The daily gazette., 1880-06-29
Our London Letter.

AS SEEN BY A DELAWAREAN.
Correspondence Of the Gazette.
No. 164 MARY-LE-BoNE ROAD. !
LONDON, June 18th, 1880. {
The Charing Cross Hotel is one of
the finest in London and magnificent
in all its appointments. But the
style as we'll as the expense is rath-
er oppressive and we concluded to
do as most prudent travellers do
who remain in this great city, to look
out for apartments" These we
found on the above named street, a
wide thoroughfare with houses uni
formally set back from the street
with intervals of flowers and shub-
berry.
The opposite side of the street
faces Regents Park ,one of the finest
parks in London, and in which are
the London Geological gardens
Here we look over green fields on
which are pasturing herds of fine
cattle and fiocks of sheep and deer.
A half mile away is a belt of wood
land that shuts out the view of hous-
es on the other side and we fancy we
are in the country, though really
there are miles of SITS. beyond. Lon.
don has many of these beautiful
parks that serve as lungs to the city
and they are made to resemble the
open country as nearly as possible,
Our apartments consist of two
chambers and a sitting-room, spac-
ious and we'll furnished. Our meals
are served in the sitting-room at any
hour we name, and each morning we
order the bill of fare for the next
day. Provisions of all kinds are
plentiful and the meats, fish, fruits
and vegetables average about the
same as to cost, as with us.
The beef is quite as good and the
mutton superior to ours; it is all
show mutton. There is the greatest
variety of fine fish, nearly all differ
ent from our varieties and of which
the salmon is plentiful, as well as
the salt and fresh mackerel.
How shall we get birds eye view
of Londonp 1t was suggested we
should climb the six hundred steps
of st. Paul's Cathedral, and look
out from this majestic height. But
even here the line Of vision fell
short of the limits of the city. Be.
low us, threading the narrow streets,
men were dwarfed and horses and
carts looked like toys. Thames
wound through miles of compact
houses and was crowded with water
craft of all descriptions, whilst the
many bridges that spanned it were
alive with moving creatures. West
minister Abbey, Parliament
Houses, and Buckingham palace,
were beneath us, and Cleopatra Is
Needle seemed dwarfed to the size
of a monumental stone.
We refrain from any description
of this magnificent Church which
boasts to have been founded by st,
Paul himself. 1t contains a "whis-
pering gallery" that is a curiosity
Here sound is magnified in an ex-
traordinary degree, and the ordinary
pitch of the voice had thunderous
sound. f~@-@
In the Crypt lie many illustrious
dead, Sir Christopher Wren, the
architect, Benjamin West Sir Joshua
Reynolds, Opie, Turner and many
others. In a large sarcophagus
made of Quincy granite lies the body
of Lord Nelson. In another of por-
phyry is that of Lord Wellington,
and the funeral car composed Of can
non, taken from his battle fields, re-
mains beside the tomb of Yelling
ton.
It is a ponderous wagon and cost
seventy thousand dollars and looks as
though it would require team of
dozen horses to move it.
We attended service in the Cathe-
dral, and were delighted with the
music of the great organ and choir of
three hundred boys and fifty men and
women. The services were tntoned,
and responses made by the whole
choir.
Our next day was spent at the Crys-
tai Palace. This is at Sydenham,
about twenty miles from London city,
though the way lies through a con-
tinuous line of towns and villages.
The Palace is located on an eminence,
whose sloping sides afford the best op-
portunit;es for display of flowers and
fountains and waterfalls.
The building itself is wholly of glass
with iron posts, girders, &C., and is
lighter than our "Main Building"
though less spacious. The plants, es-
pecially the tropical plants and fruits,
are perfect. Some vines and rare
lowering plants are magnificent be-
yond description. But on the whole |
nothing satisfies us like the wealth and
variety of the rhododendrons that are
now blooming singly, in clumps and
N hedges all over the grounds.
The Crystal Palace is per construct
on a cold forcing house, and its aqua
'ium is heated by steam as well as it's
ropical department. The plants even
n the open space have attained great
Iize and vigor and thus add greatly to
is beauty. Just now many attrac-
ions are added to the permanent
torres such as concerts, military bands
md games of various kinds to induce
he overflowing population to patron
ze it, This is the full London season
when all the wealth and fashion of the
xipgdom concentrate to enjoy the
pleasures that are here prepared for
hem. Every theatre is nightly crowd
ID, the popular places OF resort within
he city and for miles around are
eagerly sought, the cars and steamers
ire full everywhere and the best hotels