Welsh Journals

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THE CHEPSTOW GLEANER. No. 7. fiat Lux—" Let there be Light." Price 3d. Rambles In the Metropolis. THE PARKS. The Parks, which form one of the most beautiful features of the metropolis, are situated chiefly in a series from the back of White¬ hall-street, in a westerly and nor¬ therly direction,and are thus blen¬ ded only with the fashionable end of the town. The most ancient is St. James's park, named after the palace situated close upon its nor¬ thern side. When Henry VIII. came to the throne it wasamarshy waste, and most probably formed part of the Thames. Henry first drained the waters into a canal, then enclosed many acres of land, took down an ancient hospital de¬ dicated to St. James, and built the palace on its site. Charlesll. improved the grounds by planting the avenues of lime-trees on the northern and southern sides of the park, and forming the Mall,which was a hollo wed,smooth, gravelled space, half a mile long, skirted with a wooden border for playing at balls. The southern avenue was appropriated to aviaries—hence the appellation of Birdcage-walk. The centre of the park was occu¬ pied by canals and ponds for a- quatic birds. William III. gave access to the public for their re¬ creation, the park being nearly a mile and a half in circumference, and the avenues forming delight¬ ful shady promenades. In the centre is a fine piece of water in¬ terspersed with islands, and en¬ riched with swans and various wa¬ ter fowl, with shrubs and flowers decorating its variegated borders. On either side are spacious lawns, dotted with lofty trees and flow- ering shrubs. Groups of persons here amuse themselves on the grass, on the walks, or seated on the chairs, enjoying their book or the scenery. There are seven or eight entrances to the park, the king's guard doing duty at each, day and night. Attheeastern sideof St.James's park is a large gravelled space, called the Parade, on which, about ten o'clock every morning, the body-guards required for the day are mustered, about 700 men.— The regimental band performs the first order of music in a style not to be surpassed. The guards may well be proud of their musicians. The ceremony of saluting the co¬ lours, and passing in review be¬ fore the commanding officer, fol¬ lows: after which the whole march off to martial music. This parade is before the park- front of the horse-guards, the trea¬ sury, and other edifices built of stone, lying at the western extre¬ mity of the park. South of the parade is placed a huge mortar, brought from Spain; and on the north, a piece of Turkish ordnance of great length, from Alexandria: both these tremendous war en¬ gines are mounted on carriages, with emblematic allusions. A little further north of the pa rade is a noble flight of steps, gi¬ ving an entrance to the park from Waterloo-place; these steps are mounted by a lofty column,where lately stood Carlton-palace, the favourite residence of George IV. Furtheron the avenue is St.James' palace, atsight of which foreigners exclaim, i the English hospitals are palaces, and their royal resi-