merely to glance at, being ushered by the guide in rapid succession from one room to another. Windsor Castle has been the principal seat of British royalty for upwards of seven centuries. The Saxon kings had a palace here long before the conquest. The present castle was founded by William the Conqueror, but was almost rebuilt by Edward III., with the assistance of the celebrated William Wykeham, who superintended the works. Great alterations were subsequently made by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, during the reign of George IV. St. George's Chapel is an elegant specimen of florid Gothic architecture. It is the most interesting portion of the castle, as it contains the stalls of the Knights of the Garter, and the remains of some of the most distinguished characters of England. George III. and his Queen, George IV., the Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Kent, the Duke of York, William IV., and Queen Adelaide are deposited in the vaults of this chapel; also Edward IV. and his Queen. Henry VI., Henry VIII., Jane Seymour, and Charles I. are here interred. The keep, or round tower, in the centre of the castle, is perhaps the most remarkable part of the building. It is of great height, and furnishes a beautiful view of the parks and surrounding country. Here James I. of Scotland was confined, and here the Queen frequently resorts to enjoy the pure air and the luxury of quiet meditation.

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From Windsor, we repaired to Buckingham Palace, the city residence of the Queen, which is regarded as the most elaborate and magnificent building of the kind in London. It was commenced during the reign of George IV., who after the most lavish and extravagant expenditure, exceeding £600,000, abandoned it as altogether unfit for the pageantries of royalty, and but little suited as a place of residence for his Majesty. William IV. not liking the building or the situation, it was not occupied until the accession of Victoria, when various alterations, additions, and improvements were made in accordance with her wishes, and the requirements of an increasing family. As it now stands it is an ornament to the city, and a building in every way suited for the residence of the royal family.

After examining the palace, we walked around to see the royal mews, which are very near. The state carriage is a superb piece of workmanship, being elaborately carved, finished with gilt work, and adorned with all the devices of royalty. The carriages used on ordi

nary occasions, numbering some forty-five or fifty, are substantial, but not very elegant or expensive. The state horses are the most beautiful animals I ever saw, being almost perfect in form, size, and color. The Queen has in all about three hundred horses, many of which are very superior. What sense can there be in having so many carriages and horses for the use of one little woman and her children, when one third of the number would answer every purpose But in monarchies the whims and caprices of the sovereign must be indulged—it matters not how foolish and extravagant—and at the expense of the democracy, the fruits of whose labors are applied to uphold the false dignity of the nation.

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Several of the London palaces have rooms beautifully fitted out in theatrical style for the exhibition of amateur performances. Those who assist in the plays are from private circles, who volunteer their services merely to gratify the lord of the house, or benefit some laudable institution in need of pecuniary assistance. The guests are always ticketed by the lord, notwithstanding they are required to pay enor mously for the honor of being invited. These performances are always select, and generally wind up with a ball and supper, which adds much to the enjoyment of the evening.

The Duke of Devonshire gave one of these entertainments recently at his city residence, in Picadilly, for the benefit of the "Literary Guild." Sir E. B. Lytton's comedy was represented most beautifully, and a new farce of the old extravagant school, which seems to have been written for the purpose of showing the talents of Mr. C. Dickens, in what is called a "personation" part. Mr. Dickens sustained himself in his usual manner, displaying great versatility of genius, and some drollery in the system of disguising and counterdisguising. The evening wound up with a ball and a supper, and every thing was conducted in superior style.

London is now full of attractions of every description. All the various places of amusement are in full blast, affording to foreigners visiting the Exhibition an opportunity of passing their evenings pleasantly. The opera houses are peculiarly attractive at this time, being fortunate in procuring for the season the best talent in Europe. Mesdames Sontag, Castellan, and Grisi are all here, and you can well imagine what a sensation they create among the uppertendom of London.

The Queen honors one of the opera houses nearly every evening with her presence, accompanied by distinguished foreigners. Her presence is always a sure guarantee for a brilliant house, as many persons go there to show their loyalty, and others merely to gaze on her Majesty's little round face.

Excursion to Epsom-Tower of London-Docks and Vaults, etc.

