the bottom of the gardens: on each fide of this walk are pavilions, and thofe on the left hand are decorated with the following paintings: 1. A northern prince, with his princefs in a traineau drawn on the ice by a horse. 2. Hot cockles; 3. A gypfy telling fortunes by the coffee-cups. 4. The cutting of flour, a Christmas gambol, which is by placing a little ball at the top of a cone of flour, into which all are to cut with a knife, and whoever caufes the ball to fall from the fummit, must take it out with his teeth : : 5. Cricket.

On the oppofite fide is a row of pavilions; and, at the extremity of this walk, is another entrance into the gardens from the road. At the other end of the walk, adjoining to the Prince's pavilion, is a femi-circle of pavilions ornamented in the centre, and at each end, with Gothic temples.

From the upper end of this walk, where we concluded the lift of the paintings, is a long narrow vifta that runs to the top of the gardens: this is called the Druid's or Lover's Walk; on both sides of it are rows of lofty trees, which, meeting at the top, and interchanging their boughs, form a delightful verdant canopy. In thefe trees build a number of nightingales, blackbirds, thrushes, &c. whose fweet harmony adds to the peculiar pleasure which these fhades afford. The anti-room runs acrofs one part of this walk; the extremity of that part which is left open is terminated by a new landscape.

Returning to the spot where once ftood the ftatue of Handel, we may by looking up the garden, behold a noble vifta, which is called the grand fouth walk, of the fame fize as that feen at our first entrance, and running parallel with it. This vifta is formed by lofty trees on each fide and terminated by a Gothic temple, which is opened on gala nights, and exhibits four illuminated vertical columns, in motion, and, in the centre, an artificial fountain all which is effected by very complicated and ingenious machinery.

In the centre of the crofs gravel walk, is a temple, the largest of the kind in England, which was built in 1786, by Mr. Smith, of Knightsbridge, and brought here in three pieces only, although the diameter is 44 feet, and the

dome

dome is fupported by eight lofty pillars. On the right hand, this walk is terminated by a fine ftatue of Apollo; and, at the extremity on the left, is a new painting this season, of a stone quarry in the vicinity of Bristol.

From our fituation to view this painting is another gravel-walk that leads up the gardens, formed on the right fide by a wilderness, and on the left by rural downs, as they are termed, in the form of a long fquare, fenced by a net, with several little eminences in it after the manner of a Roman camp. There are likewise several bushes, from under which, a few years ago, fubterraneous musical founds, were heard, called by fonte the fairy mufic; which put many people in mind of the vocal forest, or that imaginary being called the genius of the wood; but the natural damp of the earth being found prejudicial to the inftruments, this romantic entertainment has ceased. The downs are covered with turf, and pleasingly interfperfed with cyprefs, fir, yew, cedar, and tulip trees. one of the eminences, clofe to the painting of the stone quarry, is a ftatue of Milton, caft in lead by Roubiliac, but painted of a ftone colour. He is reprefented feated on a rock, and liftening to fubterraneous harmony.

On

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At the upper end of thefe downs is a gravel-walk, formed on each fide by lofty trees. This walk runs across the gardens, and terminates them this way. At each end of it is a painting.

The

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The principal parts of all these walks form the boundaries of wilderneffes compofed of trees which shoot to a great height, and are all inclofed with a rude, but fuitable fence, fomewhat in the Chinese taste.

In a dark night the illuminations are very beautiful, and cannot fail to furprife and delight every fufceptible spectator; but in a moon-light night there is fomething more peculiarly pleafing, which fo ftrongly affects the imagination, that it almoft inftils an idea of enchantment.

When the music is finished, great numbers of the company retire to the pavilions to fupper. To please and detain their vifitors, the proprietors have engaged a band of wind mufic to continue playing in the grand orchestra, while, at intervals, a band of Savoyards, in a small moveable orchestra, contribute alfo to enliven the festive board or the nocturnal promenade.

