Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-17
Correspondence of the "py.
Journal of n Traveller in Europe
No. XIV.


Journal of n Traveller i'm Europe.
No. XIV.
LONDON, August 26th
YESTERDAY. we visited the geological Gar
dens.p in Regents Park, a place hi2 hly interest
ing to the stranger in London. The collection oil
W ID animals. birds, reptiles, &C., &C., embraces
almost every variety found in the world, and is
undoubtedly the most complete and extensive ,
menagerie to be seen any where. The collection
of living snakes is very large, and includes
great variety, from the frightful looking anacon
da down TO the little garter snake. The rhlnoce
ros, elephants, ops giraffes, ostriehes, &c, &C.
are all very large and fine specimens, and look
healthy and in good order. But the great attrac-
ton now among the animals is the huge Hippo
potamus, brought from Egypt; only two or three
, of which have ever been taken. he IS shapeo
much like gigantic hog, with bull dog shaped
head and nose; eyes very large and prominent
and with mouth big enough to easily take IN a
peck measure. His body has but little hair upon
It, and is of dark brown color. He is about
eight feet in length, and his body would girth at
least twelve feet! THERE'S little tank of water,
perhaps twenty feet square, in his yard, in which
he remains part of the time, swimming about
III.
vegetables, cabbages, grass, &C., and is most
voracious eater. [Another hippopotamus' a ie-
male has since been added to the collection
In order, suppose. to make the collection COM
? plete. a common American skunk is kept there;
buthe had mean, sneaking look, as ii ashamed
of himself, while walking about in the little yard
appropriated to his exclusive USE
At one side of the Gardens, in glass building
made for the purpose, there is very rare and
interesting exhibition of small living fish, &c
They are kept in glass boxes or cases, which are
four or Eve feet long, and foot or so square,
large variety OF fresh ana saIf water ns FROM All
inch to foot in length; snails of all sizes and
kinds oysters and other shell fish in greatvari
ty, &c.. &c. The visitor has close and unob-
structed view of all of them, and it was ex.
ceedingly interesting sight to witness fish and
CLANS feeding, and moving about they are
wont to do in their native haunts; some on clean
grayelly bottoms, and Others among large stones
covered with mud, moss, &c. according to theil
natural habits. A great variety of MOSES were
growing in the water in which the fish were
kept, and some OF them were very beautiful By
ingenious continuance, the water in the cases
is frequently changed. Had we the time, we
should have been glad to spend as many days, as
we did hours in looking at the multitude of in
teresting objects to be seen in these Gardens.
The whole collection belongs to the geological
Society, and an admission fee oftwenty five cents
is charged
This morning, we went by train to Windsor
Castle" The distance is about twenty-five miles
from St. Paul's, which is near the centre of Lon
w. -, ~ ~. II
this renowned place, the residence. most of the
time of the Royal family. The elegant rooms
are large, and very beautifully furnished; five
million dollars having been expended there within
the last thirty years. There are quite number
of buildings, for various purposes, connected
with Tor are part Of the Castle. The British
Sovereigns, for several generations have been
inferred here. The Castle. as well as most Of the
buildings near it, is built of granite, and being
situated on elevated ground, the whole has
grand and imposing appearance, well becoming
Royal residence; but still, it did not come quite
up to our preeonceived ideas of its splendor from
what we had heard OF it--however, it is we'll
worth visiting. The Great Park, which adoins
the Castle, is livery beautiful piece of ground,
extending several miles, and is filled with very
large dHd HduusOHe tItebs InOSlly elnS. Win
many large he rds Of cattle and deer, feeding on
the grass One Of the walks in the Park is three
miles long, and is about twenty feet wide, per-
fectly straight with slight ascent, the whole
distance, and each side of it is lined with row
Of stately elms all the way. The Royal stables
occupy extensive range Of handsome brick
buildings. Here we saw about eighty of the
Queens horses, most of them very beautiful an
imals, Of all colors and sizes, and fifty elegant
carriages. of every kind and fashion, suitable for
the use Of the royal owner
Hampton Court" is about half way between
Windsor Castle and London The palace il an
extensive pile Of old brick buildings, and was oc.
eupIed by several of the Royal families, more
than century since. Its now used for the res
idence of the destitute widows Of distinguished
men who were formerly connected with the
Government, and is supported at the expense Of
the Nation. Many Of the bed rooms of former
Kings and Queens have the furniture, beds, &c.
now in them. just as they we're used hundred
years ago. The furniture is not very rich OF
handsome, and the bedsteads we're the real old
fashioned sort, with posts at least twelve feet
high. The gardens, walks, &C., connected with
the palace, reputed to be the handsomest in
All England The main walks, each mile OF
more in extent, are at least fifty feet wide, Dor.
dered with immense hor.e chestnuts; and, all
being kept In perfect order, gives the whole scene
an extremely beautiful appearance. In the ex.
tensive Park, numerous herds Of deer and cattle
were feeding Here, is the famous Hamburg
Grape Vine, eighty fee years old, and the largest
grape vine in the world The trunk Of IL. tire.
feet from the ground, measures at least three feet
10 circumference, Zone foot through.) When we
were there, It had about fourteen hundred bsnches
averaging pound apiece Of 6ne looking grapes
hanging ON IL; and II appears as healthy and
vigorous IS any vino need to. Il planted at