A writer in 1727, waxing eloquent on the charms of the Park, gives up the task of describing it, as “the beauty of the Mall in summer is almost past description.” “What can be more glorious than to view the body of the nobility of our three kingdoms in so short a compass, especially when freed from mixed crowds of saucy fops and city gentry?” But more often the company was very mixed, and manners peculiar. This brilliant and motley assembly indulged in all kinds of amusements. Even the grandest frequenters afforded diversion sometimes to the “saucy fops.” Wrestling matches between various courtiers attracted crowds, or a race such as one between the Duke of Grafton and Dr. Garth, of 200 yards, was the excitement of the day. There were odd and original races got up, and wagers freely staked. Some inhuman parents backed their baby of eighteen months old to walk the whole length of the Mall (half a mile) in thirty minutes, and the poor little mite performed the feat in twenty-three minutes. What comments would modern philanthropic societies have made on such a performance! A race between a fat cook and a lean footman caused great merriment, but as the footman was handicapped by carrying 110 lbs., the fat cook won. Another time it was a hopping-race which engrossed attention--a man undertook to hop one hundred yards in fifty hops, and succeeded in doing it in forty-six--and endless variety of similar follies. The crowds who assembled indulged in every sort of gaiety; “in short, no freedoms that can be taken here are reckoned indecent; all passes for raillery and harmless gallantry.” Although open to all the world for walking, only royal personages or a few specially favoured people were allowed to drive through. It was one of the grievances of the Duchess of Marlborough when the Duke was in disgrace that the privilege of driving her coach and six through the Park was denied her. The remaining restrictions with regard to carriages have only passed away in very recent years. The notice board stating that Members of Parliament during the session might drive through the Park from Great George Street to Marlborough House was only removed when the road was opened to all traffic in 1887, and Constitution Hill only became a public highway in 1889. The use of the road passing under the Horse Guards’ Archway is still restricted to those who receive special permission from the sovereign.