New-York tribune., 1908-04-01
DEVONSHIRE HOUSE.
London about to Lose One Of Its
Most Conspicuous Landmarks.
Copyright. 1905. by the Brentwood Company


lsndnarks of the British metropolis Occupying
ss does. site o. enormous value in the very
psrt OF Piccadilly innuuleraee attempts nave
heen made 10 purchase the house and extensive
grounds. and il generally understood that thS
ate duke disposed OF both on the understanding
rfa. should be allowed TO retain possession
-ae-eof uudisturbed until the end Of his days The
5szappea-ance OF the mansion in spite oi ITS out
,-5 hidaousoess Will be a source Of widespread
regret which no substitute however worthy. viii
10 shle 10 aIlsy. For Devonshire House has oeen
<e- near TWO hundred years the great centre OF
7a--aI and social life OF the British metropolis
and is associations Of altogether unriVaIed
caaraCter-
Incidentally I may mention IN reply TO an IL
,-.trv which lately been addressed 10 me, that
rac-safly the world-far1ed thoroushfare on which
T1erorshire House is situated derives its peculiar
name from the fact that in the reign Of King
charles II II his abit, when taking his morn
~~r xsTk in Green Park to buy some cakes or
-r-rovers from an old woman, with whom he ex-
-ba~rea many = jest and who kept her
-o-r On spot opposite TIE present site Of APsley
House These cakes ~ere called '-piccadils, from
--ef- being shaped like the pjccadills small stiff
collars affected by the eallants of the time Of
lanes : end Il Is in this way that the fash
enable artery Of Western London received its odd
VITA regard 70 Devonshre House. IT occupies
re site ~ Berkeley House. which built in 1855
A- Hugh May for John. Lord Berkeley OF Stratton.
m greatly distinguished himself when fighting for
king Charles Srrattou. OF the smaller bat
-1as of the civil war between the Cavaliers and
=----dhea6s When Princess Anne (afterWsrd
.rao5- Queen Anne) driven by the Persecu-
r.o- of ne- sister Queen Mary. conso-t of William
II from the Palace OF Whitehall. she took up her
zho1e with her husband. Prince George OF Den
marx At Berkeley House. the guest Of the
widowed Lady Berkeley. and they remained there
uncl Queen Mays DEATH when King William
placed St Janes's Palace AZ her disposal The
quarrel between the Two royal sisters was due 10
Queen Nary's aversion 70 Sarah Jennings, then
LADY laf,e-war6 Duchess % Marlborough, and TO
refusal Of Princess Anne to break Of her close
and intimate friendship with the great Sarah
Cr lady Berkeleys death the house and grounds
were bought from her executors by William. first
-1za II Devonshire u 1873 i totally de-
s-roved by great fire, which was Of such sensa-
~o-sI character that The then Earl OF Albe1narle
ordered cut the troops 70 surround the scene Of the
-orfaEra-lon by Gordon Of soldiers TO prevent the
-e- of any Of the treasures rescued from the burn
s-E r-i5iag while the then Prince OF Wales took
IN sr-~e pa~- Il endeavcring 70 check Ibe flames.
