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. 5 ' 
