The name is derived from the benevolent purposes to which those lands and others adjacent were devoted by Sir William Harpur (Lord Mayor of London in 1561, died in 1573), who bequeathed the revenues to Bedford, his native place, there to found a free and perpetual school and endow other charities. In this row lived Bishop Warburton, and here, in 1731, in the eighty-second year of her age, died Mrs. Elizabeth Cromwell, granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell. At No. 14, John Abernethy, the celebrated surgeon, breathed his last. In RED LION SQUARE is situated the office of the MENDICITY SOCIETY, an excellent institution, and as serviceable for assisting the really necessitous poor as for the invaluable aid which it furnishes to the public in detecting the extensively ramified system of the begging-letter impostor. In this square lived and died the benevolent Joseph Hanway, the traveller, who was the first to venture to carry an umbrella in the streets of London, and who, after carrying one for thirty years, saw them come into general use.

Returning to Holborn, we can hence pass either to Charing Cross or Temple Bar, and having thus completed our walks through the West-end of London, prepare to take an equally interesting, and, perhaps, even a more excursive ramble in a northerly direction.

PART IV.-THE NORTH.

DISTRICT 1.

TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD-GREAT RUSSELL STREET-THE BRITISH MUSEUM THE NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT-THE EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES-THE ELGIN MARBLES-THE NIMROUD MARBLES, &C. THE READING-ROOM AND LIBRARY-LONDON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE THE NEW ROAD-REGENT'S PARK-BOTANIC GARDENS -VILLAS-ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS-ST. JOHN'S WOOD-PADDINGTON-MARYLEBONE-FITZROY SQUARE-EUSTON SQUARETERMINUS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY-ST. PANCRAS NEW CHURCH-BURTON CRESCENT GUILDFORD STREET - THE

FOUNDLING HOSPITAL, &C.

COMMENCING our progress northward from ToT-
TENHAM COURT ROAD, so called from it leading to

the ancient manor of "Tottenham Court" belonging to St. Paul's, we deviate into GREAT RUSSELL STREET for the purpose of introducing the visitor to that noble institution, the BRITISH MUSEUM. This may truly be described as a spot where British enterprise has brought from every country something to attract the eye and interest the mind; where the rudest indications of barbaric skill and the highest manifestations of civilised ingenuity are alike preserved, and for which nature has surrendered its stores, art contributed its fairest creations, discovery yielded its richest treasures, and antiquity displayed its choicest relics to bring the triumphs of the present into startling contrast with the glories of the past.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM stands upon the site of Montague House, where the collection was exhibited until the new building was completed for its reception in 1850, until which

time, part of the old mansion of the Dukes of Montague was visible, but the gateway being then finally demolished, the last vestige of the ancient structure disappeared, and now the Museum, with its majestic portico, forms a striking architectural ornament to the street in which it stands.

The present building was commenced in 1823 from the designs of Sir Robert Smirke, and has been completed at an expenditure of £753,495. It is of the Grecian Ionic order of architecture. The principal entrance has a magnificent portico, supported by eight columns, and with the wings on each side forms a frontage of 370 feet. Passing under this portico by a massive and finely carved oaken doorway, we enter the new hall, 30 feet high, and 62 feet by 51 broad. A grand staircase, 17 feet in width, and enclosed by walls of highly polished red granite, leads to the suit of rooms appropriated to the NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, and to the left is the entrance to the GALLERY OF ANTIQUITIES. For the convenience of those who can only take a rapid glance at the contents, we shall proceed to give a general indication of the most popularly interesting objects, but those who contemplate -as it deserves-devoting several days to an examination of this interesting building, should purchase the catalogues that are to be obtained about the Museum.

