EXCURSION. LONDON TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE. From Ludgate-hill, London-bridge, or Victoria, 1st class, 1s. 3d. ; 2nd, 1s. Return tickets, 1st, 2s.; 2nd, 1s. 6d. First class return ticket, including admission to the Palace, 2s. 6d. on ordinary days. From Victoria to the High Level Station, fares as above. HE country through which we pass is rapidly becoming a mere suburb of London; detached villas and rows of houses displacing the trees and hedgerows in every direction. The journey is effected in about 20 minutes from London Bridge, and about half-an-hour from Victoria. (Hotels: Queen's, Upper Norwood; Crystal Palace). The Crystal Palace was constructed from the materials of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and nearly upon the same plan; it was opened by the Queen in 1854. Its length is about 1500 ft., its width nearly 400 ft., and it is about 200 ft. high at the centre of the principal transept. It is divided into Courts, many of them containing reproductions of the architecture and works of art which have come down to us from ancient times. They are as follows: The Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Alhambra, Byzantine, Mediaval, Renaissance, Pompeian, Italian and Modern Sculpture Courts. There are also other Courts devoted to specimens of every branch of manufacturing industry, which are also displayed in the galleries and transepts of the building. In other parts of the structure will be noticed choice collections of plants belonging both to temperate and tropical climates in all parts of the world, the temperature being carefully regulated in accordance with their requirements. The grounds extend over about 200 acres, and have been laid out under the directions of the late Sir Joseph Paxton, who also designed the Palace. They contain terraces and grassy slopes, beautifully diversified with flower-beds, vases, and rock-work; a lake with boats for the use of visitors, an archery ground, &c. Near the border of the lake, at one end, the tourist will observe certain colossal models of extinct animals-the Icthyosaurus, Megatherium and many others. The fountains, which play on fète-days (for announcements of which see the news-papers), are amongst the chief attractions of the place. The largest throws a jet of 230 ft. high. Refreshments may be obtained within the Palace at moderate rates. ROUTE 33. SOUTHAMPTON TO 78 miles; 1st class, 15s. 6d. ; OUTHAMPTON (Hotels: Radley's, Dolphin; population, 46,960) is a place which, since the establishment of ocean steamnavigation, by the construction of capacious docks, and a direct communication with London and the more important inland towns by railway, has risen from the position of a mediocre port, to that of one of the first class, and has now become the mail and passenger station of the Royal Mail Steam Packet, the Peninsular and Ori said that here the incident which led to his reproval of his courtiers for their gross flattery took place. The NEW FOREST, in the neighbourhood of Southampton, of which frequent mention is made in the histories of Winchester and Southampton, is a district in Hampshire, comprising 66,700 acres, belonging to the crown. The Conqueror is said to have reduced this space to the condition of forest-land by the destruction of numerous villages, forbidding its recultivation, and other tyrannical expedients, in order to gratify his fondness for hunting, when in residence at Winchester, which he had made his capital. This statement has been doubted, and it is said to have been a forest prior to the Conquest, known by the name of Itene. The timber now grown upon it does not pay for the administration of the domain. In this forest William Rufus was shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell, accidentally it is supposed, with an arrow, while hunting. Upon the decay of the old oak, which was shown, up to the middle of the last century, as marking the spot where the event occurred, an inscribed stone was substituted for it. There are still many deer in the forest, and there is a well-known breed of diminutive horses, and another of swine, peculiar to it. There are many beautiful drives through the forest, but its chief place is Lyndhurst, the situation of which is very beautiful. From the tower of the church a fine view of the forest may be obtained. This place is about 10 miles from Southampton. At Beaulieu (5 miles from Hythe) are the remains of a Cistercian abbey, founded by King John in 1204, and of a Preceptory of the Knights Templars, this last being now converted into farm buildings. Leaving Southampton for London, we first reach Bishopstoke (5) miles), crossing the river Itchen by a viaduct immediately after leaving Southampton. Here are the beautiful gardens attached to the Rectory, with a good collection of Oriental plants. (A branch line turns off to Salisbury.) Just beyond Bishopstoke we pass Hursley, the late vicar of which was the Rev. John Keble, author of "The Christian Year." We next arrive at WINCHESTER (124 miles), (Hotels: Black Swan, George), population, 14,776. This is one of the most ancient cities in the kingdom, having been always a place of importance, and occupied successively by Britons, Belgae, Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans. From the time of its conquest by Cerdic the Saxon, in 519, it remained the capital of the West Saxon Kings, and, from the time of Egbert, virtually the capital of all England until the Norman conquest. William the Conqueror made it his chief place of residence, and it remained the capital of England under several of his successors. It suffered much in the wars between Stephen and the Empress Matilda, also in those between Henry III.and his barons, so much of the city having been laid in ruins, that its decadence may be dated from this time. Although a petition to Henry VI. stated that 997 houses were unoccupied, and 17 churches closed, it is said that, upon the occasion of the visit to Winchester of Henry VIII. and the Emperor Charles V. of Spain, the sight of the wealth and magnificence of the religious establishments there so excited the cupidity of the king, as to first suggest to him the idea of their general suppression and seizure throughout the kingdom. Charles II. commenced building a palace here, designed by Wren, on a grand