rt and Kensington, is distinguished by the name of
Burleigh House, which, some one humorously observed, {121} might possibly
be a contraction of "hurley burley," the house being a ladies' school,
and the unceasing work of education, on the main Fulham Road, appearing
here for the first time to terminate. [Picture: Burleigh House (1844)]
The following entry, however, in the parish register of Kensington,
respecting the birth of the fourth Earl of Exeter, on the 21st of May,
1674, may suggest a more probable derivation:--"15 May. Honble. John
Cecill, son and heir apparent of the Rt. Honble. John Lord Burleigh and
the Lady Anne his wife born at Mr. Sheffield's."

William Boscawen, the amiable and accomplished translator of Horace,
resided at Burleigh House; and here he died, on the 6th of May, 1811, at
the age of fifty-nine. He had been called to the bar, but gave up that
profession in 1786, on being appointed a commissioner for victualling the
navy. An excellent classical scholar, and warmly attached to literary
pursuits, Mr. Boscawen published, in 1793, the first volume of a new
translation of Horace, containing the 'Odes,' 'Epodes,' and 'Carmen
Saeculare.' This, being well received, was followed up by Mr. Boscawen,
in 1798, by his translation of the 'Satires, Epistles, and Art of
Poetry,'--completing a work considered to be in many respects superior to
Francis's translation. As an early patron and zealous friend of the
Literary Fund, Mr. Boscawen's memory will be regarded with respect.
Within five days of his death, he wrote a copy of verses for the
anniversary meeting, which he contemplated attending:--

"Relieved from toils, behold the aged steed
Contented crop the rich enamell'd mead,
Bask in the solar ray, or court the shade,
As vernal suns invite, or summer heats invade!
But should the horn or clarion from afar
Call to the chase, or summon to the war,
Roused to new vigour by the well-known sound,
He spurns the earth, o'erleaps the opposing mound,
Feels youthful ardour in each swelling vein,
Darts through the rapid flood, and scours the plain!

"Thus a lorn Muse, who, worn by cares and woes,
Long sought retirement's calm, secure repose,
With glad, though feeble, voice resumes her lay,
Waked by the call of this auspicious day."

Alas! the hand which on May morning had penned this introduction to an
appeal in the cause of literary benevolence,--that hand was cold;