The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-06
European Correspondence or the Min-
nesotian.--NO. g.

European Correspondence or the Min-
nesotian.--NO. g. a
LONDON. ial
MEssRs. EDIToRs.-In addition to those
places have mentioned there are many 9TH
ers of note in London. In my description of
a few OF these l shall be very brief.
The new Houses of Parliament are situated
on the banks of the River Thames, opposite
Westminster Abbey, and are built nearly az
ter the same style of architecture. It is a
very large building, and the most costly of
any in England. never saw building that
appears to have so much work Oh it as this,
both on the outside and within, and yet do
not like the appearance of it as well as l do
many of the public buildings in the United
States. The Lamps on the outside in the
shape of a globe are very pretty. received
cards from the gentlemanly Secretary of our
Minister to visit the interior, but as the Hous-
es were not in session did not have the pleas
ure of seeing and hearing many of the public
men of England.
st. Paul's Cathedral is place very much
celebrated and was built by the Masonic Fra.
ternity. 1t was thirty-fve years being built,
and cost seven and a half million dollars, and
this, too, ct time when labor was very cheap:
There are many Monuments on the inside,
and among them is that of its Architect, Sir
Christopher Wren, Howard, the Philanthro-
pist, Lord Nelson, and other Heroes.
attended divine service in this place. It
is Episcopal, or Church of England as it is
sometimes termed, and noticed there were
twelve men and eight boys in clerical robes,
and from the number of seats for the Clergy
l should judge this was only about one half
of the full number. There are also seats ex-
pressly for the Lord Bishop, Mayor, and Al
dermen of the City of London. On the top
of this building is to be obtained the best
view of this City.
The British Museum contains the largest
collection in the world, consisting of stuffed
beasts, animals, birds, reptiles fishes fossils,
insects, minerals, skeletons of beasts and an
imals, ancient sculpturing, and ancient relics
of every description. This building is the
property of the Government, and admission
is free to all. To any one that takes an in
terest in natural history and antiquities few
days conld be spent here with profit. Nearly
all the products of DR.. Layard's excavations
1laces in Assyria are deposited here. Some
Of the specimens to be seen are the oldest
kl 10 wn, or nearly 1000 years old.
TIE National Gallery contains large and
fine collection Of Paintings, and is also free to
all.
Having heard much of Madame Tussand
& Sons Waxworks, paid it visit. 1t is in
Baker Str eet-a very arstocratic part of the
city-and contains about three hundred and
fifty Wax M. odelS Of the most prominent in
dviduals of the present and past ages, and
are considered to be the most correct likeness
es in existance. In walking through place
of this kind, it is sometimes very difficult to
tell visitors, when they are seated or stand
ing, from the Models, as some of the latter
move and apparently breathe. Many OF the
figures 1 could call by name those who they
were intended to represent. although l had
never seen them inperson, but owing to hay
ing seen their portraits very often. Among the
Figures here is THAI of George Washington,
dressed as first Presi, lent of the United States.
I think this is the wol ct likeness on exhibit
ton, as it don't look lik>s Washington at all to
me,-the features and m, suth being too small.
What gives an additional interest to the fig
ures is, that many of them sre clothed in the
same dresses as worn by thos e they represent.
The figure of Emperor Napo Icon, the first.
is laying on the same camp bed. 'tead, matrass
and pillow, that was used by him seven years
during his excitement ut St. Hele "a, and his
body covered by the same cloak that he wore
Mt Marengo, and which served IS his funeral
pail. There are also many other relic OF his
personal property, including his carrias e, ia
ken at Waterloo,-mOst of which tn. 'ngs
Madame Tussaud procured from the Cove o.
ment. One of the rooms is called "Th,H
Chamber of Horrors" and contains large
collection of the figures Of he most notori-
GUS criminals of the last century. will give
you sketch of one person in this room, and
that is Of Count De Lorge, and who is repre-
sented in a prison in the Bastile, with loaf
Of bread and pitcher of water on q table
before him, and on the loaf is the figures of
TWO Mice, fixed by machinery so that they
'un around and nibble just as natural as life.
This man whom Madame Tussaud says she
Jaw in exile, was confined in tie Bastile thir-
y years for offending a minister; and when
liberated he found all his relations and friends
lead and almost forgotten. Liberty had no
oys for him. He often begged to be re-
stored to the prison he inhabited so long
He died shortly after his release.
In this room is exhibited the same guillo-
line that was used in France during the
Reign of Terror, and decapitated Louis XVI,
Duke of Orleans, Robespierre and others.
The Thames Tunnel is another institution.
This tunnel is under the Thames River, in
The eastern part of London. The charge to
20 through is two cents. paid that sum ut
, door, and passed inside. The first thing
hat greeted my ear was music from below.
descended flight of steps for sixty feet, TO
The entrance of the tunnel. There are two
loads through it, each about sixteen feet
vide. One of them is closed up for some
reason. On going through it 1 found it
lighted with gas, and various stores for the
;ale Of fancy articles, refreshment rooms, &C..
md miniature panoranomas and otE or exhib
tiOns all the way through. At ole Of the
after places l saw a neat and small steam
engine performing the duty of organist on a
arge hand organ. After going through and
thinking of the wonderful skill of man in con-
'tructing this tunnel, thought and asked
myself for what it was built !? for 1 cannot
Zee that it is of the least use whatever. No
me that is going across the river would be
likely to go through it, for they can cross in
| boat in half the time, and not have to as
END and descend sixty feet; and therefore the
'nly traffic through it IS by visitors.
In company with a few friends visited
he Crystal Palace. 1t is the same Palace
hat was built in Hyde Park for the great
exhibition. 1t is now removed to Syden-
lam, nine miles from London. A railroad
uns from the latter place right into the gar
len of the palace This place is the prettiest
ever saw the Crystal Palace at New York
s not by any means so extensive. 1 was
old there was thirty-four miles of walk in
he building. The inside is laid off with
'lants and flowers from various parts of the
lobe, together with sculpture, paintings,
birds, machinery, and goods of various de-
criptions. Among the machinery in motion |
L. IL e