Aedes Hartwellianae: Volume 2 Addenda to the Aedes Hartwellianae Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19th Century Series

The astronomer John Lee (1783?66) inherited Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire in 1827. During its colourful history, the mansion had notably been occupied between 1809 and 1814 by the exiled court of Louis XVIII. Lee turned the house into something of a museum for his antiquarian and scientific interests, constructing an observatory to the design of the his close friend William Henry Smyth (1788?1865), after whom Lee named a lunar sea. A naval officer, Smyth had helped to found the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. His Sidereal Chromatics (1864) and The Sailor's Word-Book (1867) are also reissued in this series. This charming history and description of Hartwell, its grounds, buildings and contents, appeared in two volumes between 1851 and 1864, illuminating especially the practice of contemporary astronomy. Illustrated throughout, the second volume (1864) serves as a supplement, recording Smyth's researches in the years since the first volume went to press.

1. Additional remarks in continuation of the first chapter of the Aedes Hartwellianae: introductory matter, the chronographical nomenclature, archaeological collectanea, Hartwell parish, Hartwell rectory and park, the local schools, and reflections on reformatories; 2.The geology, climature, and husbandry around Hartwell, geological notice of the Hartwell area, the weather of Hartwell and its monthly phenomena, on the husbandry around Hartwell, a defence of birds, past and present farm prices; 3. Intersocial and residentiary notices, the general sodality of Hartwell at the Conquest, the Hampdens, the Lees of Quarendon, Sir George Lee, Prince Frederick and the Princess of Wales, the Lees of Colworth, &c.; 4. Another visit to the Hartwell museum, a fragment of sculpture, probably by Phidias, Greek inscription on gold, analogies of Egypt and Mexico, certain Egyptian relics, findings in North Africa; 5. Half-a-dozen sketches in the vicinity of Hartwell, concerning cold harbours, on the pursuit of archaeology, and on rubbings, on certain relics found near Aylesbury, on a 'double-faced' brass in stone church, a word more on the 'double-faced' brass, the sieges of boarstall, with relics of Oliver Cromwell still in existence; Appendix. Admiral Smyth's published and privately-printed works in Dr Lee's possession, with notes and remarks in illustration; Alphabetical list of the appendix; Index.