13 OCTOBER 1917, Page 16

POPE'S VILLA.

[To THE Emma or me " Seeerme."1

Ste.—In an article in a recent issue of the Spectator on the author of The Fairchild Family a letter from Mrs. Sherwood, dated MO, is inserted, in which she describes a visit to Pope's Villa, which she said " looked like a Chinese tey." Pope's Villa, however laceording to Hewitt in his Visits to Remarkable Places, published in 1816), had then been pulled down for years, and the Chinese- looking structure with is tower like a pagoda was being built on its site, suitably enough by n wholesale tea-dealer. The original house, designed by Pope himself, as shown in Hewitt's hook, looks a large, hens/some, and very picturesque building. Pope describes it as in the Roman style, with columns, arcades, and porticoes. He was anxious that some of his friends should have a lease of the house and grounds to prevent them from being pulled to pieces offer his death; but nothing was done to save them. On visiting- the place sonic years ago, I made many inquiries as to Pope's Croons Grotto. Finally, a labouring mat promptly escorted me to a flourishing tavern bearing that name emblazoned orer its panfuls! Sie transit.—I am, Sir, Se., J. A. LEEPER. 12 Belmont A cerium, Donnybrook.