The Reign of George VI/Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
After such great fatigue as the King had suffered in the last campaign; it may be supposed that he longed to enjoy a situation of peace and tranquillity. And it is very remarkable, that no man ever knew better how to taste the hurry and noise of war, or the ease of retirement. He was equally calculated for both. But he was too good a politician to disarm himself as soon as the peace was signed; a conduct which has often been fatal to conquerors: never were measures taken with greater prudence, to secure possession of the kingom he had conquered; he knew that all Europe looked at his victories with the utmost jealousy, and sickened at the verdure of his laurels: he was fully persuaded, that the late peace had only given time to his enemies to prepare more effectually for a fresh war: the Spanish Monarch, at once inveterate, and formidable, he foresaw would aim at a second alliance against him. Therefore as his situation was so critical, he determined to leave as little as possible to chance; but keep himself always ready for action. This plan was most easily executed; for although Great-Britain still felt the burthen of a prodigious national debt, yet the parliament granted him very ample supplies; both to carry on the war in France, and to build new ships, repair others, to sink docks, and make harbours; such useful services had been fully voted. The session which met this winter was equally liberal; and that liberality was to their own honour, and the security of the nation; they had the highest opinion of the King; an opinion not founded on a sudden liking, nor a wild enthusiastic confidence; but was grounded on his admirable character, and the constant experience the whole nation had of his firmness, integrity, and love of his people. These virtues were diffused through all the parts of his character; no wonder, that a wise and generous people, should love and revere a sovereign, whose whole life was conducted on the principles of honour. His parliament well knew that he could ask nothing, which it was not their interest to grant. The King's designs on France, indeed, had raised some heats in the House of Commons; but these were all blown over: the vast splendor of success, reconciled every mind to the measure; and what had no little influence, was, the œconomy of the King; they found, that the supplies they granted were applied with the utmost fidelity to the uses they were intended. They expected at the opening of the session, after their congratulatory addresses were past, to have many demands for securing the vast conquests which the King had made; but they were much surprised, when they found none made: the Lord High Treasurer, informed them by the King's order, that the establishment in France, would fully support itself, and pay off all the arrears of the army; this was most agreeable news to all who feared the immense expence of keeping that kingdom: only forty thousand men were voted therefore, as the standing troops of Great-Britain; and ten thousand in Ireland; thirty thousand seamen were demanded, and agreed to without opposition; and five thousand in Ireland. The other services were all supplyed with ease, chearfulness and alacrity.
But there was one circumstance which pleased the King in this, as in some other sessions—its meeting at Stanley; where he had summoned them. He there found himself in the midst of his own creation, and was never so well pleased, as when he was engaged in raising noble piles of architecture; in conversing with men of genius, and planning future establishments in favour of the arts and sciences. Had the other Princes of Europe been possessed of such a philosophic disposition, George would never have attacked his neighbours; he was far more pleased to be at the head of an academy at Stanley, than of a victorious army, conquering a great kingdom.
Four years were now [1]elapsed since George had been able to attend his buildings at this noble city with that care and over-sight which he desired. His residence there was but by snatches; he now and then caught a month flying, but the city was much enlarged in his absence. He had entrusted the management of the buildings to Gilbert; but every one who built houses, were left at liberty in every point but the front; the side of every street formed a regular one, and fancy itself could not form an idea of any thing more truly magnificent than all the streets of Stanley: they exhibited all that was great and elegant, with the utmost variety, that genius could invent; and as this superb city was evidently become the metropolis of the three, or rather four kingdoms, the streets increased prodigiously: most of the nobility and gentry spent their winters at Stanley; the seat of every thing that could charm the wise, the rich, and the luxurious. London was already degenerated into a mere trading capital; and the King was every day planning the removal of those offices, which it was in his power to transport to his favourite city.
His Majesty ordered Comins, the architect, to draw the plan of an edifice designed for the Chancery: that ingenious architect brought him the sketch of the building as it now remains; but it was not equal to some other works at Stanley, nor indeed to several churches of Comins's raising, in which he was peculiarly excellent.—Yet the Chancery is a very noble building, and does honour to its author. It contains immense apartments for the several courts of law. But the grand design which drew the attention of the whole kingdom; was, the cathedral of St. John, which was raising by the great Gilbert;—that great man, whose invention perhaps was never exceeded, was indebted to nothing but his imagination for the design of that astonishing edifice: the architecture, grandeur, and extent, far exceed St. Peter's at Rome; and is certainly one of the greatest monuments of George's magnificence, and even a wonder of the world. In the year 1921, Stanley, besides this superb cathedral, containing forty-three parish churches, many of them famous over the whole world for their architecture and magnificence; and was four miles in length, and near as much in breadth.
