WILLIAM AND MAlir. •

347

The affection with which her husband cherished her memory chap.was soon attested by a monument the most superb that was ever —-erected to any sovereign. No scheme had been so much her Grccn _own, none had been so near her heart, as that of converting ;™ h .the palace at Greenwich into a retreat for seamen. It had oc- founded,curred to her when she had found it difficult to provide goodshelter and good attendance for the thousands of brave menwho had come back to England wounded after the battle of LaHogue. While she lived scarcely any step was taken towardsthe accomplishing of her favourite design. But it should seemthat, as .soon as her husband had lost her, he began to reproachhimself for having neglected her wishes. No time was lost. Aplan was furnished by Wren; and soon an edifice, surpassingthat asylum which the magnificent Lewis had provided for hissoldiers, rose on the margin of the Thames. Whoever readsthe inscription which runs round the frieze of the hall will ob-serve that William claims no part of the merit of the design, andthat the praise is ascribed to Mary alone. Had the King’s lifebeen prolonged till the works were completed, a statue of herwho was the real foundress of the institution would have had aconspicuous place in that court which presents two lofty domesand two graceful colonnades to the multitudes who are per-petually passing up and down the imperial river. But that partof the plan was never carried into effect; and few of those whonow gaze on the noblest of European hospitals are aware that itis a memorial of the virtues of the good Queen Mary, of the loveand sorrow of William, and of the great victory of La Hogue.

END OF VOL. VII.