sides are entrances to the merchants' area.

In the quadrangle is a marble statue of the Queen, and in front is an equestrian statue of Wellington. In the rear of the Exchange, in Threadneedle Street, is the statue of the late George Peabody, by the American sculptor Story.

GUILDHALL, King Street, Cheapside, is the principal seat of City legislation. Here courts and meetings of the livery and freemen take place; elections are held; and City feasts given on memorable occasions. The building is irregular, and the work of different periods. The latest is the Gothic front, finished 1789; in the centre are the City Arms. In the great hall, which is 153 ft. in length, 48 in width, and 55 in height, are chosen the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, and Members of Parliament to represent the City. The hall, which is at all times open to strangers, is enriched by splendid monuments, raised to perpetuate the fame of Chatham, Pitt, Nelson, and Beckford. The windows at each end have the Royal Arms, the insignia of the Bath, the Garter, St Patrick, and the City Arms, beautifully represented in stained glass. In the screen at the east end, are statues of Edward VI., Queen Elizabeth, and Charles I.

At

the west end, raised on pedestals, stand two colossal figures, called Gog and Magog; they are said to represent an ancient Briton and a Saxon.

THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE, near St Paul's Cathedral, is a vast edifice in the Ionic style of architecture. It was completed in 1829.

SOMERSET HOUSE, on the south side of the Strand, with a frontage of 780 ft. on the Thames, close to Waterloo Bridge, is now occupied as public offices. The

present building was erected in 1786 on the site of the Palace of the Protector Somerset. After the beheading of the Protector it fell to the Crown. It was once the residence of Anne of Denmark, wife of James I., and of Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. Nine hundred officials are employed in the various public offices in the present building.

LAMBETH PALACE, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, is on the Surrey bank of the Thames, not far above Westminster Bridge. The most ancient portion is the Chapel, which was built about the year 1200, and in which the consecration of the archbishops takes place. The Lollards' Tower, the place of confinement of some Lollards, or followers of Wycliffe, still exists, with numerous inscriptions carved in the woodwork by the prisoners. There is also a hall 90 ft. long, and a fine library containing about 15,000 volumes of books and some rare manuscripts. Admission cannot be had to the palace, but the library is open to persons who present an introduction from a clergyman. St Mary's Church contiguous to the palace is one of the oldest in London.

PARKS.

The favourite and most picturesque of all the Parks is Hyde Park, occupying 395 acres, with its Rotten Row and Drive, or "Ladies' Mile," where may be seen, at different hours, most of the representatives of talent, rank, wealth, and fashion in London. The lake, extending from a point opposite Albert Gate to the northern extremity of Kensington Gardens, is called The Serpentine. Opposite the grand entrance is a colossal statue of Achilles, composed of the metal of guns taken at Sala

manca, Vittoria, Toulouse, and Waterloo, erected and inscribed to the Duke of Wellington and his companions in arms, by the women of England. On the south side of the park, opposite Prince's Gate, is the national monument to the memory of the late Prince Consort (see p. 162). The absurd statue of the Duke of Wellington, which has been so long an eye-sore at Hyde Park corner, has been taken down. Connecting Hyde Park with St James's, is the road called Constitution Hill, in which Sir Robert Peel was killed by a fall from his horse, and three attempts, real or pretended, have been made upon the Queen's life.

Kensington Gardens, adjoining Hyde Park, are much resorted to during the season, when the band plays.

St James's Park has an area of 91 acres. It was first laid out by Henry VIII., and was finally arranged by George IV. nearly as at present. On the west is Buckingham Palace, on the north side are the Green Park, Stafford House, St James's Palace, and Marlborough House. The gardens in this park are very beautiful.

Regent's Park, extending over 450 acres, was laid out in 1812, and is now surrounded by hand some residences. It was called after the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV. Within the circular drive near its centre are the Botanical Gardens, to which admittance is obtained by member's introduction; and towards the north-east end the Zoological Society's grounds.

Green Park, about 60 acres in extent, between Piccadilly and St James's Park, was formerly called Upper St James's Park."

66

Battersea Park, on the Surrey side, has been converted since

1852, at a cost of above £300,000, from marshy fields to its present state. The great attraction here is the subtropical garden. Near the park is the new Albert Palace, which is somewhat similar to the Crystal Palace. Concerts and various entertainments are given.

Victoria Park, Bethnal Green, is the place of recreation for the north-east of London, and was formed with the £72,000 paid by the Duke of Sutherland for the crown lease of his house in St James's Park (Stafford House) in 1841.