Among those glorious establishments which reflect so bright a lustre on the reign of this great King; one of the most distinguished was the academy of polite learning. It was certainly very wonderful, that all the kingdoms in Europe, should have their academies near four centuries before Great-Britain, but George supplyed the want of every thing that reflected an honour on his country. This noble institution, consisted of a president, but the number of members was not limited; the former had two thousand pounds a year, and the latter three hundred each; the first creation was of twenty-three members: and perhaps no period of time can display a brighter union of geniuses. The most distinguished were, How, whose essays, letters, discourses, and poetical pieces, gained him such a great reputation, both for his learning and genius; he was the president. Reynolds, whose tragedies are so famous.—Young, the comic writer.—Price, the author of our British epic.—Minors, Wilson, and Philipson, all wrote both admirable tragedies and comedies,—Walpole, whose sketches on many subjects are so elegant and pleasing—Crouse, Charlton, and Earle, in history: Charlton's History of Britain was perhaps never exceeded.—But it would be tedious to name all their celebrated works, which are now in every body's hands. Never was any institution better calculated for refining the English language, or for promoting literature in all its branches. The prizes which were every year given for the best tragedies, comedies, and essays, on variety of subjects, at the same time that they raised a spirit of emulation, were a means of enriching the votaries of genius.
George was solely bent on rendering the city of Stanley, the seat of every thing that was either useful or elegant: the Duke of Suffolk, his favourite Minister, hinted to him one day in conversation, the foundation of a university. The King considered of the scheme, and liking a plan that would adorn the city with so many noble buildings as the colleges; determined at last to put it in execution. The academy of architecture furnished plans, and the King gave each member a noble opportunity of rivalling each other. The author of each plan that was approved, was permitted by the King to be the architect. Nothing could excel the magnificent establishments which were made in favour of this new university: the professors, masters, &c. were all appointed with the utmost consideration; none but men of unblemished morals, and great learning, were advanced to any posts in it. Scholars, not only from all parts of the King's dominions, but from all Europe, flocked to be admitted in the university of Stanley, which had many advantages, that could be enjoyed by no other: what still increased this ardour, was its cheapness, the bounty of the King, made it one of the cheapest seminaries for the education of youth, in the world.—No plan could have ornamented Stanley with a greater number of noble edifices: all the colleges, but particularly St. George's, are admirable, and perhaps the world cannot boast such a number of buildings with so few faults. St. John's is the worst; but St. George's, of which Gilbert was the architect, is inferior to no edifice of its kind in the world.
The Arsenal was the work of Salviola; and is undoubtedly the most stupendous building of that nature in Europe: the plainness of the front is admirable: and the situation, making one side of that noble square[2], was chose with great judgement. It was kept constantly filled with artillery, and all sorts of ammunition, to an immense amount: another front was composed of the War Office; a third of the Admiralty; and the fourth of the Barracks; all buildings that would challenge the world for rivals, and which together formed the most perfect and beautiful square in Europe.
But while these celebrated piles of magnificence were raising: the King was employing some part of his time in laying out the gardens of his palace; he neglected any such additions for some years, the woods which almost surrounded him were of themselves so beautiful: but at last he formed the scheme of sketching gardens equal to his palace: he drew several plans himself; these amusements and employments were worthy such a Monarch as George, and no man could succeed in them better: behind the palace, the vast woods of oak and beech, almost joined the building. The King laid out a grass lawn, to the back front, half a mile long, and a quarter broad, and round it to a considerable distance, made it beautifully picturesque: the appearance of art was entirely banished; nature was never forced, but assisted: he dug an immense piece of water, of one hundred acres, and raised a mountain by it; which is certainly one of the most beautiful spots in the world: by means of a prodigious quantity of masonry, he formed many precipices, which in some places almost hung over the water, these were covered with mould to a great depth, and the whole hill presented the view of one beautiful hanging wood of beech, here and there adorned with a little temple, or spire, peeping just above the trees; which made the whole most beautifully romantic: from off the hill, was seen at some distance, a noble prospect, and you looked down on the lake, surrounded with woods and lawns.—Nothing unnatural was seen throughout the whole garden: no studied magnificence: very few fountains, but many cascades, which tumbling down artificial rocks, lost themselves in meandering currents, through the embrowning shades. In this beautiful garden, there was scarcely one strait walk, except the grand lawn above-mentioned: every thing was irregular and natural. In many places sheep, and other cattle were feeding; and as many foreign birds, and harmless beasts, as possible were procured to run about the woods, which were full of hares, rabbits, and pheasants. In short this garden, which may be considered as a work of eminent genius, was formed on the mere plan of guiding nature: the grass was almost every where kept in beautiful order; but the woods had no other improvement, than intermixing the most beautiful flowering shrubs irregularly among the trees; and instead of letting the surface be generally flat; hills, and a thousand imperceptible variations were made, to render it more pleasing: the water naturally ran in one channel, but the King threw it into many, and it fell down a variety of cascades; but all without any appearance of art. Never was any thing on the whole more beautiful, or more truly picturesque; these gardens, which were about five miles in circuit, may be considered as the finest in the world, and far beyond those celebrated ones of Versailles, of which historians speak so highly.—It may perhaps be thought below the dignity of history, to give any account of these things; but the true use of history is to describe mankind; and the hero of this work, no where appears to greater advantage, than in his amusements at Stanley; for all the glorious works which there are the wonder of the world, were but the diversion of George, and his relaxation from more necessary concerns. What a Monarch! who in his very pleasures, far exceeded the generality of Princes in their most distinguished actions.
