Above these passages, were the passages leading to the first tier of galleries.

The Triumphal Arch was purely Gothic, and was composed of the various orders of architecture existing in the hall itself, and in Westminster-abbey. Its height was nineteen feet, and the width fourteen. The height of the two towers was 30 feet, and of the gallery over the arch 26 feet: the whole width of the composition was 36 feet. The ceiling of the arch was painted in Gothic fretwork, and on each side were three doors, also of Gothic form: the first on the right and left, as you entered, led to the music gallery; the second on the right to the court of Exchequer, in which a part of the procession dined; and the second on the left, to a place of retirement; the third, on both sides, led to the kitchen passages; and it was through these the king's dinner was served. Two figures, in front of the arch, represented Richard the Second (by whom the hall was repaired), and Edward the Confessor. The entrance to the arch from the platform was by a pair of massive folding-doors, painted in imitation of Gothic pannels of oak, and constructed in the manner of flood-gates, so as to resist any ordinary pressure. The Dining Tables.-There were six dining tables in the body of the hall, each 56 feet long, and 7 feet wide, placed lengthways, within three feet of the pillars supporting the galleries, so as to leave a large space in the centre of the hall, the whole of which was covered with matting. The chairs on each side of these tables consisted of a sort of antique settee, with a Gothic back,

and two distinct seats; they were stuffed with horse-hair, and covered with crimson cloth, and were 166 in number. In the centre of the hall was a space 19 feet wide, which was separated from the dining tables by an iron railing, three feet high; a blue cloth, twelve feet wide, extended along this, from the steps of the royal platform to the north door.

The Avenues leading to the Hall were numerous, and well arranged. There were several doors of ingress. The royal family, foreign ministers, and peeresses, came through the passages of the House of Lords, and so in by the south door of the hall; the other spectators were admitted by the north door of the hall, and by side doors, communicating with the Speaker's court-yard, and with Parliament-square. Behind every gallery were retiring rooms, of the most commodious description.

The Vestibule.-Outside the north gate, and communicating with the external platform, was a Gothic vestibule, or hall, somewhat of a circular form; the ceiling and sides were painted so as to represent stone fret-work, and to look completely in unison with the antiquity of the building. The porch was painted in the same manner; and by this contrivance the unpleasant effect of an abrupt egress from the hall to the platform was avoided.

The Decorations of the Royal Platform were most magnificent. We have already stated, that on the right and left of this platform were situated the boxes of the royal family and foreign ministers. These, as well as those above them, were lined completely with superfine scarlet cloth. The galleries above were

supported each by four Gothic pillars, richly gilt with burnished gold. The front of these galleries presented a splendid succession of luxuriant drapery, looped up with scarlet ropes. The corners of the festoons were surmounted with large gilt rosettes and wreaths of laurel; and to the whole of this drapery was affixed, a deep gold-coloured silken fringe. The fronts of the boxes beneath, were also decorated with festoons of scarlet cloth, reaching to the floor, and looped up to the base of the gilt pillars, by lions' heads, also gilt. The same luxuriance of drapery extended round the corners of the boxes, to the commencement of the adjoining galleries.

The whole back of the platform, from the termination of the south window to the floor, was covered with a rich and profuse antique scarlet drapery, falling from a cornice, formed of a double row of gold twisted ropes, and ornamented with a succession of magnificent gold pelmets and rosettes. The front of the door which entered from the passage without, was covered with a curtain of scarlet cloth, trimmed with deep gold fringe, and looped up on each side with silken ropes.

The floor, and to the extremity of the first three steps, was covered with a splendid Wilton carpet, of a Persian pattern, and the remainder of the steps with scarlet baize.

The Throne.-Immediately under the south window, and about five feet in advance of the door, which was completely hid from view, stood his majesty's throne, about nineteen feet in height, and seven in width. The canopy was of a square form,

and was surrounded by a beautiful carved and gilt cornice. Beneath the cornice, hung a succession of crimson velvet pelmet drapery, each pelmet having embroidered upon it a rose, a thistle, a crown or a harp. Surmounting the cornice in front, was a gilt crown, upon a velvet cushion, over the letters "Geo. IV." supported on each side by an antique gilt ornament. The entire back of the throne, as well as the interior of the canopy, were covered with crimson Genoa velvet, which was relieved by a treble row of broad and narrow gold lace, surrounding the whole. In the centre of the back were the royal arms, embroidered in the most costly style. Under the canopy stood his majesty's chair, which was richly gilt, with elbows terminated by lions' heads. The frame of the back was surmounted by the royal arms, carved in the most exquisite style, also richly gilt; and the back and seats were covered with crimson velvet, pannelled with gold lace, as were the elbow rests. On the floor stood an elegant footstool, the framework and legs of which were gilt, and the top covered with the same material as the chair.

