THE 
MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 
[6 of Vol. 56. 
No. 390.] 
JANUARY I, 1824. 
SIR RICHARD STEELE’s COTTAGE AT HAVERSTOCK HILL. 
Tuts small cottage, emblematical of the fortunes of a man of genius, stands midway 
between Camden-town and Hampstead. Till within. these two years, it remained in 
its original state, but it is now converted into two small ornamented cottages, as sleeping- 
boxes for citizens. Previously to Steele's time, it had also served as a retreat for Sir 
Charles Sediey. Opposite to it, the famous Mother or Moll King built three substantial 
houses ; and in a'small villa behind them resided her favourite pupil, Nancy dawson. In 
Steele’s days Hampstead itself was the periodical resort of the wits; and a tavern, no 
longer in existence, and lately the workhouse, is vften mentioned in the writings of the 
period. An apartment in the cottage was till lately called the Philosopher's Room, 
probably the same in which Stecle used to write... In Hogarth’s “ March to Finchley,” 
this cottage and Mother King’s house.are seen in the distance ; aud the last occupant, a 
very aged milkman, told the writer that he well remembered this famons march by his 
cottage, the men being mostly drunk, in great disorder, and accompanied by hundreds 
of trulls. Coeval with the “ Spectator” and “‘ Tatler,” this cottage must have been-a 
delightful retreat; as, at that time, there were not a score buildings between it and 
Oxford-street and Montagu and Bloomsbury Houses. Now continuous rows or streets 
extend from London even to this spot. 
lw sere CRC a se a 
For the Monthly Maguzine. 
PROPOSAL for an EAST-INDIA STEAM- 
MAIL, oF @ REGULAR COMMUNICATION 
between ENGLAND and BOMBAY, in 
THIRTY-ONE DAYS; by HWARKISON 
WILKINSON, F.K.C.S. LONDON. 
Soon shall thy arm, unconquer’d steam! afar 
Drug the slow barge, or drive the rapid car, 
Or, on wide waving wings expanded, bear 
The flying chariot through the fields of air. 
Darwin, 
HE maritime states of Europe 
for several centuries have carried 
MontuLty Maa. No. 390. 
on an extensive commerce with India, 
by way of the Cape of Good Hope; 
along, dangerous, and circuitous, voy- 
age, attended with great personal 
hazard and waste of capital. Improve- 
nent in navigation and ship-building 
have, in some measure, diminished the 
evil, yet still it is one of magnitude ; as 
a voyage is seldom effected in less than 
twelve months, all the advantages 
arising from a short voyage over a long 
one, of expedition over delay, of com- 
3Q fort 
