chosen palladium of her proudest attributes—freedom, eloquence, and power.

Continuing our way along MILLBANK, we may mention that this, in the time of Elizabeth, was a mere marsh, and Millbank was the name of a large house belonging to the Grosvenor family, that derived its name from a mill once occupying its site.

The Church of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, seen on the right, was begun in 1721 and finished in 1728. To Sir John Vanbrugh this architectural eccentricity is ascribed, and its four belfries have not been inaptly compared to an inverted table with its legs in the air. Churchill, the satirist, was for

some time the curate and lecturer here.

The PENITENTIARY, observed a little beyond, was designed by Jeremy Bentham, and is octagonal in form, enclosing a space of about eighteen acres. It was built in 1819, on ground bought in 1799 of the Marquis of Salisbury, and cost nearly half a million. It is devoted to the industrial reformation of prisoners, and as such is the largest prison in London. All convicts sentenced to transportation are here for three months prior to the sentence being carried into execution. On the Inspector's report to the Home Secretary, the place of transportation is then indicated. About 4,000 criminals are every year thus doomed to expiate their offences. Admission can only be obtained by an order from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, or from the Resident Inspectors.

We next arrive at VAUXHALL BRIDGE, began in 1811, and finished in June, 1816, at an expense of £300,000. It consists of nine cast-iron arches, each 78 feet in span, and is 810 feet long. The toll of one penny is demanded for each passenger; and a steamboat pier below materially contributes to increase the traffic.

Vauxhall Bridge Road will conduct us to PIMLICO and the opulent region of Belgravia, where a new town round Belgrave and Eaton Squares has arisen within the last ten years. The whole of this vast territory, now thickly inhabited

by the wealthy and the titled, and having long lines of palacelike houses spreading forth in every direction, was within the memory of many living a spacious open tract, known as "The Five Fields,"-a place of ominous dread to those bound towards Chelsea after nightfall, on account of the numerous ruffians and "cut-purses" that were then wont to lie in wait about this dreary spot.

Hence we can take an omnibus back to Charing Cross, or stroll leisurely through St. James's Park, by way of varying A full description of the park is given in the

our return.

succeeding pages.

DISTRICT 3.

CHARING CROSS-PALL MALL EAST-THE HAYMARKET THE CLUB HOUSES-PALL MALL-ST. JAMES'S PALACE-ST. JAMES'S STREET -ST. JAMES'S PARK-THE GREEN PARK-BUCKINGHAM PALACE -HYDE PARK CORNER-APSLEY HOUSE-HYDE PARK-KENSINGTON GARDENS-HOLLAND HOUSE-PICCADILLY-ALBEMARLE STREET THE ROYAL INSTITUTION MANSIONS OF THE NOBILITY.

ROM Charing Cross we make our way across Trafalgar Square to PALL MALL EAST, at the corner of which is the "ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS," built by Smirke, at a cost of £30,000, and opened in 1835. The portico, supported by six Ionic columns, leads to a spacious hall and staircase. In the library are some fine portraits and busts of the most eminent physicians. Admission can be obtained by orders from the members. The UNION CLUB HOUSE adjoining, in the square, was also built from the designs of Smirke. Wyatt's equestrian statue of George III. was erected in 1836. The horse is considered a fine specimen of workmanship, and the likeness to the monarch admirable.

The HAYMARKET, so called from a market for hay having been kept here as late as 1830, introduces us to the Theatre bearing the same name, and which was built by Nash in 1821. It has a stately portico supported by six Corinthian columns, and an interior handsomely fitted up. It is one of the best conducted in the metropolis. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, on the opposite side, is the largest theatre in Europe, La Scala, at Milan, excepted, and is calculated to hold 3,000 persons. The present edifice was built from a design by Messrs. Nash and Repton, in 1818, and is surrounded on all sides by a covered colonnade, supported by Doric cast-iron pillars. The interior has five tiers of boxes, which are each either private property or let to persons of rank and fashion for the season. Many of the double boxes on the grand tier have

sold for as much as £8,000. Visitors to all parts of the theatre but the gallery are expected to appear in evening costume, frock coats and coloured trousers and cravats not being admissible. The season usually begins in February and continues till August. Nights of performance-Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The Club Houses, those magnificent buildings where the most distinguished members of the worlds of fashion, politics, and literature, meet for the purposes of lounging away their spare hours in conversation, reading, and refreshment, are now around us on every side, and merit a passing glance. For the convenience of the stranger, we group them together in that order which from this point seems most desirable for observation. There are thirty-seven principal clubs in the metropolis, comprising nearly 30,000 members. At the corner of Suffolk Street is the UNIVERSITY CLUB HOUSE, built by Wilkins in 1824, for members of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The TRAVELLERS' CLUB, 106, Pall Mall, was rebuilt by Barry in 1832. The club is limited to 700 members, and each pays thirty guineas on admission, besides his annual subscription. The ATHENÆUM CLUB, standing partly on the site of Carlton Palace, was built by Decimus Burton, in 1829, and is an elegant edifice of Grecian architecture, with a statue of Minerva over the portico. The number of members is fixed at 1,200, and they must have attained distinguished eminence in science, literature, and the arts. The CARLTON CLUB, Pall Mall, has been lately rebuilt by Sydney Smirke, with three uniform façades in the Italian style. It is exclusively frequented by the Conservative party. The UNITED SERVICE CLUB was erected by John Nash, in 1826, and is esteemed one of the most commodious. It is of the Doric order, with a noble portico of eight double columns, forming the entrance. The REFORM CLUB HOUSE, on the south side of Pall Mall, was founded in 1832, and built from Barry's designs. The exterior is remarkably fine. In the interior are portraits of the leading Reformers. The entrance fee is twenty

six guineas, and each member pays ten guineas annual subscription. The number of members is limited to 1,400. At the corner of St. James's Square is the splendid new building of the ARMY AND NAVY CLUB, built in 1849, from the designs of Messrs. Smith and Parnell. There are 1,450 members, who each pay an entrance fee of £30, and an annual subscription of six guineas.

Situated on the spot where Carlton House formerly stood, and at one of the entrances to St. James's Park, is seen the DUKE OF YORK'S COLUMN, erected by public subscription in 1833. The column, 124 feet high, was designed by Wyatt, is of Scotch granite, and is surmounted by a statue of the Duke, by Westmacott, fourteen feet high. A spiral staircase conducts the visitor, on payment of sixpence, to a gallery affording a fine view of the Surrey Hills and the West End ; but since a lamentable suicide took place here in 1850, the railings have been enclosed in a manner similar to the Monument. It is open from 12 till 4.

PALL MALL, So called from a game of that name, introduced into England in the reign of Charles I., is a thoroughfare full of historic interest, and the clubs, already mentioned, form a distinguishing feature of the lines of stately edifices that adorn this locality. In the height of the London season, brilliant and well-appointed equipages and all the appliances of wealth and distinction, are to be here seen rolling along in every variety and in every direction. One might suppose that a succession of brilliant fêtes was going forward, and that the rank, beauty, and fashion of the metropolis were wending their way to some scene of unusual gaiety. Few would imagine that the fair occupants of the carriages were intent merely on lounging in some emporium of taste, and that the bustle and excitement were things of every-day occurrence. Many stately mansions here have been gradually giving place to the warehouses and show-rooms of the trader. The large brick house where the Duke of Schomberg resided, is now the abode of Payne and Foss, the booksellers. The late residence of the