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There exists now.a.days no parallel the House of Commons as to this lively picture of the beau monde temptible in every point of view, and of a hundred years ago taking the a standing disgrace to English archi. air in St James's Park-the fashion- tecture.' It is lucky for the fame of able world has receded westward; the architect that this thing is beneath and, instead of promenading the Mall criticism-people shake their heads of St James's Park, now exhibits itself when they look at it, and turn away in carriages and on horseback within with silent contempt; the thing is so the magic circle of the ride, and disgustingly brutal, that to waste adown the long prospective of the words in abusing it, would be to once-celebrated Rotten Row.

abuse the very faculty of speech. St James's of late years has become And to think that the fellow who bourgeois-it is now emphatically the perpetrated this standing disgrace to park of the people.

English architecture died with his To King William and Queen Mary shoes off-who would be a petty larthe public is indebted for the privilege ceny rogue, when a fellow like Nash of entering this Park by Spring Gar- escapes with impunity ? In the first den gate, as well as to several consi- place, the thing is erected upon a dederable improvements in the enclosure clining site ; it appears to be ashamed itself. But we will for the present of itself, and seems to sneak down the suspend our historical enquiries, and, off-side of the inclination on which it as we are here, take a look at St stands, as it would drown itself in the James's Park as it is.

pond at the end of the Queen's gar. This seat, on the southern bank of den. In the second place, the thing, the canal, nearly midway between the although covering a great deal of eastern and western extremities of the ground, is contemptibly diminutive in Park, affords one of the best points of all its parts; and in the third place, view, embracing the whole extent of all these diminutive parts and parthe enclosure, from the parade at one cels of the great contemptible whole end to the esplanade at the other. are frittered into still more insignifi. How boldly and well the Horse. cant littleness, by the profusion of Guards fills up the view to our right! ill.judged and unmeaning ornament There it stands—a plain, honest, erect, plastered over it every where like downright military structure, on pa. gold leaf on gingerbread! A French rade, as straight and as stiff as one of architect in London, writing to his its own sentinels on duty. It is not, friend at Paris, gives an account of certainly, a handsome building, but it this concern, which would be suffihas the look of being adapted to the ciently ludicrous if it were not unforbusiness transacted within it; and if tunately much too true. The letter it does not please the eye, assuredly opens as follows: does not disgust it, like its ginger- “ My dear sair,- I shall now give bread friend on the opposite side. you an account of de Royal Palace, Behind the Horse-Guards we can just called here de Buck-and-ham Palace, see the towering dome of St Paul's- which is building for de English King northward, the light and elegant spire in de spirit of Jean Bull plum-pudding of St Martin's is visible over the Ad. and roast-beef taste, for which de miralty-and near it arises, in high English are so famous. It is great contrast, the mustard-pot of the Na- curiosity. In de first place, de pillars tional Gallery-the pepper-boxes not of de palace are made to represent being in this point of view visible. English vegitable, as de sparrowMore to the westward, we have Carl- grass, de leek and de onion; den de ton House Terrace, with the column entablatures or freizes are vary mosh erected to the memory of the late enriched with leg of mutton and de Duke of York—the dense foliage of pork, with vat dey call de garnish, all the trees-in the Mall shuts out the vary beautiful carved ; den, on de im. Palace of St James's, the residence of pediment of de front, stand colossal the Queen-Dowager, and the magni. figure of man-cook, with de large ficent mansion of the Duke of Suther- English toasting-fork in his hand, land, from our view.

ready to put into de pot a vary large The vista to our left is terminated plum-pudding behind him, which is by Buckingham Palace, which was vary fine pudding, not de colour of truly stigmatized by a Committee of black Christmas pudding, because de

architect say it would not look vell in was the afore-mentioned royal archisummair time--it is vary plain pude tect, Mistaire Hash, or Nash, of gin. ding. Then de small windows of de gerbread celebrity. The gardens are kitchen on each side of de impediment not badly designed, although the late at top story of de palace, have before capability, Brown, could have done them trophy of de kitchen, such as pot them vastly better—this Park being and de pan, and othare tings, which precisely the field for his wondrous look well at de distance, only de poker creative faculty. Passing in front of and de tong are too big. On de wing the so-called Triumphal Arch, which of de palace, called de gizzard wing seems intended to exhibit the dingy, (de othare wing was cut off), stand dark, discoloured palace in the rear to the domestique servant, in neat dress, the greatest disadvantage, we have a holding in de trays biscuit and tart view down the long, umbrageous vista and othare ting. The name of de of the Mall: and here let us repose architect is Mistaire Hash, de King's ourselves upon one of these seats--the architect, who, I was informed, was resting places of the destitute in Lonroasted vary much. De English don. Upon these seats the unemployed people seem vary much to like dis artisan, the dismissed clerk, and the palace for de King, and do laugh vary footman out of place, may be seen much. Dere is to be in de front of sleeping away the idle hours in forde palace vary large kitchen range, getfulness of their misfortunes. Here made of white marble, vich I was told the “swell cove out of luck,” whose would contain von hundred of goose seedy habiliments exclude him from at von time. De palace, ven com- the penetralia of the enclosure, lounges plete, will be called after von famous languidly, cocking his worn-out gosEnglish dish, de Toad in de Hole!” samer on one side his head with

