The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-21 00:00:00

FORD ABBEY.

This ancient and far-famed classic mansion and estate
having, by reason of the death of the late proprietor,
John FranceiS Gwyn, Esq., been lately transferred,
through the medium of. George Robins, into the hands
of the trustees
.for George Miles, Efq., one of the
younger sons of the late wealthy Bristol banker
Et and
mcrehant of that name, public auction, of eight days'
duration, has just'been concluded of the matchless tapes-
tries, rare old paintings, and, books, antique plate and
furniture, with the beautiful orange and lemon trees and
plants, • the contents of the conservatory, and, other
effects, some account of which may not be unacceptable
to the public :
Messrs.- English, of Bath, were selected to conduct
the sale, which . proved one of intense interest and at-
traction, and it.smart competition was the result, several
of the most trifling and worn-out articles of furniture,
from their long association with the abbey, yielding
prices tenfold beyond their intrinsic value. The disposal
of the plate, some of which belonged to Francis Gwyn,
Secretary-at-War to Queen Anne, occupiekalmost the
whole of the first day; one lot, consisting of a set of three
tea canisters, with beautiful figures and architectural and
other devices, in high relief, realised 225. an ounce;
another, being a richly-embossed and festooned tea-
kettle, stand, and lamp, fetched about 361.; a silver gilt
communion chalice and patina, belonging to Edward
Prideaux, Attorney-General to Oliver Cromwell, and
used in the chapel, 151. 15s. The second day was en-
tirely devoted to the sale of the paintings, some of which
were very old and curious. We subjoin a list of those
which produced most competition The Virgin seated
with the Infant Saviour, Saint John, and the Lamb,"
by Castillo, sold at 201. "Portrait of Cardinal Wolsey,"
by Holbein, 31/. 10s. " Cleopatra with the Asp," by
Guercino, 211. 10s. 6d. " Romantic Landscape, with
Peasants and Cattle at a Ford," 291. Its companion,
"Landscape with figures on a rocky eminence," by Sal-
vator Rosa, 25/. 14s. 6d. " Portrait of James, Duke of
Monmouth, in a Field-Marshal's uniform," by Sir G.
Kneller, 281. " Portrait of the Earl of Rochester, in
his robes as Knight of the Garter," by ditto, 16/. ss.
Classical Ruins, with Banditti playing tric-trac," by
Salvator Rosa, 171. 17s. " Venus, :Vulcan, :and
Cupid," (School of Titian), 151. " View of Seven
Dials, London," (Scott and Hogarth), 421. And last,
but not least, the ancient, curious, and much admired
painting (on panel 27in. by 40in.), giving a minute and
elaborately detailed representation of " The Life and
Passion of our Saviour," evidently many centuries old,
and (amongst the paintings) not inaptly termed " the
gem of the Abbey," which was knocked down, after a
spirited competition, at 78/., to a Mr. Rainey, from whom
it was immediately afterwards purchased by Mrs. Clarke,
of Furnham House, Chard, at 100/., and amongst whose
choice collection of paintings it will now take its place. We
have it on the best authority that, for this picture the
late proprietor once refused 1,000/., but, fortunately for
the present possessor, this fact was not generally known
until after the auction, although she was herself cogni-
sant of it many years since : had it got wind amongst
the various connoisseurs who competed for the painting,
a much larger sum would have been obtained, if we may
judge from the subsequent fidgetty and anxious manner
of those who wanted it on finding it had got out of their
reach. On the third day the five pieces of magnificent
Arras tapestry, after the celebrated Cartoons of Raphael,
presented by Queen Anne to Francis Gwyn, her Secree
Lary-at-War, who hung it in the grand saloon, and
for which his patriotic son refused 30,000/., offered by
Count Orloff on behalf of the Empress Catherine of Russia,
were knocked down for the new proprietor of the abbey
at 2,200/. The subjects are—" Our Saviour appearing
to his disciples after his resurrection, and delivering his
charge to Peter"—" The miraculous draught of Fishes"
—" St. Peter and St. John curing the Lame Man at the
beautiful gate of the Temple"—" The Men of Lystra sa-
crificing to Paul and Barnabas, as Jupiter and Mercury,"
and "Ananias and Sapphira." The organ was also pur-
chased tor Mr. Miles at 28/. 10s. The fourth and fifth
days were exclusively occupied by the sale of the im-
mense library of books and manuscripts, and pamphlets.
Among the MSS. was a " Book of Welch Genealogy,
commencing with Adam," which yielded 49/. • and the
second MS. volume of "Prince's Worthies of Devon,
1716," was knocked down to Sir Thomas Phillips, the
celebrated antiquarian, for 46/. A MS. " Catalogue of
