Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

ly yield up the most ungrateful exhalations and unsavoury smells to those who choose to regale themselves in this delicious neighbourhood.

Cecil-square is well built; so are the houses in Church field; but they both turn their backs to the sea, the sight of which one would suppose to be one of the principal attractions which bring summer-visitors to this place.

The narrow passage, leading from High-street to Cecil-square and the Assembly-rooms, is dangerous both to foot-passengers and to those in carriages, and serious accidents have often happened there.

It is an unpardonable neglect in those who have the management of

these

13

these things (the principal part of the natives who are always resident) do not contrive that the new-improved parts of the town should have better access to them, or that the visitors, who support the improvement, should not be better accommodated? It should seem as if they acted upon the following idea, Serve but my turn to-day, and you may turn out to-morrow.

The lower order of the natives are cunning, avaricious, disrespectful, and sometimes malevolent; and, though their bread of life is for ever sweet-. ened by the industrious honey-bees from London, who yearly distribute the essence of their winter-labour among them, yet, from the depravity of their natures, as if they possessed an inward hatred in their minds towards

C

wards their best benefactors, they seldom discover the least spark of gratitude, or even common civility.

Church-field and Cecil-square form the principal part of the new town, and there would have been a tolerable opening from thence towards the London and Ramsgate roads, but the intervening ground, in different patches, having been unfortunately purchased by several of the low shopkeepers of Margate, who have conjunctively built upon it a few paltry huts, forming an insignificant row which they call Cranbourn-alley, by which means a very elegant and respectable neighbourhood is deprived of the only eligible egress that was left, of making their way into the high roads with safety or convenience.

The

The most desirable spot in Margate, and where a handsome row of houses

might have been judiciously ranged with all the capability of forming a pleasant, airy, and useful, walk in the front, is on the west side of the town, at the back of the High-street. It is not only eminently situated, but has one of the best aspects of the harbour, where there is an everlasting entertainment for the eye, from the number of vessels perpetually coming in or going out, with an extensive view of sea and land. But this idea is done away, from the ground being purloined by the proprietors of a ropewalk, who carry on their business upon the very spot in question, and which would be an intolerable nuisance, were such improvement to take place.

The

The Isle of Thanet possesses a number of industrious as well as ingenious farmers, who, from an indefatigable attention to the land, have made the soil so uncommonly prolific, as to yield as much grain in one season, as will commonly furnish the inhabitants with bread for three.

The villages are neat, and prettily scattered about the island, and shaded with orchards, fenced with elm-trees; those of St. Peter and St. Lawrence are beautifully situated, and contain many respectable families. There is a labyrinth of roads which leads from place to place, so that in your excursions you never tire with a tedious

sameness.

Margate

« ÎnapoiContinuă »