lic buildings of more or less interest before
we come to Burlington House. No less than three mansions stood here in
the times of the later Stuarts. These belonged to Lord Chancellor
Clarendon and Lords Berkeley and Burlington, of which the latter name
has alone survived.

The third Earl was an architect, and added several embellishments to his
mansion, including a stone frontage and a colonnade taken down in 1868.

Handel was a guest at Burlington House for three years from 1715. After
the death of Lord Burlington in 1753 the title became extinct. Among the
memorable scenes witnessed by the house was a brilliant ball and fete,
given by the members of White's Club to the allied Sovereigns in 1814.

Lord George Cavendish, who bought the house in 1815, considerably
altered the interior of the building, and built the Burlington Arcade in
1819. He was afterwards created Earl of Burlington. In 1854 Government
bought the house and garden. The University of London, now in Burlington
Gardens, temporarily occupied the building, and the societies occupying
Somerset House were offered quarters in Burlington House. In 1866 the
mansion was leased to the Royal Academy, and fundamental changes began.

On the east side of Burlington House are the Geographical and Chemical
Societies, and on the west the Linnaean. In the courtyard, the Royal
Society is in the east wing, and the Royal Astronomical and the Society
of Antiquaries in the western.

On the site of the Albany, now fashionable "chambers" for unmarried men,
were formerly three houses united into one by Lord Sunderland, the third
Earl, chiefly remembered for his magnificent library, which, when the
earldom of Sunderland was merged in the dukedom of Marlborough in 1733,
formed the nucleus of the Blenheim Library. The brother of the great Fox
held the house for a short time, and from him it passed to Lord
Melbourne, to whom its rebuilding was due. The architect was Sir W.
Chambers, and the ceilings decorated by Cipriani, Rebecca, and Wheatley.
It was from the Duke of York and Albany, uncle of George III., that the
name is derived. However, he did not live here long.

St. James's Hall is well known for its popular concerts, which bring
first-rate music within the reach of all. In St. James's Hall the first
public dinner was held on June 2, 1858, and was given under the
presidency of Mr. R. Stephenson, M.P., to Sir F. P. Smith in recognition
of his services in introducing the scr