two sacrists; and the alms knights, who are eighteen in number; viz. thirteen of the royal foundation, and five of the foundation of Sir Peter le Maire, in the reign of James I. The order of the garter was instituted by Edward III., in 1349. It is also called the order of St. George, the patron of England, under whose banner the English always went to war; and St. George's cross was made the ensign of the order.

Such is Windsor Castle; and those who have visited it deem it one of the most delightful spots in the world.

Woolwich,

A MARKET town in Kent, nine miles from London, is situated on the Thames, and is famed for its fine docks and yards, (where men of war are built; and the largest have, at all times, a sufficient depth of water,) as also for its vast 'magazines of guns, mortars, bombs, cannon-balls, and other military stores. In the lower part of the town is the Warren, now called the Royal Arsenal, where upward of 7000 pieces of ordnance have been laid up at one time. Here also is the house where bombs, carcasses, and grenades are prepared. Adjoining is a very fine common, on which are built most spacious barracks for the royal artillery, and an academy for the instruction of 128 cadets, who are taught the first principles of mathematics, fortification, military plan-drawing, French, fencing, and dan

1

cing. There is also a small academy in the royal arsenal for the accommodation of about 60 cadets. This institution is preparatory to that on the common, as no cadet can be admitted into the latter till he has passed through the former. The number of masters who are employed in the two academies is about 20, at the head of whom is John Bonnycastle, esq., professor of mathematics, and author of a very elegant and classical work, entitled, "An Introduction to Astronomy, in a Series of Familiar Letters from a Preceptor to his Pupil;" as also of several other introductory works on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and various other branches of mathematics. Neither the regulation of the studies, however, nor the general management of the academies, rests with this gentleman, but with the governor, lieutenant governor, inspector, and assistant inspector. The governor is always the master general of the ordnance for the time being, with whom rests the appointment of the other officers of the institution, as also the patronage of the cadetships. The more immediate business, however, of the academy, and the regulation of its studies, devolves upon the lieutenant governor, now lieutenant colonel Mudge, of the royal artillery, assisted by the inspector, lieutenant colonel Phipps, and the assistant inspector, captain Hall. Hitherto the examination for admission into this institution has been very trivial, the candidates only being required to be acquainted with vulgar fractions, and a very slight knowledge of the English and Latin

grammars: but, in consequence of the extreme deficiency of many of the cadets who have been educated at the academy for some few years past, it is now proposed that the qualifications for admission shall consist in a thorough knowledge of the English and Latin tongues, and of the first principles of mathematics, to such an extent at least as shall enable the candidate, on his examination, to resolve a quadratic equation with correctness and facility, and to demonstrate the principal propositions of the first four books of Euclid's Elements of Geometry.

New Military Academy. This noble edifice is a very interesting object, when viewed from Shooter's Hill. It is built in the castellated form, from designs by Wyatt: the length is more than 200 yards: the expense of erecting it is estimated at 150,0007.

The Artillery Barracks form a most extensive and complete edifice, and, as seen from the front of the New Academy, impress on the mind of the beholder the strength and splendor of this military branch of our defence. The church was rebuilt in the reign of queen Anne, as one of the fifty new churches.

Clapham,

A VILLAGE in Surrey, 34 miles S. from London, consisting chiefly of many handsome houses, which surround a common, that commands some pleasing views. This common was for

merly little better than a morass, and the roads were almost impassable. The latter are now in an excellent state; and the common itself is so beautifully planted with trees, both English and exotic, that it has much the appearance of a park. These improvements were effected by a subscription of the inhabitants, who, on this occasion, have been much indebted to the taste and exertions of Christopher Baldwin, esq. whose villa is adjacent; and, as a proof of the consequent increased value of property on this spot, Mr. Baldwin has since sold 14 acres of land, near his own house, for 5,000l. Near the road to Wandsworth is a reservoir of fine water, from which the village is supplied. On the N. E. corner of the common is a new church, erected in 1776, at the expense of 11,000l.; but neither in the church itself, nor in the ground enclosed around it, are any interments suffered. Of the old church only one aisle remains, in which the funeral service is performed when there are any interments in the adjoining cemetery. The manor-house, now a boarding-school for young ladies, is situated near this spot, and is rendered conspicuous by a curious octagonal

tower.

Deptford,

ANCIENTLY called West Greenwich and Deepford, a large town in Kent, divided into Upper and Lower Deptford. It is seated on the

Thames, four miles S.S. E. from London, and is remarkable for its noble dockyard, in which a great number of hands are employed. Lately first-rate ships have been built here; the finest ship in the British navy, the Queen Charlotte, having been launched from this dock, on July 17, 1810, amidst the greatest concourse of spectators ever assembled on such an occasion. It has a wet dock of two acres, and another of an acre and a half, with great quantities of tim ber, extensive storehouses, &c. Here the royal yachts are generally kept; and here is the manor of Say's Court, the property of Sir Frederick Evelyn, bart. The manor house was the seat of his ancestor, John Evelyn, esq., a celebrated natural philosopher of the last century, and the resi dence also of the czar Peter the Great, during the time that he worked as a shipwright in the yard. But this house has been demolished many years; and on its site now stands the workhouse of the parish of St. Nicholas.

In Deptford are the two parishes of St. Nicholas and St. Paul; and two hospitals, one of which was incorporated by Henry VIII. and is called Trinity House of Deptford Stroud: it contains 21 houses, and is situated near the church. The other, called Trinity Hospital, has 38 houses. Both these houses are for decayed pilots or masters of ships, or their widows, the men being allowed 20s. and the women 16s. a month. Hither a grand procession comes Trinity Monday from the Trinity House, on Tower Hill: they are received with the firing of cannon,

on