King Henry the VIII.'s Jewels," yielded 32/.; a MS.
" Collection of Royal Grants, from 1661 to 1682," sold'
at 27/.; sundry " Original Petitions, with the signatures
of distinguished persons, 1681," at 311. los.; " The Irish
Booke," relating to affairs in that country, 1684.5,"
at 281. ; a MS. " Herbertoram Prosapia, showing
the
genealogy
Book
of
othf e thAenticGiuwitiens oFfainGillyam,"org2a6ni.s;hirea,
by Richard Merrick, 1758; 111.; " Proceedings of the
Star. C h amber, 1635," 111.; " Pythagoras's Philosophy,"
on vellum, illuminated, 101. 10s.; " Aurelius Augustini
Doctoris' Expositiones super Psalmos," with marginal
notes on vellum, and the " Office of the B. V. Mary,"
vellum,4l. Bs.;
‘ w
1,2/.;a;t'oDn,usgßdailbelisaßasraocragepoofiyEgnigoltatan,dw,
ilt6h7sp-o6r,':
trait, and red lined, Lon., 1657," 26/. 105.; " Hickes's
Linguarum Vett. Septentrionalium Thesaurus Gramma-
tico Criticus et Archiologicus, portrait, Oxon, 1705,"
4/. 10s.; " Thoroton's Antiquities of Nottinghamshire,
London, 1677," 4/, 55.; " Polyphili Hyperotomachi,
Aldus, 1467," 3/. 35.; " Cromwelliana," 21. 25.; "Faller's
Worthies of England, London, 1662," 21. 18s. ; " Mi-
nutes of Business in the Secretary of State's Office dur-
ing Francis Gwyn's Under-Secretaryship, from Feb. 5,
1681, to June 3, 1683, and from Christmas, 1688, to
Michaelmas, 1689," 4/.145.; " Itinerary of John Leland,
1710.12," 31. 55.; " Lelandi Collectanea, Oxon, 1715,"
3/.; " Titi Livii Foro, Juliensis Vita Henric Quinti,
Oxon, 1716," 21. lls.; " Two Bibles, black letter,
1549," 21. 135.; " Ashmole's Institution of the Order of
On tLhoerdKhig's
powerth the Garter,
o f
1724," 3/. 65.; " Copy Corre-
pardoning,Londnanil .original
672 24l
°els' s; a y",
d o,
Not-
tingham or Guilford,
spondence between the English Government and the
Ambassador at the Hague, Lord
from Sept., 1677, to Feb., 1679, 5 thers
Ilyde an
/. 55.;
de Haros Anatomie of Spain, translated by Harye Red-
wood,
.1599 (MS.)," 41. 45.; " Ogilby's Holy Bible,
" Don Bivd
Cambridge, red lined," 4/. Bs.; " Historite Anglicanse
Scriptores Antiqui, London, 1652, Baleus de Scrip-
toribus Anglicanus, Basil, 1557," 41. ; " Common
Prayer, Baskerville, 1715," 2/. 25.; " Chronicon sive
Annales Prioratus de Dunstable Oxon, 1733," 51. 12s.
6d.; " Thomas Otterbourne et Johannes Wbethamstede
ab Origine Gentis Brittanicse usque ad Edvardium IV,
Oxon, 1752," 51 7s. 6d.; " Walteri Hemingford Historia
de rebus gesti Edvardi L, IL, and 111., Oxon, 1731,"
5/. 10s.; " Thomae Caii Vindiciaa Antiquitatis Acade-
mite Oxoniensis, Oxon, 1730," 2/. 16s; "Johannis de
Trokelowe Annuales Edvardi IL, H. de Blandforde
Chronica-Edvardi 11., Oxon, 1729," 31. :15s*;
"Histories
Vita et Regni Ricardi II , Oxon, 1729," 31. 145.;
" Adami de Doerham Historia de Rebus
;testis Glastoniensibus, Oxon, 1727," 41. 12s. ;
" Johannis Glastoniensis Chronica, Oxon, 1726,"
4/. 6s. ; "Peter Langtoft's Chroncle, Oxford, 1725,"
41. lf s. ; "Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle, Oxford,
1724," 3/. ; " Hemingi Chartularium Ecclesiae Wigor-
nicusis, Oxon, 1725, '4/. Bs. ; " History and Antiquities
Glastonbory, Oxford, 1722," 21.95. ; "Johannis de
Fordun Scotichronicun genuinum, Oxon, 1722," 3/. lls. ;
" Roberti di Avesbury Historia de Mirabilibus Gestas
Edvardi lIL, Oxon, 1720 " 2/. 10s. ; " Rymer's Fcedera,
London, 1704-17," 61.65. , ;
" Rerum Anglicarum Scrip-
torum Veterium, Oxon,: 1684-7, Mori Historia Pro-
vinciae Anglicanae Societatis Jesa Audomari, 1660 ;
Gale Historiae Britannicae Saxonicae Anglo Danicae
Scriptores XV., Oxon, 1677," 101. 10s. ; " Bedae His-
toria '.Ecclesiastica
.Anglorum, Cantab., 1643, Rerum
Anglicarum Scriptores Post Bedam, Francof, 1601;'
3/. 18s. ; " Wharton's Anglia Sacra, London, 1691,"
31. Bs. ; " Holinshed's Chronicles, London, 1586-7," 61. ;
" Carle's Life of James, Duke of Ormond, London,
1735-6," 41. 4s. ; " Rushworth's Historical Collections,
1680-92," 31. ; " Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire,
London, 1656," 81. 10s. ; "Du dale's History of St.
Paul's, 1658," 2/. 18s. ; " Dugdale's Monasticon Angli-
canum, London, 1661-82,' 101. ss. ; " Mamusse
Wunneetupanatamwe Up. Biblium God, Cambridge,
1685, &c.," 5/. ; " Grose's Antiquities of England
and Wales, London, 1784-7," 4/. 15s. A quantity of
sermons, and political, satirical, and other pamphlets,
and works, also yielded large sums of money. The sixth
day's
thea t
saleswer
dining,for t
drawing,
h tap estr a
y pand hr
in t iontgseu , f
rronots. he
ur e , e.,
n
four pieces of -Gobelintapestry in the drawing-room was
also purchased for Mr. Miles at 50/ ; they represent
" Scipio Africanus leading Asdrabal, the last Cartba-
genian General, prisoner in triumph into Rome ;" "a
Roman Gladiator in combat with a Lion before the

