[Illustration: Old Somerset-House.]
The history of Somerset-house is, in a great degree, a history of the
variable characteristics of successive ages. The present building is of
modern date. But upon the same site stood the old Somerset-house,
erected in the year 1549, by the Protector Somerset. This was the age of
arbitrary violence and lawless power. Somerset-house originally rose
upon the ruins of ecclesiastical edifices and of private dwellings. The
proud man who degraded and abused his authority, by making it the
minister to his personal gratification, pulled down an ancient church,
an inn of court, and a number of houses, to make room for the
magnificent palace which he here erected. Not the slightest compensation
was made to the owners. But Somerset did not long enjoy the poor
gratification of his splendid abode. He died on the scaffold in the year
1552.
In succeeding times Somerset-house became the residence of various
queens. The great Elizabeth sometimes resided here. Anne of Denmark,
Queen to James I., here kept her court, which was remarkable for its
grotesque amusements, being, as an old author says, “a continued
masquerade.” The unfortunate Queen of Charles I. resided here after her
husband’s execution; and here the Roman Catholic Queen of Charles II.
kept a separate court. Those were the ages in which royalty displayed
itself in cumbrous pomp; and in which religious contentions of the most
intolerant character interrupted the quiet of the people, and degraded
the faith which, as it was professed, they were meant to uphold.
At length arrived the age of regulated freedom,--of national wealth
produced by unfettered industry,--of science applied to the
manufacturing arts,--of diffused comforts and enjoyments. In the reign
of George III. a building of sufficient magnitude for the business of
several of the most important departments of public affairs was
required, and old Somerset-house presented an eligible site. The present
extensive pile was commenced in 1774, from the design of Sir William
Chambers.
The principal departments of Government which are here carried on, are
the Stamp-Office, the Victualling-Office, the Audit-Office, and the
Navy-Office. The front of Somerset-house to the Strand contains the
apartments belonging to the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries,
the Geological Society, and the Royal Academy of Arts.
---------------------