When will our English architects a jaunty air, and affectedly tapping learn that the use of ornament is to his vamped-up boot with a pinchbeckbreak the uniformity of broad effects, headed cane ; here, supernumerary and to relieve the cold dignity of penny-a-liners take the air, until Progrand conception ? How many mil- vidence sends, of his goodness, some lions more must be sunk irrevocably in more substantial beverage ; here, disgingerbread palaces, before they will appointed magazine-writers retire to be taught, that although grandeur of read again their rejected article, and architectural effect can subsist without to curse the stupid editor who would ornament, ornament can never be ad- not see its merit; here, Steele conmissible where there is not grandeur trived to extract the matter of many a of architectural effect; that things future Tatler, from the contemplation diminutive in outline must be plainly of his fellows in misfortune ; and here, filled up in the details ; and that the too, poor amiable Goldsmith, when five orders of architecture, carved on without a dinner or the means of

proa cherry-stone, are seen to small ad- curing one, used to take a turn, and vantage ?

“ mend his appetite by a walk in the Let us, however, leave this disa- Park.' greeable topic, and pursue our ramble That poor young fellow in the fusthrough the Park.

tian shooting-jacket and leggings, The canal, you will observe, al. asleep on the further extremity of our though somewhat diversified in out- bench, is a countryman who came to line, still retains, in shape, the memory

London for work and cannot get it. of what it was, and is little more at His money is done, and it is more present than a canal ornamented in than probable he has not tasted food some degree. From the esplanade to-day : to-morrow he will go over infacing the palace, looking down the to Westminster and enlist for a soldier. whole length of the canal, is one of You see a poor girl on the opposite the best points of view in this Park, bench-one of that class as truly as embracing the Horse Guards, the pathetically called unfortunate-she State Paper Office, Lady Dover’s is, you observe, in tatters, and the paint house. Behind these, the Banqueting- has been washed off her cheeks with House is partly visible; from hence, tears.

She is an unfortunate among also, we have a favourable view of the unfortunates. Where is her profesgrounds, which are not unpleasingly sional swagger now :-where her in. laid out, considering that the artist viting leer and flippant toss of the

you come this

head ?—where the tawdry finery pur- are informed by the accurate Mr Penchased with the wages of her shame ? nant, in his Survey of London, that The roseate hue of health has long " Duck Island was erected, in the time faded from her cheek, and the expres- of King Charles II., into a govern. sion of that once happy face is now ment, and had a salary annexed to the the expression of rooted and inextri- office in favour of M. ST EVREMOND, cable sorrow. Perhaps her thoughts who was the first, and perhaps the have turned to her country friends and last governor.” her rural home-to that home, her Only think of a memorial on behalf desertion of which, it may be, has of the widgeon addressed to his Exbrought the grey hairs of her parents cellency M. St EvREMOND, Lordwith sorrow to the grave--she is hun lieutenant General and General Go. gry, too; for I am long enough ac- vernor of Duck Island and its depenquainted with this place to distinguish dencies : or a paragraph in the London the physiognomy ofhunger. What does Mercury, to the effect that “ his grashe say?-half a penny roll has been cious Majesty Charles II., attended her food since this time yesterday! by the Right Honourable the Earl of

Gracious eternal God! could the Rochester, and Mr Killigrew the seducers of female innocence come joker, was graciously pleased to visit hither, and behold their triumph in a Duck Island, where his Majesty was spectacle like this! would they not received by his Excellency the Goverhide their guilty and guilt-creating nor with the customary honours, the heads from the lightning, and hear, in swans being drawn up in review order every thunder-peal, the judgment of for the inspection of his Majesty, and an avenging God?

the ducks, teal, and widgeon firing a Humane and gentle reader, when royal salute!"

way, let the poor unfor- We delight in ducks. There is one tunate have a shilling. The air will little fellow in particular - black and do you good, the exercise will do you all black, with an orange eye, and a good, and the charity will do you crest like that of the peewit growing good. You will not believe me, dine out of his occiput--who is perfectly

