98 
NATURE NOTES 
Esq., F.L.S. ; W. H. Daun, Esq. ; G. Spurrell Groom, Esq. ; Robert Jones, 
Esq., M.D., F.S.A. ; Miss Kilgour, Alexander Payne, Esq.; Henry Perrin, 
Esq. ; William H. Such, Esq. ; H. G. Troughton, Esq. ; II. J. Troughton, Esq. 
Subscriptions. — The Council has pleasure in acknowledging subscriptions 
of greater value than 5s. from the following members; Charles Burt, Esq., 
los. 6d. ; Alfred Deed, Esq., los. 6d. ; Mrs. Phillips, los. 6d. ; Miss F. A. 
Gordon, los. ; Lady Jenkyns, los. ; Thomas Layton, Esq., los. 
Library. — The Honorary Librarian will attend at 20, Hanover Square, 
from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., on the evenings of May 21 and June 17, for the 
purpose of issuing books to members. 
EXCURSIONS. 
Saturday, March 23. — Seventy-four members met at St. James’s Palace. 
The State apartments were entered from Friary Court, and the members were 
shown into the Picture Gallery. The Rev. Canon Sheppard, Sub-Dean of the 
Chapels Royal, acted as cicerone, but first gave an address on the history of 
the Palace. Originally a hospital dedicated to St. James the Less stood on its 
site. This was lor the reception of fourteen leprous maiden sisters, who were 
to lead a devout life, “living chastely and honestly in divine service.” The 
hospital was founded before lioo A.D. In 1838, when enlarging the Chapel 
Royal, stone mullions and other pieces of masonry of the Norman period were 
discovered. Later on a brotherhood was attached to the hospital, consisting of 
eight brethren, of whom six were chaplains. 
Edward I. was most rigorous against lepers within the bounds of the city ; 
but for the poor afflicted ones outside the city walls he displayed great considera- 
tion, confirming all the previous gifts, and granting, in 1290, the privileges and 
profits of a fair to be held annually on the eve of St. James’s Day (July 25), the 
day following, and four days after. 
Henry VIII., in 1532, purchased the site of this leper hospital, compounded 
with the leprous maidens, and demolished the old building. In place thereof he 
built a goodly manor, and annexed to it a park. He named it St. James’s, 
after the hospital originally standing on the site. The plans for the new building 
are generally supposed to have been prepared by Thomas Cromwell, Earl of 
Essex, but others state that the plans were furnished by Holbein. The style 
used was the mixed Gothic, so prevalent in Henry’s reign. The external 
character has been greatly changed by the additions and alterations afterwards 
made. Noteworthy is the ornamental carving over the three external doors in the 
clock-tower, where the initials II. R. are still to be seen. The red brick clock- 
tower itself, with its four octagon towers and picturesque gateway, forms one of 
the most precious links with the past that London possesses, and yields to no 
other domestic building in England in the variety and richness of its historical 
associations. This gateway is represented in the fourth plate of Hogarth’s 
“ Rake’s Progress.” A destructive fire occurred early in 1800, by which many 
valuable documents stored here were destroyed. 
Sieur de la Serre, historiographer of France, gives a favourable description of 
the place when he came to England in 1638 with Marie de Medicis, mother of 
the consort of Charles I ; but .Sir John Fielding in 1776, and Defoe, had a very 
poor opinion of the Palace as reflecting no honour on the kingdom. 
A clock has been in the tower for nearly three centuries. The tower was 
struck by lightning in 1618. In 1831 the clock was removed, but replaced on a 
petition being presented to William IV. In 1882 a new one was erected, and 
in 1894 it was thoroughly overhauled. In 1731 a printing press was set up, and 
several members of the Royal Family were instructed in the art by Samuel Palmer. 
The company next proceeded through the State Apartments, which have only 
once, in late years, been thrown ojien to the public, and that was in 1887, during 
September, October and November, when 431,025 visitors came to see the 
Jubilee gifts. Sir Christopher Wren designed the cornices and mouldings of 
these apartments, which are well suited for the holding of levees and other Court 
functions. 
The Guard Room and Armoury Room are at the top of the staircase, and are 
hung with arms and armour disposed in artistic devices. Next is the Tapestry 