A FEW days since, the great city of London was in a perfect state of commotion-cabs, busses, and postillions were hurrying to and fro in every direction. Lords and ladies, gentlemen and cockneys, together with the stranger from every clime, were in a perfect state of excitement, indicating to the calm observer that something of more than ordinary interest was on the tapis. Having previous intimation through a friend that the celebrated Derby stake would come off on that day, we agreed to make an excursion to Epsom, and mingle for a time among the sportsmen of England. Failing to procure a private conveyance, we hurried across London bridge to the railroad station, where we found some two or three thousand persons endeavoring to obtain tickets and seats. Seeing this eager crowd pushing and scuffling in their efforts to get ahead of each other, my friend remarked that our chance of witnessing the races was rather slim. I replied to him not to fear, that I would play a Yankee trick upon them and get tickets before our time. Assuming an air consequential, (for I believe it was not nature,) I passed along through the crowd, saying, "Gentlemen, allow me to pass if you please.” Thinking that I was either a railroad official, or person wishing to attend to something very urgent, they politely gave way, and I procured tickets without any difficulty. But this was the smallest part of the trouble; after getting our tickets we found it still more difficult to get seats, as none were secured. As the train, numbering some fifty or sixty cars, came alongside the platform, the rush to get seats was intense, in which several persons were seriously injured.

By purely physical force, we succeeded in getting seated in a first class car, while many were compelled to wait for the next train. In a few minutes we found ourselves at the Epsom station, which is very near the race-course. Here we came in contact with footmen, and persons in every sort of conveyance, making their way to the great place of excitement. Upon reaching the hill-top where the principal stand is situated, our eyes rested on a perfect sea of humanity, all eager to get good positions, in order to see the race advantageously. I was disappointed in the appearance of the course. It is very uneven, and entirely without improvement, with the exception of the central stand, which is very large and fine. The track is about fifty yards in width, and one mile round, inclosed with a simple wooden railing. You are of course aware, that in England they race exclusively on the turf, which they say is far preferable to our mode of ploughing and harrowing. I do not know how this is exactly, not being well versed in such things; but it strikes me, that in moist weather the suction on the turf would very much impede the progress of the horses. During the day we witnessed several races, and all sorts of games and tricks for money, by the lower classes, very like those that are to be seen in the obscure parts of our sporting grounds. At three o'clock the grand Derby stake came off, and I do assure you it was a magnificent sight-surpassing any thing of the kind that I ever saw. Thirty-three horses were entered, and every one run out, something unprecedented in the Derby stake. The horses all appeared to be of the best blood and training, and are doubtless excellent racers, but I feel confident in saying that Tennessee can produce a better horse than any one in this stake. Englishmen would say that this was an Americanism-but if proved, it would turn out a truism. However, I should not complain, as it surpassed any thing, take it altogether, to be seen in the States. Thirty-three horses running together, beautifully housed, with riders dressed in all the colors of the rainbow, and with eight or ten thousand people on the ground to witness them, is a sight not often tó be seen in any country. Epsom is more resorted to by the masses than any other place in England, but the Queen and the nobility frequent and patronize Ascot Heath, near Windsor Castle. It is farther removed from London than Epsom, and consequently is not so much crowded on race days.

After seeing the race we returned to London and visited the Tower, which possesses more interesting reminiscences than any other building in the city. Its glory is all in the past. Take from it its early history, and you divest it of every thing, since so far from being an imposing object to the eye, it shows itself only as a huddled up mass of buildings, some of them very much modernized, and none of them, with the exception of the new barracks, particularly dignified in appearance. The only part of the old building worthy of attention, is a lofty upright sructure distinguished by the name of the "White Tower," which, with the turrets and its angles, forms a bold and conspicuous architectural object in the views from various points. This part of the building is supposed to have been erected by the Conqueror, about 1078, who employed Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, for his architect. It is a quadrangular, and nearly square edifice, measuring about 116 feet on one side, and 96 on the other, and is about 90 feet high, exclusive of the turrets at the four angles.

This tower was originally used as a royal palace, but during the reign of Elizabeth it was converted into a dungeon, and continued to be used for that purpose until the year 1820. Thistlewood and his associates in the Cato street conspiracy were the last prisoners confined within its walls, five of whom were executed on the 1st of May, in the same year. The vault-where Sir Walter Raleigh was confined, and in which he wrote his History of the World; the spot where Mary Queen of Scots was executed; the execution block and axe, are pointed out to the visitor as objects particularly worthy of notice. The Tower has been the depository of the crown jewels from the reign of Henry IV.; here are preserved the coronation regalia, including the new imperial crown, and other emblems of royalty used by the sovereigns of England at their coronation, the value of which is estimated at more than three millions of money. The crown worn by Victoria is valued at one million sterling. The celebrated diamond of Runjeet Singh, Koh i Noor, the tale of which is so momentous, and the value of which is so great, being computed to be worth £2,000,000 sterling, is usually deposited here, but is at present placed in the Exhibition for show, being secured by an iron case and box, which is in itself a very ingenious piece of mechanical contrivance.

In this Tower there are very many curious things worthy of at