, less heartily for having contributed a irresistible. And that poor, ragged, mite to the poor victim of profligacy, attenuated old lady, with her large who, without your timely assistance, small family of thirteen downy duckhad not dined at all.

lings—why, that poor family would eat We are now on the parade : but a quartern loaf to their own cheek, and there is nothing here save a parcel of never be a whit the fuller. Pray, lounging life-guardsmen, and a dozen Mrs Duck, do you happen to be aware or so of recruiting sergeants. The that there is now exhibiting in Pall hour of guard-mounting (ten o'clock Mall a steam young-duck manufacin the morning) is long past, and “all tory, where all you have to do, when the pride, pomp, and circumstance of you want poultry, is to drop an egg glorious war, has marched back into the engine, and after a few turns peacefully to its barracks on the other of the fly-wheel, out comes a delicious side of the Park. In the absence of duckling ready for the spit, and to any thing better to occupy our atten- save trouble, stuffed beforehand with tion, we will turn our backs upon the sage and onions ! parade, the great gun, and the greater We delight in ducks young ducks mortar, together with the lounging especially, if associated, as young ducks life-guardsmen and recruiting ser- should ever be, with the tenderest geants, and indulge ourselves with a marrow peas, and stuffed scientificallook at the ducks.

ly ;-but even while alive, your duck Who would have supposed that is a comical-looking rascal. There is Duck Island, over the way there, an expression in his half-closed, wicked where you see that desolate-looking little eye, particularly when he winks, heron perched upon one leg, was once that stamps him a rum fellow; if he a royal government, like the island be not a humorist, then is there no of Barataria, whereof his Excellency tittle of truth in physiognomy. Don Sancho Panza was whilome Fond as we are of ducks, however, governor and commander-in-chief?

we are sorry to see them here, where Nay, now, don't laugh, for the thing their presence operates to the exclusion is a fact, and very well attested. We of human beings from the Park. Wo

:

are in no very good humour when we Park appropriated to the exclusive observe the verdant-coated verderers use of the gentility-mongers. of the Office of Woods and Forests, cut- The gentility-mongers are already ting away with ratans at poor little in possession of Kensington Gardens nursery girls and their helpless and Hyde Park; surely these are sufcharges, who crowd round the gate officient for the pedestrian and equitative the inclosure ; and all, forsooth, lest wants of harm should arrive to the rum Duck Society's outlandish poultry! We tell

“ The twice two thousand for whom earth the rum Duck Society, in plain terms,

was made." that the exclusion of one individual And surely St James's Park may be from a breath of the fresh air, or from opened to every body, however human hour's repose on the green turf, is ble, whose dress and deportment do a greater public loss than if the necks not outrage public decency. We hope were twisted off their whole exotic the Commissioners of Woods and Forookery! What business have a par- rests will have pity upon decent poor cel of noblemen and gentlemen to con- people, and that there may be no vert a public place of recreation like official prejudice against them because this into an aquatic zoological gar- they are industrious, and the producers den, if, by so doing, the laws respect- of our national wealth and tax-created ing admission become more stringent, splendour. It does our heart good, and the public, or part and parcel on the first Sunday in spring, to see thereof, are excluded? Why do not the decent artisan, his respectable in. they, with their ducks and ducklings, dustrious wife, and two or three homely geese and goslings, betake themselves toddling little children, issue from the to the society of their brother naturals dusky alley in which they have toiled in the Regent's Park ?

the tedious winter through, to inhale We are sorry to observe, too, that a mouthful of the Almighty's untaxed there is much insolence displayed by air, and to refresh their brick-conthe green men who keep the gates, founded eyes with a bit of nature's towards decent poor people, who may unadulterated green. A Chancellor of be desirous of taking a mouthful of the Exchequer, to be sure, would rather fresh air within the inclosure.

see the whole family in a gin-shop, Do these fellows recollect that them for the sake of the revenue, and beselves and their masters, the grounds cause the budget would be all the beta they are appointed to protect, and the ter for it; but, the Lord be praised, green coats they wear, are bought, we are not a Chancellor of the Ex. fed, maintained, and paid for by the chequer ! taxation, direct and indirect, contri- Another turn up the Mall, and at buted from the sweat of the brow of the angle formed by the southern and that very poor fellow, among others, western sides of the enclosure of the this moment repulsed from the gate Duke of Sutherland-a piece of ground for no reason on earth that I can dis- large enough to spread her apron on, cover, save that, like myself, circum- as Sarah, Dutchess of Marlborough, stances incline him to a preference of said of it-we find an entrance into a four-and-ninepenny hat, or because, the enclosure of like myself, he may be disinclined to

The Green Park, wear goat-skin on his fingers.

