BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON 



ness full of blackbirds and nightingales." The 

 surroundings, now very different, cannot, per- 

 haps, be excelled by any other capital in Europe 

 in the fine drive of the Mall, terminating at one 

 end with the Admiralty Arch ; the Towers of 

 the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey 

 look down upon it ; it passes the ancient Palace 

 of St. James's, and Marlborough House, and ends 

 fitly with the Memorial to the great Queen 

 Victoria, surrounded by the Colonies, Bucking- 

 ham Palace rising behind. 



Here for nine memorable years the great 

 King Edward with our beloved Queen Alex- 

 andra resided ; their brilliant Courts, held in the 

 evening, were thronged not only by representa- 

 tives of every portion of their own great Empire, 

 but also by members of all the reigning families 

 in Europe. The marriage of the Duchess of 

 Fife took place here, and many other striking 

 events. King Edward rearranged most of the 

 rooms, and did up the beautiful new ball-room. 

 He made the plans for all these improvements 

 inside the Palace, and also laid out the beautiful 

 gardens. Two years ago the entire fa9ade of 

 the Palace facing the Mall was beautifully reno- 



38 



