which is tastefully laid out, and embellished with marble and bronze statues, and a fountain in the centre.

The Royal Stables, or Mews, on the S. side of the castle, built at a cost of 70,000l., are open daily from 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets of admission are obtained at the entrance from the Clerk of the Mews (small fee to groom who conducts the visitors round).

The Town Hall of Windsor contains some good portraits, an ancient mayor's chair in carved oak, and a marble bust of Charles Knight (1791-1873), a native of Windsor. The Parish Church, High Street, has some quaint monuments, carved railings by Grinling Gibbons, and mosaics by Salviati. The Garrison Church (Holy Trinity) contains numerous military memorials.

On the left bank of the Thames, 10 min. to the N. of Windsor Bridge, is Eton College, one of the most famous of English schools, founded in 1440 by Henry VI. The number of pupils on the foundation, who live at the college, and wear black gowns, is about 70; the main portion of the establishment consists of the Oppidans, numbering more than 900, who live at the residences of the masters, or in the authorised 'Dames' houses', in the town, but under the jurisdiction of the college. The Eton boys, in their short jackets, broad collars, and tall hats, represent a large section of the youthful wealth and aristocracy of England.

The school buildings enclose two large courts, united by the archway of the clock tower. The centre of the Outer Quadrangle, or larger court to the W., is occupied by a bronze statue of Henry VI.; on its N. side is the Lower School; on the W., the Upper School, the hall of which contains marble busts of English monarchs and of distinguished Etonians, including Chatham, Fox, Canning, Peel, and Wellington. The Chapel on the S. side, a handsome Gothic building, is decorated internally with wood-carving, stained-glass windows, and mosaics; in the antechapel is a marble statue of Henry VI. The Inner Quadrangle is bounded in part by the dining-hall of the students who board at the college, and by the library, containing a rich collection of classical and Oriental MSS. A new Quadrangle, including a museum and a chapel for the Lower School, was erected in 1888-89. Those who desire to see the school should apply to Mr. Osborn, Clerk to the Head Master, at the School Office. The chapel is in the charge of Mr. Oakley. The Playing Fields should be visited. Comp. Maxwell Lyte's 'History of Eton College' (1875). See also the amusing little book entitled 'A Day of My Life at Eton'.

To the N. and E. of Windsor lies the Home Park, or smaller park, surrounded on three sides by the Thames, and about 4 M. in circumference. A carriage-road leads through it to the village of Datchet (p. 336), situated on the left bank of the Thames, 1 M. to the E. of Windsor. Herne's Oak, celebrated in Shakspeare's 'Merry Wives of Windsor', formerly stood by the roadside; in 1863,

however, the old tree was destroyed by lightning, and a young oak planted in its place by the Queen. Opposite Datchet is the small royal country-seat of Adelaide Lodge; and farther S. is Frogmore Lodge, once the seat of the Queen's mother, the Duchess of Kent (d. 1861). Its grounds contain the Duchess's tomb, the magnificent mausoleum erected by the Queen to her husband, Prince Albert (d. 1861), and a cenotaph of Princess Alice (d. 1878).

The Great Park, 1800 acres in extent, lies to the S. of Windsor, and is stocked with several thousand fallow deer. The Long Walk, a fine avenue of elms, leads from George IV's Gateway (p. 325), in a straight line of nearly 3 M., to Snow Hill, which is crowned by a statue of George III., by Westmacott. At the end of this avenue is a road to the left, which passes Cumberland Lodge, and leads to Virginia Water (* Wheatsheaf Hotel; carriage from Windsor and back 7-9s.), an artificial lake, formed in 1746 by the Duke of Cumberland, the victor at Culloden, in order to drain the surrounding moorland. The views from various points around the lake are very pleasing. There is a station of the South Western Railway (p. 35) about 11/2 M. from Virginia Water; and in summer a coach runs daily to Virginia Water from Piccadilly (see p. 32). - Queen Anne's Ride, another avenue, running almost parallel with the Long Walk, leads to the right to Ascot (p. 336), the scene of the fashionable Ascot Races in June, on the occasion of which some members of the Royal Family usually drive up the course in state (comp. p. 46).

41. Gravesend. Chatham. Rochester.

NORTH KENT RAILWAY from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, and London Bridge, to Gravesend (24 M., in 1-11/3 hrs.; fares 3s. 6d., 2s. 8d., 2s. 2d); thence to Strood, Rochester, and Chatham in 10-20 min. more (fares 5s., 3s. 6d., 2s. 6d); or to Strood by rail, and thence across the Medway to Rochester and Chatham. The return journey may be made by the LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY, which runs vid Bromley and Beckenham to Victoria, Holborn Viaduct, Ludgate Hill, and King's Cross (in 1hr. 5 min. to 13/4 hr.; fares 5s., 3s. 6d., 2s. 6d.).

During the summer months Gravesend may also be reached by a Thames STEAMBOAT from London Bridge (21/2 hrs.; fares 1s. 6d., 1s.).

A pleasant way of making this excursion is as follows: by river to Gravesend, and thence on foot by Cobham Hall (p. 346) to (7 M.) Rochester and Chatham, the return journey being effected by the London Chatham, and Dover Railway. A whole day will thus be occupied.

As far as Gravesend, we describe both the river and the railway

route.

