steam-boats from Hungerford-market and London-bridge. Not only in fair-time, but during the spring, summer, and autumn months, Greenwich presents temporarily, a large extra population of visitors, which is not to be wondered at, when we remember the many objects of attraction which are centred in this town; among them the hospital for the gallant naval veterans who have fought England's battles on the ocean, and which has been thought the most magnificent edifice ever consecrated to the cause of charity; the park, with its venerable forest trees, its fine avenues, and its gentle eminences; the Royal Observatory in the park, whence the meridian of longitude is taken; and (to descend to the material) the snug river-side hotels, where all the world go to eat whitebait.

Greenwich has ever been a place of note, and was the favourite residence of some of our early sovereigns. In very remote times it was called Grenovicum by the Romans, and afterwards was named by the Saxons, Grenawic, signifying the green village. During the reign of King Ethelred, in 1011, Greenwich was the head-quarters of the Danish troops, and Greenwich-reach the harbour of their ships. The invaders ravaged Kent, and having despoiled the city of Canterbury, seized on Ealpheg, the archbishop, whom they brought to their camp at Greenwich, where they kept him a prisoner for seven months. They murdered the unfortunate prelate, writes Lambard, 66 because he would not condescend to redeem his life with three thousand pounds, which the people of the city and diocese were contented to have given for his ransom." The citizens of London purchased the body at a great price. The corpse was first buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, but eleven years afterwards King Canute caused the body to be taken up and conveyed to Canterbury, where it was buried with solemnity. Alphage was afterwards canonized, and upon the spot where he was assassinated a church was consecrated. The present church of St. Alphage, in the centre of the town, indicates the exact place where the archbishop suffered martyrdom. In old records Green

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wich is styled the Manor of East Greenwich, to distinguish it from West Greenwich, or Deptford. So early as the reign of Edward I. it is supposed there was a royal palace. at Greenwich. The will of Henry IV., made in 1408, is dated from the palace. In 1433 Henry VI. bestowed the manor of Greenwich upon his uncle, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who also obtained a grant from the crown of 200 acres, to enclose as a park. Four years afterwards an additional grant of 200 acres was made to him, with licence "to make a tower and ditch within the same, and a certain tower within his park to build and edify." Duke Humphrey raised a palace on the site now covered by the west wing of the hospital, and called it Placentia, or the Manor of Pleasaunce. He also built a tower on Flamstead-hill, now crowned by the Royal Observatory. Upon the assassination of the duke, the manor became, and has ever since remained, crown property. Edward IV. enlarged and finished the palace, which he granted to his queen, Elizabeth Woodville, from whom it was taken by Henry VII. In the reign of this king it was beautified with a brick front towards the river. That luxurious tyrant, Henry VIII., was born here, and exceeded his predecessors in the magnificence of the decorations which he added to the royal residence, making it, according to Lambard, "A pleasant, perfect, and princely palace." Here he was married to Catherine of Arragon, and afterwards to Ann of Cleves; and in this palace his daughters, queens Mary and Elizabeth, were born; and his son, the amiable Edward VI., closed his short reign at Greenwich. James I. resided much at Greenwich, and his queen, Anne, of Denmark, laid the foundation of the "House of Delight," which now forms the centre building of the Naval Asylum. Henrietta Maria, consort of Charles I., completed the House of Delight, which was erected under the superintendence of Charles I. Hasted says she furnished it so magnificently, that it far surpassed all other houses of the kind in England.* Oliver Cromwell never resided in

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Greenwich, and the palace being in a dilapidated condition on the accession of Charles II., it was taken down, and a magnificent edifice commenced, the first wing of which the king only lived to see completed. This wing, now the west one of the hospital, was raised at a cost of £36,000, the architect engaged being Webb, the son-inlaw of Inigo Jones, from whose plans the fabric was erected. Neither Charles II. nor James II. resided much in the new palace, which became the nucleus of that noble institution, Greenwich Hospital.

In 1694, at the suggestion of Queen Mary, consort of of William III., it was determined that an asylum should be founded for seamen of the royal navy, disabled by age, or maimed in the service of their country, and for the support of the widows and education of the children of those who should be slain. It was decided that 300 seamen should be the recipients of this charity, a number which has since been augmented to 3,000, besides 32,000 out-pensioners. The proposal of Sir Christopher Wren, to convert the abandoned palace of Charles II. to this use, was adopted, and that building, with some others and certain parcels of land adjoining, were granted to trustees nominated to carry the design into execution. Private subscriptions, to the amount of £60,000, were contributed in aid of the undertaking, and to the incomplete palace of Charles II. two magnificent quadrangles were added by Sir Christopher Wren, and in the reign of Queen Anne a similar building to that of the palace of Charles II. was erected. These four distinct piles of building are distinguished by the names of King Charles's, Queen Anne's, King William's, and Queen Mary's. The two first are nearest to the river, and in front of them, on the river-side, is a terrace 865 feet in length. Between them and King William's and Queen Mary's buildings is the grand square, 273 feet in width. In the centre of it is a fine statue of George II. by Rysbrach, carved out of a single block of white marble which weighs 11 tons, and was taken from the French by Admiral Sir George Rooke. On the four sides of the