Statue of Jupiter ;" "Cyrus King of Persia, presenting I
the Jewish priests with vessels full of gold and silver
for rebuilding the Temple at Jerusalem ;" and " The
Temple in Progress." Two very elegant antique
cabinets of rare workmanship fetched 241. each ; a
splendid little painting, on panel, of game, fruit, and
vegetables, by.Weeninx, in the state dining room, was
sold to Mr. Rainey for 311. ; and the excellent painting
(on canvass) over the fire-place, representing Christ in
the house of Martha, and in conversation with Mary in
the back-ground, while Martha in the fore-ground is
spitting a fowl, having before her, on a table and hang-
ing up, a profusion of meat, poultry, vegetables, &c., was
also purchased by Mr. Rainey at 671. Six very antique
ebonized high-backed carved chairs, covered in tapestry,
were sold for 91. 18s. Queen Anne's bedstead, and
crimson silk velvet furniture, fitted up expressly for the
reception_ of Queen Anne, yielded 81.,
and the globelin
tapestry hangings of the room in which it stood, repre-
senting a Welch wedding, sold at 101. ; an old chair and
footstool in the Monk's Walk, said to have belonged to
the ancient monastery, yielded 41. 4s. ; another, with ,
elbows and back made to form a desk or table, fetched
61. 13s. ; two others and a stool brought 31. 3s. The
two last days were for the sale of the conservatory plants
and miscellaneous articles of furniture, stock, and imple• •
ments of husbandry, and household requisites, all of
which sold remarkably well.

THE WELLINGTON STATUE.
TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sist,—As it appears that considerable difficulty k Las
been experinced in the selection of an eligible site for' he
Wellington Statue in the metropolis, where one of a
similar character already exists, permit me to propose
"
an appropriate position for that noble production of art,
in his Grace's native land, where the only monument
hitherto raised to his glory, though finished even to the
omp
feodaneicsaotlal
sicanolnetthqi continues sthracei
at
or
equestrian
xsettapitnuacero.kn ete owing to the want
allude
to the Testi-
monial Dublin.
Doubtless the
splendid trophy would be gratefully received by the
people of Ireland, and the suitable gift remain a perpe-
tual record of the liberality and judgment of the citizena
of London. HIBERNICUS.
Nov. 17, 1846. •

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY NIGHT.—The
steam-ship, with the East India mail and 90 Passenger s,
for Alexandria, was to have left this afternoon, but ! in
consequence of the rough unsettled weather, she will z of
weigh 41aCilig Until it CIQATO

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early
walk yesterday, in the pleasure grounds of 03borne

ouse.

