UNIVERSITY BOAT-RACE. The race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge takes place in March or April of each year, on the Thames, between Putney and Mortlake. It is contested by eight oarsmen from each university, and the contest is always witnessed by many thousands of spectators.

Among the many other sights of London which will well repay the visitor, we may mention the annual Exhibition of the ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS (pictures by living artists), which opens on the first Monday of May, and continues twelve weeks; the ExHIBITION OF CATTLE by the SMITHFIELD CLUB, in the great Agricultural Hall, Islington Green; and the annual HORSE SHOW, at the same place, held soon after Derby-day.

EXCURSION

FROM LONDON TO KEW GARDENS, RICHMOND, AND HAMPTON COURT.

RAINS leave the Waterloo Station of the London and South-Western Railway, and the various stations of the Underground Railway, many times a day for Kew Gardens and Richmond. There are also trains from Waterloo direct to Richmond on the main line, and Hampton Court on the branch line. Kew and Richmond may also be reached by omnibus from the City and Piccadilly.

Kew is a pleasant village in Surrey, about 7 miles from London, distinguished for its Botanical Gardens and Pleasure Grounds.

The former are open every day from 1 o'clock till dusk, except on Sunday, when the hours are from 2 to 6. They extend over 75 acres, and are beautifully laid out, with magnificent trees of all kinds, choice flowers, and conservatories or hot-houses, containing rare exotic plants

and trees. The Winter Garden is 583 ft. in length, and extends over 1 acres. The next in size, the Palm House, measures 3624 ft. in length, by 100 in breadth, and 64 in height, and contains some noble specimens of various kinds of palms. One of the conservatories is devoted entirely to ferns, native and tropical; another to cactuses. The Pleasure Grounds are open on Thursdays and Sundays from Midsummer to Michaelmas. They comprise about 130 acres, and contain, amongst other buildings, an observatory, and a pagoda modelled after the Chinese. Near the grounds is the palace once occupied by George III., also Cambridge Cottage, the residence of the Duchess of Cambridge, and Cumberland Lodge, where the late King of Hanover lived while Duke of Cumberland.

RICHMOND (Hotel: Star and Garter, expensive) is about 1 mile from Kew, and may be reached either direct from London (9 miles), or by omnibus from Kew, or by rail from Kew Gardens Station. The view of the Thames from the terrace along Richmond Hill is considered one of the most beautiful in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, or indeed in any part of England. Richmond Park contains 2,253 acres, and affords a delightful promenade. Within its precincts we find Pembroke Lodge, the residence of the late Earl Russell, and The White Lodge, formerly occupied by the Prince of Wales.

There

HAMPTON COURT.-The most convenient way of reaching HAMPTON COURT is by railway from Waterloo Station. are more than twenty trains every day, including Sunday, distance 15 miles. Fares first class, 28.; second, 1s. 6d. ; return tickets, 2s. 9d. and 2s. (Hotels: Mitre, Greyhound, King's Arms.) The palace is situated on the north bank of the Thames. It was built originally by Cardinal Wolsey, and presented by him to Henry VIII. It was the

favourite residence of Oliver Cromwell, and was considerably enlarged by William III. The state apartments are open from 10 to 6 from April 1st to October 1st, and from 10 to 4 during the other months, every day except Friday; on Sundays from 2 to 6. They contain an extensive collection of paintings. One room, called "the Queen's drawingroom," is filled with paintings by Benjamin West. The celebrated Cartoons of Raphael have been removed to the South Kensington Museum. Wolsey's Great Hall is a magnificent Gothic room, with an elaborately carved ceiling, and is hung round with Arras tapestry representing the history of Abraham. In the adjoining apartment, or with-drawing room, are some additional specimens of tapestry, greatly injured by age. In the gardens are

shaded walks, and terraces overlooking the river. The great vine is the largest, probably, in the world, measuring 110 feet in the extent of its branches from the stem, the principal stem itself having a circumference of nearly 30 inches. It frequently yields 3000 bunches of grapes a year. Adjoining Hampton Court is BUSHY PARK, containing about 11,000 acres. Its great glory is its chestnut avenue late in the spring or in early summer when

the trees are in blossom, a sight well worth the journey there from London to see.

From 1st May to 30th September a saloon steamer runs to Hampton Court from London Bridge and intermediate piers. Times of sailing according to tide.

EXCURSION.

LONDON TO GREENWICH AND WOOLWICH, BY STEAMER.

Fares 6d. and 4d.

