The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-11-02


Dy expectations. lis buildings will not
bear comparison with the upper parts
OF Broadway, or the better parts ofBos-
ton, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.
The bandsomest part of the town is
about Regents Park aud Portland Place.
Regent street and Waterloo Place are
also fine. The houses are of brick. uni
form IN their construction, and covered
with thick stucco, giving them an ap-
Pearance of being built of white marble.
In this part Of the city, the streets are
spacious and airy.
One of the leading features in the
topography Of London is the great num-
Der of public squares and parks. These
are every thing 10 city thus crowded
and confined, adding equally to its health
and beauty. Several Of The largest are
open to every one, and afford delight
full promenades. We have rambled
through most of them. The principal
ones are ST. James, and Hyde Park, at
the west end Of the town. Both of
them are spacious, beautifully adorned
with trees, gravel walks, and artificial
waters, which cool the air and vary the
prospect.
T Our visit TO Hyde Parke was at the
most fashionable hour, for the. purpose
of Witnessing the style of SC the nobility
and gentry" This Park contains about
400 acres. AT the entrance is colos-
sa statue of Achilles, standing upon a
lofty pedestal, aud armed with bis sword
ard shield. 1t was cast from cannon
taken at the battles of Salamanca, Wit
toria, Toulouse and Waterloo, and is
inscribed by the ladies to" Wellington
and his brave companions in arms.''
Around the Park there is carriage path,
resembling race-course where all who
are able to ride, and some who probably
are not, parade in full dress and equipase.
Lords and ladies roll 90 in their coaches,
which by the bye are generally heavy
and inelegant while a troop Of handles,
with sugar-loaf hats, wMskers meeting at
the chin, and mustachios covering the
upper lip. gallop after. The last men
toned ornament is all the rage here at
present, being worn by some of the
nobility. of all the whims and follies
in dress, this is the most outrageous.
indecent and disgusting. One would
think that every polished society would
cry cut against it :; yet the fashionables
are here seen walking the streets arm
in--*fm with the ladies, wearing tuft of
dirty hair upon the lip.
Nearly two out of our fen days in
London have been passed in Westminster
Abbey, and as many more might be de-
voted TO It's numerous monuments with
equal pleasure. 1t is indeed most fas-
clnatlng place to one who has read and
admired the poets, orators, philosophers,
Jurists, and divines Of England who is
familiar with the civil, military, and ma
val history of the country or who is
fond of Witnessing an exhibition of the
arts, erected for the noble purpose of
perpetuating the remembrance Of ge-
MUS, learning, and taste. The building
itself is admirably fitted for repository
of the distinguished dead. No one
could approach the venerable pile, with
its grey Gothic. turrets, without feelings
Of reverence and solemnity, even if il
were Invested of those associations,
which the recollection of departed
greatness awakens. Whether it be
mere fancy, or owing TO some peculiari-
liy in the architecture, or the sombre
complexion of the material, the Abbey,
even at distance, wears an aspect of
sober grandeur, and an air commanding
veneFation, which no other edifce |
have ever seen possesses and the eve
of the spectator, as it surveys the wealth
er-beaten structure, its lofty portals,
and Gothic windows, sends thrill to the
heart.
The only. entrance at present is
through the southern transept, denomi-
mated "the Poets Corner;'' and who
could wish for more interesting pas
sage In this section OF the Church,
the visitant finds himself at once sur
rounded by monuments 10 the memory of
Ben Johnson, Butler, Milton, Gray, Ma
son, Prior, Grenville, Sharp, Shakes
peare, Thompson, Rowe, DR.. Johnson,
Garrick, Gay, Goldsmith, Addison, Han
del, Hales, DR.. Barrow, Camdon, Chau-
Ger, Spencer, Dryden, Cowley, Phillips,
Drayton, and many others less known to
the world. Finding himself in the midst
of such group, with so many attrac-
tons on all sides, one scarcely knows to
whom first to turn and pay the tribute
Of his respect.
There are obvious defects in group
ing the monuments Of the Abbey. Had
the idea of I" the Poets Corner" been
strictly adopted, it would have been
great Improvement. tits gratifying to
see those sleeping side by side, who in
life were united BY the ties Of friend