Thomson, author of the beautiful poems, "The Seasons,' 'The Castle of Indolence,' &c., who died at Richmond on the 27th of August, and was buried there on the 29th, O. S., 1748. The Earl of Buchan, unwilling that so good a man and so 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 ” -and then follow some lines from The Seasons.' A monument on the wall of the south aisle records the virtues of Gilbert Wakefield the voluminous. Outside the church by the tower is a neat marble slab, with a medallion portrait, " erected by his son," to the memory of Edmund Kean, who, after fretting his brief hour upon the stage, rests here. Here also rest many other men, and some women, celebrated in their day. In the New Cemetery, close by the church, is a monument to the memory of Dr. John Moore, the author of 'Zeluco,' and father of General Sir John Moore.

Of all the famous men who have resided in Richmond, Thomson has conferred most renown upon it. It was in the maturity of his genius that he dwelt here; the larger portion of his immortal 'Seasons' was written here, as was also the whole of the 'Castle of Indolence the most delightful poem of its class in our language, and displaying a luxuriance of imagination infinitely surpassing what is shown in the more popular Seasons;' and here he died while his description of the view from the hill is what always recurs to the memory of every visitor to Richmond, when he for the first time gazes upon that matchless scene. It is not to the credit of the Richmond folk, that his only memorial, in a place which owes so much to him, should

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be the paltry brass plate which a private individual set up in the church, rather for his own glorification than to do honour to the poet.

Thomson lived in Kew-lane, in a house which now forms a part of Rosedale House, the residence of the Countess of Shaftesbury. A good deal has been preserved of what belonged to Thomson's house. The parlour in which he composed yet exists, with the furniture in it, as when he lived. Some portion of the garden, too, is said to remain nearly as when

"The bard, more fat than bard beseems,"

was wont to saunter into it at mid-day, and, as tradition relates, and Leigh Hunt has recorded in his always pleasant verse,

"slipper'd, and with hands

Each in a waistcoat pocket (so that all

Might yet repose that would) was seen one morn
Eating a wondering peach from off the tree!"

The summer-house, which he used as his poetic study, is also preserved. A tablet over the entrance informs you that "Here Thomson sung the Seasons and their change ;" and his employment of it is further commemorated by a long and inflated inscription, set up by Lord Buchan, the author of that in the church. This commences, " 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."

Thomson wanted not poetic companions while at Richmond, and the esteem in which he was held by them says much for the qualities of his heart.

Savage lived here some time in close intercourse with him, and, as Dr. Johnson observes ('Life of Thomson'), "always spoke with the most eager praise of his social qualities, his warmth and constancy of friendship, and his adherence to his first acquaintance, when the advancement of his reputation had left them behind him." Collins, too, resided at Richmond the last year or two of Thomson's life, and left it-unable to endure it longeron his death. The Ode on the Death of Thomson,' in which he gave expression to his affection and grief, is well known to every poetic reader. And so also is, or ought to be, the 'Remembrance of Collins,' which Wordsworth "composed upon the Thames near Richmond :"

"Glide gently, thus for ever glide,

O Thames, that other bards may see
As lovely visions by thy side,
As now, fair river! come to me:
O glide, fair stream, for ever so,
Thy quiet soul on all bestowing,
Till all our minds for ever flow
As thy deep waters now are flowing."

CHAPTER XXIII.

BRENTFORD.

If we had not stayed so long in the village we might well linger a few minutes to notice the very pleasing views, both up and down the river, which are obtainable from Richmond Bridge. Upwards, the hill, with the neat residences crowning the summit; the richly wooded meadows of Ham on the one side, and those of Twickenham on the other; the Duke of Buccleugh's and other villas, as well as those already mentioned, which skirt the banks of the clear river, along which drags slowly a deepladen barge, while pleasure-boats and fishing-punts enliven the surface: and downwards the broad stream, with the aits so prettily ornamented with poplars and willows; the banks with their villas and villa-like hotels; perhaps a steamer at the landing-place disembarking its passengers, or gliding along mid-stream; and in the distance the dense foliage of Kew and Isleworth-these might fairly claim regard, for each is a view which, though presenting no very striking features, is always looked upon with pleasure. The peculiar character of the downward prospect has, indeed, been of late in a great measure destroyed by the erection of the railway bridge and its approaches; but the bridge itself is a neat, almost a graceful structure, and gives something in the place of what it has taken

away or concealed; while from the height and span the arches serve well as a frame to display to advantage the landscape seen through them from the

river side or surface.

The grounds on the left below Richmond Bridge are those of Twickenham Park-lying therefore a mile and a half lower down the river than Twickenham village. Here it was that Bacon in his earlier days pursued in comparative retirement his philosophic studies, and later in life he was anxious to repurchase his former house, "for a residence for such deserving persons to study in as should engage in those scientific researches he was anxious to see undertaken. His reason for selecting Twitnam Park' for this purpose he states to be, that he "experimentally found the situation of that place much convenient for the trial of his philosophical conclusions." Bacon's house was pulled down about forty years ago. Several villas

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have been built in the park, so that it bears little resemblance to its appearance in "good Queen Bess's golden days;" but there are many old trees standing, which the inhabitants are willing to believe were planted by the great Lord Chancellor.

Onwards the "Thames in silver currents winds his way" through a vale of rich cultivated beauty. The grounds of the Marquis of Ailsa, and those of the Duke of Northumberland's famous domain of Sion, on the left bank, have both been carefully arranged with a view to picturesque effect; while on the right are the lofty elms of Richmond Lower Park and Kew Gardens. Isleworth lies half hidden behind the long ait, but what is seen of it rather contributes to the general sequestered, yet not unsocial air. This part of the river, and as far