nsidered the prettiest specimen of cottage architecture then existing.
The three principal reception-rooms were equally remarkable for their
structure, as well as their furniture. The centre, or principal saloon,
supported by large palm-trees of considerable size, exceedingly well
executed, with their drooping foliage at the top, supporting the cornice
and architraves of the room. The other decorations were in corresponding
taste. The furniture comprised a lion's skin for a hearth-rug, for a
sofa the back of a tiger, the supports of the tables in most instances
were four twisted serpents or hydras: in fact, the whole of the
decorations of the room were of a character perfectly unique and uniform
in their style. This room led to a large Gothic dining-room of very
considerable dimensions, and on the front of the former apartment was a
very large oval rustic balcony, opposed to which was a large,
half-circular library, that became more celebrated afterwards as the room
in which the highly-gifted and talented author of 'Pelham' wrote some of
his most celebrated works.

Craven Cottage was the residence of the Right Hon. Sir E. Bulwer-Lytton,
from whom it passed to Mr. Baylis, now of Thames Bank, who parted with it
to Sir Ralph Howard, its present occupant, who removed the door shown in
the annexed cut, through which the library is seen.

[Picture: Door of Egyptian Hall at Craven Cottage]

Returning to Church Lane, we come out at the bridge, built in 1729, and
close to which is Willow Bank, the late residence of Mr. Delafield and
General Conyers. The Ferry belonged to the See of London, and it was
necessary that the consent of the Bishops should be had, for the erection
of the bridge and consequent destruction of their Ferry; it was,
therefore, stipulated for the right of themselves, their families, and
all their dependents, that they should pass over the bridge toll free,
which right exists at the present time; and passengers are often very
much astonished at hearing the exclamation of "Bishop!" shouted out by
the stentorian lungs of bricklayers, carpenters, or others, who may be
going to the palace, that being the pass-word for the privilege of going
over. The architect of the bridge was the eminent surgeon, W. Cheselden,
who died in 1752, and is buried in the graveyard attached to Chelsea
Hospital. His tomb is close to the railings of the new road, leading
from Sloane Street to the Suspension Bridge at