coffins; they are well ventilated and lighted, and perfectly dry. On each side the grounds present a gentle undulation, the fresh green turf being intersected by broad gravel walks, and relieved at intervals by darker clumps of shrubs, flowers, and trees, among which the tombs and sculptured memorials of those who rest beneath rise in graceful solemnity around. There are many names upon the tablets familiar to fame, and the aspect of the place altogether affords a cheerful contrast to the gloomy regions appropriated to the same purpose in our city burial grounds From here we can cross over to Streatham, a mile westward, and, looking in at the church, see the tomb of Mr. Thrale, with Dr. Johnson's epitaph. The ancient altar-tomb, known as "John of Gaunt's," is of doubtful origin, but certainly not connected with the individual whose name it bears. Streatham Spa, once of some repute, lies to the east of the village, at a place called Streatham Wells. We can hence take an omnibus back through Brixton, or extend our walk through Clapham New Park into the Clapham Road. The spacious area of Clapham Common, comprising 200 acres, is a fine addition to the parish, and is much frequented by cricketers.

Stockwell, to the right of the road from Brixton to Clapham, was the scene of the stupid imposition of the Stockwell Ghost, who, though not visible himself, endowed kitchen furniture with wonderful vitality, made plates leap from the shelves, and realizing a familiar nursery rhyme, literally caused the dish to run away with the spoon. The whole impostureand a more palpable one is not to be met with in the annals of credulity-was the successful experiment of the shrewd servant girl in the family where these wonders took place. The house thus signalized stood upon the green, but it has been much altered and repaired within the last few years. A constant relay of omnibuses will be met with in either of the main roads, and will afford a very economical conveyance either to the city or west end.

Kennington Common, now being rapidly enclosed with

buildings, was, before the erection of Horsemonger Lane Gaol, the usual place of execution for criminals tried in this part of the county. Near it, also, was a palace, occasionally inhabited by the Royal Family even as late as the reign of Henry VII. Camden says that in his time no traces of the building were left, whence it seems probable that directly it ceased to be a royal residence it was pulled down. The "Prince's Road" is said to have been that by which the Black Prince came to this palace from Lambeth, and a tavern in the road still bears the sign of that renowned son of Edward III. Kennington is besides distinguished in history as the scene of the banquet or marriage festival of a Danish nobleman, at which Hardicanute, the son of Canute the Great, became the victim of his own intemperance, or, according to others, was poisoned. In commemoration of his death the festival of "Hocktide" is said to have been instituted. Kennington Church, dedicated to St. Mark, was erected in 1824, at an expense of nearly £30,000. This neighbourhood is rather different now from what it was in the reign of Edward III., when bands of lawless ruffians used to sally forth by hundreds at a time to rob the city, and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen had to keep watch for nights together, on the opposite banks of the Thames, to oppose their incursions. The Surrey side of the water has been lately wonderfully improved, both in the style of its dwellings, and the character of its inhabitants. It now includes by far the best portion of the city "respectables."

EXCURSION IV.

RAILWAY TO CROYDON-ANTIQUITIES-BEDDINGTON

CARSHALTON-WOODMANSTERNE-ADDISCOMBE-ADDINGTON-REIGATE THE CASTLE-THE BARON'S CAVE-THE PRIORY-DORKING-LEITH HILL BOX HILL-MICKLEHAM VALE- EPSOM- EWELL CHEAM- -SUTTON-MITCHAM

STREATHAM-BRIXTON.

