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at the side of it, against the now demolished “ Nassau House.” 
From the foot of these stairs a path led along the river bank, 
skirting Harrison’s Gardens, to a large boat-house, which for 
many years stood at the mouth of the race of the now 
vanished Monks’ Mill. South of this house steps gave access 
to the ‘‘ Passage-Boat,” which plied across the river to the 
inclined plane still existing near the site of the gardens. 
The various pleasure resorts inspired some poets, and many 
would-be poets. Anstey in his New Bath Guide (1766) depicts 
‘my Lord Raggamuffenn”’ inviting “all the people at Bath toa 
general breakfast ” at ‘‘ the place cross the river.” 
“He said it would greatly our pleasure promote 
If we all for Spring-Gardens set out in a boat: ’’ 
“ We all sallied forth in the wind and the rain ; 
Here a cap and a hat, there a cardinal blown, 
While his Lordship, embroider’d and powder’d all o’er, 
Was bowing, and handing the Ladies ashore.”’ 
“The Company made a most brilliant appearance, 
And ate bread and butter with great perseverance ; 
All the chocolate, too, that my Lord set before ’em, 
The ladies despatch’d with the utmost decorum. 
Soft musical numbers were heard all around, 
The horns and the clarions echoing sound : 
Sweet were the strains, as od’rous gales that blow 
O’er fragrant banks, where pinks and roses grow.” 
Spring-Gardens, with its fishponds, etc.; the way Anstey 
pictured the company reaching the ferry, and the ” Passage- 
boat ”’ itself, are shewn on Basnett’s map, 1771(?). On this 
the way from Orange Grove is noted as the ‘ Spring Garden 
Stairs,” the stairs appear on Master’s maps of 1795 and 1808 ; 
and the last vestiges of them have not long disappeared. 
The Chronicle, May 7th, 1767, contains :— 
“An Invitation to Spring-Gardens 
Humbly dedicated to the Dancers of Cotillons 
By a Gentleman. 
Improv’d by soft showers, the shrubs and the flowers, 
New blown to Spring-Gardens invite us ; 
Where freely we range, and partake of each change 
Kind Nature can give to delight us. 
Then approach ye gay nymphs, and renouncing all care, 
Each party in number increase ; 
The boat stands all ready, the rope is quite steady, 
Your passage a penny a piece. 