A. THE THAMES FROM LONDON BRIDGE TO GRAVESEND. The scenery of the Thames below London contrasts very unfavourably with the smiling beauties of the same river higher up; yet the trip down to Gravesend has attractions of its own, and may be recommended as affording a good survey of the vast commercial traffic of London. The appearance of the Thames just below London Bridge has already been described (p. 110), and the names of the wharves as far as Greenwich and Woolwich will be found in Route 31. The principal objects seen on the banks thus far are the Monument (left; p. 110), Billingsgate (left; p. 111), Custom House (left; p. 112), Tower (left; p. 117), St. Katherine's Docks (left; p. 126), London Docks (left; p. 126), Wapping (left; p. 127), Rotherhithe (right; p. 67), Surrey Docks (right; p. 128), Commercial Docks (right; p. 128), Deptford (right; p. 68), West India Docks (left; p. 128), Greenwich Hospital (right; p. 301), Isle of Dogs (left; p. 128), Blackwall Station (left; p. 301), East India Docks (left; p. 128), Victoria Docks (left; p. 128), Woolwich, with its dock-yard and arsenal (right; p. 304), North Woolwich (left). Just above London Bridge we cross the City of London Subway (p. 126), below the Custom House we cross the Tower Subway (p. 126), and by the Surrey Docks we pass over the Thames Tunnel (p. 127). The different docks are frequented by different classes of vessels. Thus in the London Docks we see ships bound for the Cape, the Mediterranean, India, and China. Most of the ships in the Commercial Docks are engaged in the timber trade with Sweden and Norway. The Victoria Docks are devoted to steamships plying to America and the Black Sea. The West India Docks contain the stately merchantmen which bring the wealth of the West Indies to this country, while the East India Docks are filled with merchant and passenger vessels sailing between England and India, China, Australia, and New Zealand.

The banks of the Thames below Woolwich are very flat and marshy, recalling the appearance of a Dutch landscape. Shortly after leaving Woolwich, we enter a part of the river called Barking Reach, where, at Barking Creek on the N., and Crossness on the S. bank, are situated the outlets of London's new and gigantic system of drainage. The pumping-house at Crossness is a building of some architectural merit, with an Italian tower (visitors admitted on application at the office). Passing through Halfway Reach and Erith Reach, with Erith Marshes on our right, we next arrive at

R. Erith, a village pleasantly situated at the base of a wooded hill, with a picturesque, ivy-clad, old church. On the opposite bank of the river, 2 M. lower down, lies

L. Purfleet (Royal Hotel, fish-dinners), the seat of large Government powder magazines, capable of containing 60,000 barrels of powder. Opposite is the mouth of the small river Darent. The training-ship Cornwall is moored in the Thames at Purfleet. Three miles below Purfleet, on the same side, is

L. West Thurrock (Old Ship), with the Saxon church of St. Clement, one of the most ancient in England. There are still some remains of an old monastery. The Essex bank here forms a sharp promontory, immediately opposite which, in a corresponding indentation, lies

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ON GLAVESEND BY RAIL.

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17 M. Dartford (Bull; Victoria), a busy town of 11,000 inhab., with a large paper-mill, a machine and engine factory, a gunpowder factory, and the City of London Lunatic Asylum. The first paper mill in England was erected here at the end of the 16th century. Foolscap paper takes its name from the crest (a fool's cap) of the founder, whose tomb is in the church. Dartford was the abode of the rebel Wat Tyler (p. 96).

Another route from London to Dartford passes the interesting little town of (9 M.) Eltham (Greyhound; Chequers), prettily situated among trees, with the villas of numerous London merchants. About 1/4 M. to the N. of the station lie the remains of Eltham Palace, a favourite royal residence from Henry III. (1216-72) to Henry VIII. (1509-1547). Queen Elizabeth often lived here in her childhood. The palace is popularly known as King John's Barn, perhaps because the king has been confounded with John of Eltham, son of Edward II., who was born here. Part of the old moat surrounding the palace is still filled with water, and we cross it by a picturesque old bridge. Almost the only relic of the building is the fine Banqueting Hall (key kept in the adjacent lodge), somewhat resembling Crosby Hall in London in general style and dating like it from the reign of Edward IV. (1461-83). The hall was long used as a barn, and some of its windows are still bricked up. The Roof is of chestnut. Adjoining the hall on the left is the Court House, a picturesque gabled building, formerly the buttery of the Palace.

There were originally three Parks attached to Eltham Palace, one of which, the Middle Park, has attained some celebrity in modern days as the home of the Blenkiron stud of race-horses, which produced the Derby winners, Gladiateur and Blair Athole. The Great Park has been built over. The Church of Eltham was rebuilt in 1874; in the churchyard are buried Bishop Horne (d. 1792), the commentator on the Psalms, and Doggett, the comedian, founder of 'Doggett's Coat and Badge' (p. 47). Van Dyck was assigned summer-quarters at Eltham during his stay in England (1632-41), probably in the palace.

A visit to Eltham may be conveniently combined with one to Greenwich (p. 301), which is reached by a pleasant walk of 4 M. across Blackheath (p. 304) and Greenwich Park; or to Woolwich (also 4 M.). reached viâ Shooter's Hill (p. 305). Another pleasant walk may be taken to (3 M.) Chiselhurst.

Beyond Dartford we cross the Darent, pass (20 M.) Greenhithe (p. 345) and Northfleet (p. 344), and reach 24 M. Gravesend.

Gravesend (Clarendon Hotel; Old Falcon; New Falcon; Nelson), a town with 25,000 inhab., lying on the S. bank of the Thames, at the head of its estuary, has greatly increased in size in recent years, and is much resorted to by pleasure-seekers from London. The newer parts of the town are well built, but the streets in the lower quarter are narrow and crooked. Gravesend possesses two good piers. On the W. side, towards Northfleet, are Rosherville Gardens (see p. see p. 44), a favourite resort, where music, dancing, archery, and other amusements find numerous votaries. The parish-church was built in the reign of Queen Anne, on the site of an earlier church which had been burned down in 1520. Pocahontas (d. 1617), the Indian