Just within the park is a conduit, which supplies the palace with spring water; a descent of three steps in the main road led to a receptacle for its supply to the inhabitants of Knightsbridge, which still exists in another form. Close to this “spring,” as it is termed, the stocks were placed for the punishment of village sots and rogues. No hamlet around the “great wen,” as Cobbett called the metropolis, was without one. Taylor, the water-poet, says—

“In London, and within a mile, I ween,
There are of jails or prisons full eighteen,
And sixty whipping-posts, and stocks, and cages!” [161a]

At No. 10 resided for many years John Read, a man of great benevolence of character, of scientific celebrity, and of high repute in the locality. He was born in 1726, and being brought up as a mathematical instrument-maker, settled in Knightsbridge about 1754. He became known for his researches into electricity, [161b] and published, in 1793, an octavo volume, entitled “A Summary View of the Spontaneous Electricity of the Earth and Atmosphere,” an accurate and judicious work; but it led him into a controversy with Dr. Peart, a writer on the same subject. He also studied meteorology, and a journal on that subject he contributed to the “Philosophical Transactions.”

Other points of his history are told on the stone to his memory in St. George’s Ground, Bayswater, where he was buried. The inscription I subjoin:—

Sacrum Memoriæ
of
Mr. John Read,
Mathematical Instrument Maker,
a Native of
Whalley in Lancashire,
who died at
Knightsbridge
(where he had resided nearly sixty years)
on the 22nd day of September, 1814,
in the 88th year of his Age.

Without Patron, or Patrimony, by the honest fruits of Industry, he laid the foundation of an easy competence. More indebted to Prudence than Fortune for his acquisitions; but to Temperance alone for his length of days. A deep Researcher of the latent causes of Nature’s Phenomena; her vital Principle, he held in obedience, while he enriched the science of Electricity with his experiments. Pleased in the pursuit of Knowledge, and happy in the practice of Virtue; He was a Philosopher with a benevolent heart, the Father of the Knightsbridge Charity School; of the Free School of his native place the Revivor. He lived an Example worthy of imitation, and died without a groan.

Thus lived John Read, and so his spirit fled
And here his ashes mingle with the Dead.

Mr. Thomas Goding, founder of the well-known brewing firm, lived at No. 12.

The Queen’s Head, an old inn next the Chapel, was pulled down in 1843. The house was once very curious inside, but had been considerably altered. On its removal the date 1576 was found inscribed in the brickwork.

The White Hart was more curious than the Queen’s Head, and retained its characteristics to the last, when it was removed for the Albert Gate improvements. Human remains, various ancient implements, and coins were turned up below its foundation. A filthy court ran from it along the bank of the stream. I have seen a memorandum of agreement by which a house next door to the White Hart was let in 1694 for five pounds per annum.

Princes Gate.—Two terraces are so called, very absurdly. [163] The real gate is an entrance to the Park opposite, named after the Prince of Wales, and opened in October, 1848. It stands on the highest plot of ground between Hyde Park Corner and Windsor Castle.

Of the western terrace Mr. Leigh Hunt complains that “each house is too high for its width,” and says “they resemble a set of tall thin gentlemen squeezing together to look at something over the way.” I cannot agree with Mr. Hunt’s humour, and consider them a very handsome and pleasing row. Mr. Elmes, architect of St. George’s Hall, was designer, I believe, and Mr. Elger the builder; the eastern row was finished in 1851, the western in 1855. At No. 23, Vice-Chancellor Parker resided for a short while before his death. Between the two terraces stands