire
issuant (Fire); and the other spouting forth a fountain (Water).

The other room is oblong, with beams across dividing its ceiling into
four parts. In these parts there are four well-drawn figures, one
believed to be Bacon, with beard, moustache, whiskers, and in Elizabethan
costume; two close cropped heads, carried on noble necks, believed to be
respectively Julius Caesar and Mark Antony; and the fourth is said to be
Homer, with the customary curly hair and beard, but showing a collar of
some sort, and apparently wearing a skull cap. Over the mantel, painted
on canvas, is the Coliseum, showing the Arch of Titus and a pool in the
foreground.

In the main room upstairs is still to be seen the portrait of Dr. Wilkes,
painted on canvas, over the mantelpiece. He is depicted as a clean
shaven man with benevolent face, bluish or blue-grey eyes, a good
forehead, nose, mouth and chin well-defined, and wearing a wig. His
costume includes a high-cut waistcoat, bearing ten buttons, opened in
front nearly all the way down to show cravat and frilled shirt, the
cravat having a buckle--probably jewelled in front. The outer