[Illustration: Kew Palace.]
Innumerable are the instances of princes having sought to perpetuate
their memories by the building of palaces, from the _Domus Aurea_,
or golden house of Nero, to the comparatively puny structures of our
own times. As specimens of modern magnificence and substantial comfort,
the latter class of edifices may be admirable; but we are bound to
acknowledge, that in boldness and splendour of design, they cannot
assimilate to the labours of antiquity, much of whose stupendous
character is to this day preserved in many series of interesting
ruins:--
Whilst in the progress of the long decay,
Thrones sink to dust, and nations pass away.
As a record of this degeneracy, near the western corner of Kew Green
stands the new palace, commenced for George III., under the direction
of the late James Wyatt, Esq. The north front, the only part open to
public inspection, possesses an air of solemn, sullen grandeur; but it
very ill accords with the taste and science generally displayed by its
nominal architect.
To quote the words of a contemporary, "this Anglo-Teutonic,
castellated, gothized structure must be considered as an abortive
production, at once illustrative of bad taste and defective judgment.
From the small size of the windows and the diminutive proportion of
its turrets, it would seem to possess
"'Windows that exclude the light,
And passages that lead to nothing.'"
Upon the unhappy seclusion of the _royal_ architect, the works were
suspended, and it now remains unfinished. Censure and abuse have,
however, always been abundantly lavished on its architecture, whether
it be the result of royal caprice or of professional study; but the
taste of either party deserves to be taxed with its demerits.
The northern front was intended to be appropriated to the use of
domestics; the whole building is rendered nearly indestructible by
fire, by means of cast-iron joists and rafters, &c., certainly in this
case an unnecessary precaution, since the whole pile is shortly to be
pulled down. The foundation, too, is in a bog close to the Thames,
and the principal object in its view is the dirty town of Brentford,
on the opposite side of the river; a selection, it would seem, of
_family_ taste, for George II. is known to have often said,
when riding through Brentford, "I do like this place, it's so like
Yarmany."
A modern tourist, in "A Morning's Walk from London to Kew,"
characterizes the new palace as "the _Bastile palace_, from its
resemblance to that building, so obnoxious to freedom and freemen. On
a former occasion," says he, "I have viewed its interior, and I am at
a loss to conceive the motive for preferring an external form, which
rendered it impracticable to construct within it more than a series of
large closets, boudoirs, and rooms like oratories." The latter part of
this censure is judiciously correct; but the epithet "bastile" is
perhaps too harsh for some ears.
The _old palace_ at Kew formerly belonged to the Capel family, and
by marriage became the property of Samuel Molyneux, Esq., secretary
to George II. when prince of Wales. The late Frederic, prince of Wales,
took a long lease of the house, which he made his frequent residence;
and here, too, occasionally resided his favourite poet, James Thomson,
author of "The Seasons." It is now held by his majesty on the same
tenure. The house contains some good pictures, among which is a set of
Canaletti's works; the celebrated picture of the Florence gallery, by
Zoffany, (who resided in the neighbourhood,) was removed several years
since. The pleasure-grounds, which contain 120 acres, were laid out by
Sir William Chambers, one of the greatest masters of ornamental
English gardening. Altogether they form a most delightful suburban
retreat, and we hope to take an early opportunity of noticing them
more in detail.
The old mansion opposite the palace was taken on a long lease by
Queen Caroline of the descendants of Sir Richard Lovett, and has been
inhabited by different branches of the royal family: and here his
present majesty was educated, under the superintendance of the late
Dr. Markham, archbishop of York. This house was bought, in 1761, for
the late Queen Charlotte, who died here November 17, 1818.
Apart from these courtly attractions, Kew is one of the most
interesting of the villages near London. On Kew Green once stood a
house, the favourite retirement of Sir Peter Lely. In the church and
cemetery, too, are interred Meyer, the celebrated miniature-painter,
Gainsborough, and Zoffany. Their tombs are simple and unostentatious;
but other and more splendid memorials are left to record their genius.
The premature fate of Kew Palace renders
it at this moment an object of public
curiosity; while the annexed engraving
may serve to identify its site, when posterity
"Asks where the fabric stood."
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