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GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. LONDON TO BATH & BRISTOL.

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About 54 miles from Wells is the town of Glastonbury, where stood the famous Abbey of that name, one of the richest and most powerful monastic institutions in England. The last abbot was hanged on account of his refusal to surrender the abbey to Henry VIII. The ruins of the monastery contain the ashes of King Arthur, King Edgar, and many illustrious nobles and prelates, but their monuments are now defaced or demolished. The only parts of the monastery in tolerable preservation are the chapel of St. Joseph, and the abbot's kitchen. The old cross in the centre of the town has been replaced by an elegant structure. The church of St John is a handsome building, surmounted by a beautiful tower, and that of St Benedict is a venerable edifice erected by Abbot Beer. On a hill northeast of the town is the Tor or St Michael's Tower, the only remaining portion of a church and monastery which formerly stood there. The George Inn was formerly an hospital for pilgrims to the shrine of St Joseph. Population 1851, 3125.

XLIV. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY TO BATH AND BRISTOL, 118 Miles.

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ON EIGHT FROM LOND.

From

Bristol.

From

London.

ON LEFT FROM LOND.

At a distance on the right is Uxbridge, an ancient borough, and polling place for Middlesex. It is famous for its cornmarket. It gives the 105 title of Earl to the Marquis of Anglesey. Pop. (1851) 3236.

Chalfont St. Giles where Milton finished 102 Paradise Lost.

Stoke, Pa. Rt. Hon. H. Labouchere.

Stoke Poges, the spot where Gray finished several of his poems. Here Sir Ed. Coke entertained Elizabeth in 1601, and presented her with jewels to the amount of £1000. And at a distance Beaconsfield, the resi dence of Waller Edmund Burke.

Dropmore Lodge.

and

Hedsor Lo. Ld. Boston.]

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• Eton College was founded in 1440, by Henry VI., for the education of 70 scholars. Besides these, there are generally several hundreds of the sons of the nobility and gentry receiving their education there. The total number has usually amounted to about 500. The chapel is a fine old Gothic structure, containing a monument to Sir Henry Wotton, who was long Provost of the College. At the west end of the ante-chapel is a beautiful marble statue of the founder, Henry VI. and in the centre of the principal court is another in bronze. The library contains a curious and valuable collection of books, an excellent assortment of Oriental MSS., and some beautifully illuminated missals. Eton was till lately the scene of a curious triennial pageant, called the Eton Montem. It has been discontinued since 1848. Among the niany great men who were educated at Eton may be mentioned, Sir Robert Walpole, Harley Earl of Oxford, Lord Bolingbroke, Earl Camden, the famous Earl of Chatham, Outred the mathematician, Boyle the philosopher, Lord Lyttelton, Gray, Horace Walpole, West, Waller, Fox, Canning, the Marquis Wellesley, Hallam the historian, and the Duke of Wellington. Pop. of parish (including the college) in 1851, 3796.

Two m. from Slough Station is the town of Windsor, on the Thames, having an ancient church, a theatre, barracks, and a good free school. It returns 2 M.P. Pop. 1851, 9596. Windsor Castle has been the principal seat of British Royalty for nearly eight centuries. The Saxon kings had a palace at Old Windsor long previous to the Conquest. The present castle was founded by William the Conqueror, but was almost rebuilt by Edward III., with the assistance of the celebrated William of Wykeham, who was made clerk of the works. Great alterations were made by Sir Jeffry Wyatville during the reign of George IV. St. George's Chapel is a splendid specimen of florid Gothic architecture. It contains the stalls of the Knights of the Garter; and here the ceremony of installation takes place. Beneath it are the remains of Edward IV. and his Queen, Henry VI., Henry VIII. and Jane Seymour, Charles I., George III. and Queen, George IV., the Princess Charlotte, Duke of Kent, Duke of York, William IV., &c. The keep or round tower in the centre of the castle is perhaps the most remarkable part of the buildby Here Jaines I. of Scotland was confined. In the little park is a tree supposed to

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The antiquary.

Two miles distant is Wargrave, and 3 miles beyond it is Henley-uponThames, a place of considerabie antiquity, and] famous as the place whence the adherents of Charles I. were driven nt by Earl of Essex. Home Park, R. Palmer, Esq.

Archbishop Laud, Mernick the Poet, and Blarave the mathematician, were natives of Reading; and here Milman the poet, and the late Sir Thomas N. Talfourd, author of Ion, &c. were educated.

Caversham Park (G. Crawshay, Esq.) Herel

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Maidenhead Station. Maidenhead is a markettown in Berks. It was anciently called South Arlington, and subsequently Maidenhithe. Besides the Great Western viaduct over the Thames, there is a magnificent bridge of 13 arches, erected at an expense of £20,000.

Twyford Station.

Stanlake House.

Woodley Green. Bulmarshe Court, J. Wheble, Esq. White Knights, formerly a seat of the great Duke of Marlborough, now demolished.

Reading Station. Reading, a market, borough, and county town in Berks. It is a place of great antiquity, having existed in the time of the Saxons. It was frequently taken and retaken during civil wars in 1643. The earliest charter extant is that of Henry III. It has returned two members since 23d of Edward I.

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Burnham Abbey.

He

Bray, famous for its vicar. This worthy gentleman's conscience possessed in a peculia degree the quality o accommodating itself to circumstances. changed his religio three times. On being reproached as a turncoat, he used to say, "Nay, nay, I always keep to my principles, which are these-to live and die Vicar of Bray."

Stubbings, H. Skrine, Esq.; and beyond, Hall 80 Place, Sir G. E. C. Eas',

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Bart.

Reading is famous on man accounts. It was taken by the Danes in the ninth cen tury, after they had defeated Alfred the Great. It acted prominent part in the expul sin of John, Charles L. and James II. Pop. 1851, 21,456.

Some of the houses in Reading are constructed of timber, but greater part of the old town is of brick. In the suburbs are many handsome houses. Here are some remains of an abbey for Benedictines. founded by Henry 1. in 1112. Reading is well furnished with charitable and religious institutions. Whitley Park. Three-mile-Cross.

be "Herne's Oak," immortalised by Shakspeare. The great park is situated on the south side of the castle, and includes the beautiful avenue of trees, nearly three miles in length, called the Long Walk. It is terminated by the colossal equestrian statue of George III., in bronze, by Westmacott. The drive through the park to Virginia Water is exceedingly striking. The interior of the castle is magnificent. The corridor or gallery, 520 feet in length, leading along the south and east sides of the court, is richly adorned with bronzes, marbles, pictures, &c. The state-rooms are gorgeously fitted up, and contain many paint. ings by the most eminent masters. Tickets to view these rooms may be had in London of Messrs. Colnaghi, Pall-mall East. Her Majesty's private apartments can only be seen during the absence of the Court from Windsor by virtue of a special order from the Lord Chamberlain.

Half a mile from Windsor is Frogmore, the favourite residence of her late Majesty Queen Charlotte, and now that of H. R H. the Duchess of Kent. Six miles distant is Asect Heath, where races are annually held in June.

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