Henceforth ’tis done — Fortune and I are friends;

And I must live, for Buckingham commends.

POPE.

The spacious¹ mansion² of the Duke of Buckingham, with the demesne³ belonging to it, originally bore the name of York House and occupied a large portion of the ground adjacent to the Savoy.

This had been laid out by the munificence⁴ of his father, the favourite of Charles the First, in a most splendid manner, so as almost to rival Whitehall itself. But during the increasing rage for building new streets, and the creating of almost an additional town, in order to connect London and Westminster, this ground had become of very great value; and the second Duke of Buckingham, who was at once fond of scheming, and needy⁵ of money, had agreed to a plan laid before him by some adventurous⁶ architect, for converting the extensive grounds around his palace into those streets, lanes, and courts, which still perpetuate⁷ his name and titles; though those who live in Buckingham Street, Duke Street, Villiers Street, or in Of-alley (for even that connecting particle is locally commemorated), probably think seldom of the memory of the witty⁸, eccentric, and licentious⁹ George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, whose titles are preserved in the names of their residence and its neighbourhood.

This building-plan the Duke had entered upon with all the eagerness which he usually attached to novelty. His gardens were destroyed — his pavilions levelled — his splendid stables demolished¹⁰ — the whole pomp of his

分享到：