The square

THE TOWER OF LONDON. — There is no doubt that a fortress stood in Roman times on the site of the present Tower, but the more modern structure which still exists probably originated with William the Conqueror. Though at first a royal palace and stronghold, it is best known in history as a prison. It is now an arsenal, and is still kept in repair as a fortress. White Tower rises conspicuously in the centre. A broad quay lies between the moat and the Thames. The Tower has four entrances: the Tron Gate, the Water Gate, and the Traitor's Gate, all on the side next the Thames; and on the west, the principal entrance or Lions' Gate, so called from the menagerie formerly kept here. To the right is the Ticket Office, where tickets are procured for the Armoury (6d.) and the Crown Jewels (6d.). The Tower is open daily from 10 to 4. Mondays and Saturdays are free days, and should be avoided on account of the crowd. chief objects of interest bear inscriptions. Visitors have to wait till a party of twelve is collected before they are conducted through the building by one of the quaintly attired warders or "beef-eaters." These warders,

The

officially denominated Yeomen of the Guard, are old soldiers of meritorious service. A stone bridge leads across the moat into the outer court. On the left is the Bell Tower; farther on to the right is the Traitor's Gate, a double gateway on the Thames, by which State prisoners were formerly admitted; above it is St Thomas's Tower. A gateway opposite leads under the Bloody Tower to the Inner Bail. In the centre of this court, upon slightly rising ground, stands the White Tower or Keep, the most ancient part of the fortress, having been erected by William the Conqueror in 1078. The walls are 13-15 ft. in thickness, and are surmounted with turrets at the angles. The Chapel of St John, on the second floor, is one of the finest specimens of Norman architecture in England. The Council Chamber (in which the abdication of Richard II. took place), the Banqueting Hall, and other rooms in the White Tower, now serve the purpose of an arsenal. There are usually about 60,000 stand of rifles stored here. The Horse Armoury, a gallery 150 feet in ength, built in 1826, contains a collection of old armour. Numerous trophies are suspended on the walls. Below the windows, which contain old stained glass, is a series of glass cases, containing Etruscan, Roman, British, Anglo-Saxon, and other armour; in the fourth case is a complete suit of ancient Greek armour, discovered in a tomb at Cumæ. The centre of the gallery is occupied by a row of 20 equestrian figures in full equipment, affording a faithful picture, in chronological order, of English war-array from the time of Edward I. (1272), down to that of James II. (1688). A staircase leads from the Horse Armoury into a smaller room,

At

which contains Oriental armour and weapons, sword, helmet, and saddle of Tippoo Sahib, Sultan of Mysore, taken at Seringapatam in 1799; cloak on which General Wolfe died before Quebec in 1759. This room also contains a valuable cannon cast at Malta in 1773. We now ascend through the wall (15 ft. thick) to Queen Elizabeth's Armoury, a chamber on the first floor of the White Tower, formerly used as a prison, but now containing a collection of armour and weapons of the time of Queen Elizabeth. In the middle of the room is the block on which Lord Lovat, the last person beheaded in England, suffered the penalty of treason on Tower Hill in 1747. Adjacent to it is a heading-axe, said to be that by which the Earl of Essex was decapitated. one end of the room is an equestrian figure of Queen Elizabeth. A door on the north side leads into the small and gloomy cell (10 ft. long by 8 ft. wide), in which Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned for twelve years (1605-17). On returning to the entrance, we see the suits of French and Venetian armour ; the equestrian statue of Charles I., with a suit, entirely gilded, presented to him by the City. The CROWN JEWELS or REGALIA, are in the Record of Wakefield Tower, and consist of the following articles, which are preserved in a glass case, protected by a strong iron cage-St Edward's Crown, executed for the coronation of Charles II., and used at all subsequent coronations. Queen Victoria's Crown, made in 1838. It is adorned with no fewer than 2783 diamonds; the large ruby in front, said to have been given to the Black Prince in 1367 by Don Pedro of Castile, was worn by Henry V. on his helmet at the battle of Agincourt. The cross

contains a magnificent sapphire, and the value of the whole crown is estimated at £111,900. The Prince of Wales's Crown, of gold, without precious stones. The Queen Consort's Crown, of gold, set with jewels. The Queen's Crown, a golden circlet, embellished with diamonds and pearls, made for Queen Maria d'Este, wife of James II. St Edward's Staff, made of gold, 44 feet long and about 90 lb. in weight. The orb at the top is said to contain a piece of the true cross. The Royal Sceptre, with the Cross, 2 ft. 9 in. long, richly adorned with precious stones. The Sceptre of the Doce, or Rod of Equity. Above the orb is a dove with outspread wings. Queen Victoria's Sceptre, with richly gemmed cross. The Ivory Sceptre of Queen Maria d'Este, surmounted by a dove of white onyx. The Sceptre of Queen Mary, wife of William III. The Orbs of the King and Queen. Model of the Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light), one of the largest diamonds known, weighing 162 carats. The original, now at Windsor Castle, was formerly in the possession of Runjeet Singh, Rajah of Lahore, and came into the hands of the English in 1849, on their conquest of the Punjab. The Curtana, or pointless Sword of Mercy. The Swords of Justice. The Coronation Bracelets. The Royal Spurs. The Coronation Oil Vessel or Ampulla, in the form of an eagle. The Spoon belonging to the ampulla, thought to be the only relic of the ancient regalia. The Salt Cellar of State, in the form of a model of the White Tower. The silver Baptismal Font for the roval children. A silver Wine Fountain given by the Corporation of Plymouth to Charles II. The total value of the Regalia is estimated at £3,000,000.

