HYDE PARK 45 



of all ages, of miniature yachts of all sizes. There are the 

 large boats with skilful masters, which sail triumphantly 

 across the placid waters, and there are the small craft that 

 spend days on the weeds, or founder amid "waves that run 

 inches high," like the good steamship Puffin in Anstey's 

 amusing poem. When the weeds are cut twice every 

 summer, many pathetic little wrecks are raised to the sur- 

 face, perchance to be restored to the expectant owners. 



Skating was an amusement in Hyde Park even before 

 the Serpentine existed, and the older ponds often pre- 

 sented a gay scene in winter, although it was on the 

 canal in St. James's Park that the use of the modern 

 skate is first recorded in Charles II. 's time. 



During the last hundred years Hyde Park has 

 frequently been disturbed by mobs and rioters, until 

 it has become the recognised place in which to air 

 popular discontent in any form, or to ventilate any 

 grievance. The first serious riot took place at the 

 funeral of Queen Caroline, in 1821. To avoid any 

 popular demonstration of feeling, it was arranged that 

 the funeral procession should not pass through the City. 

 The Queen had died at Brandenburgh House, and was 

 to be interred at Brunswick. Instead of going straight 

 by way of Knightsbridge and Piccadilly, a circuitous 

 route by Kensington, Bayswater, Islington, and Mile 

 End was planned. On reaching Kensington Church, 

 the mob prevented the turn towards Bayswater being 

 taken. Hyde Park was thronged with an excited crowd, 

 trying to force the escort to go the way it wished. At 

 Cumberland Gate quite a severe encounter took place, 

 in which the Life Guards twice charged the mob. 

 Further down Oxford Street were barricades, and to avoid 

 further rioting the procession eventually had to take the 



