IGO THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The Thames, between Reading and AVindsor, passes through some of the most 

 lovely scenery to be met with in England. Princely mansions arc numerous in 

 this favoured region, most prominent amongst them being Cliefden, the seat of 

 the Duke of AVestminster, opposite the charming village of Cookham, on the 

 liuckinghamshire bank of the river. Maidenhead, the centre of this attractive 

 district, is more especially noted for the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Near 

 it stands the church of Brai/, known through its versatile vicar, who, true to his 

 principle, " to live and die the A'icar of Bray," never hesitated to change his 

 religion. 



After winding through the verdant plain below Maidenhead, the Thames 

 strikes the foot of a scarped hill crowned by Windsor Castle, the only sumptuous 

 palace of the sovereign of England, and one of the most extensive and picturesque 

 piles of buildings in the world. The all-surmounting Round Tower, or Keep; the 

 pinnacles of the beautiful St. George's Chapel showing above the walls ; the crenel- 

 lated towers of unequal height, which break the monotony of the enceinte ; luxuriant 

 trees hiding the foot of the walls and clothing the slopes of the hill down to the 

 banks of the river ; and last, not least, the town nestling beneath the innumerable 

 gables and towers of the castle — all these make up a most charming picture. This 

 is indeed the residence, not of one sovereign, but of a whole line of kings, who 

 from century to century employed their wealth in the embellishment of the home 

 of their ancestors. AVilliam the Conqueror was the first to raise a fortress on this 

 spot. Edward III., who here founded the Order of the Garter in 1349, almost 

 entirely reconstructed it, and since his time nearly every sovereign has added to 

 this pile of buildings. The castle consists of two great divisions, the Lower 

 and the Upper AVard, separated by the Round Tower, formerly a place of 

 confinement for prisoners of state. Several portions of the palace are exquisite 

 specimens of architecture, St. George's Chapel being most notable in this respect. 

 It is one of the finest existing examples of the perpendicular style, most richly 

 decorated, and not unworthy of being the burial-place of seven Kings of England. 

 The entire castle forms a vast museum, abounding in pictures, statues, tapestry, 

 and works of art of every kind, presented to or purchased by its royal occupants. 

 In the state apartments we find ourselves surrounded by precious works of art, 

 tastefully displayed to the best advantage. One room contains an unrivalled 

 collection of twenty-two portraits by Vandyck ; another is devoted to works by 

 Rubens. The AVaterloo Chamber is decorated with portraits, mostly painted by 

 Sir Thomas Lawrence, of the chief persons who bore a prominent part in the 

 Congress of Vienna. The collection of drawings by ancient masters is perhaps the 

 richest in the world, and the library contains many works of inestimable value. 

 It would be difficult to discover a more cheerful place for study, for the wide bow 

 windows, suspended as it were above the terrace walks, look out upon one of the 

 most charming landscapes of England, with the Thames pursuing its devious course 

 through verdant meadows. 



Looking across the river, we perceive the clock tower, cliapel, and other 

 buildings of Eton College. The village of £to)i is in Buckinghamshire, joined to 



