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orders for an estimate of the expences to be laid before the house; which was done in 1754, together with a survey, recommending a proper place, &c. The removal, in the year 1760, was solicited with such proper effect, that an act passed for that purpose in the beginning of the same year.

BLACKHEATH. About midway up the hill, leading from Deptford to Blackheath, and between two and three hundred yards from the main road, on the north side, a singular Excavation, or Cavern, was discovered in the year 1780. The entrance is on the side of the hill, by steps descending about fifty feet; which leads into a range of seven irregular chambers, or apartments, cut out of a stratum of solid chalk, and communicating with each other by arched avenues. The roof in two of those chambers has fallen in, probably from the chalk having been left too weak to support the sand forming the immediate superstratum, and which having partly fallen with each roof, has left a kind of dome of considerable height over both chambers, in extent: but the general measurement may, perhaps, be stated at from twelve, or fifteen, to thirty-six or forty feet, both in length and width. In the furthest chamber is a well, twenty-seven feet deep, which formerly supplied very fine water, but has been greatly altered in taste, through the putting down of a new pump. The extreme depth of the lower part of the cavern from the surface of the ground, and its length from the entrance, are supposed to be about one hundred and seventy feet. From the well at the extremity of this singular excavation, it is probable, that the whole has at some distant period been used for the purpose of concealment *.

The heath is called black either from the colour of its soil, or bleak, from its situation. The air is keen, but' this very circumstance certainly contributes to its healthiness, as well as does its eminence to its beauty.

We have before stated that the Watling Street led across

* Beauties of England and Wales, Vol. VII. p. 516.

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this heath, in its course from London to Dover; we add that various Roman antiquities have been found here, particularly on the side nearest Greenwich. "At a small distance from the corner of the hedge upon the right," says Mr. Hasted," where the road to Dover, and that to Lee, parts, are remains of three Barrows, in one of which, some bones have been found." In 1710, there were dug up here a great many urns, and among them, two of an unusual form, the one globular, the other cylindrical; both of a fine red clay. The cylindrical one was about eighteen inches in length, and contained a great quantity of ashes, and also six or seven coins, much obliterated; but on two of them, the names of the emperors Claudius, and Gallienus, could be distinguished. The globular urn was about six feet, three inches, in circumference, in its widest part; and contained ashes: below the rim, at the mouth, were the words MARCUS AURELIUS 1. rudely scratched. A glass urn is also mentioned, by Dr. Plot, to have been found on this heath, in a bed of hard gravel.

Blackheath, as above-mentioned, was the head quarters of the Danes; it was the scene of one battle against the rebels in the reign of Henry VII. and was occupied by the camps of the prior insurgents Wat Tyler, and Jack Cade: it has also been the usual place of ceremonial meetings and triumphal processions; and it was in the present reign a scene of the grateful offering of loyalty by the citizens of London, to the monarch of a beloved nation, against the invasive threats of a vindictive enemy.

On the 18th of May, 1804, took place the grand ceremony of presenting the colours by the corporation of London to the loyal London volunteers, in the person of JOHN PERRING, Esq. lord mayor.

At five o'clock in the morning, a flag was hoisted from the upper gallery of St. Paul's, as a signal for the regiments that were to have their colours presented, as well as those to keep the ground, to hold themselves in readiness to embark.

At

At a quarter before nine the earl of Harrington arrived at the Mansion House, accompanied by lady Harrington, lord Petersham, and lady Anne Maria Stanhope, and his staff. About the same time arrived the sheriffs of London. The whole party immediately set off to the Tower Stairs, in procession, preceded by the lord mayor's carriage and six horses. Having reached the waterside, the earl of Harrington and the lord mayor alighted, and repaired to the governor of the Tower, where he met his royal highness the duke of York, and his four aids-de-camp, with whom they returned, and embarked on board the lord mayor's barge, (under a royal salute) from the Tower Stairs. They were followed by a committee of the corporation, who had the colours in charge, and the staff of the commander in chief.

The volunteer regiments were ready by eight o'clock, when the signal was given for the embarkation, which was quickly obeyed. The first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth, embarked at the King's Stairs, at the Tower; the seventh, eighth, and eleventh, at Custom House Quay; and the ninth and tenth, at the stairs next the Steel Yard, above London Bridge. They moved on in the following order:

Four guns-boats, led by commodore Lucas.