We venture to hint to the Commis. Which we propose to circumambusioners of Woods and Forests, what it late, strolling leisurely up the eastern iş altogether unlikely persons of their acclivity, to the reservoir — thence class would ever discover by their own descending the shady, and, but for the natural capacity, that although a man racket of the neighbouring Piccadilly, may walk under a four-and-ninepenny retired walk down to where Rosamond's hat, he is not therefore necessarily a Pond was formerly situated, and where highwayman; or that, although he a number of umbrageous elms still enmay not have goat-skin on his fingers, circle the spot; thence, ascending does it follow that he intends to in- once again by the ranger's house, with sinuate his digits into the pockets of its tastefully laid out enclosure, we every body he may happen to meet? emerge on the far-famed Constitution We should be sorry to see St James's Hill, and pause awhile to look about us. This little park has its own pecu- terrupted succession of carriages en. liar beauties_lies well open to the tering the Park will permit us, we south, and possesses, in a very limited make our appearance on a Sunday afspace, an agreeable undulation of sur- ternoon in July - the height of the face; from hence, we see the “ Toad- fashionable season- -in in-the-Hole" to least disadvantage,

HYDE PARK. and have a fine view of the low-lying St James's Park; behind which rise,

“ Hyde Park,” says Lambert, “is in lofty majesty, the twin-towers of a royal demesne, at the west extremi. Westminster Abbey, giving dignity ty of the metropolis, extending beand elevation to the view. Over the tween the great western road on the Queen's Garden, of which we are per

south side, and the road to Oxford on mitted barely a glimpse, the Surrey the north to Kensington. It is part hills are dimly visible above the con

of the ancient manor of Hida, which glomerated accumulation of habita- belonged to the monastery of St Peter tions that make up the bulk of Pim. at Westminster, till, in the reign of lico.

King Henry VIII., it became the pro« On the north-west side of the perty of the crown. It was originQueen’spalace," says Lambert, “is the ally, much larger than it is at present, Green Park, which extends from St having been reduced since the survey James's Palace to Piccadilly; from the in 1662, when it contained 620 acres, latter of which it is separated in some

by enclosing Kensington Gardens, places by a wall, and by an iron rail. and by grants of land between Hyde ing in others. The ranger's lodge, at

Park Corner and Park Lane, for the top of the hill, fronting towards building on. According to a survey Piccadilly, with its grounds and pri- taken in 1790, the present extent is vate gardens, forms a very picturesque three hundred and ninety-four acres, object, and is seen to advantage from two roods, and thirty-eight perches. the ride on the scuth side of the Park “ The scenery of this Park is very towards Constitution Hill. This Park pleasing, and its natural beauties wiń contributes greatly towards the plea- be greatly heightened when the plansantness of the surrounding houses tations made in it lately have reached that are situated so as to command a maturity. The Serpentine River at view of it."

the west end is a fine sheet of water, On a sunny summer's afternoon, formed by Queen Caroline in the year the view from this spot is one of great 1730, by enclosing the head of the animation-the royal standard floats stream, which, taking its rise to the lazily over the marble arch of Buck- north-west of Bayswater, on the Uxingham Palace, in front of which hun. bridge Road, passes through Kensing, dreds upon hundreds of well-dressed ton Gardens and this Park, and falls persons of both sexes are congregated, into the Thames near Ranelagh. in patient expectation of her Majesty's

« On the north side of the Serpentine return from her usual ride. Myriads River, is a cluster of houses for the are every where reclining on the green keepers and deputy-rangers of the sward, while the privileged classes, Park, which, by being built on the having the entré of St James's Park, edge of a grove of tall oaks, forms a are careering in their carriages and pleasing and picturesque object in the on horseback towards the grand point landscape. The one nearest the river of social attraction—the magic circle is built of timber and plaster, and is of fashion in Hyde Park.

of considerable antiquity. The magnificent approach to Lon. known by the name of the Cake House don by Hyde Park Corner, is seen

in the beginning of the last century, from this place to the greatest advan- and probably much earlier. In the tage—the triumphal arch on this side garden belonging to this house is the -the noble entrance to Hyde Park building erected by the Home Secreon that, with the colossal statue of tary, as a receiving-house for such as Achilles seen through one of the · are unfortunately drowned in the arches-the long line of noble man- neighbouring river. sions in Piccadilly, terminated towards << At the north-west corner of this the Park by Apsley House. Crossing park is a very beautiful enclosed emithe road as soon as the almost unin. nence, called Buckden Hill, which,

a

It was