Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-28

the estate in the reign of Henry VII. Eve
Ign was often here delighted visitor. On
one occasion he speaks of THE house or rather
palace at Atlorp.' (Vol. l., p. 612). In an
other place he describes it as "placed in a
pretty open bottom, were finely watered and
thanked with stately woods and groves in a
park" Vol l. p. 451.) Let me add that
there is an engraving Of Althorp al this time
by the younger Vosterman a Dutch artist.
There is one feature of the park which eX'
cited the admiration of Evelyn, and at a later
day of Mrs. jameson, who gi'es 10 it some
beautiful pages in her Visits and Sketches at
Home and Abroad. 1t is the record of the
time when different plantations of trees begun.
While recommending this practice in his Syivd,
Evelyn remarks. 'the only instance | know of
the like in our country is in the park at AL
thorp." There are six of these commemora-
tive stones. The first records wood planted
by Sir John Spencer, in 1867 and 1861 the
second wood planted by Sir John Spencer
son of the former, in $780, the third wood
planted by Robert Lord Spencer in 1902 and
1903 the fourth, Il wood planted by Sir Will
liam Spencer, Knight of the Bath, afterwards
Lord Spencer, in 1924. The latter stone is
ornamented with the arms of the Speucers,
and on the back rs inscribed Cup and bee do
ing and God will prosper" 1t in this
scenery and amid these associations that the
WaShngtons lived. When The emigrant left
in 1857, these woods must have been we'll
grown. 1t was not long afterwards that they
arrested the attention of Evelyn.
The Household Books at Althorp show that
for many years the Washingtons were fire.
quent guests there. The hospitality of this
seat has been renowned. The queen of James
LIST and the Prince Henry on their way to Lon
don, in 1903, were welcomed there in an en-.
tprtanment, memorable for a masque from the
vigorous muse of Ben Jonson ben Jons0n's
Works vol VI, p. 475) Charles l. was at
Althnrp, in 1917, when lie received the first
intelligence OF the approach Of those pursuers
from whom he never escaped until his life
had been laid down upon tie scaffold. In
1898, King William was there for week,
and according to Evelyn was mightilr enter
tained" Vol II, p. 50l At least one of
the members of this family was famous for
hospitality of different character Evelyn
records that he used to dine with the COun-
tess of Sunderland, the title then borne by
the Spencers,-" when she invited tire'edterS,
stone eaters and opera singers after the fash
ion of the day" Vol l., PIP. 458, 483 579)
The family was early and constantly asso
cated with literature. Spencer, the poet, he
lOngcd to il aud to one of its members he
has dedicated his Clears of the Muses." 1t
was for Alice Spencer that Milton is said to
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