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,
JohnFranceis Gwyn, Eq., been lately transferred,
through the medium of George Robins, into the bands
of the trustees for George Miles, El., one of the
younger sons of the late wealthy Bristol banker and
merchant of that name, a 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
plantF, 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 a 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, cccupicd..almost 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, telonging to Edward
Prideaux, Attorney-General to Oliver Cromwell, and
used in the chapel, 15/. 15s. The second day was en-
tirt ly 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, 311. 10s. "Cleopatra with the Asp," by
Guercino, 21/. 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, 251. 14s. 6d. " Portrait of James, Duke of
Monmouth, in a Field-Marshal's uniform," by Sir G.
Kncller, 281. " Portrait of the Earl of Rochester, in
his robes as Knight of the Guter," by ditto, 161. ss.
" Classical Ruins, with Banditti playing tric-trac," by
Salvator Rosa, 17/. 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 781., to a Mr. Rainey, from whom
it was immediately afterwards purchased by Mrs. Clarke,
of Furnham House, Chard, at 1001., 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 1,0001., 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 : bad 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 Secre•
tary-at-War, who hung it in the grand saloon, and
for which his patriotic son refused 30,0001., offered by
Count Orloff on behalf of the Empress Catherine of Russia,
were knocked down for the new proprietor of the abbey
at 2,2001. 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 Mercuty,"
and "Ananias and Sapphire." The organ was also pur-
chased for Mr. Miles at 281. 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 461. A MS. " Catalogue of
King Henry the Jewels," yielded 32/.; a MS.
" Collection of Royal Grants, from 1661 to 1682," sold
at 271.; sundry " Original Petitions, with the signatures
of distinguished persons, 1681," at 31/. 10s.; " The Irish
Booke," relating to affairs in that country, 1684.5,"
at 28/. ; a MS. " Herbertoram Prosapia, showing
the genealogy of the Gwyn Family," 26Z; a
MS. " Buok of the Antiquities of Glamorganshire,
by Richard Merrick, 1758, 11/. ; " Proceedings of the
Star Chamber, 1635," ill.; " Pythagoras's Philosophy,"
on vellum, illuminated, 101. los.; " Aurelius Augustini
Doctoris Expositiones super Psalmos," with marginal
notes, on vellum, and the " Office of the B. V. Mary,"
vellum, 12/.; " Dugdale's Baronage of England, 1675-6,"
41. Bs.; " Walton's Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, with por-
trait, and red lined, Lon., 1657," 261. 10s.; " Hickes's
Linguarum Vett. Septentrioralium Thesaurus Gratrma-
tico Criticus et Archiologicus, portrait, Oxon, 1705,"
41. 10s.; " Thoroton's Antiquities of Nottinghamshire,
London, 1677," 4/. 55.; " Polyphili Hyperotomachi,
Aldus, 1467," 31.35.; " Cromwelliana," 21. 25.; "Fuller's
Worthies of England, London, 1662," 2/. 18s. ; " Mi-
r-ates of Business in the Secretary of State's Office dur-
ing Francis Gwyn's Under-Secretary ship, from Feb. 5,

1681, to June 3, 1683, and from Christmas, 1688, to
Michaelmas, 1689," 41.145.; " Itinerary of John Leland,
1710-12," 55.; " Lelandi Collectanea, Oxon, 1715,"
3/.; " Titi Livii Foro, Juliensis Vita Henric Quinti,
Oxon, 1716," 2/. Ils.; " Two Bibles, black letter,
1549," 2/. 135.; " Ashrttole's Institution of the Order of
Ihe Garter, London, 1672," 21. 10s.; " On the King's
power of pardoning, an original essay, by Lord Not-
tingham or Guilford, 1724," 3/, 65.; "Dopy Corre-
spondence between the English Government and the
Ambassador at the Hague, Lord Hyde and others,
from Sept., 1677, to Feb., 1679," 51. 55.; "Dun Bivd
de Hares Anatomic of Spain, translated by Ilaryc Bed-
wood, 1599 (MS.)," 4/. 45.; " Ogilby's Holy Bible,
Cambridge, red lined," 41. Bs.; " Historim Anglicans
Scriptorca Antiqui, London, 1652, Baleus de Scrip-
toribus Anglicanus, Basil, 1557," 41. ; "Common
Prayer, Baskerville, 1715," 21. 2a.; "Chronicon sive
Annales Prioratus ale Dunstable, Oxon, 1733," 51. 12s.
6d.; " Thomas Otterbourne et Johannes Whethamstede
ab Oiigine Gentis Brittaniem usque ad Edvardium IV.,
Oxon, 1752," 5Z 7s. 6d.; " Walteri HemingforU Historia
de rebus gesti Edvardi 1., IL, and 111., Oxon, 1731,"
51. 10s.; " Thomae Caii Vindiciaa Antiquitatis Acade-
mim Oxoniensis, Oxon, 1730," 2/. 16s; "Johannis de
Trokelowe Annuales Edvardi IL, H. de Blandforde
Chronica Edvardi 11., Oxon, 1729," 3/. 55.; "Historia?
Vita et Regni Ricardi 11., Oxon, 1729," 3/. 145.;
" Adami de Doerham Historia, de Rebus
gestis Glastoniensibus, Oxon, 1727," 4/. 12s. ;
" Johannis Glastoniensis Chronica, Oxon, 1726,"
41. 6s. ; " Peter Langtoft's Chroncle, Oxford, 1725,"
4/. ICs.;_ "Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle, Oxford,
1724," 3/. ; " Hemingi Chartularium Ecclesiae Wigor-
nicosis, Oxon, 1725," 4/. 85. ; " History and Antiquities
of Glastonbory, Oxford, 1722," 2/. 9s. ; " Johannis de
Fordun Scotichronicun genuinum, Oxon, 1722," 31. lls. ;
" Roberti di Avesbury Historia de Mirabilibus Gestas
Edvardi 111., Oxon, 1720," 21. 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," 10/. 10s. ; " Bedae His-
toria Ecclesiastica Anglorum,
_Cantab., 1643, Rerum

Anglicarum Scriptores Post Bedam, Francof, 1601;
Si. 18s. ; " Wharton's Anglia Sacra, London, 1691,
3L Bs. ; " flolinsbed's Chronicles, London, 1586-7," 6/.

" Carle's Life of James, Duke of Ormond, London,
1735-6," 41. 4s. ; " Rushworth's Historical Collections,
1680-92," 3/. ; " Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire,

London, 1656," St.-10s. ; " Dugdale's History of St.
Paul's, 1658," 21. 18s. ; " Dugdale's Monasticon Angli-
canum, London, 1661-82; 101. ss. ; " Mamusse
Wunneetupanatamwe Up. Biblium God, Cambridge,
1685, &c., 51. ; " 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 sale was for the tapestry; paintings, furniture, &c.,
in the state, dining, drawing, and other rooms. The
four pieces ofGobelin tapestry in the drawing-room was
also purchased for Mr. Miles at 501; they represent
" Scipio .Africanus leading Asdrabal, the last earths-
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
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. Ramey 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 67/. Six very antique
ebonized high-backed carved chairs, covered in tapestry,
were sold for 9/. 18s. Queen Anne's bedstead, and
crimson silk velvet furniture, fitted up expressly for the
reception of Queen Anne, yielded Si., and the globelin
tapestry hangings of the room in which it stood, repre-
senting a Welch wedding, sold at 10/. ; an old chair and
footstool in the Monk's Walk, said to have belonged to
the ancient monastery, yielded 4/. 4s. ; another, with
elbows and back made to form a desk or table, fetched
6/. 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.