olity of his decorations at Strawberry hill. But in Doddington we
have a man of fashion, living, during his whole career, in the highest
circles, familiar with every thing that was graceful and classical in
the arts, and yet exhibiting at home the most ponderous and tawdry pomp.
At his mansion at Eastbury, in the great bed-chamber, hung with the
richest red velvet, was pasted on "every panel of the velvet his crest,
a hunting horn, supported by an eagle, cut out in gilt leather, while
the footcloth round his bed was a mosaic of the pocket flaps and cuffs
of all his embroidered clothes."

He was evidently very fond of this crest, for in his villa at
Hammersmith, (afterwards the well known Brandenburg House,) his crest in
pebbles was stuck in the centre of the turf before his door. The
chimney-piece was hung with spars representing icicles round the fire,
and a bed of purple lined with orange, was crowned by a dome of
peacock's feathers. The great gallery, to which was a beautiful door of
white marble, supported by two columns of lapis lazuli, was not only
filled with busts and statues, but had an inlaid floor of marble, and
all this weight was above stairs. One day showing it to Edward, Duke of
York, (brother of George III.) Doddington said, Sir, some persons tell
me, that this room ought to be on the ground. "Be easy, Mr. Doddington,"
said the prince, "it will soon be there."

At length this reign, which began in doubt of the succession, and was
carried on in difficulties both political and commercial, came to a
close in the most memorable prosperity. The British arms were triumphant
in every quarter, and the king had arrived at the height of popularity
and fortune, when the sudden bursting of a ventricle of the heart, put
an end to his life in October, 1760, in his seventy-seventh year, and
the thirty-third of his possession of the throne.

A general glance at the reigns of the first three Georges, might form a
general view of the operations of party. In other kingdoms, the will of
the monarch or the talents of the minister, alone stand before the eye
of the historian. In England, a third power exists, more efficient than
either, and moulding the character of both, and this is party, the
combination of able members of the legislature, united by similarity of
views, and continuing a systematic struggle for the supremacy. This
influence makes the minister, and directs even the sitter on the throne.
And this influence,