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Richmond Lodge is a house with a small park belonging to the Crown. It was usually granted by the Crown for a lease of years. The duke of Ormond was the last who had it. After his exile, it was given to the Prince of Wales by the King. The Prince and Princess usually passed their summer there. It is within a mile of Richmond.
Marble Hill is a house built by Mrs. Howard, then of the bedchamber, afterward countess of Suffolk, and groom of the stole to the Queen. It is on the Middlesex side, near Twickenham, where Mr. Pope lived, and about two miles from Richmond lodge. Mr. Pope was the contriver of the gardens, lord Herbert the architect, the dean of St. Patrick's chief butler and keeper of the Ice house. Upon King George's death, these two houses met, and had the following dialogue.
IN spite of Pope, in spite of Gay,
And all that he or they can say;
Sing on I must, and sing I will
Of Richmond Lodge and Marble Hill.
Last Friday night, as neighbours use,
This couple met to talk of news:
For, by old proverbs it appears,
That walls have tongues, and hedges ears.
MARBLE HILL.
Quoth Marble Hill, right well I ween,
Your mistress now is grown a queen:
- ↑ George I, who died after a short sickness by eating a melon, at Osnabrug, in his way to Hanover, June 11, 1727. — The poem was carried to court, and read to king George II and queen Caroline.
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