splendid paraphernalia of the Romish Church. He was attended, both to and from the chapel, by the band of gentlemen pensioners, his life-guards, several of the nobility, as well as by the Knights of the Garter, in the collars of their order. It was on this occasion, that the Duke of Norfolk, whose office it was to carry the sword of state, stopped short when he came to the door of the chapel, with the evident intention of proceeding no further. James was much disconcerted. 'My Lord," he said, your father would have gone further." "Your Majesty's father," replied the Duke, "would not have gone so far."

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We must not forget to mention that the last London residence of Charles James Fox was in Stable Yard, St. James's, and that here his remains were brought from the Duke of Devonshire's villa at Chiswick, where he died, previous to the ceremony of their interment in Westminster Abbey.*

When Peter the Great was in this country, he once observed to William the Third, that, were he King of England, he would convert Greenwich Hospital into a palace, and St. James's into an hospital. Notwithstanding, however, its discreditable appearance, St. James's Palace is said to be the most commodious for the purposes of a court, and regal parade, of any palace in Europe. It may be mentioned, that, on the 21st of June, 1809, a great fire broke out in the palace, which destroyed the whole of the east wing of the inner court-yard. * Annual Register for 1806.

VOL. I.

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ST. JAMES'S PARK.

ORIGINAL ENCLOSURE.-CHARLES GOING TO EXECUTION.-CROMWELL. MALL.-CHARLES THE SECOND.HOUSE. THE MALL.

-SKATING.-GAME OF PALL

QUEEN ANNE.

MARLBOROUGH

GARDENS.BUCKINGHAM HOUSE.

SPRING

ST. JAMES'S PARK was originally enclosed by Henry the Eighth, shortly after he purchased the hospital of St. James, and the fields attached to it. The wall, or rather paling, of the Park, formerly ran where the houses on the south side of Pall Mall now stand. Charles the Second removed it to its present boundary, and, under the direction of the celebrated French gardener, Le Notre, planted the avenues and disposed the trees as we now see them. The Bird-cage Walk was the favourite aviary of that monarch, and derives its name from the cages which were hung in the trees. Charles also formed the canal, and, in his reign, Duck Island took its name from being the breeding-place of the numerous waterfowl with which the park was stocked. The government of Duck Island was once enjoyed, with a small salary, by the celebrated St. Evremond. Pennant speaks of it as "the first and last government," but he is mistaken in the fact; it having previously been

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conferred by Charles the Second on Sir John Flock, a person of good family, and a companion of the King during his exile. Horace Walpole writes to Sir Horace Mann, on the 9th of February, 1751, My Lord Pomfret is made ranger of the Parks, and, by consequence, my lady is queen of the Duck Island." This little island, which stood at the west end of the canal, was destroyed when some alterations were made in the Park in 1770.

Another interesting feature of St. James's Park which disappeared at the same time, was Rosamond's Pond, situated opposite to James Street, Westminster, at the south-west corner of the Park. Its romantic appearance, the irregularity of the ground, the trees which overshadowed it, and the view of the venerable abbey, rendered it, we are told, a favourite resort of the contemplative; while its secluded and melancholy situation is said to have tempted a greater number of persons to commit suicide, especially unfortunate females, than any other place in London.

St. James's Park is replete with historical associations, and not the least interesting is its having been the scene where Charles the First passed on foot, on the morning of his execution, from his bedchamber in St. James's Palace to the scaffold at Whitehall. Colonel Hacker having knocked at his door, and informed him that it was time to depart, Charles took Bishop Juxon by the hand, and bidding his faithful attendant Herbert bring with him his silver clock, intimated to Hacker,

with a cheerful countenance, that he was ready to accompany him. As he passed through the palace garden into the Park, he inquired of Herbert the hour of the day, and afterwards bade him keep the clock for his sake. The procession was a remarkOn each side of the King was arranged

able one. a line of soldiers, and before him and behind him were a guard of halberdiers, their drums beating, and colours flying. On his right hand was Bishop left hand Colonel Tomlinson,

Juxon, and on his both bare-headed. There is a tradition that, during his walk, he pointed out a tree, not far from the entrance to Spring Gardens, (close to the spot which is now a well-known station for cows,) which he said had been planted by his brother Henry. He was subjected to more than one annoyance during his progress. One ruffianly fanatic officer, in particular, inquired of him, with insulting brutality, whether it were true that he had been cognizant of his father's murder. Another fanatic, a 66 mean citizen," as he is styled by Fuller, was perceived to walk close by his side, and keep his eyes constantly fixed on the King, with an expression of particular malignity. Charles merely turned away his face; and eventually the man was pushed away by the more feeling among the King's persecutors. The guards marching at a slow pace, the King desired them to proceed faster. "I go," he said, "to strive for a heavenly crown, with less solicitude than I have formerly encouraged my soldiers to fight for an earthly one." However, the noise of

the drums rendered conversation extremely dif ficult. On reaching the spot where the Horse Guards now stands, Charles ascended a staircase which then opened into the Park, and passing along the famous gallery which at that time ran across the street, was conducted to his usual bedchamber at Whitehall, where he continued till summoned by Hacker to the scaffold.

With reference to the passage of Charles the First through St. James's Park on the morning of his execution, we are enabled to lay before the reader the following interesting extract from a letter preserved in the British Museum, which has not hitherto appeared in print: "This day his Majesty died upon a scaffold at Whitehall. His children were with him last night: to the Duke of Gloucester he gave his George; to the lady [the Princess Elizabeth], his ring off his finger: he told them his subjects had many things to give their children, but that was all he had to give them. This day, about one o'clock, he came from St. James's in a long black cloak and grey stockings. The Palsgrave came through the Park with him. He was faint, and was forced to sit down and rest him in the Park. He went into Whitehall the usual way out of the Park; and so came out of the Banqueting House upon planks, made purposely, to the scaffold. He was not long there, and what he spoke was to the two Bishops, Dr. Juxon and Dr. Morton. To Dr. Juxon he gave his hat and cloak. He prayed with them; walked twice or