VOL. 12, NO. 348.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1828. [PRICE 2d.
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[Illustration: Barber's Barn, Hackney.]
The engraving represents a place of historical interest--an ancient
mansion in Mare-street, Hackney, built about the year 1591, upon a spot
of ground called Barbour Berns, by which name, or rather _Barber's
Barn_, the house has been described in old writings.
In this house resided the noted Colonel John Okey, one of the regicides
"charged with compassing and imagining the death of the late King
Charles I." in October, 1660. Nineteen of these "bold traitors," (among
whom was Okey,) fled from justice, and were attainted, and Barber's Barn
was in his tenure at the time of his attainder. His interest in the
premises being forfeited to the crown, was granted to the Duke of York,
who, by his indenture, dated 1663, gave up his right therein to Okey's
widow. The colonel was apprehended in Holland, with Sir John Berkestead
and Miles Corbett, in 1662, whence they were sent over to England; and
having been outlawed for high treason, a rule was made by the Court of
King's Bench for their execution at Tyburn. These were the last of the
regicides that were punished capitally.
Barber's Barn and its adjoining grounds have, however, since become
appropriated to more pacific pursuits than hatching treason, compassing,
&c. About the middle of the last century, one John Busch cultivated
the premises as a nursery. Catharine II. Empress of Russia, says a
correspondent of Mr. Loudon's _Gardener's Magazine_, "finding she could
have nothing done to her mind, she determined to have a person from
England to lay out her garden." Busch was the person engaged to go out
to Russia for this purpose; and in the year 1771 he gave up his concerns
at Hackney, with the nursery and foreign correspondence, to Messrs.
Loddidges. These gentlemen, who rank as the most eminent florists and
nurserymen of their time, have here extensive green and hot houses which
are heated by steam; the ingenious apparatus belonging to which has been
principally devised by themselves. Their gardens boast of the finest
display of exotics ever assembled in this country, and a walk through
them is one of the most delightful spectacles of Nature.
Hackney was once distinguished by princely mansions; but, alas! many of
these abodes of wealth have been turned into receptacles for lunatics!
Brooke House, formerly the seat of a nobleman of that name, and Balmes'
House, within memory surrounded by a moat, and approached only by a
drawbridge, have shared this humiliating fate. Sir Robert Viner,[1] who
made Charles II. "stay and take t'other bottle," resided here; and John
Ward, Esq. M.P. whom Pope has "damned to everlasting fame," had a house
at Hackney.
[1] The following anecdote is related of him:--Charles II. more
than once dined with his good citizens of London on their
Lord Mayor's Day, and did so the year that Sir Robert Viner
was mayor. Sir Robert was a very loyal man, and, very fond of
his sovereign; but, what with the joy he felt at heart for the
honour done him by his prince, and through the warmth he was
in with continual toasting healths to the royal family, his
lordship grew a little fond of his majesty, and entered into
a familiarity not altogether so graceful in so public a place.
The king understood very well how to extricate himself in all
kinds of difficulties, and, with a hint to the company to avoid
ceremony, stole off and made towards his coach, which stood
ready for him in Guildhall yard. But the mayor liked his company
so well, and was grown so intimate, that he pursued him hastily,
and, catching him fast by the hand, cried out with a vehement
oath and accent, "Sir, you shall stay and take t'other bottle."
The airy monarch looked kindly at him over his shoulder, and
with a smile and graceful air, repeated this line of the
old song--
"He that's drunk is as great as a king,"
and immediately returned back, and complied with his
landlord.--_Spectator_, 462.
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