Six gilt Gothic elbow-chairs, with cane bottoms and scarlet cushions, were prepared for the members of the royal family, who dined at his majesty's table.

The side-boards to receive the plate, consisted of a series of shelves, which were so constructed as to be fixed at pleasure against the drapery, on the wall behind the throne. They were placed on the right and left of the throne, and on being covered, as they were before the banquet, with massive gold plate, brought

both from Carlton House and Windsor, the effect produced was extremely brilliant.

Illumination of the Hall.-The preparations for lighting the hall consisted of eight-and-twenty magnificent lustres, in the form of a Worcester vase, each containing sixty wax lights, in brass sockets and glass saucers. They were suspended from the angels in the roof by gold chains, ten feet in length, and were sur'mounted by coronet caps, composed of or molu and brilliants. The hook to which they were attached was hidden by two gilt

rosettes.

Immediately over the sideboards for the plate were hung two buhl chandeliers. The six tables in the body of the hall were lighted with twelve or molu candelabras, each containing 16 wax candles, in glass saucers. The royal table was lighted with silver candlesticks only. The cellarets received sufficient lights from the hall, but the passages behind were lighted with the small oil lamps. All the other dining-rooms were lighted with Argand lamps suspended against the walls.

His Majesty's Retiring Room was situated immediately behind the throne, in the passage leading to the House of Lords.

The Regalia Room was a small room, situate immediately opposite to his majesty's retiring room. It was here that the regalia were deposited both before and after the ceremonies.

The Platform, over which the procession moved to Westminster-abbey, extended from the north door of Westminster-hall to the west door of the Abbey, 1,500 feet. The centre, on which

the procession moved, and which was enclosed by a railing of about three feet in height, was twentyfive feet in width. Outside the railing, upon a descent of about 12 inches, there was a smaller platform, three feet wide, upon which the soldiers stood. The whole of the platform was covered with a canvas awning, upon an elevation of fourteen feet, so contrived as to be removable at pleasure, by means of cords and pullies affixed to the pillars by which the canopy was supported. Twelve feet of the centre were carpeted with blue cloth. The side rails were also covered with blue cloth, and the pillars and frame work were painted of a stone colour. The elevation was, upon an average, three feet from the ground of the floor.

The Champion's Stable was situated about fifty yards from the north gate of Westminsterhall-east of the platform. It contained four stalls, which were provided with mangers, racks, and other conveniences. There was also a dressing-room for the champion, together with a closet, in which to deposit his armour and the trappings and housings of his horse. Two of the horses had been obtained from Astley's Amphitheatre: the one a piebald black and white horse, on which the champion rode; and the other a small white horse, which was rode by lord Howard of Effingham. The two other horses were, the one a small white charger, which was rode by the duke of Wellington, as lord high constable of England; the second a bright dun-coloured horse, which was rode by the marquis of Anglesea, as lord high steward. Over the stable were 150 seats

for spectators, and a covered way reached from the door to the platform. The champion issued tickets for fifty to the seats over the stable, and the rest were given to the artificers of the Board of Works.

The Kitchens consisted of 23 rooms, provided with every possible convenience which the art of cookery might require.

In the roasting kitchen were four immense ranges in a line with each other-each capable of receiving four rows of spits, all of which were turned by one man in an adjoining scullery. The drippingpans and furniture connected with these fires, were upon the same scale of magnitude. Beside this kitchen, there were others with every requisite of hot hearths, stoves, and boilers, for cooking soups, made dishes, fowls, hams, tongues, fish, puddings, &c. There were, likewise, pastry and confectionary rooms, vegetable dépôts, larders, fruit-rooms, dishing-rooms, and a bake-house.

