Hampton Court. By Julia Cartwright (Mrs. Ady). (Wells dardner, Darton,
and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)—Mrs. Ady divides her book into two parts, which she names "The Past" and "The Present." The first chapter gives a very vivid picture of the founder, Cardinal Wolsey, and the splendour of his establishment,—none of his Royal successors quite equalled him in this respect; it was, indeed, ego et vex meta. After the great Cardinal comes Henry, who took possession of the place in 1529. Thither in 1533 came Anne Boleyn, and thither, not quite three years later, Jane Seymour, occupying the very rooms which had been prepared for her predecessor. All the six wives, indeed, save Katherine only, were inmates at one time. All the Tudors seemed to have liked the place ; the Stuarts were less frequent visitors. After the execu- tion of Charles the place was dismantled, the splendid furniture and many of the pictures being sold by auction. The freehold was actually sold, but Cromwell thought better of it and re- purchased it. William III. spent much time there ; Queen Anne preferred Windsor; George II. returned to it, and certainly makes the meanest figure of all its Royal tenants, as he was the last. Altogether. " The Past" is an excellent bit of work, and " The Present" is all that one could wish by way of a well-informed guide.
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