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this place, where sweet variety tempts every sense to rapture.” 
“We tread o’er banks of violets, we hear soft music, and, 
where we turn our eyes, some fair innocent is smiling in the 
midst of wily dance, or delicious refreshment.” In the same 
work verses are given entitled ‘‘ The Hermite’s Addresse to 
Youthe.”” These first appeared in Archer’s Bath Chronicle of 
July roth, 1768, as ‘‘ Written in the Gardens of the Vauxhall 
at Bath.” 
Say, gentle youthe, that tread’st untouch’d with care, 
Where Nature hathe so guerdon’d Bathe’s gay scene ; 
Fedde with the songe that daunceth in the aire ; 
Mid’st fairest wealthe of Flora’s magazine ; 
‘Hathe eye or eare yet founde, thy steppes to blesse ; 
That gem of life, y’clep’d True Happinesse ? 
To the presumably gay and light-hearted patrons of a resort 
provided to facilitate their pursuit of pleasure, this enquiry 
seems hardly appropriate. The concluding lines admonish all: 
To brood o’er Follie, and . . . . . confesse 
Earth’s flatt’ring dainties prove but sweete distresse ? 
They however must have. met with popular approval, 
for long afterwards the verses are alluded to “as hanging in a 
glazed frame in the Large Room of the Gardens.” 
On the 26th of May, 1760; it was advertised that at “ Spring- 
Gardens on Thursday the 5th of June, will be a Ball. To be 
continued every Thursday during the Summer Season. To 
begin at Six-o-Clock and end Half-after Ten. The greatest 
Order and Regularity will be observed. Admittance into the 
Ball Room one Shilling each Person. N.B.—There is a large 
Bowling Green for the Diversion of Company.” On the 2nd 
of June ‘‘ the Ball that was Advertised,” ‘is postponed till 
further Notice.”’ 
Probably the introduction of formal Balls at these Gardens 
was strenuously opposed by the proprietors of the city Assembly 
Rooms, and the M.C.’s ; as although more or less impromptu 
dances were always provided for, I cannot find the more 
ceremonial Balls again advertised to take place there. 
In the absence of evidence it may be assumed that Purdie 
acquired and developed Spring-Gardens some years before 
1760. 
To modern ideas, the early way of access from the city to the 
Gardens was extremely difficult ; intending visitors used either 
the narrow Fish Cross Lane, passing through the East gate, and 