ard even sustained injuries through burns in
5ol-=- Before tie ruins were cooled the third
II -= II L}e-o1srI-e. then the owner OF the prop
r--- had 5-rr1st7d The vel known architect Flent
7-1 re -esgu and ne construction OF the present
- =-rz known as Devorsbire House
10 sooner was i completed than il became the
--zdeuz--ers of al that was pest in English so
r-- and within its walls the famous Goorgiana-
T.r-ress os DevC1snI-e wife Of the fifth duke
--z-a5 4o- thirty wears as an undisputed queen OF
--S-5o- surrounded hz- a court o. infinitely greater
lancy -saa rss- q George III Indeed. ever
since then Devoushi7e House has been one Of the
-=--o-o--tau Headquarters OF The British arstoc-
-a~r The allied sovereiEns when they visited Lon
don after the downfall Of the first Napoleon. were
e--e-ra1red there II state by the Duke Of Devon
s-.re 81 the Gay Il fact few foreign soveregns
or ROYALTIES II note have passed through London
-.---E -Ee 1as- hundred years without enjoying
e--r- 7-s~.a ll.z a. Dayous.lire House while the
present King and Queen have been there frequently
-a r-io- md subsequent TO their accession 10 the
ta-cae
rr1asF,v hv lofty and dingv brick walls and huge
,-d=n gates Bur these latter were replaced about
p Quarter o. century age by beautiful old wrought
-~-r Es-=s. opening through Z gateway designed oY
7-fro Jones These gates originally made for
Lord F5ea-h+eld passed from him 70 SiT Hans
.-e-e -ta original founder Of TIE British Museum
--z presented I- him the Earl Of Burlington OF
lie 6s- and thus came into the possession Of the
Dukes OF DevonshIre- The poet Pope makes the
a--- -ei its Own history in the following lines
-zz e-arsh. :-on7. Caelsea lsst wear.
-- Ieaes pu- together.
nzton brought ne Eith-r
r-.ndfather oc the new Duke Of Devonsai-e
- Ez-5 ~ Burlington before he succeeded to the
.....-Ear- on The death OF his cousin.
-----~-7- he main entrance 70 Devonshire House
as trough great external staircase which gave
-.r..r z snaciols inner hall Oh the first hcof. Inc
l7r
Ia =--4z= converted the great hall into "Aat =
"a r.-r..r as ne Great Saloon. and made the en-
--a-ce On the ground floor. through q pilared hall
--.r. = -a-he- TOO low for such q mansion But
-- rrers I'D on 20 q grand circular marble STAIR
-sr win ez1uisitely carved aIabasJer bausJrades
rez.-v -op rail of which Is Of solid rock crystal
--f reas placed there by B-anah, the Wei known
inventor - --o safety lock Among the things tat
z---- f-e eve vhfle ascending the staircase IS the
--- - q chair used ly Augustus Cesar, the hrst
Emperor q Rome
- would take columns 20 describe al the treas
.-- Contained n The Grand Saloon; in tho boudoir
az -.s 5-fcre=s entirely hung with portraits by
rr-a-~ and Re-nbrandt and looking out on 70
.,-ar Park IN -h@ green drawing room, the walls
-r ----- are covered with green silk brocade, the
furniture. harg.lCs and carpet corresponding IN
-~.-- and containing priceless collection ot old
----.--r--z- II the stuart period. vel Tin
-r-e--oe famous picture % Samson and Delilan
-r- blue drawing room. al upholstered in pink,
s-= -sll- adorned hy Narill0s Moses In the Bul-
-.--zs-. the great dining room. with its superb
r--5-les. the large ballroom with its walls COW
e--5 7vIth gold b-ocade, is magnificent crystal
g-a7sz-z=-s its RuDeus's Holy Family" Yer
C-4-ez s.CrTering of the Magi. and the late dukes
t-s- and vvo-zroorn. the fireplace Of which
T. -e~-a picture a. ''Susannah and the Elders
T-a- in re other apartments there are famous
Eu-1I-z Franz Has and more Eancykes the
r-.--z~--z PORTRAITS of the famous Duchess Of
ra---s--re by Joshua Reynolds the superb
e lzuis iazuI ana of u1aiachire. presents
f-.r7 E--pe-ors and Eupresses Of Russia the
EereS vases and cabinets, gifts from French mon
s~r-e and goue-rTnen-- And then Il must be
--z-~rz-as -r-sr these constitute only fraction OF
tne treasures Of this kind which form the heredi-
ar possessions Of the Dukes Of DeTonshire: since
C..arsw1--E. Bolton Abbey, and the other half
C1z=a great country seats and palatial residences
os f.e head of the Cavendish family are equally
coadea from cellar TO gaTret with articles Of ART