road for their approach to the London Bridge terminus, where each company has distinct station accommodation.

Greenwich Fair-the Saturnalia of London-is held on the first three days in Easter and Whitsun weeks, and is easily reached by this railway, trains running every ten minutes, until a late hour.

NORTH KENT RAILWAY,

Tooley Street, London Bridge. This company, wnose offices form part of the numerous incongruous buildings known as the London Bridge Railway Station, uses the Greenwich Railway for about two miles, whence it diverges to the right, and passes under Blackheath by a spacious tunnel. There is also a terminus belonging to this company, at the Bricklayer's Arms, Dover Road.

The most important stations on this line, are those of Blackheath, Woolwich, Gravesend, Rochester, and Chatham.

CROYDON AND EPSOM RAILWAY,

Tooley Street, London Bridge. This short line was opened to Croydon, June 1st, 1839, and by an extension to Epsom, in 1848, thus affording easy access to the countless thousands who throng the Downs of Epsom on its memorable Derby Day.

It was on this line that the Atmospheric system was tried, but, after a ruinous outlay, abandoned..

BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY,

Tooley Street, London Bridge. This line, projected by Sir John Rennie, in 1836, after a parliamentary contest unexampled for its fierceness and costliness-the law expenses having been nearly £200,000-was commenced in 1838, under the direction of Mr. Rastrick, and opened in September, 1841.

The trains of this company run over the rails of the Greenwich and Croydon companies to Croydon, at which point their own works commence. A new and commodious station is now in course of erection at London Bridge, for the accommodation of their vastly increasing traffic, which, through the adoption of a liberal system of cheap excursion trains, has rendered this line a great boon to the industrial classes, by enabling them, at a trifling charge, to enjoy the luxury of pure air, and the invigorating sea-breezes.

The most important stations are those of Reigate, Hastings, Brighton, Worthing, and Portsmouth.

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY,

Tooley Street, London Bridge. This is essentially a pleasure line, having its terminus at Dover, from which port, and Folkestone Harbour, steam-boats are in daily communication with Calais and Boulogne.

This company travels over the lines of the Greenwich, Croydon, and Brighton companies, as far as the Reigate junction, at which point their own works commence, which were completed and opened throughout, in February, 1844.

The principal places possessing peculiar attractions for excursionists, and easily reached by this railway, are Penshurst, the ancient residence of the Sydneys; Hever Castle; Tunbridge Wells, and its mineral waters; Knowle, with its old park, and fine picture gallery; Canterbury, with its cathedral; Ramsgate; Margate; Folkestone; and Dover.

The engineering works, beyond Folkestone where this line touches the coast, are of the most stupendous nature, consisting of tunnels, sea walls, and excavations, of a highly interesting character.

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY,

Waterloo Road. This important and interesting line, which for some years had its terminus at Nine Elms, Vauxhall, was, in 1848, by means of its extension to the Waterloo Road, made much more available for the pleasure-seeker, and the man of business, and a proportionate increase of the passenger traffic has been the result. It is intended to erect spacious and convenient offices for this company, on a large plot of ground, having a frontage in the York Road, the present buildings being only of a temporary nature.

This is one of the principal lines for pleasure traffic out of the metropolis, as by its means, visitors can be quickly and cheaply conveyed to the delightful horticultural gardens at Chiswick; the noble botanic gardens at Kew, with its magnificent conservatory; to Richmond, with its charming park and scenery; to Hampton Court, with its once Royal palace, its extensive picture gallery, and delightful gardens, with the glorious avenue of chestnut trees in Bushy Park, when in blossom, a sight, the beauty of which is unequalled; and Windsor, with its noble park, and truly regal castle, the only really kingly residence in England.

The most important stations of this company, are those of Kew, Richmond, Hampton Court, Windsor, Guildford, Farnham, Southampton, Portsmouth, Gosport, Salisbury, and Winchester. The Isle of Wight, with Osborne House, the marine residence of Her Majesty, is also reached by means of this line.

We strongly advise parties reaching London by a late train, to proceed at once into the Strand, in the neighbourhood of which will be found numerous highly respectable hotels.

CHAPTER XXVII.

HOTEL AND TAVERN ACCOMMODATION.

Whoe'er has travell'd over life's dull round,
Where'er his stages may have been,

May sigh to think he still has found

The warmest welcome is an inn.-SHENSTONE.

