Thomson's residence was at Rossdale House, in Kew Foot Lane. It was purchased, after his death, by George Ross, Esq. who, out of veneration to his memory, forebore to pull it down, but enlarged and improved it at the expence of 9000l. The honourable Mrs. Boscawen has repaired the poet's favourite seat in the garden, and placed in it the table on which he wrote his verses. Over the entrance is inscribed:

"Here Thomson sung the Seasons and their change.”

The inside is adorned with suitable quotations from authors who have paid due compliments to his talents; and in the centre appears the following inscription:

"Within this pleasing retirement, allured by the music of the nightingale, which warbled in soft unison to the melody of his soul, in unaffected cheerfulness, and genial though simple elegance, lived James Thomson. Sensibly alive to all the beauties of Nature, he painted their images as they rose in review, and poured the whole profusion of them into his inimitable Seasons. Warmed with intense devotion to the Sovereign of the Universe, its flame glowing through all his compositions; animated with unbounded benevolence, with the tenderest social sensibility, he never gave one moment's pain to any of his fellow-creatures, save only by his death, which happened at this place, on the 22d of August, 1748."

Thomson was buried at the west end of the north aisle of Richmond church. There was nothing to point out the spot of his interment till a brass tablet, with the following inscription, was lately put up by the earl of Buchan: "In the earth below this tablet are the remains of James Thomson, author of the beautiful poems, entitled, The Seasons, The Castle of Indolence, &c. who died at Richmond on the 22d of August, and was buried there on the 29th, O. S. 1748. The earl of Buchan, unwilling that so good a man and sweet a poet should be without a memorial, has denoted the place of his interment, for the satisfaction of his admirers, in the year of our Lord 1792." Underneath is this quotation from his Winter:

Father

Father of Light and Life, Thou Good Supreme!
O, teach me what is good! teach me Thyself!
Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,

From every low pursuit! and feed my soul

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;
Sacred, substantial, never-fading, bliss.

Richmond Park, formerly called the Great or New Park, to distinguish it from that which was near the Green, was made by Charles I. Sir Robert Walpole (afterward earl of Orford) was fond of hunting in this park, and his son, Robert lord Walpole, being the ranger, he built the great lodge for him, and thus paid nobly for his amusement.. This is an elegant stone edifice, with wings on each side of brick. It stands on a rising ground, and commands a very good prospect of the park, especially of the fine piece of water. Here also is another lodge called the Stone Lodge. When lord Walpole, afterward second earl of Orford, died, the princess Amelia was appointed ranger. While it was in her hands, the public right to a foot-way through the park was established by the issue of a trial at law, in 1758, at Kington assizes, in consequence of which decision, ladder-gates were put up at some of the entrances. This park is eight miles in circumference, and contains two thousand two hundred and fifty-three acres, of which not quite one hundred are in Richmond parish: there are six hundred and fifty acres in Mortlake, two hundred and sixty-five in Petersham, two hundred and thirty in Putney, and about one thousand in Kingston. His majesty, who, since the death of the late ranger the earl of Bute, has taken the park into his own hands, is now making several improvements, which promise to make it one of the most beautiful parks in the kingdom.

The parish CHURCH of Richmond, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, is an irregular building, partly antient, partly modern, with a low embattled tower, containing eight bells. The interior is very neat, and contains the monuments of Henry, lord viscount Brounker; lady Howard, of Escrick, and her son; Mrs. Mary Ann Yates, the celebrated

brated tragedian; Robert Lewes, Esq. a Cambro-Briton, and barrister at law, who died in 1649; "so great a lover of peace," says his epitaph, " that when a contention began between life and death, he immediately gave up the ghost, to end the dispute." Admiral Holbourn; Thomson, the poet, &c. In the churchyard, the rev. Dr. Henry Stebbing; the rev. James Collinson, M. A. fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge; Mr. James Fearon, of the theatre royal, Covent Garden, &c.

ALMSHOUSES. In the Vineyard are queen Elizabeth's almshouses, first erected under the Hill, 1600, at the sole expence of Sir George Wright, knt. for the accommodation of eight poor women; they were rebuilt on this site on a more extensive plan, and the endowments augmented by voluntary contributions of many gentlemen of this parish, in 1767. Also ten almshouses for the support of ten old men, built in 1695, and endowed by Humphrey Mitchell, of Richmond, gent. who died November 16, 1696, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. They are allowed four shillings a week, and half a chaldron of coals yearly. On Richmond Hill are ten almshouses, endowed by Dr. Brian Duppa, bishop of Winchester, for ten women; they are allowed ten shillings per month, and twenty shillings per year for coals. This pious prelate lived at Richmond, in a very retired manner, during the exile of Charles II. whom he had educated here. After he was consecrated bishop of Winchester, he still occasionally resided at Richmond, and, on his death-bed, in 1662, the king visited him, and begged his blessing. At Marsh Gate, nine almshouses were erected and endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Houblon, in 1758, for maiden women; they are allowed about four shillings and ninepence per week, and firing; also a new gown yearly.

The charity school is in George Street, where thirty-four boys and thirty-four girls are educated; they are instructed in the principles of the Christian religion, and the boys are taught to read, write, and cast accompts; and the girls to read, write, knit, mark, &c.