74 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



from London to Kew in 1817, bemoans the absence of 

 the gay throng : — 



" My spirits sank, and a tear started into my eyes, as 

 I brought to mind those crowds of beauty, rank, and 

 fashion which, until within these few years, used to be 

 displayed in the centre Mall of this Park on Sunday 

 evenings during spring and summer. How often in my 

 youth had I been the delighted spectator of the enchanted 

 and enchanting assemblage. Here used to promenade, 

 for one or two hours after dinner, the whole British 

 world of gaiety, beauty, and splendour. Here could be 

 seen in one moving mass, extending the whole length of 

 the Mall, 5000 of the most lovely women in this country 

 of female beauty, all splendidly attired, and accompanied 

 by as many well-dressed men. What a change, I ex- 

 claimed, has a few years wrought in these once happy 

 and cheerful personages ! How many of those who on 

 this very spot then delighted my eyes are now mouldering 

 in the silent grave ! " 



About 1730 Queen Caroline, who was then busy with 

 the alterations in Hyde Park, turned her attention to what 

 is now known as the Green Park also. It had all formed 

 part of St. James's Park, and was known as the Upper Park 

 or Little St. James's Park. It was enclosed by a brick wall 

 in 1667 by Charles II., who stocked it with deer. In the 

 centre of the Park an ice-house was made, at that time 

 a great novelty in this country, although well known in 

 France and Italy. In his poem on St. James's Park 

 Waller alludes to it : — 



*' Yonder the harvest of cold months laid up 

 Gives a fresh coolness to the royal cup ; 

 There ice like crystal firm and never lost 

 Tempers hot July with December's frost." 



