strange fatality that I am forry to say attends many of our capital buildings, been totally misplaced. It stands not where the grand front fhould be, but as a fide front, or rather the gavel end, by which means the river paffes fome of the out offices, and inferior parts of the manfion. The apartments within the new building are fpacious, and thofe of the antient abbey that remain are used as bed chambers and out offices. The groien'd arches beneath the abbey are in perfect repair, and make as excellent wine cellars now, as they ever did in the time of the good fathers, their former poffeffors; of whose charity, whatever may have been faid, we are happy in according with the general voice, that they are every way exceeded by the munificent lady its present owner; who, without the austerities or obligations of a religious order, fulfils all its duties, and more than equals all its virtues. THE THE only part of the antient building, that appears in the annexed view, is the gate house, which, Dugdale fays, was built by the fixteenth abbot, who died in 1349. On the front there is yet remaining a large efcutcheon of stone, whereon three lions paffant gardant are cut, with a lion paffant gardant upon a helme, set on the corner of the shield, according to the fashion of that time wherein he lived. This badge he fixed here in memory of King Henry the Second, the founder of this abbey. The annexed sketch will give a general idea of this venerable fragment of antiquity, which is ftill in perfect good condition. The following is a compendious account of the hiftory of this abbey, and is thus given by Dugdale, "at "the time when the monaftery was founded. се "There were, in the manour of Stonely, fixty-eight villains, befides two priests; "alfo four bondmen, or fervants, whereof " each |