153 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[May, 



out any intermixture of the same on a reduced scale, or of any other 

 order. It stands on a slight elevation, produced by raising the foun- 

 dation walls three feet above the general level of the ground, and fill- 

 ing up with earth to that height, in a gradual slope, to the extent per- 

 mitted by the surrounding buildings, and the termination of the 

 premises towards tlie river, on the banks of which the palace stands 

 — a conspicuous and imposing feature in the landscape from a great 

 distance. The effect anticipated by raising the structure, as just 

 described, has been fully accomplished. 



The order employed is the Grecian Doric. It is forty-six feet nine 

 inches in height, having fluted columns thirty-six feet high ; five feet 

 six inches in diameter at the base, and four feet one and a half inches 

 at the neck, with corresponding antae, and an entablature of ten feet 

 nine inches ; the whole surmounting a basement of eighteen feet six 

 inches, of which three feet six inches forms the plinth of the building. 

 Over the entablature are parapet walls, varying in height according 

 to circumstances, and ornamented with panels, plinths, and cornices. 

 The projections of the cornice of the order are of stone, having the 

 guttsE and lilies in the angles cut out of the solid. Nothing could be 

 more satisfactory than the execution of the whole detail of what this 

 involves. The Doric order is notoriously of difficult management, 

 when applied to edifices of complicated design, from the necessity of 

 observing the rules prescribed for the introduction of tlie triglyphs in 

 the frieze of the entablature. In the present instance, with many 

 projections and recesses, tending to create difficulties, there was not 

 discoverable the slightest deviation from what these rules demand; 

 the cornices and mouldings were noticed as being cleanly and sharply 

 cut and defined, and all lines and surfaces, whether of stone or plaster, 

 exhibited the most successful result of much labour and minute 

 attention. 



On the south front is a portico of eight columns, ninety-seven feet 

 nine inches in length, surmounted by a pediment twelve feet high, 

 and having a strong trussed roof of timber secured transversely by iron 

 tie-rods. To the north is the entrance portico of six columns, mea- 

 suring 70 ft. 9 in. in length, with a corresponding trussed roof to the 

 pediment, which rises 10 ft.; in the tympanum of either pediment 

 are the arms of the Nuwaub Nazim, perfectly executed in relievo, and 

 forming a very appropriate and eiTective finish to the whole. 



Leading to the northern portico, is a noble flight of stone steps, 

 commencing in its breadth above from the centre of the end columns, 

 and having a platform stretching out in the same parallel to a width 

 of 24 ft. 9 in., from which, descending, it curves outwards on either j 

 side till it ends at its base, in a line extending to the length of 129 ft. ( 

 There are two intermediate platforms, one of 10, and one of 5 ft. in ! 

 width; in a line with which last, at the extremities, are well proper- } 

 tioned pedestals with stone slabs, bearing inscriptions (the letters 

 cleanly cut in relief) in English and Persian, exhibiting particulars 

 connected with the erection of the edifice (enclosure No. 1), and 

 in front of these pedestals, on blocks carried out from their bases, 

 corresponding iu height and breadth with the last flight of steps, and 

 10 ft. G in. in length, are placed two sphinxes, admirably executed, 

 both as regards the design and workmanship. They are of solid teak, 

 but painted and sanded so as exactly to resemble stone, and form 

 highly ornamental appendages to the entrance in the position they 

 occupy. Iron railing, of a graceful pattern, corresponding with, that 

 of the colonnades (rising from which are five lamp-posts on either 

 side, with three on either pedestal below,) surmounts the flight at 

 either extremity. Underneath is a capacious carriage way; and there 

 are three vaulted ranges, two of them open, and one (the lowest) closed 

 in, and forming dbdarkhiinesh and other useful offices. 



To the north front are two smaller porticos (to the wings) of four 

 columns each, and intermediately between the centre and wings on 

 cither front, receding colonnades ; which also form leading features of 

 the end fronts of the building. 



