The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-10
HOUSE OF M1ToN, IN BARBICAN.


HOUSE OF MITON, IN BARBI0AN.
DR.. johnson, somewhat abating his "paltry
acrimony against Milton" says, in his "Life OF
the Poet" ~ cannot but remark a kind ofrespect,
perhaps unconciously paid 70 this great man by
his biographers; every house in which he resided
is historically mentioned, as If it were an injury
to neglect naming any place that he had honored
by his presence" There has been abundant
opportunity for this tribute of respect. Although
Wordsworth has apostrophzed Milton,
'sThY soul was like star, and dwelt apart;'
vet he did not regard "life's common way" from
such a distance, but painted oven the social as
poets, the recreations, and pastimes OF London
with indulgence, as when he said =" These
things will be, and must be but how they shall
be least hurtful, how least enticing herein con-
sists the grave aud governing wisdom OF State.
To sequester out of the world into Atlantis and
Utopian politics, which can never be drawn into
use, will not mend our condition; but TO ordain
wisely as in this world of evil, in the midst
whereof God has placed us unaYoidGbly."
Milton was a L0ndoner, and, from first TO last,
a lover of London yet he felt an affection for
Our proud suburban shades
Ofbranching elm, that never sun porvades.
Then he would return to town life -
lowered cities please then,
And the noisy hum OF men.
And elsewhere he addresses London as
Too blest abode! no Iovelino,s we see
In ali the earth, but it abOunds in thee
He is even thought 10 have drawn the rural
pictures of "L'Allegro" from the suburban
shades" though he was much then with his
father at Horton, and visited London occasion
ally. Mr.. Charles Knight, in his charming paper,
millions London" has well characterized him as
"tke poet, at one and the same time, Of the city
and of the country" He was born in Bread
street; he died in Cripplegate. During long
life we may trace him from st. Pdurs school
through succession Of London residences-St.
Brides churchyard, Aldersgate street, BarbiCan,
H0lbon, Petty France, Bartholomew close
Jewin street, Bunbill fields. The poets fondness
for town and country led him TO choose, in most
cases, garden-house-that is, a house in n gar
den, of which there were, especially in the north
suburbs of London, very many in Milton's time
The young poet is even thought to have studied
nnder his fathers roof in Bread street. "in some
retired back room, looking most probably into
pleasant little garden" such as we may imagine
to have existed in the Bread street of two cen
turtles and half since. His lodging in ST Brides
chuIchyaId may not have had garden; he made
no long stay there, but took, Phillips tells u.s. a
pretty gaTden-ho in Aldersgate street, which
was in existence a few years since, and was
described in the "Column for the Curious" May
30 1868. The dwelling was but a cottage, with
insufficient room for his pupils, although this
hardly agrees with Phillips description of the
"pretiy garden-house." However, the houses in
that locality were then noted for their fine
gardens.
From Aldersgate street Milton removed to a
house, now pointed out as No. IL, on the north
side of BaIbican, nearly opposite "DiXon's Re
pCEitOry." This house is now lmmedately 70 De
taken down for the Metropolitan Extension TO
Finsbury) Railway. The house itself was named
by It's last occupant "Milton House !" it is OF
brick, with bay windows.
II was in Barbican, his biographers state, that
Milton lived after his reconciliation with his wife
recorded 10 have taken place in the house of a re-
lation named Blackborough residing in the lane
of St. Martin s-le-Crand. DR.. SymmOns, in hi,
lite of the eset thus describes his removal here -
"Milton was now reunited to his wife, but hi
augmented family being too large for his presen
habtatlon, lin Aldersgate street,, he was obliged
10 place her in a friends house till more spa
ciOus mansion, which he had recently hired il
Barbican, could be made ready for her reception
When the necessary preparations were com
pleted, she removed 10 her new residence, whithe
She was soon followed by her parents and he
numerous brothers and sisters, who were not un
willing to share in the entertainment which wai
now become requisite for their support. In thi
asylum they continued till the question respecting
their property was adjusted with the Government
and til period subsequent to the death of tn,
authors father, in 1917" Life" secon
edition, p. 254.)
JOHNSON thus describes the change :-''He hat
taken a larger house In Bur0can for the recep
tion OF scholars, but the numerous relations O
his wife, TO whom he generously granted refug
for awhile, occupied his rooms" In time, how
ever they went away; "and the house again,
Gays Phillips, "DOw lOolssa like a house for tn
muses. only, though the accession of scholar
was not great" From Barbican Milton removes
20 a smaller house iD Holborn, which Opene
backward into Lncoln's- inn fields, which John
son places at "about 1915" :" but the actual dlsC
was l647, and his tenancy about two years.
In the Barbican house, in 1916, the wife Of Nil
ton gave birth 10 her first child, daughter, Oap
tised by the Dame OF Anne, who was either lam
from her biITh. or in consequence of some acci
dent in her tarly infancy. SymmOnS also state
that the second child, Mary, was born Octobe
rs, l64S, though this COntradicts the a2Ove-quote
ststement as to Miton's quitting irbican. On
of the illustrations % Mr. Knights paper "de
signed from maps and elevations, temp. Jane
and Charles J." shows the BArbcln Of that time
with its lofty gab and oyerhang ng stor es, yer
pictures que in comparison with the present street
The house, No. IL, appears small COR the imam
sion" Of the poets biographer; but it extends il
the rear of the next house, No. lG, and is Of eX
fensiVe depths and large flight of stone step
ascends IRON the basement 70 the open spac
rearward, recolleeted as a large garden with fin
trees, some forty years since. The two house
Immediately opposite DXons Repository haY
more the width OF n mansion. Barbican was, Ii
Millions time, well tenanted. Sir Henry Spelmau
the aniiquary, died nj his house here In 1910
Here also were the mansions of the BridreWate
family (the poets early patrons) and Sir Thoma
MriCthesiey, Garter king-at-Ans whenc
Brsckley street, Garter court, and Bridgewate
square.
Milton, after a lapse Of years, returned to tn
same quarter Of the town, in Artillery walk, lead
ing 70 Bunhill fields. Here he finished his "Para
disc Lost" and here, on Sunday, November
1914, he died, without a struggle. This" say
Phillips, "was his last stage In this world, but
was OF many years continuance, more, perhap
than he had bad 10 any other place besides
lie was bOried in the Church of st. Giles, Cd
plegafe, IN the same grave with his father an
the monuments bust, by the elder Bacon
which Mr.. Whitbread erected some seventy yea
sinee, has lately been restored, in reverence {,
our gleat epic poet and his religious and polite.
independence.
Han Green CLAY Smith made a snaecb ;