distance of the shore; and accordingly, in the reign of Henry VIII., a royal dock. yard was established here, in which the well-known "Harry Grace à Dieu" was built in 1515. This magnificent vessel, after exciting the greatest wonder and admiration on account of its size (being then the largest vessel ever built), and the splendor of its decorations, for a period of about forty years, was at length accidentally consumed by fire, in 1553, in the very yard in which it was built.

It was not, however, until the reign of Elizabeth that the dockyard of Woolwich became of any importance. That wise princess, seeing the value of a well-appointed navy to other nations, resolved to pay more attention to her own; and as the success of a naval expedition depends, not only on the talents and enterprise of its commanders, but in a great measure on the build and equipment of the vessels, all that the experience of the seaman and the theory of the mathematician could suggest for the improvement of naval architecture, was put to the test in the specimens which emanated from the dockyard at Woolwich.

The superior build of the vessels constructed at this place raised it to considerable importance, and it was from here that most of the ships celebrated in the victories of Drake and Hawkins, and in the voyages of Cavendish and Frobisher, were launched.

It was in the reign of Charles I., after the dockyard had been greatly enlarged and the interior economy much improved, that the magnificent vessel, "The Sovereign of the Seas," was built (p. 311). She was registered for sixteen hundred and thirtyseven tons; measured in length two hundred and thirty-two feet, in breadth fortyeight feet, and in height from the keel to the highest point of the stern seventy-six feet. After having signalized herself in several actions during nearly sixty years, she was at last destroyed by fire at Chatham, whither she had proceeded to undergo some repairs, in the year 1696.

The dockyard increased as the importance of the navy became more apparent to succeeding sovereigns, and at the present time is of very considerable extent. It commences at the village of New Charlton on the west, and extends nearly a mile along the banks of the river to the east, at which part it closely approaches the arsenal. It contains two large dry docks for the repair of vessels, and an extensive basin, four hundred feet long, and nearly three hundred in breadth, capable of receiving vessels of the largest size. There are also extensive ranges of timber-sheds, storehouses, several masthouses, a large pond for masts, and others for boats. And as all the iron instruments used in the construction of ships are manufactured at this place, a large building has been erected for the purpose, provided with steam-engines of great power. The anchors, many of immense size, which have been cast and finished here, are disposed in long ranges, ready for instant employment.

Each department is under the superintendence of a separate officer, the whole being under the direction of the board of admiralty. A commissioner, the masterattendant, the storekeeper, and the principal officers of the other departments, reside on the spot, several houses having been erected for their accommodation.

Let us now proceed to the repository and rotunda (see engraving). It is situated on the margin of Woolwich common, to the south of the town. The ground around the building is much broken, and intersected with two or three pieces of water, which afford the artillery corps opportunities for the practice of many manœuvres likely to be brought into operation during war. Embankments and fortifications have also been constructed, mounted with the various species of ordnance employed in the defence of besieged places, at which the men are exercised. They are often directed to form pontoons across the ponds, and practised in the methods adopted for the raising of sunken guns, &c.

The rotunda was originally erected in Carlton gardens by George IV., when prince regent, for the reception of the allied sovereigns on the occasion of their visit to England, in 1814, and was subsequently presented by him to the garrison at Woolwich, where it was removed to become a depository for models connected with military and naval architecture. Its form is a regular polygon of twenty-four sides, having a diameter of one hundred and twenty feet, with the roof ascending in the form of a cone to more than fifty feet.

The building, having a tent-like form, was at first wholly unsupported in the centre; but not being considered perfectly secure, a pillar was subsequently erected as a central support.

The interior is crowded with military weapons of offence and defence. In the

centre, tastefully arranged around the pillar, are old English weapons, as the ancient matchlock, the wheel-lock, two-handed swords, early cannon, shields, bills and partisans, pikes, helmets, cuirases, &c., together with many trophies from foreign powers. Above these is a beautiful suit of armor, said to have belonged to the chivalrous Bayard.