The lord mayor's barge.

Two city barges with the committee; and one hundred and twenty-nine troop boats, carrying

the ten regiments.

In this order they proceeded down the river, the ships being, in compliment to the day, dressed with the colours of all nations, and most of them, as well as the different corps along shore, saluting with cannon as they passed, until the leading boats came to Greenwich.

The company in the lord mayor's barge landed at the centre stairs, and were received at the governor's house, until it was time to repair to the Heath. The other city barges landed their company at the same place.

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The gun-boats and fencibles having moored, the corps were landed, under a discharge of great guns and musketry.

On their arrival at the bottom of Greenwich Hill, the whole formed into a kind of close column, in order to proceed to Blackheath. The river fencibles, under the command of commodore Lucas, assisted by a detachment of the Westminster light horse, formed an opening through the crowd, from the bottom of the hill, to the gate leading on to the Heath. The committee led the van, preceded by a band, with the ten pair of colours, and standards for the cavalry. On their arrival at the top of the hill, they drew up on the right of the gate, and the regiments passed them in companies, according to seniority of number, headed by his royal highness the duke of York, attended by his staff, to the Heath, and took up their ground, which extended for full two miles, being the whole extremity of the spot.

They being now in full readiness to receive the lord mayor, committee, and attendants, his royal highness dispatched an aid-de-camp, to acquaint the mayor and members of the corporation that the troops were ready to receive them; on which his lordship proceeded to the centre of the troops, when, on a gun being fired, the whole line presented arms, officers saluted, drums beat, &c. On another gun being fired, a standard guard, from the London volunteer cavalry, and the grenadiers of each corps, accompanied by the ensigns who were to receive the colours, and preceded by their respective bands, advanced to a position which lord Harrington had marked out for them in the centre, and where his royal highness and the lord mayor had placed themselves. The ten companies of grenadiers, and the standard guard of the cavalry, formed a circle round them, in which were, her royal highness the princess Charlotte of Wales, the lord mayor's party, and from six to seven hundred persons of rank and distinction.

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The colours were now unfurled, and consecrated in the most solemn manner; after which the ensigns came forward, and, kneeling down, received them, with a speech from the

right honourable the lord mayor *; which being concluded, the ensigns rose by command, and placed themselves, with their colours, in the centre of their respective companies, who faced to the right about, and marched in ordinary time to their regiments.

On the colours being paraded in front of each regiment, the word was given, to form circle of battalions, when the commanding officer of each addressed his regiment in a short speech on the occasion.

* Speech of the lord mayor, on the presentation of the colours: "GENTLEMEN,

"I cannot but consider myself peculiarly fortunate in being called on by my official situation to discharge a duty so gratifying as that which on the present occasion has devolved on me.

"Gentlemen, It would be a vain attempt for me to describe the sensation to which this sublime spectacle gives birth. Powers far superior to mine could not do justice to the scene which here presents itself—————could pay but an inadequate tribute of applause to these gallant and patriotic bands, who, roused by the voice of honour, yield their pleasures and their occupations a willing sacrifice at the shrine of their country. Yes; it remained for the present age to prove that the citizens of London inherit the same ardent spirit-glow with the same devotion to the sacred cause of Freedom and Independence, as distinguished their immortal ancestors, who, in the proudest periods of Britain's fame, were still most conspicuous in the career of glory. It was reserved for the present age to prove the falsehood of the imputation, that the Genius of Commerce had subdued the fire of freedom in our breasts, and to evince that those who by civilization and industry best learn to acquire wealth-by their intrepidity and exertions best know how to preserve it.

"Gentlemen, To your perseverance and attention, as well as to the order of those you command, are to be attributed their high state of discipline and appearance. Your own feelings, and the approbation of your country, form the most honourable, and I am sure, to you the most gratifying reward.

"Gentlemen, I am presenting to you the colours, a tribute of the gratitude of your fellow citizens, and the best mark of their attachment to their brethren in arms. Allow me to say, I rely with confidence that you will receive them as the most sacred deposit which can be entrusted to your care; and that, as the city of London is the first in the empire, its citizens will be the first to afford a bright example of devotion in a cause of which they have already shewn themselves so worthy."

VOL. V. No. 106.

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