An interior, with Figures. "Spoiled by cleaning."- Waagen.-WEENIX: A Dead Swan and Dead Hare. "Perfect every way; beyond Hondekoeter."-Sir J. R.-VANDERWERF: The Incredulity of St. Thomas. "The drapery of St. Thomas is excellent; the folds long-continued unite with each other, and are varied with great art."-Sir J. R. (On the Screen).-D. TENIERS: Soldiers playing at Backgammon.-G. Dow: "A Woman at a Window with a Hare in her Hand. Bright colouring and well drawn: a dead cock, cabbage, and carrots lying before her. The name of Gerard Dow is written on the lanthorn which hangs on one side."-Sir J. R.-D. TENIERS: Soldiers Smoking.-P. POTTER: Exterior of Stable-Cattle and Figures.-P. WOUVERMANS: Halt of Hawking Party (fine).-A. OSTADE: Exterior of Cottage with Figures.-HOBBEMA: Wood Scenery.-TERBURG: Trumpeter waiting (fine).-WouVERMANS: Cavaliers and Ladies, Bagpiper, &c. "The best I ever saw." -Sir J. R.-METZU: Lady in blue velvet tunic and white satin petticoat.-CUYP: Cattle and a Shepherd. "The best I ever saw of him; and the figure likewise is better than usual; but the employment which he has given the shepherd in his solitude is not very poetical."Sir J. R.-P. GYZENS: Dead Swan and small Birds. "Highly finished

and well coloured."-Sir J. R.

Antiquities, Vases, &c. The antiques are, for the most part, unfortunately much disfigured by indifferent restorations, and there is much that was originally of little value. The vases consist of the second collection made by Sir William Hamilton at Naples; and among them are several choice specimens.

Some of the pictures enumerated above have been removed, it is understood, to Deepdene, Mr. Hope's beautiful seat near Dorking, in Surrey. I have, however, in a work of this nature, preferred describing the best of every collection recently in London. Mode of admission: by cards obtained on personal introduction from the owner, on Mondays throughout the London season-April to July.

HOUSE OF JOHN SHEEPSHANKS, Esq. The large detached house (the last on the S.W. side of Rutland Gate, Hyde Park) was built by John Sheepshanks, Esq., a distinguished patron of British art, who has here assembled a choice and valuable collection of pictures by modern British artists. The works of Leslie, R.A., and Mulready, R.A., can nowhere be studied to greater advantage.

Observe.-Highland Drovers, The Shepherd's Chief Mourner, Jack in Office, The Breakfast-all by Sir E. Landseer; Duncan Gray, and The Broken Jar, by Sir D. Wilkie; Choosing the Wedding Gown, The Butt, Giving a Bite, First Love-all by Mulready, R.A.; Scene from the Merry Wives of Windsor, Katherine and Petruchio, Uncle Toby and Widow Wadman, all three by C. R. Leslie, R.A. Mode of Admission.A letter of introduction (the only mode).

HOUSE OF BARON LIONEL ROTHSCHILD, PICCADILLY, contains a few fine pictures: good specimen of Cuyp, "Skating; " a choice De Hooge, a good Greuze, Head of a Girl, and The Pinch of Snuff, an early work of Wilkie; with

a noble collection of hanaps, cups, &c., of fourteenth and fifteenth century work; rare old china, fine carvings in ivory, &c.

DORCHESTER HOUSE, PARK LANE, HYDE PARK, residence of R. S. Holford, Esq. (Lewis Vulliamy, architect). Mr. Holford's house is not yet completed, but his pictures are to be seen at No. 65, Russell-square. Observe.-Very fine specimen of Hobbema; View of Dort from the River, by Cuyp, very fine; good examples of Claude, Both, Isaac Ostade, &c.; Columbus by Wilkie. Mr. Holford's country house is at Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

HOUSE OF H. A. J. MUNRO, ESQ., HAMILTON PLACE, PIC CADILLY, last house on right-hand side.

Observe. The Lucca Madonna and Child, by Raphael; St. Francis Praying, a small picture by Filippo Lippi; Landscape by Gaspar Poussin, fine; Les Deux Petites Marquises, half-lengths, size of life, by Watteau, very fine; characteristic specimens of Jan Steen, one "After a Repast," very clever; also, good, if not choice, specimens of Cuyp, Vandervelde, Backhuysen, &c. Mrs. Stanhope, half-length, in white, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, very fine; 5 fine Landscapes, by Richard Wilson; large View in Venice, the masterpiece of Bonington; The Fishmarket, by Bonington; The Good Samaritan, by Etty, a choice specimen: 2 fine Italian Landscapes, by Turner, in the best time of his second period. (See Hints and Suggestions, p. xli.)

