offices on each side, separated from the mansion house by two wings of bending piazzas, and arched galleries, elevated on pillars of the Tuscan, Doric, and Ionic orders. Each front has Corinthian and Tuscan pilasters.

To this palace has been lately added a library, supplied with the best authors, in various languages. Here is also a fine collection of prints; and the whole structure is adorned with a great variety of pictures. Among which were the famous cartoons by Raphael, painted in water-colours, and consisting of the following subjects: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes. The Delivery of the Keys to Peter. Healing the Cripple at the beautiful Gate. The Death of Ananias. Elymas the Sorcerer struck blind. The Sacrifice to Paul and Barnabus. Paul preaching to the Athenians. These, how ever, have some time since been removed to Hampton Court.

Here are likewise several of Mr. West's best performances; among which are to be noticed, Cyrus presented to his Grandfather. Regulus leaving Rome, on his return to Carthage. Death of the Chevalier Bayard. Death of General Wolfe. Death of Epaminondas. Hannibal vowing Enmity to the Romans. The Wife of Arminius brought Captive to the Emperor Germanicus, &c.

ST. JAMES'S PARK having been a desolate marsh till the reign of Henry VIII. that prince, on rebuilding St. James's Palace, inclosed it, laid it out in walks, and collecting the waters together, gave to the new inclosed ground, and new raised building, the name of St. James's.

It was after

wards much enlarged and improved by king Charles II. who added to it several fields, planted it with rows of lime trees, laid out the Mall, a vista half a mile in length, and formed a hollow smooth walk, enclosed by a border of wood on each side, with an iron hoop at one end for the purpose of playing a game with a ball, called Mall. He also contracted the water into a canal of one hundred feet broad, and two thousand eight hundred feet long, with a decoy and other ponds for water fowl. Succeeding kings allowed the

people

people the privilege of walking in it, and king William III. in 1699, granted the neighbouring inhabitants a passage into it from Spring Garden,

This park is situated on a fine spot, and is laid out with an agreeable air of negligence. It affords many pleasant walks diversified by new scenes, and varied by different rural prospects. It is near a mile and a half in circumference, surrounded by many magnificent structures; and is constantly open for the accommodation of the public, by whom it is used as well for convenience as pleasure, it being an admirable thoroughfare from Westminster to the villages of Chelsea and Kensington. The canal has been curtailed of its original length by a part of it at the west end being filled up, and several other alterations made in different parts of the Park. At the east end, facing the Treasury, is a spacious parade for the exercise of the horse and foot guards.

Charles II. was very fond of this park, and formed an aviary adjoining to the Bird Cage Walk, so called from the which were hung in the trees. cages "Charles," says Cibber," was often seen here amidst crouds of spectators, feeding his ducks, and playing with his dogs, and passing his idle moments in affability even to the meanest of his subjects, which made him to be adored by the common people; so fascinating in the great, are the habits of condescensions." Le Notre, the famous French gardener, under Louis XIV. ordered the disposition of the trees.

At the east end of the Park was a swampy retreat for the ducks, from that circumstance denominated DUCK ISLAND, which, in the reign of the merry monarch, was created into a government, and a salary annexed to the office, in favour of the famous writer M, de St. Evremond, the first and last governor. The whole island has submitted to the improvements adopted some years since.

On the north side of the Park is CARLETON HOUSE. This structure was built a few years since for the residence of his royal highness the Prince of Wales, by the late Mr. Holland. It contains several magnificent apartments,

and

and one of the most complete armouries in the world. The plan of the structure not having been completed, and constant alterations intervening, it is impossible to enter upon a particular description; the front next Pall Mall is, however, stately, but heavy, and the portico seems too great for the rest of the building. The colonade, fronting the street, also does not partake of that grandeur of stile exhibited by the Adams, in the colonade at Sion House, near Brentford. The gardens are laid out with taste; but the stables are very far from being ornamental to the Park.

Adjoining to Carleton House Gardens, are those belonging to the residence of his royal highness Henry Frederick, late duke of Cumberland, brother to his present majesty. It was originally built for prince Edward, duke of York, another brother. After the decease of the duke of Cumberland, the house and its dependencies were sold, and is at present occupied by a subscription club, and called the ALBION HOTEL. The fronts of the above two houses are in Pall Mall.

MARLBOROUH HOUSE, was built in the reign of queen Anne, at the expence of 40,000l. This is a very large brick edifice, ornamented with stone, and built in a peculiar taste. The front is extensive, and the wings on each side are decorated at the corners with a stone rustic. The top of it was originally finished with a balustrade, but that has been since altered, and the first story is crowned with an Attic story raised above the cornice. A small colonade extends on the side of the area next the wings, and the opposite side of the area is occupied by offices. When this structure was finished, the late dutchess of Marlborough intended to have opened a way to it from Pall Mall, directly in the front, as appears from the manner in which the court yard is formed; but Sir Robert Walpole having purchased the house before it, and not being upon good terms with her grace, she was prevented from executing her design. The front next the Park resembles the other, only instead of the two middle windows in the wings, there are niches for statues; and instead of the area front, there is a

descent