scale; but, discontinued at his death, its remains have been converted into barracks. The town has been much improved of late years, but can never recover a shadow of its ancient importance, which it appears to have owed entirely, after its abandonment as a capital, to the great number of its religious establishments. Out of three royal minsters, more than sixty churches, and a great number of conventual establishments, which formerly existed here, very few remain. Winchester Castle and Wolvesey Castle, the seat of the bishops, were destroyed in the civil wars, on the capture of the town by Cromwell on which occasion, also, the stained-glass windows of the cathedral, the tombs of the prelates, and relics preserved there, were ruthlessly defaced or destroyed by his fanatical soldiers. The hall of the castle, built by William the Conqueror, is now used as the County Hall, and at the end is suspended the curious piece of antiquity called "King Arthur's Round Table." The Bridewell stands upon the site of Hyde Abbey, the burial-place of Alfred the Great. Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest, most magnificent, and, at the same time, one of the most ancient, in the kingdom. Here are buried Richard, a younger son of the Conqueror, and William Rufus, who succeeded him, and who was killed by accident or otherwise in the New Forest. He lies under a plain grey tombstone, without inscription, in the choir. Beside these a long list is given of Saxon saints and sovereigns who are buried here; and of many prelates, whose names live in history from the high stations which they held, or from the benefits which they conferred upon their own or after-times, amongst whom may be mentioned William of Wykeham, Edyngton, Courtenay, Waynefleet, and Cardinal Beaufort - Shakespeare's Cardinal Beaufort-who died and gave no sign," but who, nevertheless, was munificent in his benefactions to this place, of which he was bishop. His effigy, in full cardinal's costume, has been allowed to remain. The sepulchral chapels, or canopied tombs, of these bishops are some of the most beautiful and elaborate in the world. In this cathedral Henry III., surnamed of Winchester, was born, William Rufus and Richard Coeur-de-Lion were crowned, John degraded himself by doing homage to the pope's legate for his kingdom; and Henry IV. and Joan of Brittany, and Philip of Spain and Queen Mary, were married. The chair used by the latter upon the occasion is still shown. Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver, after retiring from the protectorate, withdrew to the Manor of Merdon, in this neighbourhood, where he quietly spent the rest of his life. When the manor-house was pulled down, the seal of the commonwealth was discovered concealed in one of its walls. Winchester School is one of the most celebrated in England, of which it has produced a goodly proportion of the statesmen, scholars, poets, and divines. The college, as it is called, was founded by William of Wykeham, in 1387, as a pendant or contributory institution to his other grand foundation of New College, Oxford, of which an account is given in its proper place. The original buildings, consisting of two spacious quadrangles of characteristic architecture, are still occupied for their intended purpose. Leaving Winchester, we pass through a tunnel, and over a high embankment, to Andover Road Station (22 miles), near which, on the right, we see Stratton Park, the seat of Lord Northbrook, where there is a fine collection of paintings. On the right, beyond BaSINGSTOKE (324 miles), we observe the ruins of Basing House, celebrated for the gallant defence which was made here by the Marquis of Winchester against the parliamentary forces. Close to the station, on the left, we see the ruins of The Holy Ghost Chapel, built in the reign of Henry VIII. by Lord Sandes, for the promotion of "works of piety, charity, and religion." It was suppressed in the reign of Edward VI., revived in that of Philip and Mary, and finally closed by James I. The revenues of the estate are now devoted to the support of a school. During the Saxon Heptarchy there was a burial-ground here, and it is asserted that there was once an ancient Saxon church in which seven kings offered their devotions at the same time. The edifice is of brick, faced with freestone. On the south side, between the windows, are pedestals with niches above them, in which, it is most probable, statues were formerly placed. The south and east walls alone remain, together with a hexagonal tower at the southwest corner, and a room adjoining it. Near Farnborough (453 miles) we see, on the right, Aldershott Camp. We pass some stations of no importance, and reach KINGSTON (663 miles). In this town we may see the stone on which the Saxon kings sat to be crowned. About 6 miles farther is Wimble don Station, near which is the common, on which the annual shooting matches under the auspices of the National Volunteer Rifle Association are held. About a quarter of an hour afterwards we reach the Waterloo terminus. EXCURSION FROM SOUTHAMPTON TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT. PLEASANT excursion may be made from Southampton to this island, which can be reached by steamer in about an hour. A strait called the Solent and the Spithead divide it from the main land, from which it is distant from 4 to 6 miles, except at one point, opposite Hurst Castle, where it is only one mile. It is 23 miles long from east to west, and 13 miles wide from north to south, with a circumference of about 60 miles, and a population estimated at 55,362. The northern portion of the island abounds in the most delightful scenery, displaying every kind of rural beauty. The southern part is distinguished by the boldness of its landscape, comprising lofty hills, steep rocks, and abrupt ravines. The island is divided into two "Hundreds," by the river Medina, which falls into the Solent at Cowes (the usual landingplace from Southampton), (Hotel: The Gloster), called respectively East and West Medina. The Romans invaded the Isle of Wight in A. D. 43. It was wrested from them in 495 by Cerdic the Saxon. OSBORNE HOUSE, near East Cowes, is the marine residence of the Queen. It was purchased in 1844, and has since been considerably enlarged. There is an extensive and beautiful view from the tower |