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Father of Light and Life, Thou Good Supreme!
O, teach me what is good! teach me Thyself!
Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,

From every low pursuit! and feed my soul

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;
Sacred, substantial, never-fading, bliss.

Richmond Park, formerly called the Great or New Park, to distinguish it from that which was near the Green, was made by Charles I. Sir Robert Walpole (afterward earl of Orford) was fond of hunting in this park, and his son, Robert lord Walpole, being the ranger, he built the great lodge for him, and thus paid nobly for his amusement. This is an elegant stone edifice, with wings on each side of brick. It stands on a rising ground, and commands a very good prospect of the park, especially of the fine piece of water. Here also is another lodge called the Stone Lodge. When lord Walpole, afterward second earl of Orford, died, the princess Amelia was appointed ranger. While it was in her hands, the public right to a foot-way through the park was established by the issue of a trial at law, in 1758, at Kington assizes, in consequence of which decision, ladder-gates were put up at some of the entrances. This park is eight miles in circumference, and contains two thousand two hundred and fifty-three acres, of which not quite one hundred are in Richmond parish: there are six hundred and fifty acres in Mortlake, two hundred and sixty-five in Petersham, two hundred and thirty in Putney, and about one thousand in Kingston. His majesty, who, since the death of the late ranger the earl of Bute, has taken the park into his own hands, is now making several improvements, which promise to make it one of the most beautiful parks in the kingdom.

The parish CHURCH of Richmond, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, is an irregular building, partly antient, partly modern, with a low embattled tower, containing eight bells. The interior is very neat, and contains the monuments of Henry, lord viscount Brounker; lady Howard, of Escrick, and her son; Mrs. Mary Ann Yates, the celebrated

brated tragedian; Robert Lewes, Esq. a Cambro-Briton, and barrister at law, who died in 1649; " so great a lover of peace," says his epitaph," that when a contention began between life and death, he immediately gave up the ghost, to end the dispute." Admiral Holbourn; Thom

son, the poet, &c. In the churchyard, the rev. Dr. Henry Stebbing; the rev. James Collinson, M. A. fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge; Mr. James Fearon, of the theatre royal, Covent Garden, &c.

ALMSHOUSES. In the Vineyard are queen Elizabeth's almshouses, first erected under the Hill, 1600, at the sole expence of Sir George Wright, knt. for the accommodation of eight poor women; they were rebuilt on this site on a more extensive plan, and the endowments augmented by voluntary contributions of many gentlemen of this parish, in 1767. Also ten almshouses for the support of ten old men, built in 1695, and endowed by Humphrey Mitchell, of Richmond, gent. who died November 16, 1696, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. They are allowed four shillings a week, and half a chaldron of coals yearly. On Richmond Hill are ten almshouses, endowed by Dr. Brian Duppa, bishop of Winchester, for ten women; they are allowed ten shillings per month, and twenty shillings per year for coals. This pious prelate lived at Richmond, in a very retired manner, during the exile of Charles II. whom he had educated here. After he was consecrated bishop of Winchester, he still occasionally resided at Richmond, and, on his death-bed, in 1662, the king visited him, and begged his blessing. At Marsh Gate, nine almshouses were erected and endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Houblon, in 1758, for maiden women; they are allowed about four shillings and ninepence per week, and firing; also a new gown yearly.

The charity school is in George Street, where thirty-four boys and thirty-four girls are educated; they are instructed in the principles of the Christian religion, and the boys are taught to read, write, and cast accompts; and the girls to read, write, knit, mark, &c.

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KEW, originally called KAYHOUGH, was formerly a hamlet of Kingston, but united to Petersham, as one vicarage, by act of parliament in 1769. Thames, seven miles from London. merly the chapel, was erected at the expence of the nobility and gentry in the neighbourhood, on a piece of ground given by queen Anne. Against the south wall is a tablet to the memory of Jeremiah Meyer, a celebrated miniature painter, with some elegant verses by Hayley.

In the cemetery adjoining is interred the celebrated artist, Thomas Gainsborough, Esq. A flat stone just records his name and the day of his exit from this mortal scene. Another memorial is for Mr. Kirby, architect, the celebrated writer on Perspective.

On Kew Green, on the site of Mrs. Theobald's beautiful gardens, once stood a house, the favourite retirement of Sir Peter Lely, in the latter part of his life.

Here is a stone bridge, of seven arches, over the Thames, from a design of Mr. Paine. It was opened in 1789, and is the private property of Robert Tunstal, Esq. whose father erected it. The width is too contracted for its length and height; it has neither a pavement for foot passengers, nor recesses for shelter in case of danger; it is however a pleasing object, and heightens the beauty of the adjacent

scenery.

Among the former respectable residents at Kew, were Charles Somerset, earl of Worcester; Edward, earl of Devon; Sir John Puckering, lord keeper of the great seal, in the reign of queen Elizabeth.

The royal Palace of Kew, formerly belonged to the family of Capel, whence it came by marriage to Samuel Molineux, Esq. secretary to George II. when prince of Wales. The late Frederic prince of Wales took a long lease of the house; and it is now held by his majesty on the same tenure. The house was improved by Kent, and contains some pictures; among which are a portrait of lord Burleigh, and the celebrated picture of the Florence Gallery, by Zoffani. In the long room, above stairs, is a set VOL. V. No. 117.

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