Letter CLII

Summary

From the same.

Describing Greenwich Park, and the Passage to it by Water.

Honoured Madam,

Last Tuesday, being Easter Tuesday, I went with my Uncle, Aunt and Cousins, down the River, on what they call a Party of Pleasure; but with Design principally to see Greenwich Park and Hospital.

We took Water at the Tower, which I described in my first Letter: I was pretty much afraid of Danger from Anchors, Cables, and suchlike, as we passed by the great Numbers of Ships, that lay in our Way at first setting out. But afterwards the River looked very pleasant, and the Number of Boats all rowing with the Tide, made the River look very agreeably.

After sailing not many Miles, we come within Sight of the Dockyard at Deptford, where several large Ships upon the Stocks afforded a fine Prospect; as the naval Strength of England is both its Glory and its Defence.

Next to Deptford, I was greatly pleased with the Prospect of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, for Seamen grown old in the Service of their Country. When we landed, we went into this fine Building; and in the Inside, every thing, in my Judgment, was perfectly agreeable to the Magnificence of the Outside; allowing the one to be designed to do Honour to the Nation, the other to support a Number of necessitous People, who ought to be the publick Care. The great Hall, and the Paintings in it, are admirable; but I know not whether they would not better suit a Palace, than an Hospital; and indeed this may be said of the whole Building.

From thence we went into the Park;where I beheld divers odd Scenes of Holiday-folks. Here appeared a rakish young Fellow, with two or three Women who look’d like Servant-maids; the Hero delighted, the Nymphs smiling round him—There a careful-looking Father with his Children on each Side; Trains of admiring Lovers, ready-pair’d, followed one another in thronging Crouds at the Gate; a Sea-Officer, with a Lady not overburdened with Modesty in her Behaviour: A Croud of City Apprentices, some with, some without their Lasses: Half a dozen Beaux ogling all they met: And several seemingly disconsolate Virgins walking alone.