437 



In the reign of James the II. (1383 — 1680) Bishop Compton 

 had enriched the Gardens and Grpenhouses of Fidham Palace 

 to such an extent, tliat they were considered as containing a 

 greater variety of plants than any other in England. This he 

 was enabled to do by the happy coincidences of the increasing 

 commerce of the nation, the more frequent intercourse with 

 Holland, where vast Botanical collections from her colonies 

 had been made, and by a protracted residence of thirty eight 

 years at his See. To his taste for Gardening was united a 

 knowledge of Botany, a scientific attainment, observes Dr. 

 Pultney, not usual among the great of those days. He was a 

 great cncourager of Mr. London ; was one of the first to en- 

 courage the importation and raising of ornamental exoticks, 

 was very curious in collecting them, as well as in cultivating 

 Kitchen Garden Plants, especially Kidney Beans.* In his 

 Stoves and Gardens, he had above 1000 species of Exotic 

 Plants, a greater number than had been seen in any private 

 English collection. In his Gardens he cultivated a great many 

 plants that had been previously esteemed too tender to be 

 exposed unprotected to our climate. Every thing was done 

 under his own superintendance.f 



The above prelate, was one of the few men, arising generally 

 at wide intervals, who seem perfect characters. Whatever part 

 he had to perform, he always acted correctly; always was firm 

 in the performance of his duty uninfluenced by fear, unwarpt by 

 interest. Whoever scrutinizes the character of Bishop Henry 

 Corapton, cannot but come to the conclusion that he was one of 

 the best characters that History records. He was born in 1G32 

 and died in 1713. It was in company of this Prelate that Mr. 

 London, as previously mentioned, (p. 124.) attended Princess 

 Anne from London to Nottingham, to prevent her being carried 

 off to France by the Papists. 



• Switzar's Practical Kitchen Gardner, p. 237. f Swilzcr's Icno- 

 graphia Rustica,v. i. p. 70. 



T 



