ew propeller in our steam fleet.
Charles Dickens gave his second series of readings here in 1861.

Passing down Duke Street, on the south side of Piccadilly, we come to
Jermyn Street. Sir Walter Scott stayed at an hotel here in 1832, on his
last journey home. Sir Isaac Newton was also a resident, and the poet
Gray lodged here.

In King Street are Willis's Rooms, once Almack's, at one time the scene
of many fashionable assemblies. The rooms were opened in 1765, and a
ten-guinea subscription included a ball and supper once a week for three
months. Ladies were eligible for membership, and thus the place can
claim to have been one of the earliest ladies' clubs. Walpole writes in
1770 to George Montagu: "It is a club of both sexes to be erected at
Almack's on the model of that of the men at White's.... I am ashamed to
say I am of so young and fashionable society." The lady patronesses were
of the very highest rank. Timbs quotes from a letter of Gilly Williams:
"You may imagine by the sum, the company is chosen, though refined as it
is, it will scarcely put old Soho [Mrs. Cornelys] out of countenance."
The place steadily maintained its popularity. Captain Gronow in 1814
says: "At the present time one can hardly conceive the importance which
was attached to getting admission to Almack's, the seventh heaven of the
fashionable world." The large ballroom was about 100 feet in length by
40 in width, and the largest number of persons present at one time was
1,700. It is often mentioned in the contemporary fiction dealing with
fashionable society; indeed, the whole of this neighbourhood was the
theatre for much of the gay life of the eighteenth century.

St. James's Square is redolent of old memories. It was, as has been
stated, built by Henry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans. The square seems to
have been a fashionable locality from its very foundation, and,
curiously enough, has escaped the fate of so many of its compeers, and
still continues aristocratic.

The workmanship of all the houses was solid and durable, and as soon as
they were built they were occupied. A catalogue of the names of the
early inhabitants would occupy much space: titled men, men eminent in
letters, science and political life, thronged the arena. The proximity
to the Court was a great attraction. The centre of the square was at
first left in a neglected condition, a remnant of the "Fields" on which
the houses had been built, and it served as a base for the disp