Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-01-05
Historic English Inns.
Rev. James Johnston in Christian Uni

their permanent security, the commits
e sioners threw considerable light upon
y their origin and modern history. This
p mild inquisition included in it's report
J the popular Lyons inn, which long ago
:, made way for the Globe theater, and the
! quaintest OF all the inns, Little parnard's.
Both New inn and Clements inn, adioin-
: ing the Strand uear the new law courts,
were shown to have charters, funds and
trustees known by the archaic designation
, OF the "Ancients;' the latter taking its
name from 81. Clements, and in very
} carly times serving as monastery.
More recently several inns whose event
tul changes merit narration have on one
ground and another excited the interest
of antiquarians. Staple inn, which was
not In the market a few months since has
peculiar II not antique architectural, le.
gal and literary associations, The lnfu.
entail Populations from tho Commons
preservation society ana tho society for
the protection OF ancient buildings were
not successful in convincing the conrt of
the London common council that il was
the duty of its members TO preserve the
venerable city building The original en-
| dowment of this, as of other inns of
court, was trust Incidental to the main
/
sion, especially within the metropolitan
area. As an ancient inn OF chanoery il
was also place of learning and educa.
ton in this law, with large property, and
income recently averaging G2,OOo per
annum. Its name was due to the prior
settlement on the site OF the wool mer-
chants, or "staplers," on their removal
| from the Staple by New Palace-yard in
the time of Richard Ill. Although the
Prudential Life Assurance company ac-
quired its possession at the sale for an
immense sum, that body has intimated
Its intention OF preserving the antiquat-
ed fabric without alteration. The inn
! comprises buildings OF antiquarian and
esthetio attraction, in particular the
gable ended houses facing Holborn, and
also small garden pleasantly situated,
and court-yards through which many per
sons pass every day on their way between
Holburn and Chanoery lane The old hall.
which at one time had medieval services
OF plate furniture and pictures, was OK
cellently adapted for banquets and pub
lie gatherings. It's horiatod roof fine
old wainsooting, windows rich with many
hued heraldlc adyices, constitute together
worthy and valuable relic II Old Lon
don. II was in the year 1859 that Samuel
johnson removed from Gray's inn TO
staple inn, and there in solitude and dis
tress com posed "Rasselas."
The Did Horns tavern at bennington,
well-kncwn inn for the last 200 years, was
short time ago RACED to the ground to
make room for stately modern tavern.
This old house had some delightful and stir
ing associations. On the common inf front
of II many of She adherents of the "Pre.
tender" were executed. Though little
out OF the range of the great gatherings
adjacent st Georges field, which deter
minated in the disastrous Lord George
Gordon riots in 1880, spectators from the
bay Windows OF the old house have looked
down on many a famous political assem-
blage. What poetical reeolections en-
twins themselves around the CHAPTER
coffee house. near 50 Paul's church yard,
and the substantial old Castle hotel in
tho heart Of charming Richmond The
Chapter coffee-house, the haunt OF tho
wits and clty celebrities of the good old
days" u.s. as usual, 20 be supplemented by
superior structure. Like most houses or
its, type, It's history has been a fluotuat-
ing one, though the spot has rich liter.
airy traditions.
Churchill OF "Rosiad" fame and Bon
nell Thornton were habitua frequenters,
and Goldsmith's "favorite corner" was
long ono OF its notabiles Chatterton in
one OF his letters, says: ~ am quite fam.
iliar at the Chapter, and know all the
geniuses there" Booksellers and cleri.
cal personages were frequently found In
its dingy boxes. II was popular be-
lief that some Of it's customers in sober
CARDS were curates oat of harness, who
were always ready 90 write sermon fora
guinea, II fortunate enough to have an
order for that commodity. Sir Richard
Phillips, Mrs. Gaskell, and other writer's
have deseanted respecting the Chapter
and It's notable gassts. Few places are
capable Of supplying more materials for
A series OF facinatng sketches concern
ing tho habitudes of 18th century men OF
letters, Castle hotel, Of Richmond, is an
other OF the doomed pilgrim resorts, and
possibly lts surrounding beautiful ooun-
Try, which has world wide praise. The
painters have made strenuous exertions
.or the inyiolecy OF this justly renown-
ID landscape.
Only "a very small remove from Lon.
ION, as Rogers would say, stands tho old
'Pickwick Leather Bottle at Gotham,
Kent whose fame has grown within the
memory OF present-day readers This
vas the unpretending village inn in
which Mr.. TCpmau, when destiny WAS
gainst him and his heart was oyerwheim-
d. found peace and ssclusion which was
enied him under the hospitable roof Of
)ingley Dell. Formerly tho Leather
Iottlen relied for attraction upon it's
atural charms and yernal woods and the
ntorest OF the hqlf-ruined college build
~ opposite, with the old church and its
eerless brssses. Latterly the "piokwick
Dom" has absorbed something ak.n to
UNIVERSAL affection. American actors
isitiug England never fail 10 betake
lemselyes 10 the 'old time" Kentish vii
.ge to reoonnoiter the scene OF Mr.. Pick
ick's benevolent errand some 50 years
ast in quest of his lost friend. Miss
nder on has focused American devo-
on toward Dickens by requesting the
nJlord to hang lfesize portrait of
srself in the PickTickian parlor. II is
ated by the proprietor who cherishes
1irit Of alteration for the immortal
irine OF genius, that few American cap