THE PARKS.
THE Green Park, we are glad to hear, is again to resume its ver- dure : this pleasant thoroughfare from St. James's to Piccadilly— the garden-highway along which the townsman can walk among trees and grass from Charing Cross to Kensington—is to re- main open freely to the public. 'The " lodges" prove to be air- drawn dwellings, and the " shrubberies" are the growth of a groundless fancy. The removal of the turf, the digging up of large plots, and the fencing up of the sward, are only needful processes for draining and levelling the soil, and sowing it with grass-seed, in order that the Green Park may better deserve its name. This satisfactory explanation of certain " improvements" of a auspicious character, was given by Mr. Secretary STANLEY. in an- swer to a question put by Mr. WAKLEY in the House of Commons on Monday ; and we therefore cheerfully retract the statement that we adopted on the authority of current and uncontradicted ru- mours, seemingly confirmed by appearances, together with the comments naturally suggested by the supposed invasion of an old and precious popular privilege. We cannot but regret, however, that all chance of such misinterpretations of the nature of these improvements should not have been prevented by issuing a plan of them beforehand : this would have effectually refuted all insinuations that such an intention had been entertained but abandoned in consequence of the unpopularity of the proceeding. Even now, viewed with the most favourable eye, the preparations look ominous of enclosure. Opposite to York House, a detachment of young trees is planted in a large space, dug as if for plantation, forming a right-angled triangle, bounded by the Park railings, and a gravel-walk leading obliquely to the side of Constitution Hill : another broad gravel-path leads to Hyde Park Corner, not across the high ground over which the old foot-way was struck out by public preference, but along the hollow near what was once Rosamond's Pond. We may remark in passing, that the authori- ties, when making gravel-walks as substitutes for the bare tracks worn by the feet of passengers, generally deviate from the path trodden incidentally by the public ; though the reason of the change is not always apparent. These paths are in themselves great con- veniences ; affording a dry walk when the grass is wet, and giving a greater breadth of sward. Towards the triumphal arch there is another advanced guard of young trees. The planting of trees is unquestionably desirable ; but how much more agreeable would their shade have been over the gravel-walks, or here and there in the middle of the open spaces ? Clustered in corners so close as to starve the turf beneath, they afford but a small amount of shade : the slip of plantation under the north wall of Hyde Park is neither so pleasant nor so handsome as a row of trees such as border the walk in the Regent's Park, which in a few years will be a noble avenue.
Apropos of the Regent's Park. Mr. Ewaav made a timely inquiry as to its being thrown open ; which Mr. STANLEY promised to answer if the question were repeated at another opportunity. We have no doubt that it will ; and we are hopeful of a favourable answer. The gratifying sight exhibited on a fine evening in the slip already conceded, should of itself be a sufficient inducement, were any required, to the utmost extension of space : children by thou- sands sporting on the grass, promenaders by hundreds under the trees, and all the seats crowded ; while nothing, except perhaps the fanatical raving of some field-preacher, disturbs the peaceful gayety and enjoyment ; and mischief is almost unknown.
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