We now put the railway again into requisition. Go down to the Terminus at London Bridge and take a ticket to Croydon by the Croydon Railway. The scenery along the line is full of varied interest, and the excursionist will have a good opportunity of seeing some of the richest portions of the southern outskirts on his route. Croydon is a fine old town, with some attractive vestiges of antiquity about it, and is of local importance as the place of election for East Surrey. The name is derived from the Saxon derivatives Croie, chalk, and dune or don, a hill, which pretty clearly describes its geological position. On the left, as we stroll towards the High Street, will be noticed "Whitgift's Almshouses," endowed by Archbishop Whitgift in 1596, for a warden, chaplain, schoolmaster, and forty decayed householders of Lambeth and Croydon, twenty of each sex. The church, with its ancient flint tower and recently renovated interior, is worthy examination. It was built on the site of a Roman place of worship, by Archbishop Courteney, in the latter part of the 14th century, and after many mutations was cruelly ill-used at the time of the civil wars, when a man named Blesse was paid by the Puritans half-a-crown a day to break the beautifully painted windows. When undergoing restoration, in 1844, the workmen discovered some ancient paintings of a large size; they

are in good preservation, but the execution is somewhat indifferent. Monuments to the Archbishops Sheldon, Whitgift, and others, are to be here seen, exhibiting appropriate magnificence of embellishment. The Archbishops of Canterbury had a palace here for many centuries, and a portion of it, used as a laundry, still remains. In exploring the country round Croydon-and finer scenery is not to be met with fifty miles from town-the rambler must consult his own convenience and powers of pedestrianism. We give him a choice of routes, right and left of the station, which may serve at different times as useful hints for a day's ramble.

Beddington is a capital point for a stroll, being two miles and a half from Croydon, and reached through a highly picturesque district. The village, situated on the banks of the Wandle, has a church built of flint, and, though recently renovated, has still a portion remaining of the original structure, belonging to the time of Richard the Second. A glance within will show an ancient Elizabethan pulpit, a curious square font supported by four pillars, and several tombs of the Carews, one especially being remarkable—a monumental brass to Nicholas Carew, dated 1432. Beddington Park has been for at least four hundred years the seat of the Carew family, the present possessor being Captain Charles Carew, of the Royal Navy. In 1599 and 1600 Queen Elizabeth was a frequent guest at their mansion, and her favorite walk is still pointed out, with an oak tree she is said to have planted. The old building being burned down, in 1709, with the exception of the hall, the present mansion stands precisely on the site of that erected by Sir Francis Carew, and still wears an aspect of ancient grandeur that carries us back to the time of square cut coats and flowing ruffles. Sir Francis Carew was the brother-in-law of Sir Walter Raleigh, who brought over the pips of some oranges, which were here planted, for the first time in England, and thriving exceedingly, proved the origin of the orangery now attached to the grounds,

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Carshalton is a mile further, and in the very heart of the village has a beautiful expanse of water, which, receiving the contributions of various springs gushing from the chalky soil, is afterwards known as the river Wandle. The trout found in this stream are unexceptionable in quality and quantity. The church is in the early English style, with some antique brass memorials to Nicholas Ganeysford and family. Near the churchyard is a spring, over-arched with stone, and called Queen Anne Boleyn's Well," from some vague tradition of her having stopped to admire its crystal clearness on her way from Hever. The walks from here over Dupper's Hill and Banstead Downs are delightful, yielding prospects of great extent and infinite beauty. Horne Tooke lived for many years at Purley House, not far distant, and there wrote his celebrated grammarian treatise, called "The Diversions of Purley." At Woodmansterne, six miles from Croydon, there is an old tree, said-but we think erroneously-to mark the highest point in the county. It is certain, however, that the ground about here is level with the cross of St. Paul's.

On the left, or eastern, side of Croydon there are equally attractive spots with those we have just noticed. Passing through Addiscombe, where is situated the Military College of the East India Company, in which about 150 cadets are educated, we may make our way round to Addington, nearly four miles from Croydon. Here is an antique church of the time of Edward III. in some portions, but rebuilt, about 1777, after a combination of orders that may be called, for want of a better, the early Churchwarden style. The chief feature, however, of the place is Addington Park, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and formerly a hunting lodge of Henry VIII. The mansion, built at the cost of £40,000, commands some extensive views, and the grounds are spacious and well planted. The vicinity is rich in pleasant strolls, and green lanes and breezy footpaths abound. There are several Saxon barrows, too, upon the hills, well worth inspection, one presenting no less than 25 tumuli clustered

G