NUTWELL-COURT, THE SEAT OF SIR THOMAS TRAYTON FULLER ELIOTT DRAKE, BART.

THIS fine mansion is situated near Lympstone, in the manor of Nutwell, between Exeter and Exmouth, about seven miles from the former and four from the latter. The first account we have of this place dates so far back as the reign of Henry II. when it was the property of Oliver de Dinham, and formed part of the|| barony of Hartland. By this family it was given to the priory of Dinant, in Brittany; but after the suppression of alien priories, it reverted again to the Dinham family.

dwelling." This remaining portion is now formed into a spacious library, being attached to the dwelling: formerly it was used as the family chapel. It is a pure bit of rich Gothic; the gable end being highly enriched, flanked on the one side with a fine sculptured figure of the Archangel hurling Satan down, and on the other side, St. George and the Dragon, both placed in highly wrought niches. The battlements are emblazoned with family arms of the various occupants. The estate was sold by the Dinhams to Serjeant Prideaux, in whose family it conti

In the reign of King Henry VII. Sir John Dinham, afterwards Lord Dinham (and who was then treasur-nued many years, being the seat of er), built on the site of the present mansion a castellated edifice; and if we may form an idea of it from a small portion still preserved with great care, it must have been, what Risdon calls it, "a fair and stately Vol. IV. No, XXIV.

Sir Thomas Prideaux, and successively of Sir Henry Ford and the Pollexfens. The last Sir Francis. Henry Drake died in 1794, bequeathing his property to the late Lord Heathfield, son of his sister TT

and heir, who had married General | taste and the artist would love to linEliott, the gallant defender of Gi-ger, the walls being covered with braltar. This nobleman dying, in 1813, without issue, his estates devolved to his sister's son, the present proprietor, who, after his return severely wounded from the Peninsular war, was, in 1821, created a baronet, which title has been in the family from the first creation.

some of the finest works of the old masters: the apartments are splendidly fitted up, and contain among the many fine works some beautiful figure drawings by Lady Eliott Drake, whose taste for landscape deserves particular mention. The dining and breakfast-rooms also contain some fine works of art, among them splendid specimens of Weenex and Hondekoeter.

Owing to the ground being raised to the basement story of the principal entrance, as before noticed, the entire depth of the house on this side is not perceived. It possesses the advantage of conducting the visitor at once into the principal apartments, a noble staircase being continued to the dining and breakfast rooms beneath, which are on a level with the lawn, and communicating with it by French windows. This arrangement gives a delightful cool

mer, and warmth in winter; it affords also an easy access to the various offices, baths, &c.

Nutwell-Court is a spacious quadrangular building, presenting three fronts. The Principal or EntranceFront, as shewn in our First Engraving, possesses an elegant simplicity. Owing to the nature of the ground, the principal entrance is by a flight of steps thrown across an area, which, by its embellishments, forms a pleasing feature. It is terminated by a kind of vestibule supported by columns, which answers all the purposes of a portico, throwing deep shadows, and becoming an ornament to the house. It is decorated with flowering shrubs and niches, the latter containing two lovely statues of Ca-ness to the living apartments in sumnova's, brought from Rome in 1817 by Sir Thomas. This vestibule, enriched with these adornments, affords a fair specimen of the fine taste that pervades the interior of the mansion. The hall of entrance is hung round with medallions in Parian marble; while in the centre a trophy of warlike instruments is raised in bronze to the memory of Eliott, the hero and defender of Gibraltar. The hall communicates with the grand staircase, hung with works of art: among them are a superb Rembrandt and a Guido, Venus attired by the Graces. This picture was presented by her late Majesty Queen Charlotte to Sir Francis Henry Drake. But it is in the state apartments, the saloon, and the drawing-rooms, that the man of

The views from the house are extremely beautiful. The lawn opens towards the river Exe, which abounds with some of the most beautiful views in Devon. Immediately over against Nutwell-Court are the noble grounds of Powderham, with its celebrated mansion, surrounded with the finest woods imaginable. The grounds swell into a bold hill surmounted by a tower, which has a fine appearance, particularly so as combined with a similar but distant tower on a bold range of hills, crossing Sir Lawrence Palk's grounds. The eye ranges on, embracing the Exe and distant upland country to Exeter: this pictu