[88] Mr. G. W. Potter reminds me that a very interesting discussion and much correspondence has recently (May, 1899) taken place as to the house inhabited by Dr. Johnson, the result being that Park’s account is believed to be quite correct, viz., that it was the last house south in Frognal. Park’s father had lived for years in Hampstead, and at the same time as Dr. Johnson; he must, therefore, have given his son accurate information on the point. The house in question is now called Priory Lodge, and the difficulty arose from its being a large house with a very large garden and stabling. ‘I was enabled,’ continues my correspondent, ‘to point out that the large garden and stables were taken from Frognal Hall only some thirty-five years since, and that at the same time large additions were made to the house itself. A Mr. Watson, whose father I well remember, saw my letter in the _Hampstead Express_, and corroborated it, saying that his father, who had lived in it—_i.e._, Priory Lodge—some fifty years ago, had also enlarged it. An inspection of the house shows that it has grown from a very moderate-sized house to a much larger building.’ [89] Howitt. [90] In 1868 Frognal House was used as the Sailors’ Daughters Orphan School, and continued for some twelve years to be so used, till the house on Green Hill was ready for their occupation. [91] The original house was known as North Court, and a public well which existed on Branch Hill, Park tells us, was known as North Hole. [92] Lord Burlington was the friend of Handel, who lived in his house for three years. ‘He used to drive down to the Foundling Hospital with Gay in his coach-and-four, to hear Leveridge sing there—“Leveridge, with his voice of thunder.”’ Lord Burlington patronized music, literature, painting, and architecture. [93] Exactly opposite Montagu House is the modern North London Consumption Hospital, on Mount Vernon. [94] Park, ‘History of Hampstead.’ [95] The first charity school was established in St. Margaret’s, Westminster, 1688. [96] Henry James, _Harper’s Magazine_, September, 1897. [97] At one period Miss Jane Porter occupied Grove House. [98] Constable painted it, and subsequently exhibited his picture, ‘A Romantic House, Hampstead.’ [99] Hone, of the ‘Table-Book,’ has given an account of Thompson. [100] It was said that Soho Square and many streets in its neighbourhood belonged to him. [101] A Jacobean porch said to have belonged to an old Shropshire manor-house. [102] I believe Thompson did bequeath to the Queen a beautiful bedstead of ivory or some costly material.—C. A. Ward. [103] _Vide_ Howitt’s ‘Northern Heights.’ [104] T. Norton Longman, who died at Hampstead, February 5, 1797, aged sixty-six, and was buried at Barnet. Nichols gives an account of him in ‘Literary Anecdotes,’ vi. 439. _Vide_ Park. [105] The sketch referred to is now in the collection of Landseer’s early drawings in the South Kensington Museum. It is said to be wonderfully lifelike.