The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-01 00:00:00

THE CITY MALL.

This extensive piece of ground, which would now-a-days
be termed a " park," was very charmingly laid out in four
large grass-plots, or quarters," as they were called, inter-
sected by broad gravel-walks, and was much frequented by
the citizens for purposes of exercise and recreation. The
mid-walk, which was of considerable length, with a row of
well-grown elm trees on either side, and seats for the con-
venience of promenaders, was designated—owing to its
being the resort of all persons of fashion to be met with at
the eastern end of the metropolis—the City Mall. And if
the smartness of the c4.mpany who frequented it was to
count for anything, it might be fairly said to rival tho Mall
in St. James's Park. On Sundays and holidays the City
Mall was thronged—but even on ordinary occasions it wag
greatly frequented, 'and exhibited much more variety of
character than could bo found at the West-end. Here
might be seen the citizens' wives and daughters flaunting
in all their finery, and displaying their charms to the Moor-
fields maccaronis, whose hats were cocked diagonally over
the right or left eye, and who gave themselves quite as
many airs as the coxcombs of St. James's. But the City
Mall was really very lively and amusing, and had some-
thing of a continental air. Booths and small shops, where
fans, toys, trinkets, confectionary, and other light matters,
could be purchased, were arranged under the trees, and
there was generally some show or mountebank diversion to
be witnessed on the " quarters." The central walk could
be lighted up at dusk by lamps swung from ropes attached
to the trees on either side. A grand termination to the
vista on the south was offered by Bethlehem Hospital,
which, with its noble facade upwards of 500 feet in length,
its three pavilions, high roof, and handsome stone balu-
strades, looked like a palace, and indeed had been built on
the model of the Tuileries, to the infinite annoyance of
Louis XIV.

As a companion quotation, we now give Mr.
Ainsworth's brightly-coloured little vignettelimning
of an interior : showing us—

THE ROOM OF A BEAU OF 1702.
Tradescant's chamber was spacious, luxuriously fitted up,
and so arranged as to serve the purposes both of bedroom
and morning room. At the farther end, on a superb French
bed, with a rose coloured canopy and curtains, and sup-
ported by largo downy pillows edged with lace, lay the
young prodigal. Near the couch stood a large Japan screen.
But notwithstanding the richness of the furniture and de-
corations, great disorder reigned within the room. Thus a
pink silk domino and mask, tossed upon a sofa by their
weal er on his return from a masquerade, had not been since
removed. Articles of attire in velvet and silk of the gayest
colours were lying scattered about near the open wardrobes,
and so were rich Mechlin shirts and cravats. Half a dozen
perukes appeared to have been tried, and for some fault or
other cast aside. In one corner was a collection of gold-
headed canes and walking-sticks ; in another a pile of
swords, several of them 'with handsome handles. Here
there was a dressing-table with all its appliances in crystal
and chased silver. Beside it was a large cheval-glass,
wherein our young beau could survey his fine figure from
head to foot. On the chimney-piece was a magnificent
Louis Quinze clock, and on the other side of it some exqui-
site specimens of Sevres china, while on the right and left
of the hearth were two great green porcelain jars. The
walls were covered with portraits of popular actresses—
Mrs. Yates, Mrs. Clive, Mrs. Bellamy, airs. Abegg, and
Miss Macklin—intermingled with pictures of opera figu-
rantes, prize-fighters, cock-fights, and famous race-horses.

THE DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN IN THE REGENT'S
CANAL:—Yesterday morning an inquiry was held at the
Black Horse Tavern, Kingsland-road, by Mr. John Hum•
phreys, the Middlesex coroner, touching the death of a male
person, name unknown, who was found in the waters of
the Regent's Canal. William Richardson said that on
Tuesday morning he and two other boys were engaged
dragging the canal. When near the Haggerstone bridge
the hooks of the drags fastened in some soft substance, and
there was brought on shore the body of a gentleman, with-
out either hat, boots, or stockings. None of those articles
could be found at the bottom of the canal. A police•con-
stable described the appearance of the body. It was that
of a stout, well-built man, somewhat under the middle
height, and of gentlemanly appearance. The clothes con-
sisted of a blue pilot coat, dark tweed trousers, black alpaca
vest, and satin stock. The lir en was unmarked. He
could not account for the absence of the boots and stock-
ings. There was no clue whatever to lead to identification,
and the pockets were altogether empty. A description of
the deceased had been forwarded to all the police-stations,
but nothing was known about him. Dr. Clarke, divisional
surgeon, said that the body had apparently been ten days
in the water. There were no marks of violence to account
for death. The marks on the body had no doubt been
caused by injuries from barges and other craft. Death had
resulted from suffocation by drowning. Thejury returned
the following verdict :—" Death from suffocation by drowr.
ing in the Regent's Canal, but under What circumstances
there was no evidence to allow.