ds of
mitred abbots, jolly monks, and demure nuns look down upon us from each
intersection of the groining.

A Florentine cabinet (see page 239), of mosaic work in lapis lazuli,
pietra dura, topaz, agates, etc., one of the finest specimens of the kind
ever seen,--it eventually came into the possession of Mr. Hurst, who
asked fifteen hundred [Picture: Gothic Chimney-piece] guineas for it--a
magnificent carved oak chimney-piece (see page 240); chairs which
belonged to Queen Elizabeth; and among other pictures, an undoubted one
by Janssen, of "Charles II. dancing at the Hague," must not detain us,
although it be a duplicate of the celebrated picture in the possession of
Her Majesty, with which the history of this is completely identical, both
having been purchased from the same individual at the same period.

[Picture: A Florentine Cabinet]

"And that portrait of Elizabeth?" It was given by Charles II. to Judge
Twysden. "And that other portrait?" Yes, it is Lord Monteagle; not of
Exchequer documentary fame, but of Gunpowder Plot notoriety. And there
are portraits of Katharine of Aragon and Prince Arthur from Strawberry
Hill. I positively cannot allow you to dwell on that chimney-piece of
Raffaelle design, carved in oak and coloured in ultra-marine and gold.

I entirely agree with you in thinking it a pity that the [Picture: Carved
Oak chimney-piece] vast labours of our ancestors--things upon which they
bestowed so much time and thought--should be blown into oblivion by the
mere breath of fashion. How much nobler is the fashion to respect,
cherish, and admire them!

And now we are again within the gallery, and look upon the ante-room
through the private entrance, and in another second we might be within
the bay-window of the gallery; for, place these sketches together at a
right angle, side by side, and the part of the sofa which appears in one,
is only the continuation of the same seat in the other. But this must
not make you think that the Pryor's Bank is but a miniature affair, or
give you a contemptible idea of the size. You should rather take your
general notion of the proportions of the gallery from a glance at that
lady who is studying with so much attention the part she has undertaken
to enact, and look up as to the comparative height of the window at the
top compartments made up of ancient [Picture: Bay-Window: Private
Entrance] painted glass, charged with the arms of some of the m