54 



amongst them is a collection of Saxon and Norman Charters 

 in regular succession from the year 690, to the union of 

 the houses of York and Lancaster, and a body of historical 

 learning, making this collection most interesting and valuable 

 to the Historian and Antiquarian. 



Re-ascending into the suite of Rooms, you pass through 

 the Library into the 



MUSIC ROOM, 



decorated at each end with the finest Scaiola columns, 

 executed by Signor Bartoli, after the Sienna marble: the 

 capitals are richly gilt, as are the mouldings, and the orna- 

 ments in relief throughout this room. The walls are divided 

 into pannels, within which is a profusion of paintings in 

 Arabesque and other subjects: the general idea is taken 

 from the Loggia of Raphael at Rome, but the decoration 

 is varied with great taste in the design and execution. — 

 The figures, the foliage, the birds, and architecture in these 

 paintings are all finished with the greatest attention to 

 nature, and to the harmony of colouring. 



At one end is a recess decorated in the same beautiful 

 manner, the pilasters which support it are painted on a gold 

 ground ; the same ground and decoration ornament the 

 frizes of the doors, and the pannels of the shutters. Within 

 this niche is a statue ; the niche is crowned with festoons 

 of laurel and a lyre, all richly carved and gilt in variegated 

 gold. The doors are divided into pannels, the ground of 

 which is pink ; the paintings within them are Chiaro Scuro, 

 and are all varied with the utmost taste. 



The ceiling is from a design of Raphael's, it is divided 



