36 



in his Clergyman's Recreation, willingly attests their skill, 

 integrity, and reputation, " so well established amongst the 

 nobility and gentry." 



Mr. London's grateful apprentice, Switzer, thus affection- 

 ately and zealously records them in his History of Garden- 

 ing, prefixed to his Iconologia: "But now let us look 

 amongst the nobility and gentry, which at this time were 

 every where busied in making and adorning their gardens 

 and plantations. To enumerate and set down the history of 

 gardening in its several particulars in this reign, would re- 

 quire a volume of itself, but will be for the most part summed 

 up in the person and character of George London, Esq. 

 Superintendant of their Majesties gardens, and Director-Ge- 

 neral of most of the gardens and plantations of Great Britain. 

 I am not well enough informed, neither is it material I should 

 go back to the birth and education of this eminent gardener; 



Girle, who will faithfully furnish such as desire these, or any other kinds of 

 rare fruit-trees, of whose fidelity in the delivery of right kinds, I have had 

 long experience in divers particulars, a virtue not common to men of that 

 profession." At this period, the space between Spittlefields and White- 

 chapel, must have consisted of gardens, and perhaps superb country houses. 

 The Earl of Devonshire had a fine house and garden near Petticoat-lane. 

 Sir W. Raleigh had one near Mile-end. Some one (I forget the author) 

 says, " On both sides of this lane (Petticoat-lane) were anciently hedges and 

 rows of elm trees, and the pleasantness of the neighbouring fields induced 

 several gentlemen to build their houses here ; among whom was the Spanish 

 Ambassador, whom Strype supposes was Gondamour." Gondamour was the 

 person to please whom (or rather that James might the more easily marry his 

 son Charles to one of the daughters of Spain, with her immense fortune) this 

 weak monarch was urged to sacrifice the life of Raleigh. 



Within one's own memory, it is painful to reflect, on the many pleasant 

 fields, neat paddocks, rural walks, and gardens, (breathing pure air) that 

 surrounded this metropolis for miles, and miles, and which are now ill ex- 

 changed for an immense number of new streets, many of them the recepta- 

 cles only of smoke and unhealthiness. 



