A steel-plate engraving of what appears to be a royal visit by river to Greenwich Hospital, seen here four-square from the Thames. According to Ralph Hyde's London Topographical Society book on London headpieces for the 'Stationers' Almananc' (forthcoming 2010) this is one such, and may show the end of William IV and Queen Adelaide's visit to see ships being built at Woolwich Dockyard (including the 120-gun 'Trafalgar' and the model frigate 'Royal Louisa' launched a few days before as a gift for the King of Prussia ) on 4 May 1832. The royal barge then brought them back to Greenwich Hospital for lunch where they were received by the Governor - Wiliam's great friend and former shipmate Sir Richard Keats - and visited the Naval Gallery in the Painted Hall. The visit was well reported in 'The Times' and 'Morning Chronicle' of the 5th and this print probably shows the aftermath: his much more crowded arrival in a vast flotilla is shown in print by Robert Havell, PAF7629.

On the far left is a peter boat, in which a woman is pulling in a fishing net. A brig heads upstream behind and a Thames paddle steamer heads down, with a ketch and cutter beyond. A City barge lies off the water stairs, centre, with a throng of wherries and other boats. An Admiralty barge is on the right with a brig heading upstream. To the right of the Hospital can be seen the tower of George Basevi's St Mary's Church (1823 -1936), where Nixon's statue of William IV now stands, by the Park at the south-east end of King William Walk. Part of buildings near Greenwich Pier can just be seen on the right. There are several other copies of this print in the collection of which PAH3291 is coloured.