ALBURY 67 



on the Terrace and meant as in the latter case to 

 contain busts or statues thus again showing the 

 Italian feeling which entered so much into Garden 

 design at this time and was evidently particularly 

 admired by Evelyn, who had seen it at its finest in 

 the lovely Italian Gardens he visited whilst travel- 

 ling in Italy and which he mentions so often in his 

 Diary. 



That Evelyn thought Albury Park possessed 

 great beauties and possibilities is clearly shown by 

 the fact that he wished to buy the property. In a 

 letter to Edward Thurland, one of the trustees, he 

 writes of " his singular inclination for Albury in 

 case (as I am confident it will) that seat be exposed 

 to sale. ... I suppose the place will invite many 

 candidates, but my money is good." 



Whether he changed his mind or the trustees 

 changed theirs is not forthcoming, as Albury did 

 not pass out of the Duke of Norfolk's hands till 

 much later, and then this "darling villa," as Evelyn 

 calls it, was bought by Mr. Henage Finch, the 

 second son of the Earl of Nottingham, whose 

 nickname was "silver tongue," because of his 

 marvellous eloquence. Charles II. made him 

 Solicitor-General, and he took a celebrated part 

 in the defence of the seven Bishops, though his 

 impetuosity almost proved disastrous. Queen Anne 

 honoured him further and George I. created him 

 Earl of Aylesford ; and it is in connection with 



