When London became more populous, and the buildings about Charing Cross daily increased, ‘twas found inconvenient to live in the apartments, which had been built by Lord Northampton; because they were greatly disturbed by the hurry and noise of passengers and coaches in the street. To avoid therefore that inconvenience, the aforesaid Earl of Northumberland compleated the square by building the fourth side; which being parallel and opposite to that next the street, is placed at a sufficient distance from the aforesaid disturbances, and almost enjoys all the advantages of retirement and a country seat. Inigo Jones appears to have been the architect employed for that purpose, and the front of the new side, which he built facing the garden, is very grand and stately, as the reader may see from the perspective view of it, annexed to this account. Perhaps it will please some of our readers to be informed, that Lord Northumberland received General Monk, and had a conference with him and several of the leading men in the nation in one of these apartments. At which meeting the King’s restoration was for the first time proposed in direct terms, as a measure absolutely necessary to the peace of the kingdom. In the year 1682, Charles Duke of Somerset married the Lady Elizabeth Percy, the daughter and heiress of Josceline Earl of Northumberland, and by that means became possessed of this house. Upon his death it descended to his son Algernon, by the aforesaid Lady, who succeeded to the title and a very large estate in 1748. His Grace immediately began to make alterations in some of the apartments, and to rebuild the front next the street; but, dying the year after, he did not live sufficient time to finish either. The house in that condition, descended to his son-in-law and daughter, the present Earl and Countess of Northumberland; and it is in a great measure owing to the improvements, made by them at a very great expence and in a very fine taste, that Northumberland House is become a building so complete and stately, as to be generally admired for its elegance and grandeur. The street was immediately made wider, and the front next to it compleated, as it appears in the print prefixed to this description. The four sides of the court were new faced with Portland stone, and finished in the Roman stile of architecture, so as to form as it were four stately fronts. Two new wings were also added, being above 100 feet in length, and extending from the garden front, towards the Thames. By means of these additions Northumberland House is more than twice as large as it was, when first built by Lord Northampton.