We

EAVING the landingstage at Charing Cross or below at London Bridge, the steamer makes its way down the Pool, as that part of the river is called, passing through rows of colliers and other vessels waiting their turns to discharge. pass, on the left, the Custom House and the Tower, and, on either side, the several Docks, of which mention has been made. We next leave, on the left, the Isle of Dogs, and, on the right, Deptford, where Peter the Great worked as a shipwright. The yard is now closed. Opposite Millwall on the Isle of Dogs, is Greenwich (5 miles), (Hotels: Trafalgar, Ship), population estimated at 139,436. The tourist cannot fail to notice the magnificent Hospital, on the site of which was once a Royal Palace, the residence of Henry VIII.

and of Queens Mary and Elizabeth. It stands close by the river on a spacious terrace, and has a frontage of 865 feet. The present building was constructed in the reign of William III. for the benefit of the seamen wounded in the battle of La Hogue, and previous to 1865 was open for the reception of all sailors of the Royal Navy who had become incapacited by wounds or ill-health endured or incurred while employed in active service. In 1865 it was converted into a Naval College, and School of Naval Architecture. In the hall are several pictures, and sundry memorials of Lord Nelson. Adjoining Greenwich Hospital is the Park, in which is the Royal Observatory, established in the reign of Charles II. Calculations of

latitude and longitude, and all astronomical and meteorological observations are regulated by "Greenwich Time" all over the world. At the hotels above mentioned the tourist may indulge in the luxury of a white-bait dinner. The members of the Government for the time being, at the close of the Parliamentary Session, celebrate the prorogation of Parliament by a banquet of this description. About 3 miles from Greenwich is Woolwich, with a population of nearly 50,000. The Arsenal is only shown by tickets, which can be obtained from the War Office in Pall Mall, and are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 to 111⁄2 A.M., and from 2 to 44 P.M. It contains an immense store of arms of all descriptions, esteemed the largest in the world.

The Royal Military Repository, on Woolwich Common, contains an assortment of ancient arms, and models of the various forts within the limits of the British Empire, and of vessels of war, &c.

At the Royal Military Academy candidates for commissions in the Royal Engineers, and Royal Artillery receive their There professional education. is accommodation for 160 students.

EXCURSION.

LONDON TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

From Ludgate Hill, London Bridge, or Victoria, first class, 1s. 3d. second, 1s. : Return tickets, first, 2s.; second, 1s. 6d. First class return ticket, including admission to the Palace, 28. 6d. on ordinary days. From Victoria to the High Level Station, fures as above.

don;

HE country through which we pass is rapidly becoming a mere suburb of Londetached villas and rows of houses displacing the trees and hedge-rows in every direction. The journey is effected in about 20 minutes from London Bridge, and about half an hour from Victoria. (Hotels: Queen's, Upper Norwood; Crystal Palace.) The Crystal Palace was constructed from the materials of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and nearly upon the same plan; it was opened by the Queen in 1854. Its length is about 1500 feet, its width nearly 400 feet, and it is about 200 feet high at the centre of the principal transept.

It is divided into Courts, many of them containing reproductions of the architecture and works of art which have come down to us from ancient times. They are as follows: The Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Alhambra, Byzantine, Mediaval, Renaissance, Pompeian, Italian and Modern Sculpture Courts. There are also other Courts devoted to specimens of every branch of manufacturing industry, which are also displayed in the galleries and transepts of the building. In other parts of the structure will be noticed choice collections of plants belonging both to temperate and tropical climates in all parts of the world, the temperature being carefully regulated in accordance with their requirements. The grounds extend over about 200 acres, and have been laid out under the directions of the late Sir Joseph Paxton, who also designed the Palace. They contain terraces and grassy slopes, beautifully diversified with flowerbeds, vases, and rock-work; a lake with boats for the use of visitors, an archery ground, &c. Near the border of the lake, at one end, the tourist will observe certain colossal models of extinct animals the Icthyosaurus, Megatherium, and many others.

The fountains, which play on fête-days (for announcements of which see the newspapers), are amongst the chief attractions of the place. The largest throws a jet of 230 feet high.

Refreshments may be obtained within the Palace at moderate

rates.

EXCURSION.

LONDON TO EPPING FOREST.

London.

HIS celebrated Forest,

with that of Hainault adjoining, once extended almost to In 1793 there were 9000 acres of the forest unenclosed. Its present contents are about 3000. Within a few years measures have been taken to prevent further encroachments, and to preserve this beautiful and picturesque place as a recreation ground for the public.

The best centre for excursions in the Forest is CHINGFORD, a station of the Great Eastern Railway, ten miles from London. Fares, first class 1s. 5d., second 1s. 1d. Here has recently been erected an elegant summer hotel called *THE FOREST HOTEL, which combines every requisite for either a brief or prolonged sojourn. The ANCIENT HUNTING LODGE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH adjoins the hotel. The whole district is rich is historical associations.

The neighbourhood may well have regal associations, for it is named in Anglo-Saxon CHING, or KING'S FORD; and the magnificent oaks, tall elms, and stately beeches of the adjacent King's Mead have a right royal aspect.

The OLD CHURCH, one of the most ancient in the county, its grey stone, covered with a thick mantle of ivy, is another attraction to antiquaries and lovers of the picturesque who ramble through the quaint churchyard.

One of the most charming walks in the whole country is through FAIRMEAD WOOD and to LEPPITT'S HILL, from the top of which is to be obtained a magnificent view, extending on the one