The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06

fashioned, smoky houses, with ground
floor Cthis to be taken literally), odd
gables and an exterior that reminds one
of the description of the house in which
Mr.. Tulkinghorn lived.
Downing street itself is a typical Lon
don side street, a dull narrow, black,
cul-de-sac running up in a westerly di-
rection from the treasury building. Al
most all of the houses that lined its
either side have been torn awaY-much
to the regret of those foreigners who
love the archaic and spend much of
their time in reconstructing old London
from ancient pictures and descriptions.
They began to tear down the street as
long ago as 1928, but years and years
after the sole remaining mo. 10' has
evaniShed in mortar smoke and its
bricks been rebuilt into an artisans
home the memories of the place Will be
ineXtricably entwined with the parlia-
mentary history of England. No street
in London can boast of having had such
distinguished men for residents, and the
houses of Downing street tower above
all other houses for the greatness of
their tenants. The buildings at No. 10
We're first erected-so one learns by con-
sulting an old record of Whitehall-by
Sir George Downing. who was a great
statesman in the reign of Charles II. 1t
was from this gentleman that the street
derived it's name. The first illustrious
prime minister to take up his abode at
No. 10 was Sir Robert Walpole. He
lived as comfortably as people could
live in those primitive days in the rooms
of the second story. Lord North dur
ing his premiership lived in this house.
His bedchamber and eating-rooms were
those of the ground floor. So pleasant
was his situation there that when he
lapsed from the premiership and be-
came a secretary of state he forgot to
change his chambers, and walked me-
chanically to his old rooms instead of
going to another set of chambers as
signed for his use.
Many had been the prime ministers
that have used these old buildings, and
different premiers used them in differ
ent ways. There We're Pitt and Grey
for example, who made the building
their actual home during their days OF
power. Melbourne and Peel preferred
to transact business of state there, anG
to dwell in private seperate homes
Lord Grey was the last minister to us;
No. 10 as a home until the time o,
Beaconsfield and Gladstone, both o
whom had q great affection for thu
stuffy old place. Earl Grey is delineat
ed in Haydons painting as deliberatin&
by the ffreside of No. 10 after one of tn
big debates in the reform bill.
When Sir Robert Walpole removed
from his official residence in this build
ing his personal expenses We're fount
to have been remarkably small. Durins
three months and ten days he spent II
London as an NJ. p. this close-fsteC
gentleman spent as much as G64 Is &c
The faVorite entry was pennies 70
buckingham ale" Eighteen pence 10
dinners disappeared, and one entry wa
made of five shillings to Bob Wal
pole" Bob" Walpole was afterward
Earl of oxford. Another entry was @
''six shilling given Mr.. Williams in eX
change for a wig" This old man
Horace Walpole's grandfather-had a
income of $4,000 a year.
The old house was the home in 17C
of Sir John Gust, speaker of the com
mons, and here in 1920 Beloni the Afr
can explorer, found a welcome for him
self and wife. 1t was in DoWnin
street that the Duke of WELLINGTON an
Lord Nelson met for the only time
their lives. Wellington recognized Mel
son from his portraits. But Nelson di
not know the duke. They converse
on various topics, and Nelson was 5
struck with the soldiers conversatio
that he stepped out of the room to il
Quire who the man was! Pitt so love
the house that he was miserable whe
away from it: and after he left II
ministry he spent three years pinng I
return to 1t. This he did and tv
years afterwards he died.
A good story is related about the mir
isteral residence. During the refor
riots a mob ran down into Downir
street and rushed up to the door Wi
the cry of Liberty or DEATH" TT
sentinel presented his musket with Il
remark, Hands off, you fellows!
don't know much about liberty, but
you come another step nearer I'll sho
you what death is" a reply which
loubt made him a sergeant or may
onething better. Preliminaries f
re peace with France were signed