Plymouth is another important naval station, besides being a thriving commercial town. It is situated at the head of the capacious haven of Plymouth sound, in Devonshire, on the east side of a tongue of land formed by the estuaries of the rivers Plym and Tamar, which here empty themselves into the sea. Essentially connected with Plymouth is Devonport, situated in the immediate neighborhood, and properly an appendage of Plymouth, though of late years distinguished by a separate name. The united population, in 1831, was 75,534. Plymouth having gradually risen from the condition of a small fishing-town to its present size, most of the streets are irregular, and by no means elegant or commodious; but the new parts of the town are handsome, and are spreading rapidly.

Plymouth carries on a considerable trade in timber with North America and the Baltic, and an intercourse has been established with the West Indies. The coastingtrade is chiefly with London, Newcastle, Newport (in Wales), and Bristol. The chief imports are coal, culm, corn, wine, and timber.

It is as a naval and military station that the town is chiefly distinguished. Situated upon a capacious and secure natural harbor, near the mouth of the English channel, it is well adapted for this purpose, fleets having a ready exit from it upon any expedition toward the Mediterranean, the Indies, or America. The dock, which is situ ated at Devonport (formerly on that account called Plymouth dock), extends along the bank of the Tamar, in a curve three thousand five hundred feet in length, with a width at the middle, where it is greatest, of sixteen hundred feet, and at each extremity one thousand, thus including an area of ninety-six acres. Of the fortifications connected with Plymouth, the most remarkable is the citadel, which was erected in the reign of Charles II. It is placed in a most commanding situation on the east end of the height called the Hoe, which shelters the town from the sea. It is exceedingly well fortified, and is constantly garrisoned. It contains the residence of the governor of Plymouth, and barracks for five or six hundred troops. The victualling office, an important establishment, containing storehouses, granaries, baking-houses, and cellars, for supplying the meat, bread, and liquors, required to provision the vessels of the royal navy, occupies a splendid building in the adjacent township of East Stonehouse.

The port of Plymouth is distinguished for its capacity, and the security which it affords in its several parts. It is capable of containing two thousand sail, and is one of the finest harbors in the world. It consists of three divisions or harbors: Sutton pool, immediately adjoining the town; Catwater, an extensive sheet, formed by the estuary of the Plym; and the harbor or bay of Hamoaze. At the mouth of these harbors the great bay of Plymouth sound forms an excellent roadstead, which is now completely secure by the erection of the breakwater across its entrance. This work is an insulated mole, or vast heap of stones, stretching across the entrance of the sound so far as to leave a passage for vessels at either end, and opposing a barrier to the heavy swell rolling in from the Atlantic. Its length is seventeen hundred yards, the eastern extremity being about sixty fathoms to the eastward of St. Carlos's rocks, and the western three hundred west of the Shovel rock. The middle part is continued in a straight line one thousand yards, and the two extremities incline toward the northern side of the straight part in an angle of about one hundred and twenty degrees. This great work was begun August 12, 1812. During its progress convincing proofs of its efficacy and utility were afforded. The expense of erecting the breakwater is estimated at one million one hundred and seventy-one thousand one hundred pounds.

The Eddystone Lighthouse is an important appendage to Plymouth harbor, the entrance of which would, without this beacon, be extremely dangerous (see engra ving, giving a view of the eastern side).

The public buildings of Plymouth are, the customhouse, the exchange, the Athe næum, the public library, the theatre, the classical and mathematical school, the mechanics' institute, &c.

Of the two parish churches, the most ancient is that of St. Andrew, built previous to 1291, a handsome building of the Gothic order. Charles's church is also a Gothic

structure. Among the charitable institutions which are about thirty, are a workhouse, a public dispensary, an eye-infirmary, a lying-in charity, a public subscription school, almshouses, bible societies, &c.

CHAPTER XX.