IV.-PARKS AND PUBLIC GARDENS.

HYDE PARK. A park of 388 acres, deservedly looked upon as one of the lungs of London, connecting the Green Park with Kensington Gardens, and thus carrying a continuous tract of open ground, or park, from Whitehall, to Kensington. The whole Park is intersected with well-kept footpaths, and the carriage drives are spacious and well attended. The Park is accessible for private carriages, but hackney-coaches and cabs are excluded. The triple archway at Hyde-Park-corner, combined with an iron screen, was erected in 1828 from the designs of Decimus Burton. It cost 17,069. 18. 9 d., including 1000l. to Mr. Henning for the bas-reliefs from the Elgin marbles which surround it. The Park derives its name from the Hyde, an ancient manor of that name adjoining Knightsbridge, and, until the dissolution of religious houses in the reign of Henry VIII., the property of the abbots and monks of Westminster. For much of its present beauty it is indebted to William III., and Caroline, consort of George II. The iron railings have all been erected since 1826.

In this Park, in the London season, from April to July (between half past 5 and half past 6 p.m.), may be seen all the wealth and fashion and splendid equipages of the nobility and gentry of Great Britain. As many as 800, including the Knot at the music, have been seen assembled at Hyde-Park in the height of the season. The bridle-road, running east and west (from Apsley House to Kensington Gardens) is called Rotten Row, a corruption it is supposed of Route du Roi-King's Drive. The first set of horsemen are valetudinarians taking their "constitutional" before breakfast; to many of whom a horse is a new acquaintance, and a saddle a new seat. eight the ride is sprinkled with the children and young ladies of our aristocracy, taking their lessons with papas, brothers, or grooms. To these succeed, between half-past eight and ten, leading counsel, hard-worked barristers and solicitors of

At

eminence, some bankers, city merchants, and retired officers, increased by a few M.P.'s seeking fresh air after a night spent under Dr. Reid's ventilator. Here the last night's debate, the appointment to a vacant office, some point in Common Pleas or Chancery, and general politics are discussed. As these retire, down come the " Big Wigs" of the law, on their way to Westminster. The sheet of water called the Serpentine was formed by Caroline, Queen of George II. The carriage-drive along the upper side is called "The Lady's Mile." The boats may be hired by the hour. Certain traces of the Ring, formed in the reign of Charles I. and long celebrated, may be recognised by the large trees somewhat circularly arranged in the centre of the Park. Near the Humane Society's Receiving-house (on the north bank of the Serpentine) is the great government store of gunpowder. In this house upwards of one million rounds of ball and blank ammunition are kept ready for immediate use. A review of troops in Hyde Park is a sight worth seeing, but reviews of late years have been of very rare occurrence. They usually take place in June or July. Observe.-Statue of Achilles, "inscribed by the women of England, to Arthur, Duke of Wellington, and his brave companions in arms," erected in Hyde Park, as the inscription sets forth, "on the 18th of June, 1822, by command of his Majesty George IV." The statue was cast by Sir R. Westmacott, R.A., from cannon taken in the victories of Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, and Waterloo, and the cost was defrayed by a subscription of 10,000l., raised among the ladies. The figure is copied from one of the famous antiques on the Monte Cavallo, at Rome, but most antiquaries agree that Achilles is a gross misnomer. The Marble Arch, facing Great Cumberland-street (near where Tyburn formerly stood) was moved from Buckingham Palace in 1850 and erected here in 1851. The original cost was 80,0007., and the cost of removal 11,000l. The equestrian statue of George IV., now in Trafalgar-square, was intended for the top of this arch. S. front of arch by Baily; N. by Sir R. Westmacott. The Crystal Palace, or Great Exhibition Building stood on the S. side of the Park, opposite Prince's Gate, and the large elm trees covered in by the transepts are still alive though far from flourishing. During the twenty-four weeks the Exhibition was open, it was visited by upwards of 6,000,000 persons, or about 250,000 weekly. The receipts exceeded 400,000. On three consecutive shilling days the number of visitors exceeded 100,000, and the receipts 5000l. per day.