Became the fixed important Centre,
Which united in one common Caufe,
The principal States of Europe;

Who by military Knowledge, and irrefiftible Valour,
In a long Series of uninterrupted Triumphs,
Broke the Power of France,

When raised the higheft, when exerted the moft;
Refcued the Empire from Defolation;

Afferted and confirmed the Liberties of Europe.

The house itfelf was built at the public expence; but the Bridge, the Column juft mentioned, and the Portal contiguous to the town, were erected folely at the charge of Sarah Duchefs Dowager of Marlborough.

DITCHLEY,

THE SEAT OF

The Earl of LITCHFIELD..

TH

HE Seat of Lord LITCHFIELD, at DITCHLEY,, is fituated about the diftance of three miles from Blenheim, on the North-weft. It is built of hewn ftone, and has a beautiful fouthern Front, with two correfpondent Wings, commanding a moft agreeable and extenfive profpect, in which the magnificent Palace juft defcribed has the principal effect. In the centre of the Front is,

THIS Room is finely proportioned, and elegantly decorated. Its fides and roof are ornamented with Stucco, which is at once bold and delicate. Its Door Cafes, Pediments, Entablatures, and Columns of the Corinthian and Compofite Order, are all richly ornamented with Gildings, &c. The Cieling contains an Affembly of the Gods, painted by Kent. Two of the Compartments are filled with hiftorical pieces from the Eneid, by the fame hand; one of which represents Eneas meeting Venus, his Mother, in the Wood, near Carthage; and the other, Venus prefenting Æneas with the new Armour. The Sciences are introduced as ornaments, with Bufts of Philofophers, Poets, Hiftorians, and Orators, viz. Socrates, Virgil, Homer, Cicero, Sappho, Shakespeare, Dryden, Milton, and Livy. Over the Statues are Bas Reliefs, copied from Antiques out of the Florentine Mufeum, properly difpofed; and a Statue of the Venus de Medicis. And there is here a curious Min. del of the Radclivian Library at Oxford.

The Chimney-piece is fuperb and lofty, decorated with a Portrait of the old Lord, by Akerman.

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MUSIC ROOM.

THE conftruction of this Apartment is well adapted to the ufe affigned; and its peculiar elegance cannot fail of having the moft pleafing effect on the Spectator at his firit entrance.

The PAINTINGS are;

A Portrait of the Earl of Litchfield's Grandfather, and Grandmother.

The Earl of Litchfield.

The two late Dukes of Beaufort.

Rubens and Family, hunting.

Two Venetian Courtezans.

A Landscape, by Wootton; in which are introduced the late and prefent Earls of Litchfield, taking the Diverfion of Shooting.

With three Hunting-pieces; by Wootton.

ON the whole this Room is furnished with much fimple elegance. Here is a capital full Length Portrait of Henry VIII. by Hans Holbeins; executed with a strength and freedom not generally found in the performances of that high finisher.

A Family-piece of Charles I. with Charles II. a Child at his knee; by Vandyke.

Sir Henry Lee, with the Maftiff which faved his Life, by Johnson. The Story of this Piece is founded on a miraculous Efcape of Sir Harry, from being assassinated by one of his own Servants, who had formed a Design of robbing the Houfe, after having murdered his Mafter. But providentially on the Night this Project was intended to be put in Execution, the Maftiff, though no Favourite with, nor ever before taken Notice of by his Master, accompanied him up Stairs, crept under the Bed, and could not be driven away by the Servant; when, at length, Sir Harry ordered him to be left; and in the Dead of Night, the fame Servant entering the Room to execute his Defign, was infantly feized by the Dog, and upon being fecured confeffed his Intentions.

In