is 146 feet in length, and 42 in breadth, exclusive of a colonnade, of the Tuscan order, intended for a playplace, and shelter for the boys in bad weather, which is 180 feet long, and 20 feet broad.

The school-room is 100 feet long, and 25 broad, capable of containing 200 boys. The apartments of the boys are fitted up with hammocks instead of beds. Here are rooms for the guardian, nurses, and other attendants; and, at a smali distance, a good house for the schoolmaster.

Present Establishment of Greenwich Hospital.

This establishment consists of a Master and Governor, a Lieutenant-governor, four Captains, and eight Lieutenants, with a variety of officers of the hospital; 2410 pensioners; 149 nurses; and 3000 out-pensioners. The number of persons residing within the walls, including officers, &c. amounts to nearly 2600.

The Pensioners within the Hospital have the following allowances: every boatswain, 2s. 6d. mates 1s. 6d. private man 1s. per week for pocket-money; and every man indiscriminately, the following diet one loaf of bread of sixteen ounces, and two quarts of beer every day; one pound of mutton on Sunday and Tuesday; one pound of beef on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday; and pease-soup, cheese, and butter, on Wednesday and Friday. For cloathing, they are allowed, in the space of two years, a blue suit of cloaths, a hat, three pair of blue yarn hose, three pair of shoes, and four shirts.

The out-pensioners are allowed each 77. per annum, for which they have tickets granted thein, enabling them to receive it quarterly at the hospital, or from collectors of the customs, or excise, if they reside at a distance.

The nurses are the widows of seamen, and must be under the age of forty-five at the time of admission. Their allowances are as follows: Wages, each el. ayear. Those who attend the sick, 167. 4s, such as look

after the helpless pensioners, 141. 14s. and such as are in the service of the boys, 157. a-year. Their provisions and bedding are the same as those of the pen sioners; they have each a grey serge gown and petticoat yearly. When superannuated they are allowed 201. a-year.

We have entered thus at large into this establishment, because it is the most noble and complete of its kind in the world.

Chelsea Hospital.

This is a royal hospital for invalid soldiers, situated on the northern bank of the river, about a mile above the western extremity of the town. It is a handsome building of brick, ornamented with stone; having two main fronts, one facing towards Hyde-park, and the other to the river. The former is simple in its style, consisting of a centre and wings, in a straight line, and having no other ornament than a plain portico. Before it is a very extensive inclosed area, having avenues, planted with trees. The front next to the Thames is more decorated, and has a very elegant and pleasing appearance. The principal parts form three sides of a square, the centre building having a fine portico, with a piazza on each side; and the other two, noble and corresponding porticos. From the centre building, extend wings, covering two spacious quadrangles; the whole front of the hospital being 804 feet. The plan of this edifice was the design of Sir Christopher Wren.

The area, formed by the principal buildings on this 'side, terminates with a dwarf ballustrade, beyond which are spacious gardens, extending the whole length of the hospital, along the river, with which they communicate by stairs.

The gardens are laid out in a dull taste, in straight lines; and are beside blemished with this extraordinary absurdity, that, although bounded in front by the noble expanse of the Thames, they contain within them twe insignificant canals

Chelsea Hospital, with its gardens, &c. covers above forty acres of ground.

The interior of this hospital is in a simple but elegant style. In the centre are the chapel and the great dininghall. The former is a large plain building; the floor paved with marble, alternately of black and white flags. The latter is a fine room, decorated at the upper end with paintings by Cooke, representing Charles II. with various devices, expressive of various attributes.

The affairs of this establishment are managed by Commissioners, consisting of some of the great officers of state, especially in the war department; a Governor and Lieutenant-governor. The present number of pensioners amounts to 503; and of out-pensioners to no less than 10,000. The former are provided with all necessaries; the latter have each 121. per annum.

Chelsea Hospital was begun by Charles II. continued by James II. and finished by William III.

