HAMPTON COURT, ENGLAND.--This
palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey, the favorite of Henry VIII., and
was afterwards presented to the King. It was subsequently occupied
by Cromwell, the Stewarts, William III., and the first two monarchs
of the House of Hanover. Since the time of George II., Hampton
Court has ceased to be a royal residence, and is now inhabited
by various pensioners of the Crown. The various rooms that were
formerly occupied by the royalty, are now devoted to the use of
an extensive picture-gallery.]

[Illustration: GREENWICH OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, ENGLAND.--Greenwich
Observatory is situated six miles from London Bridge, on a hill
one hundred and eighty feet high, in the centre of Greenwich Park.
It marks the meridian from which English astronomers make their
calculations. The correct time for the whole of England is settled
here every day at one o'clock P. M.; a large colored ball descends
many feet, when the time is telegraphed to the most important towns
throughout the country. A standard clock, with the hours numbered
from one to twenty-four, and various standard measures of length
are placed outside the entrance, pro bono publico.]

[Illustration: WINDSOR CASTLE, ENGLAND.--This favorite seat of
the sovereigns of Great Britain, twenty miles from London, at the
town of Windsor, was frequently extended under succeeding monarchs,
until finally, in the reign of Queen Victoria, when it was completed
at a total cost of $4,500,000, it became one of the largest and
most magnificent royal residences in the world. The Saxon kings
resided on this spot long before the castle was founded by William
the Conqueror. In its vaults are buried the sovereigns of England,
including Henry VIII. and Charles I. The interior of the castle is
richly and profusely decorated, and filled with pictures, statuary,
bronze monuments and other works of art.]

[Illustration: GREEN DRAWING-ROOM, WINDSOR CASTLE, ENGLAND.--Windsor
Castle, the residence of the Queen, is one of the largest and most
magnificent royal residences in the world. The interior of the
drawing-room, which is fitted up at an expense of many hundred
thousand dollars, gives a person a fair conception of the elaborate
and artistic display to be witnessed in numerous other apartments.
The interior, beautified with colored marble, mosaics, sculpture,
stained-glass, precious stones, and gilding in extraordinary profusion
and richness, places it among the finest castles