But it was at the same time highly to this great King's honour, that his amusements did not encroach on his more important occupations. His buildings, and institutions at Stanley, were greatly to the credit of the nation; but they did not tend to diffuse happiness among all his subjects; George was not only magnificent but humane; and his attention to those establishments, that only advanced the national glory, did not call him off from such as were dictated merely by his benevolence and humanity: the unhappy, found in him their best comforter; the poor and needy, their surest support: at the time that he was raising palaces, and founding academies, hospitals of all kinds were reared with liberality and magnificence throughout the kingdom: the scheme and execution of the county hospitals were the effects of his goodness: nay, the very plan was his own thought: whatever county would raise half the necessary sum for any of those seminaries of the poor or miserable; the King granted the other half: happy nation! to have such amiable qualities mixt with the more dazzling brightness of their Monarch's mind! twenty foundling hospitals were erected at his sole expence, in different parts of Great-Britain and Ireland: the hint of these useful foundations, was taken from one that was established for a few years in the reign of George II. but it came to nothing, for want of proper care: however, those raised by the King, proved to be, and now continue, most excellent establishments. Before the year 1925, his Majesty had built, and either wholely, or in part, endowed thirty-five hospitals.
Nothing was omitted by George, that added to the strength and security of his kingdom; which he considered equally with its ornament: vast works were raised at all the sea-port towns in Great-Britain and Ireland, to defend the coast from all insult. Docks for building ships were made at every place where there was a sufficient depth of water: new men of war were continually building in them; and old ones repairing; so that he was at all times prepared to wage war on any sudden emergency: vast arsenals and magazines were erected at all the most distinguished harbours; Plymouth, Milford, Chatham, Hull, Edinburgh, and Cork, might separately be considered as real wonders of strength and greatness: each of them were capable of fitting out a greater fleet than any single kingdom in the world: besides these, there were many ports of less consequence, for the building and rendezvous of small men of war and frigates: the coasts of the two islands were almost entirely surrounded with works, which were at once their ornament and defence.
Rivers that formerly were almost useless, now were navigated by large barges, which increased the trade of innumerable towns, and raised in many places, new ones: canals were cut which joined rivers, and formed a communication from one part of the kingdom to the other: the spirit of trade attended these prodigious works: villages grew into towns, and towns became cities. An infinite number of manufactures flourished all over the kingdom; none were so inconsiderable, as not to enjoy the King's patronage, who examined into the minutest branches, and by the vast, and penetrating capacity of his genius, attained a full comprehension of most arts; he understood their interests, and knew when and how to promote them: by these means, he raised and supported them at a small expence; and did as much real service to trade with one hundred thousand pounds, as many Princes, and even great ones, have performed with treble the sum.
But the immense region of country which the English possessed in North America, was what most extended and forwarded the British manufactures; the King was there Sovereign of a tract of much greater extent than all Europe: the constitution of the several divisions of that vast monarchy, was admirably designed to keep the whole in continual dependance on the mother country: there were eleven millions of souls in the British American dominions in the year 1920: they were in possession of, perhaps the finest country in the world, and yet had never made the least attempt to shake off the authority of Great-Britain: indeed, the multiplicity of governments which prevailed over the whole country—the various constitutions of them, rendered the execution of such a scheme absolutely impossible. This wide extended region which increased its people so surprisingly fast, was far from being forgot by the King; many noble harbours were surrounded with towns, and made naval magazines; a prodigious number of ships were built by order, from Great-Britain; and the royal navy itself boasted many very fine ships that were built in America.
In a word, this was the Augustan age of Great-Britain: the fictitious times which received their being only from the imagination of poets, were realized in this happy country: it seldom or ever happened, that the period in which military glory is carryed to its greatest height, is also the age of happiness and plenty; but this was the case in the reign of George VI. Britain, at this golden æra was at once glorious and happy.