SIGHT-SEEING.
WERE we to say all that might be said of the pleasures of sight-seeing in London, with a company of lively, lovely, laughing lasses, with tresses of all hues from golden to jet, complexions vieing with the rose and the lily, and natures as various and as agreeable in contrast as the shades of light in an April day,—we might fill a paper instead of a column : so, bearing the utile of the matter only in view, and leaving the dulce to the imaginations of our readers, we proceed, in our character of Cicerone, to present our country friends in London with a programme of the Sights, of which we have been spectator, and in that character have recorded our opinion of them successively as they appeared. Turning to the East, we recount the venerable curiosities of the Tower,—the Armouries, and the Crown Jewels. The glory of its Menagerie is eclipsed by the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park, and those at Walworth : these last are now nearly completed as regards their arrangement, though the collection of animals is not so numeroutt as its older rival in the Park.. The noble trees and the lake, with its picturesque little island, render these gardens attractive as a promenade,: and worthy of being an object in a morning ride. The Thames Tunnel will of course be visited by all who have not seen it ; and those who
have will not object to see it a second time. The site of Old London Bridge, and the noble structure that has superseded it, and the Lady Chapel of St. Saviour's also, make this part of the town more inter- esting, and are bringing the old Monument into fashion again.
." Stepping westward," we come first to the splendid Enamel Paintings on Glass, exhibiting in the Strand, within a few doors of Exeter Hall. The numerous meetings at this place will attract many visitors to the fine collection of Paintings of Scripture Subjects by the old Masters, exhibiting in one part of the edifice. Proceeding along the Strand, the new building on the north side of which will attract admiration, the visitor will take a promenade up the Lowther Arcade, which is richly and chastely decorated in architectural style.
Passing along Pall Mall East, the Gallery of the Society of Painters in Water Colours will invite the steps of all lovers of pictures ; though its doors will not open till the 7th, on which day also the grand display
of art at Somerset House will be visible to the public. Looking up Suffolk Street, the announcement of the Exhibition of the Society of
British Artists meets the eye, and will receive a visit from many. Pro-
,ceeding along Pall Mall, the open door of the National Gallery should not be passed by ; and further onward, the Exhibition of Pictures by
Modern Artists at the British Institution, will be still open, unless the visit to it is delayed too long—for it closes in a few weeks. In St. James's Street, Crockford's splendid new Bazaar will arrest the eye and
the steps also—it deserves a visit. At the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, the resplendent and colossal Vase of Glass will dazzle the eyes of all, and make the young folks think of Aladdin's cave. Mr. HAYDON'S Pictures will also receive a visit from admirers of genius in painting.
Proceeding up the Burlington Arcade, and through the Western Exchange into Bond Street, we come to the Water Colour Paintings, exhibiting at Hi, Old Bond Street. The Bazaars of Baker Street and Soho Square are well known to all loungers. The Queen's Bazaar in Oxford Street has the additional attractions of a Diorama and Physio- rama ; and these remind us of the Panoramas in Leicester Square, of Bombay and Florence; the Cosmorama in Regent Street ; the Dio- rama in the Regent's Park ; and the Colosseum, the beauties and wonders of which no stranger in London should leave unseen. The price of admission is also reduced, and is now the same as at the Diorama. The Panorama of London may now be seen separately for a shilling ; and the Conservatories, Swiss Cottage, Marine Grotto, &c. for an ad- ditional shilling. The Zoological Gardens will supply a whole morn- ing's entertainment of the most delightful kind. We had forgotten the collection of curiosities in the British Museum ; we dare say our
young readers had not. Its noble Library, and the new Sculpture Gallery, add novelty to its attractions. There is also WEEKES'S Meehanical Museum, in Coventry Street, and CARPENTER'S Micro- cosm in Regent Street ; the latter especially will gratify and instruct the adult as well as the juvenile visitor.
We may also remind the visitor of London, that it has some delight- ful sights both of art and nature in its environs. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, says the reader ; but we would remind them of the Gallery of beautiful pictures at Dulwich, an excursion to which place is
asday delightfully spent. Farther afield is Hampton Court, where the Cartoons of Itarnam. are to be seen. For one or two months in the season, the fine collections of the 'Marquises of STAFFORD and WEST- MINSTER, at Cleveland House, St. James's, and Grosvenor House, Park Lune, are visible by favour of the noble owners. The Various new buildings—neighbourhoods we might almost say— in and about London, will strike everyone not familiar with the town, with wonder at their extent and splendour. Belgrave Square, for in- stance ; where, by the way, is the Pantechnicon, which, though only a warehouse, is worth seeing for its vastness and the fitness of its con- struction. But were we to enumerate all the new edifices public and private which will attract the notice of the visitor, we should encroach too much on LEIGH'S Picture gf London, or KIDD'S Guide to time Lions. Here is a good week's work, and more, cut out for the most active and vigilant sight-seer ; so we take our leave, bidding our country cousins -Welcome to London.
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