case of sickness, no other persons are to reside or lodge there. No person can be admitted as a pensioner under sixty years of age. Seven trustees of the corporation of Turkey merchants have the direction of this hospital, and the nomination of pensioners.

The rev. Moses Browne, author of Piscatory Eclogues,' 'All-Bedevilled,' and other pieces, was a chaplain to this college, and was buried here, at the age of eighty-two, in September, 1787. The manor-farm of Old Court, which is supposed to have been the original site of the manor of Greenwich, was one of the estates bequeathed to this foundation by Sir John Morden; who having purchased the unexpired term of a lease of it from the heirs of Sir William Boreman, in 1699, procured, in the same year, a grant from the crown, of the perpetuity *.

WOODLAND HOUSE, is the villa of John Julius Angerstein, Esq. on the north side of Blackheath, toward Charlton. It is faced with a beautiful stucco. The front has a handsome portico, enriched on each side by elegant sta tues, representing the young Apollo and the Dancing Fawn. Immediately over each niche is a circular bassorelievo, with a semicircular window in the centre. The gardens communicate with a paddock, and command the same beautiful prospect as Westcomb Park, of Shooter's Hill, and the Thames. The interior is fitted up in a handsome stile; among the pictures is Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy, by Sir Joshua Reynolds; the Venus, by the some artist; a beautiful landscape, by Cuyp; and a portrait of Sir Peter Paul Rubens, by Vandyke.. The botanic garden has been greatly improved, by extensive collections of curious plants and heaths.

Other seats on Blackheath, are East Combe, and West Combe; the latter, originally belonging to the Abbey of Westminster, caine into the family of John Lambard, alderman of London, 1553, whose son, WILLIAM LAM. BARD, Esq. made it his residence. It was latterly the retirement of the duchess of Bolton, (formerly Miss Lavinia.

*Lysons, Hasted, Beauties of England, &c.

Fenton

Fenton, and Gay's Polly Peacham, when the Beggar's
Opera was first performed). The dutchess died here in

1760.

3

CHARLTON is a village situated to the north of Blackheath, and near the six mile stone. The manor, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, was divided into two moities, and held by two brothers. William I. gave the whole to the bishop of Baieux. It afterwards was possessed by Robert Bloet, bishop of Lincoln, 1092; he bestowed it on the prior and monks of Bermondsey. At the suppression it came to the crown. James I. in 1604, g.anted it in fee to John earl of Mar, who, in 1606, sold it to Sir James Erskine for 2000l.; it was resold next to Sir Adam Newton, who died in 1629; he empowered his executors to enlarge and beautify Charlton church, leaving a sum of money on purpose; and, by a faithful performance of his Extra will, they made it one of the neatest parish churches in the county. This gentleman was one of the preceptors and secretary to Henry, the eldest son of king James; and, after the death of that promising youth, was made treasurer to Charles prince of Wales, and his secretary for that district. He was installed dean of Durham, on September 17, 1606, and held that dignity till the year 1620, when he resigned it. King James, when he created Sir Adam Newton a baronet, granted to him also the manor of Charlton. The stately mansion, which is visible from the road, was built by him. It is a noble structure, with four turrets on the top. In the dining room, according to Dr. Plot, was formerly a marble chimney-piece, so exquisitely polished, that lord Downe could see in it a robbery committed on Shooter's Hill, and, upon this discovery, the servants were sent out, who apprehended the robber. Be fore the court yard of this house is a row of cypress tress, which seem to be of great age, and are perhaps the oldest in England; beyond these is a small park, which joins to Woolwich Common. This house was some years ago the seat of Sir William Langhorn, bart. and afterwards of that truly worthy nobleman, the late earl of Eginont. This

estate,

estate, in right of his wife, was vested in Sir Thomas Spencer Wilson, of East Bourne, Sussex, bart. who died in 1798; his widow consequently is the present possessor. It was for some time the residence of the princess of Wales. One of the priors of Bermondsey obtained from king Henry III. a grant for a weekly market, with a fair yearly, upon the eve of Trinity Sunday, and two days after, for vessels and instruments of horn. The former has been disused for upwards of a century, and the latter transferred to St. Luke's day. It was formerly the scene of dissipation and riot by London apprentices and servants; but Horn Fair was partially suppressed in 1768, and does not at present exhibit any of its former absurdities. A sermon is preached in the church on that day; that fabric being dedicated to St. Luke. Within the church are several memorials for Sir Adam Newton, and other lords of the manor; brigadier general Richards; viscountess Armagh; Sir William Langhorn, bart. her husband; besides painted shields in the windows. Tradition indeed ascribes the origin of this fair to king John, who being hunting near Charlton, and separated from his attendants, entered a cottage, the mistress of which was very handsome, whom he debauched. Being detected by the husband, he was obliged to make him compensation by a grant of land from this place to Cuckold's Point, and he at the same time established a fair.

Eastward of Charlton church is an elegant villa, erected about the year 170, by the earl of Cholmondeley. Its situation is picturesque, and the views from it are extensive and beautiful.

HANGING WOOD joins this estate, through which there is a pleasant walk to Woolwich; near the end of the wood is a large and deep sand pit. "In this pit," says Mr. Lysons, "the first stratum is gravel, which varies according to the surface of the ground, from five, or six, to about fifteen feet in depth: beneath are various strata of clay, gravel, loam, and marl, running parallel; being altogether between thirty and forty feet, which cover a bed of sand of forty-three feet in depth. In the stratum of marl are found prodigious