DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0451
Letter XXXII.
ORWELL PARK.
439
mous unbroken mass. As this magnificent Roman relic ran every
risk of gradual demolition, my friend Sir John Boileau has pur-
chased the ground on which it stands, in order to preserve it, by
which he has entitled himself to the gratitude of all lovers of
Roman antiquities.
Numerous as were the objects of art which I saw in this county,
there are yet four seats besides Blickling, containing pictures,
which I was obliged to leave unvisited :—
Melton Constable, seat of Lord Hastings, with Vandyck por-
traits.
Houghton Hall, near Fakenham, seat of the Marquis of Chol-
mondeley.
Raynham Hall, seat of Lord Charles Townshend, containing
Salvator Rosa's celebrated Belisarius, and a fine village festival
by Teniers ; and
Langley Park, seat of Sir Thomas Beauchamp Proctor, Bart.,
with a collection of pictures.
On leaving Norfolk by the railway, a county now endeai'ed to
me by the kindness of many amiable and accomplished friends, I
proceeded to Ipswich, capital of the neighbouring county of Suf-
folk, where I visited Orwell Park, about five miles off, the seat of
Mr. Tomline. The exterior of the house is of no decided cha-
racter, but it contains fine apartments, while the well-kept gardens,
in which I was particularly struck by an evergreen oak of the greatest
age and beauty, command fine marine views animated with large
vessels. In the entrance hall are the busts of Lord Bacon and
Sir Walter Scott; in one of the rooms those of Pitt, Fox, the
Duke of Wellington, and Lord Byron, all of marble. A very
pretty statue of Ruth, by Rinaldi, also struck me. Mr. Tomline,
who had received me with the greatest kindness in his London
house, where he had allowed me the undisturbed inspection of two
of the chief pictures of his collection, now completed my obliga-
tions to him by sending me a note for his steward, which
not only admitted me to all the pictures, and to the view of the
gardens, but even procured me an excellent lunch, the refresh-
ment of which was exceedingly welcome. Mr. Tomline, who, like
the Marquis of Flertford and Mr. Holford, collects with an almost
royal liberality, has taken the motto " Few, but good," for his
guide. The number of pictures which form the collection, con-
sisting of the Italian, Spanish, Netherlandish, and German schools,
ORWELL PARK.
439
mous unbroken mass. As this magnificent Roman relic ran every
risk of gradual demolition, my friend Sir John Boileau has pur-
chased the ground on which it stands, in order to preserve it, by
which he has entitled himself to the gratitude of all lovers of
Roman antiquities.
Numerous as were the objects of art which I saw in this county,
there are yet four seats besides Blickling, containing pictures,
which I was obliged to leave unvisited :—
Melton Constable, seat of Lord Hastings, with Vandyck por-
traits.
Houghton Hall, near Fakenham, seat of the Marquis of Chol-
mondeley.
Raynham Hall, seat of Lord Charles Townshend, containing
Salvator Rosa's celebrated Belisarius, and a fine village festival
by Teniers ; and
Langley Park, seat of Sir Thomas Beauchamp Proctor, Bart.,
with a collection of pictures.
On leaving Norfolk by the railway, a county now endeai'ed to
me by the kindness of many amiable and accomplished friends, I
proceeded to Ipswich, capital of the neighbouring county of Suf-
folk, where I visited Orwell Park, about five miles off, the seat of
Mr. Tomline. The exterior of the house is of no decided cha-
racter, but it contains fine apartments, while the well-kept gardens,
in which I was particularly struck by an evergreen oak of the greatest
age and beauty, command fine marine views animated with large
vessels. In the entrance hall are the busts of Lord Bacon and
Sir Walter Scott; in one of the rooms those of Pitt, Fox, the
Duke of Wellington, and Lord Byron, all of marble. A very
pretty statue of Ruth, by Rinaldi, also struck me. Mr. Tomline,
who had received me with the greatest kindness in his London
house, where he had allowed me the undisturbed inspection of two
of the chief pictures of his collection, now completed my obliga-
tions to him by sending me a note for his steward, which
not only admitted me to all the pictures, and to the view of the
gardens, but even procured me an excellent lunch, the refresh-
ment of which was exceedingly welcome. Mr. Tomline, who, like
the Marquis of Flertford and Mr. Holford, collects with an almost
royal liberality, has taken the motto " Few, but good," for his
guide. The number of pictures which form the collection, con-
sisting of the Italian, Spanish, Netherlandish, and German schools,