THE best-built town in England, and a favorite residence of the higher classes, either for recreation, or the pursuit of health, is Bath. It is situated in Somersetshire, at the distance of about one hundred and eight miles west from London, and lies in a valley divided by the river Avon. Though of great antiquity, the place came into notice and rose to importance in comparatively modern times, in consequence of possessing certain hot mineral springs, considered to be efficacious in the cure of different complaints. The water issues from the ground at a temperature of from 109° to 117° of Fahrenheit, and the quantity discharged daily from the various outlets is 184,320 gallons. The water has been analyzed, and is found to contain sulphate of lime, with considerably lesser proportions of muriate of soda, sulphate of soda, carbonic acid, and carbonate of lime, also a minute portion of silica and oxyde of iron. It is stimulating in its properties, and is said to be most successful in cases of palsy, rheumatism, gout, and cutaneous diseases. Over the springs there are ele

gant pump-rooms and baths. The modern parts of the town are built as streets, crescents, and squares, the houses being of polished sandstone, and in some instances constructed with much taste. Living is expensive in the town during the fashionable season. The population in 1831, was 38,063.

Cheltenham competes with Bath as a fashionable resort for valetudinarians, real or imaginary. It is situated in Gloucestershire, eighty-eight miles west from London, and thirty-nine and a half northeast of Bath. The situation is exceedingly delightful, being remarkably well sheltered by the range of Coteswold hills on the northeast, and having an exposure to the south and west; it is on this account preferred to all other towns in England by persons from India and other hot climates. Besides being attractive from the salubrity and mildness of its climate, Cheltenham, like Bath, possesses mineral springs reckoned of value for medical purposes, but particularly for invalids with diseased livers. There are several springs, some of which are chalybeate, but their properties and strength are liable to variation. Cheltenham is laid out in a very ornamental manner, with walks and pleasure-grounds, and may be described as perhaps the prettiest town of a small size in England. As in Bath, the expense of living is very great. The population of the parish in 1831 was 22,942, about one half of whom belonged to the town.

Brighton, on the coast of Sussex, has risen into importance within the last sixty years, partly in consequence of a beach remarkably well adapted for sea-bathing, and partly from its attracting the regard of George, prince of Wales, who reared a marine palace here, in a Chinese style. The population in 1831 was 40,634. Brighton is an elegant and airy town, with much to render it agreeable as a place of residence for persons in affluent circumstances. The Steyne, a spacious and beautiful lawn, nearly surrounded by houses, the marine parade, and several terraces overlooking the sea, furnish delightful walks; while the baths, theatre, assembly rooms, &c., form additional attractions. There is a regular intercourse with Dieppe by steam-vessels. The chain-pier is a remarkable object: it was erected in 1823 at an expense of £30,000, and is 1,134 feet long.

Among other towns of this class, we can only notice Herne Bay, Margate, and Ramsgate, situated on the coast of Kent, and which may be considered as the chief places of summer recreation for the inhabitants of London, to and from which steamers ply daily. Herne Bay is a place of recent date, rising into notice, and possessing a pleasant open beach, with space for promenading. Margate is a town of a much earlier date, situated in an open part of a bold line of chalky cliffs, and consists of a confused cluster of streets, with some lines of building of a more airy description in the environs, The town is well supplied with shops, bazars, and places of amusement, during the bathing season; it also possesses numerous respectable boardinghouses, where, on moderate terms, a person may reside for a short time in a very agreeable manner. At these houses, parties of pleasure are made up for the day, the expense of cars and refreshments during the excursion being defrayed by general contribution. Within a mile or two along the coast is another summer retreat called Broadstairs; and beyond it, at an equal distance, is Ramsgate. The chalk cliffs here, which are bold and precipitous, afford a high and salubrious position for the chief part of the town, and beneath there is a fine tract of sandy beach for the use of bathers. The harbor at Ramsgate is one of the best in England, and affords shelter to all kinds of vessels in the Downs.

CHAPTER XXI.

CATHEDRAL TOWNS.

Or this class of towns we can here only advert to those of more than usual impor

tance.

Canterbury, the capital of Kent, is a city of great antiquity, having formed the seat of an ecclesiastical establishment to St. Augustine, the apostle of Christianity to Britain in the sixth century. In the tenth and eleventh centuries, the town derived