At the corner of Sloane Street, and occupying the site of the first four houses in it, was the Swan, an ancient and well-known hostelrie—a place of great trade in former times. The sign still exists at No. 5, Sloane Street; and that of the “Clock House” is also the same. Indeed the latter was only the “tap” to the former, and the separation of interests has not occurred above forty years. The old house was pulled down about 1777 or 1778. Otway, in “The Soldier’s Fortune,” alludes to it:— _Sir Davy Dunce_.—“I have surely lost, and ne’er shall find her more. She promised me strictly to stay at home till I came back again; for aught I know, she may be up three pair of stairs in the Temple now; or it may be, taking the air, as far as Knightsbridge, with some smooth-faced rogue or another; ’tis a damned house that Swan,—that Swan at Knightsbridge is a confounded house.” Tom Brown also celebrates the Swan; and Dr. Wolcot (Peter Pindar) lays the scene of one of his coarse effusions there:— “At Knightsbridge, at a tavern called the Swan, Churchwardens, overseers, a jolly clan, Ordered a dinner for themselves— A very handsome dinner of the best, &c.” Beyond Hooper’s Court (so called from its owner) Mr. J. G. Huck, an artist, lived at No. 11; Ozias Humphry in 1792 and 1793 at No. 19 (Mitchell’s). At 21, Thomas Trotter, an ingenious engraver and draughtsman, especially in portraits. He died February 14th, 1803, and was buried in the Broadway ground, Westminster. At No. 7 resided Michael Underwood, M.D., one of the most distinguished members of the medical profession then living. He wrote several professional works, which, notwithstanding the advance of the science, yet maintain their reputation. He attended Caroline of Brunswick at the birth of the Princess Charlotte. Was a very benevolent man and the gratuitous adviser to the poor of the whole neighbourhood. He died here March 14th, 1820. RUTLAND HOUSE, a large red-brick mansion, occupied the site of the present Rutland Gate. John, Duke of Rutland, who bore the sceptre at the coronation of George III., and once filled the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, died here May 29th, 1779, aged 88. The celebrated Marquis of Granby, his son, also resided here. {177} The whole estate, consisting of above six acres, was offered for sale by Mr. Robins in 1833, but was bought in, and in a year or two after the house was pulled down, and the land let for building. It belongs to Furzon Manners, Esq., now, a descendant of the Viceroy. Rutland Gate was commenced in 1838, and completed as far as Clytha House in 1840. The remainder has been built since, the whole being completed in 1856.