structed,
popularly termed "Duck Island," and of which the famous St. Evremond was
appointed a salaried governor. Charles, who was exceedingly fond of
walking, and who tired out many a courtier who tried to keep up with his
quick pace, was continually seen here amusing himself with the birds,
playing with the dogs, or feeding the ducks. On the opposite side of the
canal, three broad walks were constructed and shaded with trees, one for
coaches, the other for walking, and the central one for the game of
"Pall Mall," an athletic exercise of which the king and the gentlemen of
the day were fond. The game consisted in driving a ball through a ring
at the extremity of the walk, which had a narrow border of wood on each
side of it to keep the ball within bounds. The floor of this portion of
the park was made of mixed earth, covered with sea-sand and powdered
shells as at Versailles. The park was much secluded, except on this
side, which was that only accessible to the public in general. There,
Spring Gardens, with its bowling-greens and gaming-tables, seduced the
idle and dissipated, until the Mulberry Garden (which stood on the site
of Carlton Gardens) put forth its attractions; and which, as Evelyn
says, became "the only place of refreshment about the town for persons
of the best quality to be exceedingly cheated at." The plays of the
period abound with intrigue and adventure carried on at both places. The
Mall ceased to be the resort of royalty at the death of Charles, but it
continued to be the fashionable promenade until the close of the last
century.

[F] The house at Sandy End has been altered within the last few years.
The characteristic gables of the roof, which so well marked its age, and
display the taste of the period when it was constructed, are removed,
and the house is so much modernized as to lose the greater part of its
interest, and at first sight induce a doubt of its antiquity. The
extensive gardens still remain, and some very old houses beside it, with
a characteristic old wall bounding the King's road, inclosing some
venerable walnut trees. Three years ago, a pretty view of these old
houses, with Nell's in the back-ground, might have been obtained from
the adjacent bridge over the brook: but now a large public house, "the
Nell Gwynne," obstructs the view, a row of small "Nell Gwynne cottages"
effectually block the path, and the primitive character of the scene has
passed away for ever.

[G] In the Hist