GREENWICH HOSPITAL, stands on the spot, where stood the palace of several of our Kings. The first wing of this noble and superb edifice, erected by K. Charles II. was designed to be applied to the same use. Indeed from the magnificence of the structure, it can scarcely be taken for any thing less than the palace of a great monarch. However King William III. being very desirous of promoting the trade, navigation, and naval strength of this kingdom, by inviting great numbers of his subjects to betake themselves to the sea, gave this noble palace, and several other edifices, with a considerable spot of ground, for the use of those English seamen and their children, who by age, wounds, or other accidents, should be disabled from farther service at sea, and for the widows and children of such as were slain in fighting at sea, against the enemies of their country. King William also by his letters patent, in 1694, appointed commissioners for the better carrying on his pious intentions, and therein desired the assistance of his good subjects, as the necessity of his affairs did not permit him to advance so considerable a sum towards this work, as he desired. In conformity to this request, many benefactions were made both in that and the succeeding reigns, to this noble charity, which, according to the tables hung up at the entrance of the hall, amount to 58,209_l._ and afterwards the estate of the Earl of Derwentwater, who bore a principal part in the rebellion in 1715, amounting to 6000_l._ _per annum_, was given by parliament to this hospital. The first range had cost King Charles II. 36,000_l._ and another was ordered to be built on the same model: this has been completed with equal magnificence, and the whole structure entirely finished. The front to the Thames consists of these two ranges of stone buildings, with the Governor’s house at the back part in the center, behind which the park, well planted with trees, rises with a noble ascent. These buildings, between which is a large area, perfectly correspond with each other, and each range is terminated by a very noble dome.