* FORD, RICHARD, descended from an ancient Sussex family, is the eldest eon of Sir Richard Ford, member of parliament in 1789 for East Grinstead, and chief police magistrate of London. Mr. Ford's mother, the representative of the Salweys of Shropshire, was the heiress of her father Benjamin Booth, an eminent patron of art, and especially of Richard Wilson, of whose paintings he possessed and left more than sixty. Mr. Ford was born in Sloane-street in 1796, was educated at Winchester, and having graduated at Trinity College, Oxford, was called to the bar in Lincoln's Inn, but did not practise. He travelled much on the continent, then just opened by the downfall of Napoleon I., and laid the foundation of his choice library and collec tion of drawings and engravings. In 1830 be went to Spain, where a long residence in the Alhambra, and a complete examination of the country, fixed his future studies. On his return he settled in Devon shire, and busied himself in laying out Moorish gardens, and iu contri buting regularly to the' Quarterly Review,' chiefly selecting for subjects those that bore on the manners, arts, and literature of the Peninsula. He also wrote the account of Velaequez in the 'Penny Cyclopredia: He finally embodied his Spanish experience in his Hand.Book for Travellers in Spain and Readers at Home, describing the Country, and Cities, the Natives and their Manners ; the Antiquities, Religion, Legends, Fine Arta, Literature, Sports, and Gastronomy; with Notices on Spanish History,' 2 vols.12mo. The pages being continuous through both volumes, the let Is named Part I. and the 2nd Part II. Mr. Ford's 'Hand-Book ' corresponds in fact with the above descriptive title-page, Its value is very great, not only to the tourist in Spain, but to all at home who seek information concerning that country, previa uely so ill.deecribed and consequently so imperfectly known. As a work of reference it is very valuable, not only for what is described or related, but for the numer ous authorities to which the reader is referred for further Information.
The plan throughout is excellent. Part I. is preceded by Preliminary Remarks,' consisting of such general information as is necessary for the tourist. Besides these remarks, each division and ancient province of the country is preceded by a copious introduction describing the general features. The traveller is then conducted by a series of 'routes,' or journeys, in various directions, in the course of which the district and the cities, towns, and sometimes villages, which it contains, aro care fully and fully described. The notices of works of architecture, of Spanish painters and paintings, of sculpture; carvings, and other works of art, are copious, generally trustworthy, and convey a large amount of information previously unknown in this country. It may be observed however, that the materials of the work, which must have been gathered piecemeal by extensive observation and laborious research, are sometimes put together somewhat confusedly, and are too much mixed up with the author's peculiar opinions, generally piquant enough in point of expression, but not always to be admitted as true. The public demand for a work treating on a country com paratively so little visited, having arisen from its comprehensive, ex haustive, and accurate character, a new edition, almost rewritten, was published in 1855.
Mr. Ford married Harriet, daughter of the late Lord Essex, and of this union three children remain. By his second wife Eliza, sister to Lord Cranstoun, one daughter remains. His third wife was Mary, sister to the late Sir 'William Molesworth. Mr. Ford's only brother, James, a prebendary of Exeter Cathedral, is the author of many and learned theological works.