London, profuse în every thing, is replete with accommodation for the stranger, and occasional resident. Here the man of fortune may dwell in a style of princely grandeur; and here also, strange, but true, the less prosperous individual may live on less money than in almost any other part of the kingdom, so varied is the nature of the accommodation and the style of charges.

Strangers who arrive in London by a late train, or by steam boat, unless they are previously provided with accommodation, through the agency of a friend, will find it the most convenient and economical mode, to proceed at once to one of the nearest respectable hotels or taverns for the night, of which there are several in the immediate vicinity of the Railway Termini. They will then be able, the following morning, to make such enquiries as may be necessary, and proceed to that part of the metropolis the most convenient for them, and where they may make such arrangements as the length of their intended stay in London may require, if their stay is intended to be short, a central situation near to Charing Cross will be found the most convenient.

It will invariably be found to be the case, that the more respectable the house at which the traveller stops, the greater comfort will he enjoy, while the viands are frequently of a superior order, the charges will be found equally moderate in proportion to the accommodation afforded.

We shall now proceed to notice briefly, some of the more important features in hotel and tavern accommodation, which distinguish the metropolis, merely premising, that the nature of our work prevents us from attempting any thing like a detailed account of so extensive a subject.

HOTELS.

In all the principal hotels, inns, and boarding houses, visitors may, as inclination prompts them, reside either in private apartments, or mix with the general company. Many of the hotels at the Westend, as the Clarendon, New Bond Street; Mivart's, Brook Street and Davies Street, Grosvenor Square; Fenton's, St. James's Street; and Wright's, Down Street; are of a magnificent description; and afford residences to dignitaries of the highest rank, during transitory visits. The rate of charges at such establishments, is of course high, but fully warranted by the nature of the entertainment provided.

In and about Covent Garden are several highly respectable hotels, for families and gentlemen, as the Old and New Hummums; the Bedford; the Tavistock; and Richardson's Hotel; the last, celebrated for its wines.

In the city hotels, the accommodation afforded is equally respectable, though not on so grand a scale, and their charges are far more moderate; many of them supply bed, breakfast, dinner, and supper, with the use of the coffee-room, at all times, for six or seven shillings a day. Wines and spirits are always charged for separately, according to a printed list. At the West-end hotels, a sitting room and bed room, are usually charged from half a guinea to a guinea per day; sometimes double that sum, or even more. It is always desirable, at hotels, inns, &c., by calling for the bill on the earliest suitable occasion, to ascertain the rate of charges. These are exceedingly various; but the following may give some idea of them :

The waiter and chambermaid generally expect about a shilling a day, and the boots, sixpence.

TAVERNS

In and about the metropolis are various large and highly respectable taverns, at each of which gentlemen are lodged in a comfortable manner; but they are principally designed for accommodating dinner and festive parties. Among the most important of these may be mentioned the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, celebrated for the numerous public meetings and charitable dinners held there; the Albion, Aldersgate Street-the head quarters of the booksellers; the Thatched House, St. James's Street; Freemason's Tavern, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fielda; the British Coffee House and Tavern, Cockspur Street; aud the London Coffee House and Tavern, Ludgate Hill.

Ludgate Hill. This celebrated hotel, so famous in former days, as one of the principal Coaching Houses in London, the etymology of the name forming a fruitful theme of enquiry from the time of Addison to the present day, having recently come into the possession of a new and spirited proprietor, he has resolved that its old fame shall be perpetuated; and in accordance with the new demands of the present age, has determined to devote its commodious premises into a large International Hotel, capable from its capaciousness of affording accommodation, equal in extent to any other hotel in the metropolis.

The object aimed at by the proprietor of this establishment is to furnish to the stranger of all nations, adequate and highly reasonable accommodation; and taking into consideration the number of the industrial classes, who are expected in London, during the ensuing summer, he has made such arrangements as will enable him fully to meet the views of that important section of society.

By conducting this hotel upon such principles, a national want will be supplied, a vacuum long complained of, be filled up, and a place provided, where men of every country, clime, tongue, and politics, may assemble, in the friendly spirit of international reciprocity.

Omnibuses pass and re-pass every five minutes to all parts of the metropolis, and its vicinity, thus affording the greatest facilities to the visitor. Proprietor, Mr. J. Thorburn.