Dr. John Thomas was born in 1696, and in 1733, being then Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, he was presented by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, to the united parishes of St. Benedict’s and St. Peter’s, Paul’s Wharf, London. In 1742 he became Canon Residentiary of St. Paul’s, and was sworn in one of his Majesty’s Chaplains in Ordinary. He was consecrated Bishop of Peterborough in 1747, and four years after was appointed Preceptor to the Prince of Wales. On the death of Bishop Hoadly he was presented to the see of Winchester. Dr. Thomas died at his episcopal palace, Cheyne Walk, in 1781, aged 85, having sustained throughout life the character of an exemplary prelate. [102]
The Hon. Brownlow North was born in 1741, was the younger son of the first Earl of Guildford, and brother to that Lord North who became twice Prime Minister of this country, once during the American war, and, secondly, in conjunction with Mr. Fox. Mr. North was first educated at Eton, and afterwards at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1770 he was promoted from a canonry at Christchurch, to the deanery of Canterbury. His elder brother being now Prime Minister he obtained the mitre of Lichfield and Coventry in 1771, at the early age of 30. In 1744 he was promoted to the see of Worcester, soon after which he was promoted to the rich see of Winchester. By his wife, formerly Miss Bannister, a lady previously well known in the fashionable world, he had a very numerous family, of whom both sons and sons-in-law were amply provided with valuable livings in the church. The bishop with his family went to Italy, and shortly after their return his lady died; his lordship died at his palace at Chelsea, after a long illness, accompanied with blindness, at the age of 79, July 12, 1820.
Bishop North was kind and charitable. The present writer gladly embraces this opportunity to testify to the truth of this statement. The bishop was walking in front of his palace, as was his frequent custom, when the writer, then quite a youth, fell accidentally with considerable force on the shore of the river, it being at the time “low water.” The bishop observing the accident, and perceiving the injury sustained, gave immediate instructions for his being carried home, compensating the men, and offering to pay any additional expenses. This may appear no more than an act of duty on the part of the bishop, but the writer cannot refrain from remembering it as a deed worthy of a “good Samaritan.”
Winchester Palace was of humble exterior, and displayed little of grandeur or of magnificence. It was two stories in height, and built with red bricks, without pilasters or any other architectural ornament; but, however plain in its exterior, it comprised every convenience and comfort that could be required for a large establishment. The building formed a quadrangle, and its principal entrance was in the south front, the ground floor of which comprised the great hall, kitchen, and chapel, the latter being of moderate dimensions, plainly but neatly fitted up. The great staircase at the eastern end of the hall led to three grand drawing rooms, which extended the whole length of the south front, and which, during the residence of Bishop North, were splendidly furnished. The walls were covered with beautiful paper, having gold borders, the ceilings were richly ornamented in stucco work, and the chimney-pieces composed of various coloured marbles, put up at considerable expense by the bishop after his return from Italy. The sleeping rooms, and other domestic chambers, occupied the whole north front, commanding fine views over the gardens adjoining. On the ground floor of this front were two libraries, and other apartments, bounded on the east by a great gallery, leading to the gardens.
Having been obliged in the year 1791, by the bad health of part of his family, to seek the climate of Italy, Bishop North collected there many curious articles of undoubted antiquity, of modern art, and of natural history, of which the principal were, Greek sepulchral vases, specimens of ancient marbles used in the Roman villas, mural paintings from Herculaneum, beautiful works in Mosaic, fine bronzes, splendid gems, curious china, &c. These were disposed with much taste in various apartments of the house, and some of them we will notice.
The great entrance hall was 40 ft. long, and 20 ft. wide; on a table stood an antique juvenile bust of Bacchus, which was much admired.
The grand staircase was of noble proportions, and was ornamented with a variety of objects of taste, disposed in glass cases, consisting of specimens of all the articles of domestic use among the ancient Romans. Here likewise stood a sepulchral Roman vase of white marble, ornamented with rams’ heads and elegant festoons of white flowers, with the following inscription:—
Semproniæ
Elegantiorib. choreis
Psallendoq; Præstantis
Suæ viridis in medio juventæ
E. Vivis
Per crudelia fata direptæ
Sodaliu. Sibi. Choors. Dilecta
D.O.M.
Moer. M.P.
In bloom of youth, midst sweet companions dwelling,
With elegant and tuneful arts excelling,
Fate did Sempronia suddenly remove:
Submissive to the wise behests of Heaven,
Those lov’d companions (full of hope) have given
To her this token of their loss and love.W. B.
Near the preceding was a plaster cast of Dr. Burney, author of the History of Music, taken from the original bust by Nollekens. The three drawing-rooms were of the same dimensions as the hall; the first was ornamented with several mosaic and fresco paintings from Herculaneum, and other works of ancient arts. In the next apartments were portraits of Bishop North, and his lady. Along the gallery which led to the garden were disposed, in glass cases, a rich variety of beautiful shells, with spars and ores, and a large collection of Italian marbles. The house was also adorned with many specimens of modern art, in modelling and painting, executed by Miss North, the Hon. Mr. Brownlow North, and by others of his lordship’s family.