commission of sewers. The wooden bridge, which was formerly over this river, was the scene of a skirmish in the reign of Henry VII. previously to the battle at Blackheath, between lord Dawbeney's army and "certeyn archers of the rebelles, whose arrowes, as is reported (says Hall), were in length a full yerde.” "The cultivation of asparagus is carried on to the greatest extent in the parishes of Deptford, St. Paul's, Chiswick, Battersea, and Mortlake. Deptford is also famous for the culture of onions for seed; of which, on an average, there are about twenty acres. It is stated that there are about five hundred acres in this parish occupied by farming gardeners. Their method is to manure their land to the highest pitch of cultivation for garden crops, both for the market and for cattle, after a succession of which, they refresh it by sowing it with corn."* Having visited all that is remarkable in the town of Deptford, we return to the main road, and passing on the bridge over the Ravensbourn, arrive at GREENWICH. It will be taking up too much of our space, and the attention of our readers, to attempt ascertaining the etymology of the name, which, at best, is but of vague interpretation. Greenwich is of note in antient English history for being the head quarters of the Danes, and the harbour of their fleet, when that people ravaged the country by robbery and murder. In the year 1011, having spoiled the city of Canterbury, they seized on Ealpheg, the archbishop, whom they kept as a prisoner for seven months in their camp near this place; and being enraged on account of his inability to pay a ransom which they demanded of him, they murdered him on the spot +. The citizens of London purchased the body at a great price; the corpse was first buried in St. Paul's cathedral, but eleven years. * Lysons. †The cireumstance is detailed by Ditmarus Mersepurgius, who lived about the same time, in the Eighth Book of his Chronicles. VOL. V. No. 105. M afterwards, afterwards, when Canute the Great held the reins of ge vernment, he caused the body to be taken up and conveye to Canterbury, where it was inhumed with great solemnity. Alphage was afterwards canonized, and on the spot wher he was so cruelly murdered, a church was consecrated, a the site of the present parish church. The murder is si to have happened on the 19th of April, 1012. The manor of Greenwich is called in records East Greenwich, and was formerly an appendage to that of Lewisham being given with it by Elthruda, to the abbey of St. Peter.. at Ghent. It continued in their possession till the dissolution of alien priories by Henry V. when that monarch trans ferred it the monastery of Shene. The manor afterward came to the crown, in which it still continues. The manor of Pleazaunce came into the hands of the crown at a very early period, and was consolidated with the former at the general survey. Upon the disgrace of the bishop of Baieux, for high treason, Greenwich was seized by the crown, and it re mained in the royal possession, as a favourite residence d the sovereigns of England. In the eleventh year of th reign of Henry VI. he made a grant of this manor to h uncle, Humphrey duke of Glocester, who built a handsome tower and palace, which he called L'PLEASAUNCE, & PLACENTIA, on the spot now the Royal Observatory After his death the whole reverted to the crown, and E ward IV. took great delight in enlarging and finishing t palace; and in the fifth year of his reign granted it to h queen, Elizabeth Woodville. The palace, in the reign Henry VII. was beautified with a brick front towards t water. Henry VIII. exceeded his predecessors in ma nificent decorations at his palace, which caused Leland, t antiquary, thus to exclaim: How bright the lofty scat appears! Like Jove's great palace pav'd with stars. What constant springs! What smiling meads And all around her does dispense } Mary I. and As all its beauties to express. Greenwich was the birth-place of queen queen Elizabeth; and here Edward VI. died. however, being afterward suffered to run to ruin, was pulled down by Charles II. who began a magnificent edifice, and lived to see the first wing finished. The architect chosen for the new edifice, was Webb, son-in-law of Inigo Jones, from whose papers the designs are said to have been made. One wing, however, was all that was completed, at the expence of 30,000l. and in which the monarch occasionally resided; no further progress was made either by him or his successor. Charles also enlarged the park, walled it round, planted it, and erected a royal observatory on the top of the hill, for the use of the celebrated FLAMSTEAD, whose name the hill retains; and which has since been rendered famous by the residence of HALLEY, BRADLEY, and MASKELYNE. He likewise furnished it with mathematical instruments for astronomical observations, and a deep dry well for observing the stars in the day-time. That which is properly the palace here, is an edifice of great extent, and is converted into a residence for the ranger of the park. This park is well stocked with deer, and affords as much variety, in proportion to its size, as any in the kingdom; but the views from the Observatory and the One Tree Hill are beautiful beyond imagination, particularly the former; the magnificent and picturesque scenery is too well known to need a particular description. The first wing of GREENWICH HOSPITAL was erected by Charles II. in 1696, for a palace; but the character of piety and humanity which history has given to the consort of William III. appears here to have been justly founded; by many effects of her excellent disposition remaining to this day, and by the first idea of this noble charitable institution, which, with every appearance of jus |