no DR. LETTSOM CHAP. 



with a lion's paw. . . . He had a heavy look, but when 

 he spoke, it was like lightning out of a dark cloud." A 

 letter to Boswell contains some plain speaking and advice 

 upon his friend's frailties. 



In course of time Lettsom built himself a country 

 villa at Camberwell, then a pretty village, four miles south 

 of the city. The spot was open, and commanded a wide 

 prospect on every hand. It included the spires of London, 

 a long stretch of the vale of the Thames, from its more 

 rural banks to " busy Deptford's vessel-crowded shore," 

 and some of the Essex and Hertfordshire hills beyond. 

 The eye lit 



On Hampstead's street-clad slopes so high, 

 Or Harrow's far conspicuous hill, 



and turning southward over Surrey uplands rested on the 

 primitive oak forest where Queen Elizabeth hunted, 

 portions of which at that time still clothed Honor Oak 

 Hill and the slopes of Sydenham. Here stood his villa, 

 called Grove Hill, in the midst of pleasure grounds, 

 orchards and paddocks. A botanical garden, well 

 garnished with labels, and an arbustum ; a reservoir, a 

 cold bath and a Cupid's fountain ; a temple of sibyls 

 and a Shakespeare walk and statue such were some of 

 its adornments. The sixty-four hives of his apiary were 

 each distinguished by the name of a nation. 



Here sheets of living verdure charm the eye ; 

 There glow rich tints that with the Tyrian vie. 

 Now the gay garden with its varied sweets 

 My raptured sense a blooming Eden greets : 

 Now from the turret's height my eager glance 

 I roll delighted o'er the vast expanse ; 

 Now range yon ample lawn's luxuriant swell, 

 Or pensive wander down yon shadowy dell ; 

 Or in the cool of eve's declining beam, 

 Seek the sweet cottage and its spacious stream ; 

 While soft around the genial zephyr blows, 

 And murmuring waters soothe me to repose. 1 



1 From a poem by Rev. T. Maurice (author of Indian Antiquities), in Grove 

 Hill, a Rural and Horticultural Sketch, with many illustrations, and Catalogues 

 of Fruit Trees, Plants and American Trees and Shrubs, 2nd ed. 4to, 1804, 

 John Scott of Amwell also apostrophised his friend and fellow-Quaker : 



