The King's London House.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 164, 11 February 1902, Page 3

The King's London House.

Rumour says that the King and Queen ware by uo means willing tc give Tip Marlborough House, which they occupied as Prince and Princess of Wales, and go to live in Buckingham Palace, which has just been repaired and furnished for them. Buckingham Palace and St. James's have the reputation-of being two of the ugliest royal mansions in Europa. At the beginning of J=>tt century the Duke of Wellington declared ia the House, •' notwithstanding i the expense incurred iu bmiding ' the Palais, nd Sovereign iu ; Kai'ope, I may even add,-perhaps, \ no 'private individual, is co ill—'{'edged a:; the King of this country." Yet'its predecessor, PGolviugham Hour-**, built on the same site nd Pi-vdea's eccntric patron,, the Puke of Kuckinghatn, v»-rv; r-g'.rded as the most beamif'd building in ls.m<}ou. It v/.-is close (o fho famous Mulberry bbi.vuen.-J , I nUid by J;uiH<a 1., and Jn«*;iui»ned by Evelyn, Pi-ps'-ar-.d Drydeu, v.nd it had a One view a!: over the ciiy, Bt. .b.mi's's Park,, and rh.3 surroundiiigccuuti'y. i:i its hail, IJiekingham's v:i>, the il!';g':ti:>iiite daughter of James If, used Li> hold a solemn Lhate reception on Use anniversary of lU:ig Charles's 3:-:<-;cr.t. : on. She loft the house to Lord Hervey,and it was purchased by George [l.l, who settled it on* bis wife. It was the favourite house of the royal couple, and the place where all their children, except George IV, were horn. In its library , occurred the meeting of the King I and Dr. Johnson, narrated in ißoswell'a Life. "The Queen's House," as it was called, was defended by thousands of soldiers during the Gordon Riots, and the King rinding that no straw had come for their beds, ordered wir.e and ftpirits to be served out, and hitnsuif, passed the night with ihem. On the accession of George IV, the old house was replaced by the modern Palace, and this again was extensively altered v/!ie:i Quesn Victoria came to the throne. The State ballroom alone coat over a quarter million of money. At present it is commodious, but the exterior is very inelegant, It contains George IV's valuable collection of "pictures by Rubens, Rembrandt, Purer, Van Dyck, Cay p, Hobbema, Ruysdael, Reynolds, vVatieau, Lorraine, Poussin.Greuze, "Wilk.ie, ■Lily, Mags, Dow and Teniei'3, In the stable is kept the famous State coach, which cost £3OOO, and was painted with emblematical device by Cipriani. In the magnificent gardens at the back, tile late Queen, during the earlier part of her reign-, held delight! li I garden parties.