20 
immediate vicinity a number of remnants of oaks of the ancient 
Royal Forest. Many are far advanced towards decay. One or 
two still continue to throw out a few fresh shoots yearly, covered 
with green leaves, but for the most of them the sap will never 
more mount their dry and mouldering walls. With its bole 
stripped clean of every particle of bark, and with bare, horn-like 
branches twisted and contorted in the most fantastic manner, one 
of the oaks presented a weird and unearthly aspect. Another, 
not far from it, had assumed the shape of a huge Gothic gargoyle; 
and all indeed presented more or less a strangely fantastic aspect. 
FROGMORE. 
Turning into the main drive, near a charming shrubbery in 
which a number of silver maples glistened in the sunlight 
amid the dark surrounding foliage, the company had next 
the privilege of walking through the beautiful grounds of Frog- 
more, to which ordinary visitors are only admitted once a year— 
on the 14th December, the never-to-be-forgotten anniversary 
of the death of the beloved Consort of Her Gracious Majesty. 
Frogmore was originally a part of the Royal Domain, but it 
seems to have been sold during the Civil War. It was 
repurchased by Queen Charlotte, the Consort of George IIT., and 
the lovely residence which now adorns the grounds was built for 
her by the architect Wyatville. The late Duke of Clarence was 
born here; and in later days it has been the home of the 
Princess Augusta, Queen Adelaide, the Duchess of Kent, the 
Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Prince and Princess 
Christian. It has always been a favourite retreat of Her 
Majesty, and it was within its quiet and peaceful grounds that 
the honoured remains of the Duchess of Kent and Prince Albert 
were laid to rest. The temple-like tomb of the former, and the 
noble mausoleum of Prince Albert, erected in 1862, in the Italian 
style, at a cost of £200,000, rise by the side of a pretty sheet of orna- 
mental water in the centre of the grounds, and give a hallowed air 
of sanctity to the whole place. The party felt this as they wended 
their way through the charming grounds of Frogmore upon this 
lovely summer day, and inspected its wealth of arboreal beauty. 
The grounds are very picturesquely designed, and, needless to say, 
are kept in perfect order. There are smooth-shaven grassy 
glades and green lawns, charming flower-beds, pleasant walks 
