272 ' European Agriculture 



In speaking of the parks in the country, I surely ought not to pass in 

 silence the magnificent parks of London, as truly magnificent they must 

 be called, including St. James's Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens, 

 Hyde Park, and Regent's Park. 



Kensington Gardens, exclusive of private gardens, within its enclo- 

 sures contains 227 acres ; Hyde Park, 380 acres ; Green Park connected 

 with St. James's Park, 56 acres ; St. James's Park, 87 acres ; Regent's 

 Park, 372 acres ; terraces and canals connected with Regent's Park, 80 

 acres — making a grand total of 1202 acres. To these should be added 

 the large, elegant, and highly embellished public squares in various parts 

 of London, and even in the most crowded parts of the old city, which, in 

 all, probably exceed 100 acres. These magnificent parks, it must be re- 

 membered, are in the midst of a populous town, including upwards of 

 ttvo millions of inhabitants, and are open to the public for exercise, health, 

 and amusement. They are, at the same time, to a degree stocked with 

 sheep and cows. 



It is impossible to over-estimate the value to health of these open 

 spaces, and the amount of recreation and rational enjoyment which they 

 afford to this vast population. In each of the large parks — Kensington, 

 Hyde Park, and St. James's — there are extensive bodies of water, arti- 

 ficial lakes, in some places adorned with elegant bridges, and in St. 

 James's Park studded with pretty islands and shrubbery. Here large 

 varieties of aquatic birds are kept, to the great amusement of thousands 

 of children, who coax them to the shore with crumbs of bread and cake, 

 the birds being so tame as almost to feed oat of their hands, and for the 

 instruction of older heads. There is likewise an exceedingly beautiful 

 and tasteful cottage of gotbic architecture, at the end of the lake in St. 

 James's Park, for the residence of the keeper of the birds. There are 

 always to be found in some parts of the parks, or at the keepers' different 

 lodges, some cows kept, where a glass of milk, unadulterated and fresh 

 from the fountain, can be had for those persons, who for health or plea- 

 sure, seek the delicious beverage in its purity. The numbers and tame- 

 ness of the birds in these pleasure grounds is a beautiful circumstance, 

 which it might be well to consider in some other quarters. Their safety 

 and lives are held sacred ; and the birds gratefully and, to the feeling 

 heart, delightfully acknowledge this kindness by the most expressive con- 

 fidence, alighting fearlessly in the path before you, as though they would 

 invite you to cultivate their acquaintance. Man, in general, is a great 

 savage, and a ferocious and insatiate animal of prey. He makes continu- 

 al war upon many of the animals below him, not for subsistence merely, 

 but for pleasure. His conduct towards the brute creation shows, too oft- 

 en, how certain he is to abuse unlimited power, and conveys a strong ar- 

 gument against despotic authority. Indeed, his war upon the birds mere- 

 ly as matter of sport, always makes me look upon him with a degree of 

 shuddering, and feel that ai man who can find his pleasure in the wanton 

 destruction of little birds, the most humble of all animals in their claims, 

 the most delicate, innocent, and pure in all their tastes and habits, and 

 comparatively useless for food, puts himself beyond the pale of humanity, 

 and could scarcely, ^vith safety, be trusted with a child. It were worth 

 considering always, how many of our pleasures are purchased at a most 

 bitter expense of happiness and life to others ! Two or three days' cours- 

 ing, manly and healthful as the exercise on horseback undoubtedly is, and 