This extraordinary mufic is engaged at a great expence ; and not one of thefe performers is permitted to take money, or any refreshment, from the company. In a word, nothing is wanting that can heighten the pleasure of this entertainment; every thing is served in the best manner, and with the greatest readiness.

About one hundred nights make the season of Vauxhall; and the average of about one thousand perfons a night is fuppofed to make a good season to the proprietors. More than 11,000 perfons have been affembled in these gardens at once; and of these, on fo fmall a fpot, not lefs than 7000 were accommodated with provifions and refrefhments.

The proprietors of this enchanting place have spared no expence whatever, to augment or to heighten its beauties. Befide the covered walks, all paved with a compofition, inftead of clinkers or gravel, almost all the pavillions and boxes have colonnades in front, feven feet broad, which effectually fhelter them from rain; and there is a handsome waiting-room, 30 feet by 20, near the coach entrance into the gardens.

Here it may not be improper to fubjoin an account of the provifions and wines as they are fold in the gardens.

Champagne

Upward of 14,000 lamps have been used, at one time, in the lighting of these gardens, which, every night this feafon are illuminated with uncommon fplendour. The company, moreover, are allowed the refreshment of tea, coffee, and biscuits, in the anti-room, till the concert is over. This has occafioned such an extraordinary increase of expence to the proprietors, that they have been under the neceffity of raifing the price of admittance to Two Shillings. In this rife, however, their vifitors feem cheerfully to acquiefce, as the reafon is obvious and striking on our very entrance into the gardens; and the proprietors, notwithstanding the great increafe in the price of provi fions, have not raifed their charges in this refpect, in one fingle article.

VERULAM, a town celebrated in remote antiquity, was fituated close by St. Alban's. In the time of Nero it was a municipium, or town, the inhabitants of which enjoyed the privileges of Roman citizens. By Tacitus it was

M 6

called

called Verulamium; and, by Ptolemy, Urolamium. After the departure of the Romans, it was entirely ruined by the wars between the Britons and Saxons; and nothing remains of ancient Verulam, but the ruins of walls, teffelated pavements, and Roman coins, which are sometimes dug up. The fite of it has been long converted into corn-fields: Seges eft, ubi Troja fuit. See St. Alban's.

VETERINARY COLLEGE, a new and fingular inftitution in this country, was established in the year 1791, under the auspices of perfons of the first rank and fortune in the kingdom. The defign of this inftitution is for the improvement of farriery and the treatment of cattle in general; but, perhaps, it is more immediately intended to promote a reformation in that particular branch of veterinary science, called Farriery; and to refcue, if poffible, the management and cure of diforders incident to horfes, and frequently the lives of those truly valuable ani. mals, from the hands of the unfkilful and illiterate. It is ca'culated alfo to render that a refpectable profeffion, which has hitherto been confidered a difreputable occupation, and beneath the study and attention of men of liberal education. From the nature of this institution, it cannot fail to be of great national utility.

The Duke of Northumberland is the prefent President of the College; and the Duke of Athol, Earl Grosvenor, the Earl of Morton, Lord Rivers, Lord Heathfield, General Murray, Sir Jofeph Banks, Sir George Baker, Sir John Ingilby, Sir William Fordyce, and John Hunter, Esq. are the prefent Vice-prefidents.

There are likewife 24 Directors, a Treasurer, Profeffor, Secretary, and Collector. The Prefident, Vice Prefident, and ten of the directors, the Treasurer, and Collector, are chofen annually, by ballot. The entire management of the College is lodged in the Council, which confifts of the Prefident, Vice Presidents, and Directors; fubject to the coutroul of four quarterly general meetings of the fubfcribers. The College is to be erected on a fpot of ground, which contains fix acres, and is fituated in Camden Town, in the parish of St. Pancras, and in the road to Hampstead.

The building will extend in front 270 feet, and will

confift

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