an ancient irregular building, containing several excellent rooms, a few good family portraits, and a seemingly original one of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. In the burial-ground of the village are some very ancient free-stone monuments, which, according to the opinions of Mr. Gough, belonged to the Montfords of Wellesburne, who, after the battle of Evesham, retired hither, and lived in great privacy. In May, 1795, some coins of the Emperors Adrian, Trajan, and Aurelius, were found in an earthen vessel, about 18 inches under the soil, on Picket Common in this parish.

WEST WYCOMBE

WAS very early bestowed on the see of Winchester, and continued vested in that bishopric till the year 1550, when it was surrendered to Edward the Sixth, who gave it to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset; but it was restored to Winchester by Queen Mary; yet having again reverted to the Crown, was granted by Elizabeth to Sir Robert Dormer, Knight, whose family appears to have been tenants to the Bishops of the above see. Charles Dormer, Second Earl of Caernarvon, sold it to Thomas Lewis, Alderman of London, who in 1698 granted it to his brother-in-law, Sir Samuel Dashwood, and Francis Dashwood; but it soon afterwards became vested in the latter, from whom, through various intermarriages, it descended to Sir John Dashwood King, Bart. the present owner.

This village is seated under a steep eminence, partly covered with wood, whence the mausoleum and small tower of its beautiful but singular church seem to emerge. The latter structure was rebuilt in the year 1763, by Lord le Despenser; but the tower and chancel are parts of the ancient pile. The interior is extremely neat, as well as peculiar. The pulpit and desk are mahogany arm chairs, with a reading desk before them. There are no pews, but forms fixed without any distinction. The ceiling and communion-table are elegantly painted in Mosaic. The chancel is paved with marble, and embellished with a delineation of the Last Supper depicted on the ceiling. The altar is of carved oak. The windows are glazed with stained glass,

and

have been removed with the buildings; for the tasteless, steplike disposition of the stones over which it falls, are so abhorrent to the eye accustomed to trace the wild and irregular manner in which Nature pours her surplus waters over shattered rocks, that the ideas excited by the view are those of disgust at the littleness of art, rather than admiration at the creations of genius.

The house is a spacious building, situated on a gentle ascent, and was erected by Sir Francis Dashwood about the beginning of the last century, but much enlarged by Lord Le Despenser, who finished the whole with a profusion of ornament. The south or principal front consists of a colonnade and loggia over it, painted in fresco, and filled with busts and statues; it extends to the length of 300 feet. The principal apartments are ornamented in a very superb manner. The cornice of the dining-room is curi

ously carved and gilt: the ceiling represents the council of the Gods, and the door frame is formed of variegated marble. The stair-case is mahogany, richly inlaid.*

FINGEST is a small village, seated on a flat piece of ground, of nearly a triangular shape, and almost inclosed by hills. Its ancient name appears to have been Tinghurst, or Th'inghurst, signifying a valley among the woods, and expressive of the natural situation of the place, the eminences surrounding it being formerly covered with beech. The tower of the present church is of Saxon architecture, and was in all probability erected prior to the year 1100, about which time the manor was given to the Abbey of St. Alban's, together with the church, and all tythes: but it was afterwards subjected to the jurisdiction of the Bishops of Lincoln, and surrendered to the Crown in the year 1547. The parish contains about 1300 acres, of which 250 are woodland, and 900 pasture and arable. The inhabitants are computed

at 200.

TURVILLE,

This mansion was lately furnished with a splendid collection of paintings; but as the orders of the present resident operate to the exclusion of strangers, we can neither describe them, nor be more particular in our account of the interior of the edifice.

TURVILLE, or TURFIELD, consists of two manors, one of which was given to the Abbey of St. Alban's, in the year 794, by Egfrid, son of Offa, King of Mercia. The other was granted at a very early period to the family of Morteyn, but afterwards became the property of the Botilers. The parish contains nearly 2000 acres, disposed into arable, pasture and wood land. In the year 1772 some Roman coins were found here; eight of which were lately in the possession of Colonel Jones, of Ipstone House; they related to the Emperors Antoninus Pius, Vespasian, Trajan, Aurelius, and the Empress Faustina.

FAWLEY COURT,

THE seat of Strickland Freeman, Esq. was formerly the property of the Whitelock family, who obtained it about the commencement of the 17th century. Sir James Whitelock, the celebrated judge, died here in the year 1632, and was succeeded by his son, Bulstrode Whitelock, author of the Memorials which go under his name. This gentleman possessed great talents and considerable learning; but the flexibility of his conduct. during the civil wars, has occasioned his memory to be stigmatized with want of principle; though the real cause of his versatility might with more justice be ascribed to a mildness of temper, which divested him of manly fortitude. James, his son, sold this estate, about 1680, to Colonel William Freeman, from whom it descended to the present possessor.

The old manor-house was materially injured by a body of horse in the interest of Charles the Second, who were quartered here at the latter end of the year 1642; and though commanded by their officers to refrain from destroying any part of the property, regarded their orders with as little attention, as they could have done had their quarters belonged to an enemy. They "littered their horses with sheaves of good wheat, and gave them all sorts of corn in the straw. Of divers writings of consequence, and books which were left in the study, some they tore in pieces, others they used to light their tobacco, and some they

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