obliged by circumstances to lead the life of a pendulum, vibrating between a certain spot distant four miles from London, and a certain spot just out of the smoke of the metropolis,-going into town daily in the morning and returning in the evening,-may be supposed, after the novelty has worn off, from the different ways by which he can shape his course, to find little interest in his monotonous movement. Indeed, I have heard many who live a short distance from town complain of this swinging backwards and forwards, or, rather, going forwards and backwards over the same ground every day, as dull and wearisome; but I cannot sympathise with them. On the contrary, I find that the more constantly any particular line of

VOL. XXXI. NO. CLXXXI.

road is adhered to the more intimate an acquaintance with it is formed, and the more interesting it becomes.

In some measure, this may be accounted for by studious habits; a tolerable memory, apt to indulge in recollections of the past, and to cherish rather than despise, when not impertinent, local gossip, which repeoples the district with its former inhabitants,

"Sweet Memory! wafted by thy gentle gale

Oft up the tide of time I turn my sail, To view the fairy haunts of long-lost bours

Blest with far greener shades - far fresher flowers."

"We have all by heart," observes the author of the Curiosities of Literature," the true and delightful reflection of Johnson on local associations, where the scene we tread suggests to us the men or the deeds which have left their celebrity to the spot. We are in the presence of their fame, and feel its influence.'" How often have I fancied, if the walls by which thousands now daily pass without a glance of recognition or regard, if those walls could speak, and name some of their former inmates, how great would be the regret of many at having overlooked houses which they would perhaps have

B

made a pilgrimage of miles to behold, as associated with the memory of persons whose names history, literature, or art has embalmed for posterity, or as the scene of circumstances treasured up in recollection!

If the feelings could be recalled, and faithfully recorded, which the dull brick walls that I cannot help regarding with interest must have witnessed, what a romantic chapter in the history of the human mind would be preserved for study and reflection!

"Ay, beautiful the dreaming brought
By valleys and green fields;
But deeper feeling, higher thought,
Is what the City yields."

The difficulty, however, is incredible of procuring accurate information as to any thing which has not been chronicled at the moment. No one but those who have had occasion to search after a date, or examine into a particular fact, can properly estimate their value, or the many inquiries that have to be made to ascertain what at first view would appear to be without embarrassment, -so deceptive is the memory, and so easy a thing is it to forget, especially numbers and localities, the aspect and even names of which change with a wonderful degree of rapidity in the progress of London out of town. Thus many places become daily more and more confused, and at last completely lose their identity, to the regret of the contemplative mind, which loves to associate objects with the recollection of those who "have left their celebrity to the spot."

These considerations have induced the writer to arrange his notes, and illustrate them by such sketches as will aid the recognition of the points mentioned, the appearance of which must be familiar to all who have journeyed between London and Fulham,- a district containing, beside the ancient village of that name, and remarkable as adjacent to the country seat of the Bishop of London, two smaller villages, called Walham Green and Parson's Green. The former of which stands on the main London road, the latter on the King's Road, -which roads form nearly parallel lines between Fulham and the metropolis.

From 1792 to 1797 this house was described as No. 14 Queen's Buildings, Knightsbridge; but in the latter year the address was changed to No. 14 Knightsbridge Green. In 1800 it was known as No. 14 Knightsbridge, and in 1803 as No. 14 Queen's Row, Knightsbridge. In 1810 as Gloucester Buildings, Brompton. In 1811 as Queen's Builddings. In 1828 as Gloucester Row. In 1831 as Gloucester Buildings; and at present (1844) has reverted to its original name of Queen's Buildings, Knightsbridge, in opposition to Queen's Buildings, Brompton, the division being Hooper's Court, if, indeed, the original name was not Queen's Row, Knightsbridge, as this in 1772 was the address of William Wynne Ryland (the engraver who was hanged for forgery in 1783, and of whom more hereafter). When houses began to be built at the same side of the way, beyond Queen's Row, the term

Buildings" appears to have been assumed as a distinction from the row west of Hooper's Court; which row would naturally have been considered as a continuation, although, in 1786, the Royal Academy Catalogue records Mr. J. G. Huck, an exhibitor, as residing at No. 11 Gloster Row, Knightsbridge.

These six alterations of name within half a century, to say nothing of the previous changes, illustrate the extreme difficulty which attends precise local identification in London, and are merely offered at the very starting point as evidence at least of the desire to be accurate.

About the year 1800, the late residence of Mr. Nattes became the lodgings of Arthur Murphy, too well known as a literary character of the last century to require here more than the mere mention of his name, even to those who are accustomed to associate every thing with its pecuniary value; as Murphy's portrait, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds

* Catalogues of Royal Academy. # Lockie's Topography of London.

for Mr. Thrale, sold at Christie's in the sale of Mr. Watson Taylor's pictures (June, 1823), for 947. 10s. Murphy had prepared his translation of Tacitus** for the press at his house on Hammersmith Terrace (the last at the west end); but declining health and circumstances induced his removal into lodgings near London, at "14 Knightsbridge." From these apartments" he soon removed to others in Brompton Row, where he did not remain long, not liking the mistress of the house, but returned to his former residence (No. 14), where he resided till the time of his death." In 1803, the late Lord Sidmouth (then Mr. Addington), conferred a pension of 2007. a-year on Murphy, "to mark the sense" his majesty entertained "of literary merit, particularly when accompanied with sound principles and unquestionable character;" which gracious mark of royal favour Murphy acknowledged on the 2d of March, from "14 Queen's Row, Knightsbridge." Here he wrote his life of Garrick,tt a work which, notwithstanding Mr. Foot's ingenious defence of it, shews that Garrick's life remains to be written, and that Murphy's intellectual powers were, at the time when he composed it, in a state of decay.

Murphy, according to his biographer, "possessed the first and second floors of a very pleasant, neat house, where there was a long gravel walk in the garden; and though his library had been much diminished, yet, in the remaining part, he took care to reserve Elzevir's edition of the classics. Mrs. Mangeon (the mistress of the house) was a neat and intelligent woman, and Mr. Murphy secured her friendship by giving her son a presentation to Christ's Hospital. Anne Dunn, his own servantmaid, was an excellent servant, honest, faithful, and attentive; so that, what with the services he had rendered to the mistress of the house,

Cruchley's Map of London.

** 4 vols. 4to. published in 1793.

Elmes' Topography of London. ++ 2 vols. 8vo. 1801.

Hooper's Court into Sloane Street.