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The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Volume 13, No. 368, May 2, 1829 by Various
page 3 of 58 (05%)
distinguished occupants of Clarendon House.

Notwithstanding the revolutions of time and fashion in this quarter,
the illustrious name of the founder of Clarendon House is still
preserved in the "_Clarendon Hotel_," which occupies a portion of the
original ground already described. One of the changes is, that instead
of the Chancellor meditating upon his dismissal from office, which his
very virtues and stately dignity, and a weak king, and a more wicked
and envious faction had brought about,--we have well-living twos and
fours hob-nobbing over Chateau-Margaux, or yielding to the delightful
inspirations of Ay Champagne. Not a few more of the good things of
this great town are assembled near the same spot. Albemarle Street has
many first-rate hotels, and two handsome club-houses; while on the
Bond Street side of the quadrangle are two or three extensive
libraries, an immense porcelain repository, and a score of fashionable
_artistes_. What idle delights are all these compared with the wisdom
and virtue which once dwelt on the same spot. But had Clarendon lived
to see Crockford's splendid subscription-house rise after a golden
shower, in St. James's Street, (and this he might have done from the
front-windows of Clarendon House) he would, perhaps, have given us an
extra volume of _Essays_. We would that he _had_ so lived, if only
that his sublime truths might thus nave been multiplied for the good
of mankind, if not for the weak heads of St. James's Street.

* * * * *


THE GLANCIN' E'E.


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