The inhabitants are though few yet very respectable and honest, and we know from our having seen other places, that Egham, from its retired situation, is free from many of the vices and corruptions to which large towns and seaports are subject.

We forgot to mention that we had our tutor's brother, Mr. Joseph Hopkins, living with us, during the time we were under his superintendence. He is an excellent penman, and by following his directions we improved our handwriting very much, and by constantly conversing with him we made a more rapid progress in the English language than we otherwise might have done, in addition to which he was a most agreeable companion.

CHAPTER XIX.

CHATHAM DOCK YARD.

WE paid a visit to the Queen's Dock Yard at Chatham, accompanied by our kind friend John Seppings, Esq., who introduced us to Mr. Stone, the then master shipwright, and Messrs. Moore and Laire, the assistant master shipwrights. We went from London Bridge by a steam boat to Gravesend for two shillings each, and from Gravesend to Chatham in a very easy van as they called it, for two shillings each. The ride from London to Chatham by the coach is very beautiful; the view from Shooters' Hill and from Dartford Hill, is very fine, and the view from Northfleet to Gravesend of the Thames, with the never failing supply of ships and vessels sailing thereon, is most pleasing. In all England we are told there is not a prettier ride than from Gravesend to Chatham. Upon the top of Stroud Hill, the view of the towns of Stroud, Rochester, Chatham, and Brompton, with the river Medway, the Barracks, the Naval Hospital, and the Dock Yard and Gun

Wharf is very good, added to which, that fine old building Rochester Castle, the Cathedral, and the Bridge, and Baths, and the pretty Church of Frendsbury, on the left hand with St. Margaret's, Rochester, on the right, and towering above all the ramparts and fortifications of Chatham, the Citadel; all these combined, present as beautiful a sight of its sort, as is to be met with. We have subsequently rode over this ground always with pleasure and often. When we are in Bombay, will our thoughts return to those who are dwelling within the view that is to be seen from Stroud Hill.

Nearly all the roads out of London, after you have got out of the smoke of London, present very fine views, and then the roads are so good, that with the good horses and carriages you almost appear to fly over them, so swiftly and easily do you pass along. We were very much pleased with our visit, and we aferwards resided and studied our profession of shipbuilding there, under the able instruction of John Fincham, Esq., who became the master shipwright upon the death of Mr. Stone. We have, therefore, thought it proper to procure as correct an account as we could of that large naval establishment.

This celebrated Dock Yard which has been considerably enlarged, and received many additional improvements within these few years, occupies an extensive area on the south east bank of

the river Medway. Including the Ordnance wharf, it measures about a mile in length, and is surrounded by a high wall, and defended on the land side by strong fortifications, principally of modern origin. The entrance is by a spacious gateway, over which are the royal arms, flanked by embattled towers. The houses of the captain, superintendant, and of the principal officers, are large and handsome buildings, and the various offices for managing the different departments of the yard, especially those which were erected in 1811, for the principal clerks and officers, are extremely neat and commodious, and well become the opulence of the English nation, and the importance of the navy. In the storehouses, one of which is 660 ft. in length, are deposited prodigious quantities of sails, rigging, hemp, pitch, tar, resin, and all other necessaries for the equipment and building of ships. The coils of cordage, and of chain cables, the heaps of blocks, and innumerable articles requisite for the service, are arranged in exact order, so that in times of emergency, they can all be taken out without confusion, and every department being under the superintendance of proper officers, the business is so much accelerated that even a first rate man of war, has often been equipped for sea in a few weeks. The principal mast house is nearly 240 ft. long, and 120 ft. wide; some of the masts deposited here are 3 ft. in diameter, and 40 yards in length; the timbers

to form the masts, are constantly kept floating in two spacious basins constructed for that purpose. The new rope house is 1110 ft. long, and nearly 50 ft. wide, in which cables of all dimensions are twisted, some of which are 120 fathom long, and 22 inches in circumference; the labour of making these cables is partly executed by machines.

The sail loft is 70 yards long, and the other workshops are of proportional extent. The wet docks are four in number, all of which are sufficiently capacious for first rates, two of which are roofed over. There is also a stone dock upon a much larger scale than any of the others. There also are six slips on which new ships are constantly built, all of which have roofs over them that cost about £3000. each. The smith's shop (where anchors of all sizes, some of which weigh nearly five tons, are constantly made) contains about forty forges; the fires are blown by a blast of air from a wheel turned swiftly in an adjoining building. The dock yard chapel built for the accommodation of the officers, artificers, and shipwrights and their families, was completed in 1811, and is reported to have cost upwards of £9000. It is a neat plain structure of brick, and the interior is extremely light, elegant, and pleasing.

The Royal dock yards are all of them similarly supplied with an abundance of valuable timber and stores, but as we had constant daily opportunities of visiting Chatham yard, we are more