In the HALL will be noticed Chantrey's statue of Sir Joseph Banks, and Roubilliac's statue of Shakspere, the latter sculptured with all the skill of that celebrated artist, but, at the same time, possessing all the faults of an unnatural school. Near it is the statue of the Hon. Anne Seymour Damer, a liberal patroness of sculpture, in which she had some skill herself, as her own miniature figure of the genius of the Thames, which she holds in her arms, will testify. Passing on to the MAMMALIA SALOON, we find ourselves in a spacious lofty apartment, around the walls of which are arranged the specimens of rapacious and hoofed beasts, whilst on the floor are placed the larger animals, among which will be observed the wild ox, from Chillingham Park, Northumberland. A

miscellaneous collection of animals of the monkey tribe will be seen in a number of the cases; among these is a fine specimen of the black ourang, a native of Africa. Passing onwards will be noticed the species that have prehensile tails, with which they lay hold of branches, and thus in climbing have all the advantages of a fifth arm. The monkeys that are natives of America differ from those found in the other quarters of the globe, in having longer tails and no pouches in their cheeks. Case 18, especially, presents some beautiful varieties, amongst which the bearded ape is conspicuous, and close to it is the rib-nosed baboon, that once was a great favourite at Exeter Change, where he had been taught the questionable accomplishments of drinking grog and smoking tobacco.

THE EASTERN ZOOLOGICAL GALLERY introduces us to a varied collection of birds that are alike distinguished by the richness and brilliancy of their colours, and the beauty and elegance of their forms. The first section contains the Rapsorial and Passerine birds (birds of prey), which generally build on trees or high places, and have their young hatched blind and nearly naked, so that for a time it is necessary for them to be fed by their parents and remain in the nest. The first family is that of the condors, chiefly inhabitants of America. The muscles in the wings of these giants of the feathered race are so powerful, that a blow from one of them has destroyed life. A magnificent specimen of the golden eagle, with the wings extended, shows the rapacity with which it devours its prey. The family of falcons (Falconida), which occupy the next cases, have their heads covered with feathers, and the eyebrows prominent, giving the eye the appearance of being deeply set in the head, and imparting a character very different from that of the vultures. The beak exhibits a remarkable conformation, having a deep notch near its roof, which enables them to wound or tear their prey with greater facility. The other varieties here, are the ignoble falcons with simple, and the hawks with rather longitudinal nostrils, whilst the honey buzzard, osprey, and kites have an oblique

slit covered with a valve behind. These distinctions will readily enable the visitor to distinguish the several kinds. Amongst the hawks, the most remarkable bird is the secretary, brought from the Cape of Good Hope, where it is called the serpent eater, from those reptiles being its prey. Next are the eagles, to describe the different varieties of which a volume might be devoted. We now approach the numerous and most solemn family of the owls (Strigida), most of which are remarkable for the radiated circles of feathers surrounding their eyes, and for their large ears, which, as they hunt in the dark, may enable them to discover their prey by the sense of hearing when not within the range of their imperfect vision. The magnificent bird seen in Case 40 belongs to the genus Trogon, and is well worthy of the adjunct “resplendent,” which has been appended to it. Their feet are often feathered almost to the toes, and their soft, full, lax plumage and lengthened tail, bestow upon the species a peculiar aspect. These birds abound in South America, where they conceal themselves in the central solitudes of umbrageous forests, and, except during the breeding season, dwell insulated and alone. They feed chiefly on fruits and winged insects. Their skins are of so delicate a texture, as to be with difficulty preserved in a complete or natural condition, whence they have here rather a heavy shapeless aspect. The greater portion of the plumage gleams like burnished gold. The head is ornamented with a brilliant crest of decomposed barbs, the wing coverts falling in flakes of golden green over the deep purplish black of the primary and secondary quill feathers; the rich carmine of the lower parts presenting a warmth and depth of effect, which no Venetian painter ever equalled, whilst the long waving of the tail, extending about three times the length of the whole body, completes a combination of beauty almost unexampled in the feathered tribes. Case 48 presents the Menura Superba, or lyre-tail, from New Holland, characterised, as its name implies, by the great extension and peculiar shape of its tail-feathers. Pursuing our examination of