COLONIAL OFFICE (THE), 14, DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL. A government office for conducting the business between Great Britain and her colonies. The head of the office is called the Secretary for the Colonies, and is always a Cabinet Minister. In a small waiting-room, on the right hand as you enter, the Duke of Wellington, then Sir Arthur Wellesley, and Lord Nelson, both waiting to see the Secretary of State, met the only time in their lives. The duke knew Nelson, from his pictures. Lord Nelson did not know the duke, but was so struck with his conversation that he stept out of the room to enquire who he was.

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

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Colonial Office, Downing-st. NEAREST Railway Station, Westminster-bridge and Charing-cross (S.E. and Dist.); Omnibus Routes, Whitehall and Parliament. street; Cab Rank, Palace-yard.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

COLONIAL OFFICE. - The Office of the Secretary of State for the Colonies is situated in Downing Street, and forms part of that magnificent building which fronts Whitehall, Downing Street and St. James's Park, which was built in the Italian style, from the designs of Sir G. Gilbert Scott, at a cost of about £500,000. The public is admitted to view the principal rooms upon applying to the porters between the hours of 2 and 5. This palatial block also contains the Indian and Foreign Office. The interior of the Indian Office being designed by the late Sir Digby Wyatt.

George Birch, The Descriptive Album of London, c.1896