The twelve towers of the In

ner Ward were at one time all used as prisons. In the Bloody Tower, the sons of Edward IV. are said to have been murdered by order of Richard III. In the Bell Tower the Princess Elizabeth was confined by her sister Queen Mary. Lady Jane Grey is said to have been imprisoned in Brick Tower. Lord Guildford Dudley, husband of Lady Jane Grey, was confined, with his father and brothers, in Beauchamp Tower. In the Bowyer Tower, the Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV., is popularly supposed to have been drowned in a butt of malmsey; and Henry VI. was commonly supposed to have been murdered in Record (Wakefield) Tower. Visitors are admitted only to the first floor of Beauchamp Tower, which was restored in 1853. The walls are covered with inscriptions by former prisoners, that of John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, on the right side of the fire-place, is a family coat-of-arms, with the following lines inscribed :--

"Yow that these lines do well behold

and se.

May deme with case wherefore here

made they be

With borders eke therein. . . .

4 brother's names who list to serche the grovnd."

At the north-west corner is the CHAPEL OF ST PETER AD VINCULA, erected by Edward I. on the site of a still older church. Adjoining it is a small burialground. The following celebrated persons are buried in this chapel-Sir Thomas More, beheaded 1535; Queen Anne Boleyn, beheaded 1536; Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, beheaded 1540; Queen Catherine Howard, beheaded 1542; Lord Somerset, the Protector, beheaded 1552; John Dudley, Earl of Warwick and Northumberland, beheaded

1553; Lady Jane Grey and her husband, beheaded 1554; Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, beheaded 1601; James Fitzroy, Duke of Monmouth, beheaded 1685; Simon, Lord Fraser of Lovat, beheaded 1747. Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, and Devereux, Earl of Essex, were beheaded not far from the chapel, inside the Tower; in all the other instances the prisoners were beheaded on Tower Hill, near the present outside entrance to the Tower. Among those who were at various times confined in the Tower were:-John Baliol, King of Scotland, 1296; William Wallace, the Scottish patriot, 1305; David Bruce, King of Scotland, 1347; King John of France (taken prisoner at Poitiers 1357); Duke of Orleans, father of Louis XII. of France, 1415; King Henry VI. (who is said to have been murdered in the Wakefield Tower by the Duke of Gloucester 1471); Archbishop Cranmer, 1553; Sir Walter Raleigh (beheaded at Westminster in 1618); Lord William Russell (beheaded 1683); Lord Chancellor Jeffreys, 1688; Duke of Marlborough, 1692, &c.

THE ROYAL MINT, is close to the Tower. The Mastership of the Mint was once held by Sir Isaac Newton, and Sir John F. W. Herschel. Permission to visit the mint is given for a fixed day by the Deputy-Master of the Mint, on a written application, stating the number and addresses of intending visitors. The various processes of coining are very interesting. In the ten years, 1865-74, there were coined here 44,179,233 sovereigns, 15,724,945 half-sovereigns, 14,193,254 florins, 43,275,160, shillings, &c. Of copper or bronze coins, most of which are made by contract at Birmingham, about 500,000,000 were issued in the same decade.

L

A new edifice for the Mint is in contemplation, on the Thames Embankment, between the Temple and Blackfriars' Bridge.

An

TEMPLE BAR. The last of the old city gates, formerly stood at the junction of the Strand and Fleet Street, exactly opposite the large square tower of the NEW LAW COURTS. It became a serious obstacle to the crowded street traffic, and was removed in January, 1878. It was built by Wren in 1670, and was interesting from its historical associa tions, as the place where the heads of traitors were exposed. ornamental structure, called a "refuge," has been erected near where the old Bar stood to commemorate it. The original Temple Bar is to be re-erected in one of the parks, probably in the East of London. Bolt Court, where Dr Johnson lodged for a time, is in its immediate vicinity. Some of the Doctor's haunts in the neighbourhood are still in existence, as the Cock Tavern, nearly opposite the entrance to the Middle Temple, and the Mitre, down Mitre-passage, on the right hand side of Fleet Street.

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL, Guildford Street, near Russell Square, was founded through the exertions of Captain Thomas Coram, in the year 1739, by royal charter, granted by George II., for the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted young children. Private donations, liberal bequests, and endowments, constitute the absolute property of the foundation. The interest of this property, with the collections in the chapel, the produce of the children's work, benefactions, legacies, rents, &c., produce an annual income of nearly £10,000, which provides for the maintenance and education of nearly 460 children. On leav