MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION.

This universally visited exhibition of waxworks, now in Baker Street, Portman Square, was originally established in Gray's Inn Lane, in St. Pancras, as may be seen by the following advertisements taken from an old paper of April, 1834 :

"PATRONISED by the PRINCESS AUGUSTA and PRINCE GEORGE.

“DECIDED SUCCESS!—The Morning and Evening Promenade being well attended.

"NOW OPEN, with increasing approbation the more it becomes known, in the only room large enough for the purpose, the Assembly Room of the Bazaar, Gray's Inn-road, MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION and PROMENADE, unequalled in Europe, continues to increase in estimation. The Figures modelled in composition the size of life, in gorgeous costumes, meet with the encomiums of every visitor.

"Admittance, one shilling-second room, sixpence. Open from eleven till four, and from seven till ten. The Band will play at two and half-past seven."

"WHAT PUBLIC PLACE can one go to where one may blend healthy and pleasurable exercise with profitable and economical business? THE ROYAL LONDON BAZAAR, Liverpool-street, opposite King's-cross, New Road. There you may purchase any of the thousand-and-one Varieties of Fancy and Useful Articles; or, you may lounge an agreeable hour either in the Promenades; or in Exhibitions that are wholly without parallel in the known world !— Carriages may either wait in the arena for orders, or at the Royal Entrance, Liverpool-street; or at the Gray's-inn Road Entrance."

ST. PANCRAS DIRECTORIES.

The account of the publication of these volumes is very amusing. The idea of a Directory originated with Mr. James Giddings, of King's Cross, who issued

a prospectus of his intention to publish one for the year 1863; but another party, seeing the prospectus, announced his intention (by forestalling Mr. Giddings) of publishing one for the year 1862. Irritated by what the original projector considered to be a piratical invasion of his work, he at once entered his copyright at Stationers' Hall, and arranged to issue his volume at once in its crude state. We copy here his own an

nouncement—

"To my Subscribers and Fellow Rate-Payers.

"LADIES AND Gentlemen,

"Having myself felt the want of a Directory for the parish of St. Pancras, and having learned that many of you wished to possess such an auxiliary to business, I conferred with a few friends on the subject, and was encouraged by them in the belief, that if spiritedly undertaken, such a work would be acceptable to our vast community.

"In January last, I determined to attempt the compilation of such a Directory as should be in accordance with the importance of St. Pancras, and meet the universally admitted want.

"In order to obtain correct data for my prospectus, I obtained estimates for printing, and commenced the needful preliminaries; but did not then purpose bringing out the book until January 1st, 1863. Circumstances have, however, transpired to alter my plans; of which some of you may, and others may not, be aware: it is, therefore, due to myself that I offer this explanation. During the month of April, my attention was called to a prospectus of 'The St. Pancras Directory for 1862,' and requesting any information to be sent to Simpson & Co., 76, Seymour Street.' Regarding this as an attempt to forestall my copyright, I made the proper search at Stationers' Hall; and finding no record of any St. Pancras Directory, I entered according to law that in course of preparation by myself, but to be issued in 1862, instead of, as originally intended, 1863.

"Thus forewarned and forearmed by recent events, I went in search of Simpson & Co., but could find no such firm carrying on business at 76, Seymour Street; and upon making inquiry of a Tobacconist who carries on business at that address, I was assured that any letter addressed to Simpson & Co. about the Directory, would be sent forward to that firm. In this complex and mysterious state of affairs relating to what might be supposed to be a public matter, or a business transaction fit for broad daylight, rather than needing

secrecy, (if the enterprise was being honorably conducted), I wrote to the supposed firm, but have not yet received any written reply.

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Subsequently a person called upon me who admitted that he was a stranger in St. Pancras, but had been engaged in the compilation of Provincial Directories, though not uniformly sailing in smooth waters, and asserted that he was then preparing a directory for this parish. I told him candidly that mine was entered at Stationers' Hall, and would be issued during this summer, that I had no wish to commence legal proceedings against Simpson & Co., but should of course defend my copyright. I further offered so far to guarantee

him against loss as to take to the orders he had obtained for advertisements, and pay him a fair amount for their value. "These facts will account for what may to some appear undue haste in bringing out this volume, and I hope will be deemed a sufficient excuse for any inaccuracies and deficiencies which may be discovered on its perusal. The price is lower than it could have been, had my original plan been carried out, and I hope to find that its cheapness and utility will meet the wishes of my friends.

"I shall endeavour at the earliest suitable opportunity after this edition is sold to set about my larger work, which will include a map of St. Pancras, street guide, division into wards, and many other improvements suggested by experience and conference with those who have kindly aided me in my task.

"While thanking my subscribers and advertisers for past favours, I venture to solicit their extended patronage, and shall feel obliged by written communications pointing out any errors which require correction, as well as any omissions of the names of individuals and institutions, which may have appeared to escape my notice in the present publication.

I have the honour to be,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Your obedient servant,
JAMES GIDDINGS.

"21, LIVERPOOL STREET, KING'S CROSS, 26th May, 1862."

Notwithstanding this forearming and forewarning, Messrs. Simpson pursued their way, and in the July following, or two months after Mr. Giddings' work had appeared, Messrs. Simpson's volume was issued to the public. The original one was simply a list of

names, so far as time would allow the compiler to gather them, and very incorrect indeed, while the other was a Street Directory, divided into court and commercial, and very much the more creditable of the two; but, singular enough, these antagonistic volumes required to be conjointed, and as the two Sheriffs of the City of London are necessary to make the one Sheriff of Middlesex, so these two volumes are required to make one St. Pancras Directory. Another singularity connected with these volumes is-that in both instances the first was the only issue; no second volume appeared from either of the speculators.

THE "ADAM AND EVE."

This House is supposed to stand on the site of the Old Manor House of Tottenhall. Near to this spot formerly stood the ancient house known as King John's Palace. Whether that monarch ever really resided there it is now impossible to ascertain, but tradition states that it was known as the Palace, and the houses on the site being called "Palace Row" supports the

tradition.

In the year 1800, Tottenham Court Road, from Whitfield Chapel, was lined on either side with the hawthorn hedge, and then the Adam and Eve tea gardens were the constant resort of thousands of Londoners; particularly at the time of Tottenham Fair, and when, after its suppression, it was followed by its more innocent one called "Gooseberry Fair." It had three spacious gardens, and a forecourt with large shadowing elm trees, under which were tables and benches for those who preferred to smoke their pipe and take their glass, while they could watch the traffic