The daily gazette., 1880-07-10
Our London Letter.

THE ROYAL AQUARIUM-AN ExCUR-
SION TO WINDSoR-oLD ETON COL
LEGE AND ITS sTUDENTs-WHAT
THE QUEENS PALACE HOME LOOKS
LIKE.
Special correspondence of the Gazette.
LONDON, June Goth, 1880.
At the Royal Aquarium we saw q
goodly number of fishes, turtles, alliga-
tors, snappers and seals. The fish are
all different from those caught in the
Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. The
brook trout have strong resemblance
to our brook or mountain trout, and the
perch were suggestive of those of the
same name in our waters.
The Aquarium is a large building, and
like most other places In London, ,wheth-
er of scientific interest or for other pur-
poses, combines department for amuse-
ment. Here we had the Zulus clad in
native costume-a single breech-cloth
and big teather-howling their barbar-
GUS chants and beating their rude drums
and making discord generally. We had
a respectable comedy, feats of strength,
tight rope dancing and good deal more
for shilling.
We made an excursion to Windsor,
twenty-five miles from London and saw
the great Windsor Castle, the palace OF
the Queen. Also TO Eton, close to
| Windsor, and Stoke Pogis, the scene of
Grey's Elegy and where he is buried.
The church is within sight of the tow
| er of Windsor and attracts almost as
many visitors as the palace itself.
Like most of the old churches we
have seen, it is in fine condition and has
its spire and porches and Its well-flled
grave yard. Grey's tomb is a fitting one
for the sweet poet.
Old Eton College bears the marks of
age, and is so scattered about through
the town in quaint old fashioned struct-
| ures that it seemed to puzzle the guide
to find them all. The chapel is the only
imposing building. It's interior is lined
with polished marble,and the high ceiling
is of carved oak, nearly black with age.
We were there during portion of the
| evening service, but observed that very
few students were in the Chapel. Later
we came across lot of them fishing on
the Thames and asked them why they
had not attended the evening service.
They replied that they were obliged to
attend the morning service, but not
evening service and so you see bow it is.
But Windsor Castle What pile To
give remo'e idea of Its external gran
deur or its internal gorgeousness would
tire you and require too much space. 1t
took us a good half day to see it., and
then the time failed to allow us to see
the Royal Chapel and the Stables. Did
we see the Queen? Well, no. The Queen
did not happen to be at home, and it was
lucky for us she did not, for the rooms
are not shown to visitors except In her
absence. AS 1t was, her Grand Cham
berlin or some other big-bugs of the Roy
al household escorted us through the
whole palace except the private apart
ments.
The palace is situated on high ground
and commands fine view of the coun-
try around. about, in which there is moth
ing striking except the villages with
their church spires and green fields
through which the Thames winds like
thread of silver.
We were first taken to the "Al3ert
Chapel" 6Sx25 feet, height 60 feet. We
give dimensions because it is one of the
smallest ROOMS in the palace though one
of the grandest, indeed 1t claims TO be
the "richest interior in Europe" 1t was
built by Henry VII as mausoleum for
himself, and was subsequently repaired
and enriched by various monarchs until
the death of Prince Albert, when the
Queen fitted 1t up in Its present state
and gave it the name 1t now bears.
The Cenotaph of the Prince stands on
the marble floor In front of tn, chancel.
Its base is of black and gold Tuscan
marble, and upon this lies thefecumbent
of Albert, sculptured in marble as white
as snow, with his pet dog at his feet and
his head supported by two angels.
But it would fill book to describe
minutely this magnificent room. It is
finished with marble sides and floor,
there being twenty eight Kinds OF marble
all fitted in colors so as to give a rich
and pleasing effect. The roof or ceiling
is of enamel mosaics. The windows
are Of rich stained glass, each an illustra-
| ton of scriptural scene. Under the
| floor lie the dust of lords.and ladies,
Kings and Queens for five hundred years. |
The reception rooms, sitting rooms,
| ball and banqueting rooms are all larger, |
more elaborately furnished. The audi |
| ence and waiting rooms, not so large,
| and scantily furnished. In one of the |
rooms is a malichite vase, presented by |
the king of Raupia, six feet around the |
| brim and four feet in height. When we |
consider bow a small piece of this |
| precious stone Is valued In q ring, we |
may form some shadow of an idea of the |
great value of this vase. There are |
other great vases of oteer precious |
stones, valued at SO many thCu Cusand |
pounds that / could not keep them In |
my mind. But L thought that each |
would buy dozen of our best farms.
The dining room is the plainest room |
in the Palace. The table Is of polished |
mahogoDy plank about one hundred feet |
| long and ten feet wide. The chairs are |
| carved, furnished with crimson velvet, |
and painted in gold. The Queens chair, |
placed about half way on one side, is a |
marvel of richness-almost as rich as the |
throne itself, except In the gold hang
ings. The throne, by the way, hardly |
came up to or expectations of richness |
1t is like a great armchair beautifully |
| carved, but otherwise Is not imposing.
All around about Windsor lie the |
| Queens farms, and we went out to in
| spect one of them. 1t is IN fine condi- |
tion, well fenced with hedges, shaded by
great oaks standing in the pastures. The |
| cottages are plain, comfortable, home |
1 like buildings, with their flowers and
clambering vines around about them,
all kept in good condition. What we
saw of the live stock was good, but not
better than that of other farms around
| about Indaad mo patynad M a; fFa,aana