they were fitted up in their present state. The walls are covered with tapestry, very beautiful, and quite fresh in their colours; for, though it was made for Charles II. it had never been put up, having by some accident lain in a chest, till discovered a little before the marriage of the Prince. The canopy of the throne was made for the queen's birth-day, the first which happened after the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. It is of crimson velvet, with broad gold lace, having embroidered crowns, set with real and fine pearls. The shamrock, the badge of the Irish nation, forms one of the decorations of the crown, and is accurately executed. In the grand drawing-room is a large magnificent chandelier of gilt silver; and in the grand levee-room is a very noble bed, the furniture of which is of crimson velvet, manufac tured in Spitalfields. This bed was put up, with the tapestry, on the marriage of the Prince of Wales.

The other parts of St. James's Palace are very irregular in their form, consisting chiefly of several courts. Some of the apartments are occupied by branches of the royal family, others by the king's servants, and others are granted as a benefit to their occupiers.

The sole use the king makes of St. James's Palace, is for purposes of state.

The traveller will be pleased with St. James's Park, which is of an oblong form, and nearly two miles in circuit, for the skilful manner in which it is laid out. The avenues, the inclosure, with its canal, and the artful disposition of the few trees within the inclosure, form together a very agree. able scene. The avenues and the canal were made by Charles II. but the present fine effect of the small spot of ground within the railing, is the fruit of the genius of the celebrated Mr. Brown.

St. James's Palace and Park are situated near the western extremity of the town, on the side next the river, from which, at a small distance, it is separated by Parliament-street, and the site of Whitehall Palace. An inclosure, called the Green Park, is a beautiful spot, gradually ascending from St. James's Park, which it immediately joins to Piccadilly, being separated from it by a wall in some parts, and an iron railing in others. The lodge of the ranger of St. James's Park, and Hyde Park, stands at the top of this ascent, near the centre, facing Piccadilly; and, with its gardens and pleasure grounds, is a very picturesque spot. The body of the lodge, which is white stucco, and a handsome building, has been of late years disfigured by brick ont-houses, that give the place a confused and vulgar appearance.

The Queen's Palace.

The actual town residence of his present majesty is at the queen's palace, usually called Bucking. ham-house, at the western extremity of St. James's Park. This house, which was built by Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, in 1703, was purchased by the king in 1761; and in 1775, settled by act of parliament on the queen, in lieu of Somerset-house, In the case of her surviving his majesty. The queen's palace is a handsome brick building; many of the apartments are noble; and behind the house are very extensive and fine gardens, running para!lel with the Green Park, and stretching towards Chelsea.

Carleton House.

On the northern side of St. James's Park is Carleton House, the residence of the Prince of Wales. It was built a few years since, by Holland, and has several magnificent apartments; and the finest armory in the world. The collection is so

extensive as to occupy three or four large rooms, where are to be seen the rarest specimens of arms, and other things, from all nations. Considerable additions have lately been made by presents which his Royal Highness has received from India, Egypt, and distant places. The plan is not, however, completed. The principal front of Carleton House faces Pall-Mall, from which the court before it is divided by a low screen, surmounted with a beautiful colonnade.

A riding-house and stables, belonging to Carle ton House, are immediately contiguous to St. James's Park, the general beauty of which they affect by the meanness of their appearance. The garden, which is extensive, is laid out with considerable

taste.

Marlborough House.

On the same side with Carleton House, and between that and the palace, is the town-house of the Duke of Marlborough. It was built in the reign of Queen Anne, by the public, at the expence of 40,0001. on part of the royal gardens, and given by the queen and nation to the great Duke of Marlborough. It is a handsome building, greatly improved of late years, and has a garden extending to the park. It forms a striking contrast to the adjoining palace of St. James's.

St. James's Park.

The whole of the northern side of St. James's Park, and the western extremity, are very pleasing to the eye, The eastern extremity is occupied by the Horse-guards, the Treasury, and other édifices, that do not produce an ill effect. But the south side, in which is the Bird-cage Walk, is deplora. ble in its appearance. There is a species of bar. racks in that quarter, and a general air of misery and meanness, that should be removed, or obscured

by planting. One nuisance disgraces the queen's palace; it is the small guard-room, lately erected on the south side of the house, near Buckinghamgate.

This Park was enclosed by King Charles II. who planted the avenues, made the Canal and the Aviary adjacent to the Bird cage Walk, which took its name from the cages hung in the trees.

On the north side of the parade is placed a Turkish piece of Ordnance of uncommon length, which was brought from Alexandria in Egypt, by the British army. It is mounted on a carriage of English construction, and is ornamented with several appropriate Egyptian devices, executed with great taste.

The Court of St. James's.

Persons who wish to see the nobility and other persons of distinction go to court on drawing-room days, may easily obtain admission to the ante-room, by permission of the officer, of the guard, the yeomen, or other persons in waiting, provided ap. plication be made before the court begins.

On birth days admission may be obtained to the gallery of the ball room, either by the ticket of a peer, or the introduction of a page, or any person in the royal household. Admission may also be obtained to the Lord Chamberlain's box, but it is necessary to be full dressed. In this, as in most other cases, a small fee, properly applied, is the readiest and most independent passport.

Ladies who happen to be in London on the king or queen's birth-day, will be highly gratified by obtaining admission to the ball-room.

Siday Promenade in St. James's Park.

In summer the avenues on the northern side of St. James's Park, called the Mall, form a favou rite promenade for the inhabitants of the metro.

polis; which, in fine weather, on Sundays in the afternoon and evening, is always extremely crowded with well-dressed company. But though a favourite, this is not a very fashionable walk, people of rank preferring Kensington Gardens before dinner, and the Green Park in the evening, where, if they chuse, they can escape from the dust of a gravel walk, which is not to be done in St. James's Park.

There is an occasional exercise of artillery in the park; and the guards parade every day, between ten and eleven o'clock, which, with a full band of music, renders it extremely cheerful and attractive. Hyde Park.

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Hyde Park is a royal demesne, immediately contiguous to the metropolis, at the western extremity, nearly in the centre, between its northern and southern points, having the road to Oxford on the north, and the Hounslow road on the south. It was formerly a manor belonging to Westminster Abbey, but in the reign of Henry VIII. was acquired by the crown, in exchange for other lands, It was originally much larger than at present, being reduced in extent chiefly by inclosing Kensington Gardens from it. In 1652, Hyde Park contained 620 acres. Its present extent is a few roods less than 395 acres. During the time of the republic, it was sold in lots for 17,0681. 6s. 8d. including the timber and deer. After the restoration it was resumed by the crown, again planted with timber, replenished with deer, and surrounded with a brick wall, having been till then inclosed with pales.

This park is a spot of great natural beauty, heightened by a fine piece of water, called the Serpentine River, formed in 1730, by enlarging the bed of a stream, flowing through the park, which, taking its rise at Bayswater, on the Uxbridge-road,