After taking a survey of the New Bridge, which must be greatly admired
by all who have not seen the Pontneuf, we past by a row of buildings,
not very remarkable for their elegance, being chiefly built of wood,
and irregular. Many of them are supported by pillars; but of what
order we could not plainly discern.
We came now to Lambeth, where is a palace of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the metropolitan of England. This is a vast pile of
building, not very beautiful indeed in its structure, but wonderfully
well calculated, as well to signify, as to answer the use for which it
was, I suppose, originally intended; containing a great number of
little apartments for the reception of travelling and distressed
Christians.
Lambeth is perhaps so called from Lamb, which is the type of meekness.
The next place of note, as we ascend the river, is Fox-Hall, or rather
Fox-Hole, the first syllable of which is corrupted into Vaux by the
vulgar, who tell a foolish story of one Vaux who resided here, and
attempted to blow up the Thames. But the true reading is Fox-Hole, as
appears by an ancient piece of painting, representing that animal
whence it takes its name, and which is now to be seen on a high wooden
pillar, _Anglice_ a sign-post, not far from the landing-place.
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