The large detached house on the western side (24) was built by John Sheepshanks, Esq., the distinguished patron of British Art, who here gathered together that choice and valuable collection which he has so nobly presented to the nation. The collection was removed early in 1857. Clytha House, the residence of Lord Edward Howard, was built for Mr. Jones, of Clytha, who here gathered a collection, chiefly of the early Italian schools, which was sold May 8th, 1852. [Picture: The Half-way House] Poor Eliot Warburton dated the second edition of his “Crescent and the Cross” from Rutland Gate; at 21 resides Mr. Edward Corbould, one of our finest delineators of female beauty; No. 22 was the residence of the Marchioness Wellesley, widow of the eminent statesman; Mr. Albert Way, the antiquary, Mr. Cotton and Mr. Prescott, both governors of the Bank of England, also number among the residents of Rutland Gate. Nearly opposite the western end of Rutland Gate, built in the roadway, stood an old inn, of very bad character at one time, called the “Halfway House.” An unusual array of stabling, troughs, pig-styes, &c., in a very unsightly manner, were built along the causeway; and over the door were several proofs of the faith in the old superstition that horse-shoes were a preventive to the visits of evil spirits. In one sense the charm was not efficacious, the house, from its lonely situation, being a resort for the highwayman and footpad. A curious notice of a trial is given in “Knight’s London,” where the thief-taker stated that if not met about this spot, they should not have caught the robber at all: a proof of their frequency, indeed! Jerry Abershaw is said to have been a visitor here, and when the house was pulled down a secret staircase from a small chamber in the western part of the house was found built in the wall, to lead gradually down into the stables. Many a villain, doubtless, thus escaped when the officers of justice were close upon him. The “Halfway House” was pulled down in 1846 at an expense of £3,050, in addition to the purchase of the fee. {180} ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.—A number of gentlemen of the medical profession, dissenting from the system of management carried on at Westminster Hospital, broke off their connection with it, and engaged Lanesborough House for a new institution, conducted under their own auspices. [Picture: Lanesborough House, afterwards St. George’s Hospital] Lanesborough House is described by Pennant as the _country house_ of the eccentric nobleman immortalised by Pope:— “Old politicians chew on wisdom past, And totter on in business to the last, As weak, as earnest, and as gravely out, As sober Lanesbro’ dancing with the gout.” He caused the following quaint distich to be inscribed on the house front in reference to its situation:— “It is my delight to be Both in town and country.”