A new building, upon an extensive plan, is nearly complete, situated below Sloane-square, Chelsea, intended as a Royal Military Asylum for educating about 500 children of non-commissioned officers and soldiers; to erect and support which, parliament has granted a sum of money, and each regiment contributes one day's pay towards it.

Christ's Hospital.

This is a royal foundation, for the maintenance and education of poor orphans, and other poor children, situated a little to the north of Newgate-street. On its scite anciently stood the house of the Grey-friars, or Mendicants, of the order of St. Francis, founded by John Ervin, mercer, about 1225; and part of the present edifice is a cloister of the convent.

It is a very extensive building, consisting of various irregular parts. The south-front, adjoining to Newgate-street, is the best, being ornamented with Doric pilasters, placed on pedestals. In an area, before Christ's-church, to which there is a passage from New.

gate-street, this front may be fully seen.

The cloisters

serve as a thoroughfare, and a place for the boys to play in.

The great hall is a spacious room, in which the boys dine and sup. The present apartment was built after the great fire of London, when the former was burnt, at the sole charge of Sir John Frederick, Alderman of London, and cost 5000/. On one side, at the upper end, is a prodigious large picture, by Verrio, repre senting James II. surrounded by his nobles, and receiving the president, governors, and many of the children of the hospital. In this picture are half-lengths of Edward VI. and Charles II. which are represented hang-ing as portraits. On the same side, at the lower end, is a painting, representing Edward VI. delivering the charter of the hospital to the lord-mayor and aldermen, who are in their robes, and kneeling. Near the king is the good bishop Ridley. In this hall is a fine organ. In the winter, after Christmas, an anthem is sung, in the evening, about six o'clock, by the boys, accompanied by the organ; which is usually attended by a large, but select company, admitted by tickets. The stranger will find no difficulty in obtaining one of these.; and this is a ceremony worthy of his notice.

In a spacious apartment in which the governors meet, called the Court Room, are portraits of Edward VI. and of the chief benefactors to the hospital. The portrait of Edward is by Holbein, an unquestionable original, and a very fine painting.

In a room, entirely lined with stone, are kept the records, deeds, and other writings, of the hospital. One of the books is a curious piece of antiquity. It is the earliest record of the hospital; and contains the an them sung by the first children, very beautifully illuminated, according to the custom of the time.

The writing school is a handsome modern building of brick; supported on pillars, forining a spacious covered walk. The grammar-school is a plain brick building, more recently erected,

This hospital originated in the following manner : The convent of the Grey-friars, on the scite of which it rose, being surrendered to Henry VIII. that monarch, a little before his' death, founded Christ-church Hospital, granting the monastery to the City, for the relief of the poor. Other lands were granted to the City for the same purpose by Henry. But the object being neglected, Edward VI. at the instance of Ridley, Bishop of London, sent a letter to the Lord-mayof, inviting his assistance in relieving the poor; and, shortly afterwards, a regular system of relief for the metropolis was formed, of which this hospital made one principal part. The poor were distinguished by classes. St. Bartholc, mew's and St. Thomas's Hospitals were destined to relieve the diseased; Bridewell to maintain and correct the idle; and Christ's Hospital to maintain and educate the young and helpless; and the king incorporated the governors of these several hospitals, by the title of The Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of London, Governors of the Possessions, Revenues, and Goods, of the Hospitals of Edward VI. King of England.

This monarch also granted Christ's-hospital, lands to the yearly value of 600l. belonging to the Savoy; and added other benefactions, the last being his li cence to take lands in mortmain, to the value yearly of 4000 marks.

In 1552, the house of the Grey-friars was first prepared for the reception of the children; and in November, in the same year, nearly 400 were admitted.

Charles II. founded a mathematical school in this house, for forty boys, to which he granted 1000l. per annum, payable out of the exchequer for seven years. Of these boys ten are yearly put out apprentices to merchant vessels, and in their place ten more received upon the foundation.

Another mathematical school, for thirty-seven other boys, was afterwards founded by Mr. Travers, but these boys are not obliged to go to sea.