500 HORTICULTURAL TOUR 



Brighton. 



Oct. 4. — Enjoying a fine breeze, in nine hours we an- 

 chored in Brighton roadstead. At day-light we got ashore, 

 and went to the Old Ship Inn. After passing our luggage 

 at the Custom-House, we spent the rest of the day in view- 

 ing this fishing-town or watering-place, which has been 

 raised to celebrity by the circumstance of the Prince Re- 

 gent frequently residing here. The Pavilion fell greatly 

 short of our expectations ; but we could judge only of its 

 general appearance and its local situation ; for, notwith- 

 standing that the Prince was absent, we could not obtain 

 access even to the pleasure-grounds, far less to the interior 

 of the mansion. The natural scenery here seemed to us 

 destitute of any striking feature ; no steep rocks jutting 

 out in the sea, and no extensive woods forming a back 

 ground : the shore, at this time, appeared bare, tame, and 

 monotonous, enlivened only by some mackrel-boats drawn 

 up the gravelly beach, and by two or three pleasure-yachts 

 at anchor, with their pendants displayed. But the Prince 

 of Wales often evinced that he possessed good taste ; and 

 it seems probable that when he pitched on Brightelmstone, 

 the aspect of the whole place was considerably different. 

 The very attractions of royalty have, in the course of years, 

 by promoting the increase of population and of buildings, 

 deteriorated the general appearance ; they, have had the effect 

 of injuring the Pavilion in particular, by depriving it of all 

 the charms of a maritime situation : it has come to be sur- 

 rounded by houses, and no longer enjoys even a glimpse 

 of the sea. A square called the Steyne, situate near the 

 Pavilion, contains many good houses, which are generally 

 inhabited by families of the first rank. 





