MISCELLANIES. 



663 



this advantage, that from the height 

 of the bands the effect was more 

 imposing, and the ladies' gallery 

 on this side of the hall corres- 

 ponded with the opposite, and was 

 not interfered with by the arrange- 

 ments, as the access to the music 

 galleries was obtained from the 

 roof. 



Orchestras for the vocal per- 

 formers were erected at the upper 

 end of the hall, under the ladies' 

 galleries, which, projecting in a 

 small degree beyond them, rather 

 relieved than interrupted the uni- 

 formity of the fronts of the gal- 

 leries. 



Immediately adjoining these or- 

 chestras at the circular returns of 

 the galleries, fronting the royal 

 table, were affixed wiiite satin ban- 

 ners, with the arms of England, 

 Russia, and Prussia united ; these 

 banners your Committee have since 

 directed to be suspended in the 

 Guildhall, to convey to posterity 

 the circumstance of this glorious 

 union of great Nations. 



At the upper or eastern end of 

 the hall, on a platform, elevated 

 above the level of the floor cover- 

 ed with Turkey -carpeting, was 

 placed a very large table, at which 

 stood three massive carved and 

 gilt chairs, covered with crimson 

 velvet, decorated with gold fringes, 

 under a lofty canopy of rich 

 crimson velvet, lined with crim- 

 son sarcenet, and rich velvet dia- 

 peries reaching to the floor, tied 

 back with gold ropes. In fronl 

 of the dome of the canopy were 

 placed the sword and sceptre, and 

 on the top the Royal Crown of the 

 United Kingdom, holdly carved 

 on a large scale and gilt, over 

 which hovered a Dove with the 

 olive branch, in proper colours, 

 as in the act of alighting, in allu- 



sion to the leading happy circum- 

 stance of the times, and in com- 

 pliment to the three great Per- 

 sonages, the whole producing an 

 efi'ect of simple grandeur, con- 

 sistent with the object of this mag- 

 nificent entertainment. 



The Members of the Common 

 Council, in their mazarine gowns, 

 arranged themselves in two lines 

 across the Hall, and from thence 

 to the Common Council and new 

 Council Chambers, which were 

 richly fitted up as drawing-rooms 

 for the occasion, and the whole of 

 the floor, from the entrance into 

 the Great Hall to these rooms, was 

 covered with crimson carpeting. 



The Court of King's-bench was 

 also fitted np as a drawing-room, 

 the end of which was filled with a 

 beautiful transparent painting, by 

 the late Mr. Barry, R. A. In the 

 centre, opening between two naval 

 and military trophies, was a Por- 

 trait of his most Gracious Majesty 

 in stained and painted glass; on 

 the right and left two whole-length 

 figures representing Britannia and 

 Fame ; in the frize of the entab- 

 lature the words, " Gloria Deo," 

 and over the whole, the figure of 

 Peace descending upon the Ter- 

 restrial Globe 



The Royal Procession began to 

 arrive at Guildhall about five 

 o'clock. The Lord Mayor and 

 Aldermen having dismounted, 

 preceded his Royal Highness the 

 Prince Regent, the Lord Mayor 

 carrying the Sword of State im- 

 mediately before him. On the 

 entrance of the Royal and Illus- 

 trious Personages, they were se- 

 verally announced and conducted 

 through the hall, attended by the 

 Aldermen, the Chairman and Gen- 

 tlemen of the Committee, to the 

 Common Council and New Coun- 



20 2 



