in Fraser's Magazine. They were subsequently collected, after the author's death, by J. F. Dillon Croker, F.S.A., etc., who has prefaced the volume by a memoir of his father, and are illustrated by the late Mr. Fairholt. They constitute a literary and antiquarian itinerary of the route between the extremities of which the author had for so many years travelled backwards and forwards like a pendulum,—to take a simile from the symbolical initial letter at the beginning of the book,— and contain descriptions of many localities changed or forgotten, and individual celebrities now long since passed away.
Croker married Marianne, daughter of Francis Nicholson, the eminent landscape aquarellist, who died March 6th, 1844, aged 91 years. This lady survived her husband by two months only, dying October 6th, 1854. All three slumber in the same grave.
Between the years 1837 and 1846, Croker inhabited a charming cottage at Fulham, which bore, as a legend on the gate-piers informed the passers-by, the romantic appellation of " Rosamond's Bower." Of this residence, with its garden, and its store of curiosities, pictures and books, a privately printed description, of which but a very few copies were distributed to his friends, was prepared by its inmate—
"Parva domus! nemorosa quies"
Here Croker was visited by Lucy Aikin, daughter of the once famous Dr. Aikin, whom Lamb, or some wicked wag, styled "an aching void,"—and a host of other celebrities. Here, when Major-General Sir Charles O'Donnell was seated at lunch, Moore himself dropped in, and partook of the repast. This event was commemorated by the proud and happy host by an Inscription on the back of the chair which the poet had occupied, which produced a careless little epigram from "Father Prout":—
"This is to tell o' days
When on this Cathedia,
He of the 'Melodies'
Solemnly sat, agrah!"
Among the curiosities collected by Croker was what he considered to be the betrothal ring of Shakespeare, the "Gimmal Ring," which had been placed by the bard's own hand upon the finger of his betrothed bride, Anne Hathaway. This relic is fully described in Mr. Fairholt's little book, The Home of Shakespeare; and also in a letter from Croker himself to Mrs. Balmanno, preserved in that lady's interesting volume. Pen and Pencil (New York, 1858, small 4to), p. 163, where an engraving of the ring is given. At the sale of Croker's effects in December, 1854, this ring became the property of Mr. James Orchard Halliwell, who already possessed a rival ring, of, it is said, inferior workmanship, of which a representation is given in his Life of Shakespeare.
I am reminded, as I write, that the last letter written by Croker (July 21, 1854), was written to his friend Balmanno, and may be read in the book I have mentioned (p. 170). In it he speaks of an approaching "powerful operation," and hints that it may be the last letter he may have it in his power to write to any one.
The literary pilgrim will seek in vain for "Rosamond's Bower," — unless, indeed, he is aware of the fact that the successor to Croker in its tenancy,—Mr. Thomas James Bell,—altered the fantastic appellation to "Audley Cottage."
