Science Department, comprising illustrations of the different manufactures and mechanical arts, models of inventions, jewels, porcelain, carvings in ivory; wood, and stone, &c. The paintings in the Fine Arts Department include, besides the unequalled cartoons of Raffaelle, some of the best pieces by Maclise, Reynolds, Landseer, Hogarth, Turner, Gainsborough, Wilkie, Webster, &c. There is free admission on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. On other days a charge of 6d. is made to all except students.

Behind the Museum stand the Exhibition buildings and the Royal Albert Hall. Arrangements have been made for keeping the Exhibition open during the summer months every year, and several days may be enjoyably devoted to the inspection of the art collections, manufactures, and machinery of all kinds, which last can be seen in motion.

The Horticultural Gardens are comprised within the circuit of the Exhibition buildings, and cover an area of about twenty acres of most artistically and tastefully laid-out grounds. On the north towers the vast cupola of the Royal Albert Hall, at the opening of which, in the year 1871, 8,000 persons were accommodated with sitting-room; and still farther north is the Albert Memorial, already mentioned.

Though we have noticed but a few of the most remarkable buildings and places of interest in the Metropolis, we must now pass on to short excursions in the neighbourhood, for it would be impossible to give an exhaustive description within the limits of this hand-book. For further details we must refer our readers to our shilling Guide to London and its Environs.

EXCURSION No. 1.

To Kew, Richmond, Hampton Court, and Windsor Castle.

Kew and Richmond can be reached by train, omnibus, or by the river. We recommend the last route when practicable; but sometimes the height of the river at low water is not sufficient to permit the steamers to reach Richmond. In that case the tourist had better take the omnibus.

The great attraction at Kew is the Botanic Gardens, containing, perhaps, the most splendid collection of plants in the world. They comprise about seventy-five acres, but, adding the adjoining pleasure-grounds, the entire extent is 240 acres. The great palm-house, 360 feet long and 90 in width, together with the new conservatory, are, after the Crystal Palace, the

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largest glass houses in the world. The former contains many exotics sixty feet in height. Several new hot-houses and a "temperate-house" have lately been added; and an artificial lake has been constructed, which is fed through a subterranean passage, by the waters of the Thames. The gardens and grounds are open to the public every day (Sundays inclusive).

Richmond is situated farther up the river, on the south bank, which rises behind the village to the acclivity known as Richmond Hill. The summit commands most bewitching prospects of meadows, woods, and the banks of the river, stretching away towards Hampton and Windsor. On the way to the top of the hill the tourist will pass the old parish church, containing the tombs of Dr. Moore, author of "Zeluco," and father of Sir John Moore, the subject of Wolfe's Elegy, Mrs. Yates and Charles Kean, the celebrated actors, and Thomson, the author of the "Castle of Indolence," who lived hard by, in Rosedale House.

Close by may be seen Twickenham, the classic spot into which Pope retired with his aged mother, and which he delighted in beautifying. The poet's house, however, has been taken down to make way for a larger edifice; and the grounds, which were his especial care, and so tastefully planned as to revolutionize the then existing Dutch style of gardening, have been much altered for the worse. Strawberry Hill, the residence of the famous statesman and man of letters Horace Walpole, is also in the vicinity.

Beyond the Star and Garter Hotel, famed for fashionable excursionists, stretches the eight miles' circuit of the handsomely wooded Richmond Park. This, which is Crown land, is open to the public, and is esteemed by foreigners as the most beautiful spot in the neighbourhood of London.

Hampton Court is situated about eight miles farther up the river. The Palace, now generally given up as a residence to court pensioners, was originally built by Cardinal Wolsey. The northern quadrangle, containing the great hall, dates from that period. Henry VIII. having appropriated the mansion on the fall of his favourite, it became a royal residence, and courts were held here from time to time until the reign of George II. The greater portion of the structure, as it at present appears, was built in the reign of William III. by Sir C. Wren, and consists of red brick with stone facings. The ceilings and panelling were painted by Antonio Verrio, and the state apartments contain a series of the beauties of Charles II.'s court, by Sir Peter Lely; Vandyck's Charles I., the best portrait extant of that unfortunate king; and pieces by Titian, Giulio Romano, Holbein, Sebastiano del Piombo, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Durer, and Kneller, to the number of 1,000. There are also a fine series of cartoons by Andrea Mantegna. The garden and park, the former containing a vinery in which is the largest vine in Europe, and a maze, are alone worthy of a visit. The palace and garden are open free to the public on every day except Friday.

From Hampton Court the tourist ought to drive through Bushy Park to Kingston-on-Thames, formerly a Roman station, and the coronation-place of the Saxon kings: the stone on which they were crowned stands in the principal thoroughfare. Bushy Park, which is open to carriages, horses, and omnibuses, as well as to pedestrians, contains about 1,100 acres of land, and an avenue of lime and horse-chestnut trees unsurpassed in the entire kingdom. At the time when this avenue is in full blossom it presents a very beautiful appearance, and is one of the favourite sights of Londoners, who drive down in hundreds to see it.

Trains run from both Hampton and Kingston to Windsor Castle, the most magnificent residence in the country. The castle was founded by William the Conqueror, but the site was previously occupied by a palace of the Saxon kings; so that it has been the chief home of royalty for more than nine centuries. It stands on rising ground overlooking the Thames. There are two extensive courts, and between them is the round tower, or keep, where the governor of the castle resides, and in which formerly the accomplished James I. of Scotland was confined. It was here that the poet-king wrote his "King's Quhair," a poem in celebration of the charms of the Lady Jane Beaufort, whom he afterwards married. Besides the keep, the Gothic chapel in the lower court, and the state apartments in the upper, together with the northern terrace and royal mews, are the chief points of attraction to the stranger. In the chapel are interred Henry VIII. and Lady Jane Seymour, George III. and his Queen, Charles I., and the much-beloved Princess Charlotte, whose monument is especially noteworthy. The Knights of the Garter (an order established by Edward III., in consequence of an incident at a reception, when the King picked up a garter which had been accidentally dropped by one of the ladies of the court) are installed in this chapel. "Honi soit qui mal y pense," his reproof of the courtiers, who, by their looks, insinuated that "more was meant than met the eye," was made the motto of the order. The state rooms, to which admission is allowed by tickets obtainable gratis at Messrs. Colnaghi's, 14, Pall Mall East, and elsewhere, are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 11 till 6: they are richly embellished with paintings, sculpture, and tapestries. The bronzes, arms, and emblems are also very fine. The Home Park is closed, but the Great Park, free to the public, and comprising upwards of 4,000 acres, is rich in beautiful scenery. Notice especially the "Long Walk," Herne's Oak, and Virginia Water, with its imitation ruins.

Beautifully situated on the opposite side of the river is Eton College, founded by Henry VI. The view from this point gave rise to one of Gray's finest odes. Eton is the best and most aristocratic public school in the kingdom, and has had the moulding of England's greatest literary and political minds.