To all the above colonnades, including the porticos, are continuous 

 balconies to the third floor, ii ft. wide, of light appearance but of 

 great strength, being constructed of iron beams or cantilevers from 19 

 to 21 inches apart, inserted in the walls between stones to a depth of 



14 ft., and supported on brackets at intervals, the rest of the material 

 of the floor being of flat bar iron. The floor is composed of tiles, 

 terras, and marble, confined by a plate or band of iron. The railing 

 is partly of iron and partly of teak ; the main supports and some of 

 the rails being of the former, upheld by brackets branching from the 

 cantilevers. 



The spaces over the doors and windows within the colonnades, as 

 well as those of the treble windows in the exterior walls, are relieved 

 by panels, in which are inserted ornaments of various descriptions, 

 in relief, of good design, and extremely well executed. 



There are two open courts in the interior of the building, 72 by 

 52 ft., finished in every respect in the same style as the exterior, 

 having substantial drains all round, communicating with large covered 

 ones externally, which are carried to a considerab'e distance, and 

 empty themselves into the river. 



Round the exterior of the building there is a platform of the finest 

 masonry, bricken-edge, 7 ft. wide, from which spring small flights of 

 stone steps to the height of the plinth, leading to tlie entrances in the 

 several compartments of the edifice; outside of which is a roadway 

 or walk, of corresponding breadth, composed of koah, 9 in. in depth. 

 The plinth of the building has oval flue openings of 22 by IS in., 

 furnished with strong iron gratings;— where flights of steps interfere, 

 three of the step-facings in each have gratings, of IS in. in length, 

 fixed into them. 



The inlcrior comprises a basement floor, from 13 ft. to 13 ft. 3 in. in 

 height to the beams; a principal floor, from 21 ft. 9 in. to 22 ft. in 

 height, to the ceilings ; and a third floor of the same height as the 

 latter. 



Principal floor. The principal entrance is from the north portico 

 into a vestibule 36 ft. by 27 ft., having a geometrical stone staircase 

 at either side, 7 ft. 6 in. in width, with iron railing and mahogany 

 liand-rail, each staircase receiving light from four painted glared win- 

 dows. Within this range is a corridor or passage, 12 ft. wide, leading 

 to the wings of the edifice, divided into compartments, and so con- 

 trived, that by shutting two doors the communication with the wings 

 is cut olK without any interruption to that between the other portions 

 of the building. From the centre of the corridor a large door opens 

 into a circular room 50 ft. in diameter; to the right and left of which 

 (on entering) is a room 52 ft., by 25 ft.; the three comprising one 

 suite of apartments, separated from the wings by the open courts, 

 (noticed above). The circular room is of the Corinthian order, 

 taken from the temple of Jupiter Stator at Rome. The order is in 

 height 30 ft. 6 in., with pedestals of 4 ft. 6 in. From the entablature, 

 on a line with the frieze, springs a cupola of masonry, with sunk 

 panels, ending in a painted glazed skylight 20 ft. in diameter, the 

 height from the floor to the openisg of the skylight being 56 ft., and 

 to \is apex 62 ft. The room is decorated in its circumference by 

 four large covered recesses, over which are long panels, eight pilasters, 

 and four large doors ; over which last are oval openings occupied with 

 pierced screens of arabesque, cut iu single slabs of stone. All the 

 mouldings and compartments are richly carved and ornamented, in 

 conformity with the rules of the order of which the apartment is 

 composed ; and, whether as regards the effi.-ct of the whole, or the 

 exquisite finish of the details throughout, it is impossible to speak 

 too highly of what has been accomplished. There is nothing to add, 

 and nothing to alter : the architect and builder have done their work 

 perfectly. To the south of the above suite is a grand colonnaded 

 saloon, measuring 187 ft. Gin. in length, susceptible of division at 

 pleasure into three apartments, by means of sliding doors 18 ft. 2 in. 

 wide, the leaves sliding into cases, faced on both sides, from the 

 bottom to the top, with mirrors. The general width of this saloon is 

 55 ft., the centre space within the bases of the columns being 29 ft. 

 Beyond either extremitv of the saloon is a geometrical stone staircase, 

 5 ft. 3 in. wide, with railing, as before described, communicating with 

 the apartments of the wings. 



The wings do not correspond internally with each other : both are 

 divided into apartments of various suitable dimensions, each having a 

 spiral stone staircase at either corner, with baths, dressing rooms, &c. 



