^62 



ANNUAL REGISTER, I8i4. 



in which were displayed the most 

 costly exotics, and flowering and 

 aromatic shrubs, fancifully arrang- 

 ed, and ornamented with moss. 

 This arbour extended into the hall, 

 and being illuminated with varie- 

 gated lamps, had a most beautiful 

 and pleasing effect. 



The grand gothic hall, with 

 its two superbly painted windows, 

 suggested to the architect the 

 appropriate decorations of the in- 

 terior, and within the short space 

 of time allowed, an effect was pro- 

 duced highly creditable to his taste 

 and exertions. The simplicity of 

 the design, the ma»_i;nitude of the 

 parts, and above all the harmony of 

 the colour, diffused a lustre over 

 the whole, upon which the eye re- 

 posed with the most satisfied de- 

 light ; the combination had an 

 unity — a character of strength, and 

 a breadth and tone the most at- 

 tractive. The painted windows 

 were externally illuminated, so as 

 to throw into the hall the rich and 

 warm influence of the immense 

 body of light by which all the 

 Gothic divisions of the two win- 

 dows were articulated, and which, 

 striking on the brilliant circle of 

 ladies in the galleries, produced an 

 effect as enchanting as novel. 



The walls of the hall to the under- 

 side of the capitals of the clustered 

 columns, and the fronts of the gal- 

 leries were covered with bright 

 crimson cloth, elegantly and boldly 

 fluted throughout, and so formed 

 and festooned as to represent grand 

 arcades, in the recesses of which 

 were placed tables, illuminated 

 with cut glass chandeliers, reflect- 

 ed by handsome mirrors at the 

 back, giving to the whole a most 

 finished appearance. Above the 

 range of galleries were suspended 

 large superb cut-glass chandeliers. 



and over the great cornice, and 

 resting thereon ; the entire length 

 of the hall on each side was illu- 

 minated by a beautiful cordon of 

 uncoloured lamps, and the Royal 

 Banner and the Banners of the 

 City, and the twelve principal 

 Companies, were displayed under- 

 neath. The galleries terminating 

 by circular ends at the monu- 

 ments of the late Earl of Chatham 

 and Mr. Pitt, those monuments 

 were left open to view, and the 

 most magnificent cut-glass chan- 

 deliers that could be procured were 

 suspended from the roof over the 

 royal table and down the center 

 of the hall, and a great number of 

 gold and silver candelabra, with 

 wax lights, were most tastefully dis- 

 posed on every table. 



In order to increase the effect 

 of the illuminations, the windows 

 in the upper part of the hall, above 

 the great cornice, were darkened, 

 and some of them were made to 

 open, in order that full and com- 

 plete ventilation might be ob- 

 tained, which was most amply 

 afforded, as occasion required, by 

 men stationed on the roofs for 

 that purpose, and means were 

 adopted for an abundant supply 

 of water to various parts of the 

 hall. 



The Committee having been un- 

 der the necessity of directing the 

 music gallery from the Irish Cham- 

 ber to be removed, for the more 

 convenient accommodation of the 

 ladies, that the line of the fronts 

 of their galleries might not lose its 

 effect, by being broken and inter- 

 rupted, other galleries were erect- 

 ed for two full military bands over 

 the entrance leading to the Coun- 

 cil Chamber, and above the ladies' 

 galleries ; this was effected bj' re- 

 moving the great clock, and had 



