The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-03

rsSs xoS the estimates hitherto formed ~ 70 The
cost Of the work.
Apslcy House.
OPENING OF THE RESIDENCE OF THE DUKE OF
WELLINGTON TO the PUBLIC.
From the London Times Jan. l3.
With kind feeling towards the public, and
reverence for his fathers memory, which do him
honor, the Duke Of wellington has thrown open the
principal apartments Of Apsley House, on the Tues
days. Thursdays and Saturdays Of the present month
admission tickets being issued by Mr. Mitchell, OF
Old Bond street. The privilege thus granted is one
that cannot fail to be most highly esteemed for DEATH
which comes TO all alike in some respects, has its dis
tinctions and its partalites Notwithstanding. The
great body of mankind quit the SCENE OF life, and
their place knows them no more; but with the
men who are not for an age, but for all time, IT IL
different. Their fame not only survives them, but
grateful posterty invests everything that belongs to
reason and intelligence permit, to the hero worship
of the ancents. The influences OF modern society
all tend to lower the ascendancy OF posthumous repu-
tatons and in the struggle and hustle Of the present
for the past becomes less potent to magnify its
hOnors. Time has now, indeed, "a wallet At his
back, wherein he puts aims for oblivion; yet for
our great duke the old spirit returns. His house,
his pictures, his furniture-the hall in which
this crowning victory was annually commemorated,
the library in which he transacted his business, and
the bedroom in which he slept-these objects Of
ordinary interest nor of any mpertinent curiosity
to which they are admitted trustees and guardians
Of his fame. As a mere mansion-for spacious apart
ments, magnificent embellishments, and display of
wealth, luxurousness or taste in dec0rat0n-Apsley
dences of our nobility; yet how vastly it surpasses
them all in interest, Notwithstanding Even in the
palaces of the sovereign We question whether there
is to be found an attraction so absorbing as IN that
grim, undecorated edifice at the corner of Hyde
Park, with its iron window blinds always down. and
its great iron gateway seldom seen open The site
Of Apsley House and the name Of its late occupant
have alike combined to make 1t the best known pri-
waite dwelling, externally, in London; and however
faint the impressions strangers took away with
them of the great metropolis, at least they had
the dukes mansion, overlooking the parks, Bel
gravia, Mayfair and all that is wealthy and
grand in town, wildly impressed upon their
minds Yet, while all knew the place without,
few and favored were those who could boast that
they had been within 1t was made by its illustrious
possessor private dwelling in the strict sense of the
word, accessible only to the circumscribed circle of
great mans family and intimate fricnds-0ccasiOn
ally indeed, made the scene OF large receptions and
once year appropriated to the commemoration ofan
event which summoned around their old chief the
most iustri0us of his companions in arms. The OPP
p0ltunity now afforded, therefore, OF visiting Apsley
House is no ordinary privilege. In its apartments
we expect to find many interesting traces OF the
Dukes character and habits-some insight into his
domestic taste, and many souvenirs OF his fame. We
have not been disappointed, nor will any one who
goes with touch OF the reverence which he feels
Tor the great man 10 WnCm SO latcly all belonged,
The rooms to which the public are admitted are |
ten in number, and, as already stated, are by no
means remarkable for their proportions, or for the
magnifcence of their decorations. The picture gal
striking about apart from the merits Of the paint
ings themselves, and the appearance OF some candle
abra and vases in porphyry-tbe gift Of the Emperor
Nicholas and the King Of Sweden to the Duke.
The candelabra stands in the centre Of the gallery at
each end and the at the sides They are splen
did pieces OF workmanship certainly, and presents
not unworthy of crowned heads to bestow. 1t ques
tionable, however whether they are advantageously
placed in apartment Of the kind The pictures are
many Of them possessed Of rare excellence, and of
themselves well repay visit. The great masters OF
the Italian and Spanish schools sparngly repre-
sented, but there is large show of the best Dutch
nual Waterloo banquet was held; and though it must
be confessed that for such purpose this long and
narrow apartment was by no means well adapted,
yet to the viser this fact is its chief attraction. For
upwards of thirty years did the duke here assemble
around him the chiefs with whom he fought his last
battle, and here as time rolled on he found himself
among the last of that distinguished band Of veterans
the greatest spared longest to witness the perma'
round who will be worthy TO preside over the
surviving representatives Of that army which con-
quered at Waterloo!
There are two distinct sets of drawing rooms at
Apsey House-the first on the Piccadilly side, the
second looking towards the park. None Of them can
be described either spacious lofty, nor they
very magnifcently furnished. The two rooms on the
Piccadiy side have the most formal, stately appear
ance the others are, perhaps the most interesting
In the former are placed Wilkes great picture,
/" The Chelsea Pensioners" and its companion,
/" The Greenwich Pensioners" by Bunet. Here
also are Sir Edwin Landseer's painting Of Van
ton Hunt by Grant and copies Of four of Raphael's
most celebrated works, by Bonnemaison. These |
rooms also contain some fine portraits, among which
those of the great Duke of Marlborough Marshal |
Mr. w
worthy of particular attention. In the furniture
should be noticed two magnificent side tables OF
Roman mosaic, and two others OF beautifully inlaid
wood. There is also an exceedingly splendid pair of
Sevres vases, the gift of Louis XVIII. The drawing
looking towards the park appear to have been
those most used for the reception Of friends and are
fitted up with greater elegance and comfort than
those in front. Here is a maachte vase, presented
to the duke by the Emperor Alexander; service of
Sevres china the gift Of Louis XVIII; and another
formerly belonging to Joseph. King Of Spain
Here, too is a collection Of paintings, chiefly por
traits which cannot fail to rvet attention, since they
speak more significantly to us than, perhaps, any
other objects OF the great man to whom they so re-
Gently belonged There is but one battle scene de-
picted in Apsey House, and that is Waterloo taken
from Napoleon's headquarters, by Sir VIM. Allen.
In these drawing rooms appear portraits Of relatives
and friends, and companions in arms, some executed
in the happiest STYLE and all extremely interesting
Lord Beresford, Lord Lynedoch, and Lord Angesey,
by SiI Thomas Lawrence; Lord Nelson, by Sir VIM.
Cowley. by Hoppner; Sir George Murray, Picton,
and many other distinguished officers, decorate the
walls OF the striped drawing ROOM, their stern
countenances and military uniforms strikingy con-
trasted with the traces Of quiet social life around.
At the foot of the grand staircase stands colossal
statue Of Napoleon, presented to the duke by the
allied sovereigns Of Europe. Placed as it is its merits
can hardly be judged of, and the potentates Whose
gift 1t was, probably never contemplated that so in
adequate site was all that the duke could provide
for it. The waiting room, into which vsiters pass
before ascending the staircase contains marble busts
OF Lord Castlereagh, Mr.. Perceval Colonel Gurwood,
and Colonel Ponsonby, spiritedly executed bronze
statuette OF Marshal Butcher and bust of the duke
himself which has great merit.
Having thus disposed OF the state apartments, and
the manner in which they are approached, we now
proceed to give account oil the royal presents
collected in what is called the China room, to which
the vstcr finds access by descending the back stair
case Services of china seem the least congenial Of