The
promenade, admirably situate for the enjoyment of the sea ~172~~breeze,
and the delightful spectacle of a picturesque harbour filled with
a forest of beautiful pleasure yachts, is of an evening generally
obstructed by the assemblage of a juvenile band of both sexes, of
the very lowest description, who render it utterly impossible for the
delicate ear of female propriety to hazard coming in contact with their
boisterous vulgarities. The beautiful walk round the Castle battery
is wholly usurped by this congregated mass of rabble; and yet the
appointment of a peace-officer, a useful animal I never once saw at
Cowes, would remove the objection, and preserve a right of way and
good order among the crowd that would at least render it safe, if not
pleasant, to traverse the extended shore. The visit of their royal
highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to John Nash, Esq. the
eminent architect, at East Cowes Castle, gave a new lustre to the
enchanting scene, and afforded the English Spy a favourable opportunity
for completing his sketches of the scenery and character of the island.
Among the festivities which the presence of the royal visitors gave
birth to, the most attractive and delightful was the grand _dejeune a la
fourchette_, given at St. Lawrence by the commodore of the Yacht Club,
the Right Honourable Lord Yarborough.
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