Private Dinner Rooms. In addition to the preparations for the banquet in the hall, other arrange ments took place for dining nearly two thousand members of the procession. Tables for this purpose were laid in the court of Exchequer, the Exchequer Chamber, the Baron's-room, the court of Common Pleas, the Judges'room, the Serjeant's-room, the King's-bench Treasury-chamber, and the retiring room of the judges of the court of King'sbench. Another suit of apartments were fitted up for the same purpose in the House of Lords, which included the old House of Lords, the Painted-chamber, the old Robing-room, and No. 4, Committee-room. A third suite

of rooms, in the House of Com→ mons, comprised the Long-gallery, which leads off from the lobby Committee-rooms, Nos. 10, 11, and 12, and the members waiting-room, commonly known as the Coffee-room of the House of Commons. Mr. Bellamy's kitchen was converted into a waiting-room. The House of Commons itself became a rendezvous for the Lords' attendants, who were not admitted into the hall till the dinner was served.

The house of Mr. Ley (the clerk of the works) was given up to the lord steward; it consisted of four rooms, all of which were converted into dining-rooms.

All these rooms were covered with matting, and preparations were made for lighting them with Argand and other lamps. The court of Exchequer was lighted with lustres.

The Passage from the House of Lords to the Abbey, was formed of close boarding, and was lined with crimson cloth and matting. This was the course by which the members of the royal family, the foreign ministers, and the peeresses, proceeded from the hall to their seats in the Abbey, after the procession had moved.

The Coffee-house of the House of Lords was reserved for the especial use of his majesty, if he should wish to retire there for refreshmént, and coffee was ordered to be kept constantly ready.

PREPARATIONS IN WESTMINSTER-ABBEY.

The preparations here, as in Westminster-hall, were made under a warrant from the Treasury; and the first step taken was, completely to encase, in boards, all

the valuable monuments with which it is stored, so as to prevent mutilation or injury. In the construction of the galleries and other erections, not a single hook or nail was driven into the ancient fabrick.

The Western Aisle.-The space from the great western door to the entrance of the choir, embracing the two side aisles, was, from ancient usage, considered to be at the disposition of the dean and chapter, and was by them let for a large sum to a person of the name of Glanville, by whom it was fitted up with commodious boxes and benches for the accommodation of spectators to view the procession as it entered the abbey. The galleries, or clerestories over those aisles, were also fitted up as places for spectators. These boxes and benches were all covered with matting, and their fronts and backs decorated with crimson cloth. From the entrance to the choir all the rest of the space, occupied by galleries and erections, was under the dominion of the earl marshal, by whom tickets were issued according to certain privileges, which were recognized and founded upon precedents of ancient date. The distance from the west gate to the choir is exactly one hundred and ten feet; and along this was raised a platform four-and-twenty feet wide, upon which the procession was to move, on each side of which there was a smaller platform, for those persons by whom the grand pageant was to be flanked. The whole of this was matted over, and the centre of it was covered with blue cloth, to the width of about 12

feet.

The Organ Loft.-From this

the old organ was removed, and the whole was lined and covered with crimson cloth. The space thus gained was reserved for the trumpeters and other musicians who were to form part of the procession.

The Choir.-From the choir, all the stalls, reading-desks, and pews, were removed; and in the space thus cleared, a more elevated platform was raised, which was approached from under the organ-loft by six steps. On each side, on the site of the stalls, five benches were placed, separated by a low partition from the pas sage in the centre, which was 12 feet wide, and approached by openings to the right and left, as the steps were ascended. They were set apart for the reception of the knights of the bath, knights commanders, privy councillors, judges, and others, who formed part of the procession. Above these seats were two galleries, and above them the nunneries, all of which were devoted to spectators.

The Theatre, or Pulpitum.At the farther end of the choir, six other steps led to the theatre, or pulpitum, which was situated exactly in the middle of the abbey, between the two transepts. In the centre of this theatre, the diameter of which was forty feet, was raised a small stage, of about four feet square, which was ascended by five steps. Here, facing the altar, stood his majesty's throne or chair of state, on which after his coronation, he was to receive the homage of his subjects.

The Throne. The back of it was of a square form, richly carved and gilt, bearing on its top the royal arms, also carved and gilt; immediately under which