The unfavourable state of the weather during the
forenoon prevented the Royal Family from taking their
accustomed airings yesterday on the sea beach.
There was no addition to the Royal dinner circle at
Osborne House, on Thursday evening.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Caroline of Hem.,
attended by Baroness Scheel, Baron Moysenbuch, and
Mr. Bedford, arrived at the Euston-square terminus of
the London and North-Western Railway Company yes-
terday morning, from Cashiobusy Park, Herts, the resi-
dence of her Majesty the Queen Dowager.
The Earl of Denbigh received the Princess on her
arrival in town, and attended her Royal Highness to the
Model Prison at Pentonville, which the Princess in•
spected.
At five o'clock in the afternoon her Royal Highness
and suite left the Euston-square terminus for Watford,
on her return to Cashiobury Park.
His Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke of
Mecklenburg Strelitz returned to Kew on Thursday
evening, from paying a visit to her Majesty the Queen
Dowager, and her Royal Highness the Princess Caroline
of Hesse, at Cashiobury Park, Herts.
A deputation, respecting the Health of Towns, headed
by Lord Ashley, had an interview with Sir George
Grey yesterday, at the Home-office.
The Rev. W. Elliott had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
Mr. Bagshaw had an interview with the Right Hon-
ourable the Vice President of the Board of Trade, on
Thursday, in Whitehall.
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an in-
terview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Thurs-
day, at his official residence, in Downing-street.
THE WEST INDIA MAIL.

The Royal Mail packet Tweed, G. Parsons, R.N.,
Commander, arrived at Southampton yester day, at four
P.X., bringing the usual mails, a small number of dollars
on merchants' accounts, 24 tierces and 8 barrels of cof-
fee, some ginger, 13 cases and 122 kegs succades, 87
bales of tobacco, 4 cases of cigars, and 32 passengers.
Her dates are—Demerara, October 20 ; Trinidad,
21 ; Grenada, 26 ; St. Thomas's, 30 ; Jamaica, 24.
Mr. Robert Rawle, a passenger, from Trinidad, died
at sea on the 16th of November. The Tweed expe-
rienced fine weather home, but during the last two
days fell in with the bad weather we have had on the
coast. The only vessel she spoke was the Bellhaven
barque.
On her departure from the various islands much rain
had fallen, and the weather was highly favourable for
the crops. Cuba had not suffered so severely from the
gale, which was so terrific at Havannah, as had been
feared.
By the Tweed's arrival we have scarcely any news.
We learn that tip company's ship Cl) de was at Grenada;
Forth, at Havannah; Tay, in the Gulf of Mexico; Trent,
on the Spanish Main ; Eagle, at St. Thomas's ; and
Reindeer, at Demerara.
Public meetings continue to be held in respect to the
toS b
ugaerrDecuotniecsil,ed.
to which the colonists seem little likely
The Ripon remains at the mouth of the river, with
Indian mails, weather-bound.

THE PROPOSED EXPEDITION
UNDER GENERAL FLORES.
On Thursday evening last Mr. Forsayth, the principal
searcher of the Customs, accompanied by other officers,
boarded the ship Glenelg, lying off Gravesend, and, after
inspection, seized her for a contemplated breach of the
Foreign Enlistment and Equipment Act; and yesterday
morning he, also, upon the same grounds, seized the
Monarch and Neptune steam-vessels, lying in the East
India Docks, Blackwall.

—lt is understood that all the three vessels form part of
an expedition which is being secretly fitted out in this
country with the intention, by hostile means, to effect a
revolution of Government in a state of South America
with which we are on terms of peace and friendship.
When the Glenelg was seized there had just been re-
ceived on board 350 men, under pretence of their being
emigrants, but who, it is understood, are intended to
serve as soldiers or marines.

The Gleneig is a fine ship of 1,200 tons, and was
heretofore employed in the East India trade; and the
Monarch and Neptune are steamers of a large class, par-
ticularly the former, until recently they were the pro-
perty_ of the General Steam Navigation Company. The
Monarch was in the Leith trade, and the Neptune plied
between London and HamburglL
It is said that Mr. Forsayth is in possession of infor-
mation concerning them that leaves no doubt of all three
vessels being ultimately condemned as forfeited to the
Crown.

LATEST PRICES OF SHARES,

INT BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM
PANIES' STOCK.
From tie Official List,
ÜBLISEIED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING.
LONDON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20.
zoxivi"-STOCK ILAZTIKS.

Name of Company.

Dividend
per

Amount
of
Share.

Annum.