123 



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studies, for upon uack principles and the laws of Optics, be 

 demonstrates the advantage of receiving rays of Heat and 

 Light at a right angle. 



GEORGE LONDON died about Christmas 1717. Switzer 

 glosses over his birth and education — Tliat industry and strong 

 talent which afterwards obtained for him the patronage of the 

 nobility, and others in after life, were early discerned by his 

 master Mr. Rose, who took particular pains in instructing him 

 and bringing him into notice. After being with Mr. Rose four 

 or live years, Switzer was informed, that, that gentleman sent 

 him into France fur improvement. Soon after his return he 

 entered the service of Bishop Compton — A few years after- 

 wards he entered into the speculation of Brompton Park 

 Nursery, before mentioned. — This was in 1681, and his part- 

 ners were IVZessrs. Cook, Lucre, and Field. In 1694, the two 

 last named partners having died, and the first retired, Mr. 

 London remained sole proprietor. lie took Mr. Henry Wise, 

 into the concern. At that time the Garden covered mure than 

 one hundred Acres of ground. Rowack, who wrote an ac- 

 count of Kensington in 1705, says that some affirmed that if 

 the Stock of these grounds was valued at one penny pec 

 plant, the amount would exceed j^40,000.* London at the 

 time of entering into this speculation was gardener to Bishop 

 Compton, as Mr. Cook was to the Earl of Essex ; Mr. Lucre 

 held a similar situation under the Queen Dowager at Somerset 

 House ; and Mr. Field held a hke situation at Bedford House 

 in the Strand, belonging to the Duke of Bedford. Brompton 

 Nursery, says Evelyn, " was the greatest work of the kind ever 

 seen, or heard of, either in Books or Travels." Switzer agrees 

 in considering the stuck of the grounds as worth nearly 

 j£'40,000.t After the Revolution London was made superiii- 

 tendant of all the Royal G ardens, w ith a Salary of d^200, per 



• Loudon'* Encjclop. Gardening, p. 10o3. f Iccografthii, Rmticn, 

 i. p. 7S. 



