pieces. But the man concealed the statue and horse under ground, till after the Restoration. It was erected in the year 1678, and placed on the present pe destal, which is the work of Grinlyn Gibbons.

Besides this, we have statues in some of our principal squares. Grosvenor-square is undoubtedly the finest square in London; it contains five acres, is planted with evergreens, and in the centre is an equestrian statue of George the Second. The houses round this square are some of the most magnificent in the metropolis. Next in beauty to this is Portman-square; at one of the corners of it is that very elegant house, the residence of the late Mrs. Montague, and north of it is Baker-street, perhaps the handsomest street in London. South of Grosvenor-square is Berkeleysquare, the centre of which is ornamented with an equestrian statue of his present majesty, in the character of Marcus Aurelius. On the south side of this square is the noble mansion of the Marquis of Lans down. In Cavendish-square, which is for the most part surrounded with good houses, is a statue of Wil-. liam Duke of Cumberland. Manchester-square is a small but very neat square; the house on the northern side is one of the best in London. There is no uni formity in St. James's-square; but the houses in Bed. ford-square correspond exactly, and have a grand ap-' pearance. In Leicester-square is another equestrian statue of George the Second. Russel and Tavistocksquares, when finished, will be capital additions to the metropolis.

The squares of an inferior order are too many to be enumerated; though in various of the ancient and confined cities of Europe they would be considered as spacious and ornamental: not perhaps for their architecture, but their amplitude. Among them is Goldensquare, Soho-square, Hanover-square, Bloomsbury square, and especially that most magnificent in size of them all, Lincoln's-inn fields. Of statues we have

little to boast, though the pedestrian figure of James II. by Gibbons, is esteemed one of the finest specimens of the moderns. No eye that is accustomed to just proportion can behold it without admiration; neither must the beautiful font in St. James's church, Piccadilly, by the same master, be forgotten. The statues of Charles II. and Sir John Cutler are mentioned, because the latter pretended to make a donation of the expence to the College of Physicians, in whose court they are placed, and cheated the College by setting down the sum as a debt.

PUBLIC OFFICES, AND PUBLIC COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, &c.

SOMERSET-HOUSE.

The public buildings we shall next describe, are such of the places of public business as are important or curious enough to be visited by strangers.

Somerset-house, situated on the south side of the Strand, is an immense stone edifice, appropriated to various public uses. Prodigious sums have been expended on it, under grants of the parliament, and the site is one of the finest in the metropolis for such a building. But it is in vain that nature affords happy situations, or commerce, unlimited means of expence, if taste be wanting in the plan of the work. Though Somerset House occupies a large portion of the north bank of the Thames, in the heart of the town, and where the river is uncommonly beautiful, and the whole ground, from the main street to the river, was at the architect's disposal, the Thames is as completely shut out from the view of the passenger in the street, as if the building had been a screen to cover some offensive object. If there had been but one opening by which a view of the river, and the hills of Kent, could have been caught from the Strand, the effect would have been delightful, The neglect of this opportunity is the more unfor

N

tunate, because the river is too much hidden throughout this great metropolis, by the necessities of com

merce.

The stranger not only is shut out from the Thames, as he views the front of Somerset House, but he goes in vain through the gateway to look for it. Here he finds himself in a large court, surrounded by buildings. If a foreigner, that knew nothing of the outline of London, were placed in this court, he would never suspect that one of the noblest views in the world was so near him; and, if he were apprized of the vici nity of the river, he would be puzzled to find any corner from which he could behold that most beautiful object.

There are parts, however, of Somerset House that are good in themselves. The terrace, which lies on the river, is very fine. The front in the Strand has a, noble aspect; and the south front of the same part of the building, which looks into the court, has some. thing elegant in its composition.

The front next to the street is composed of a rustic basement, supporting a Corinthian order of columns, crowned in the centre with an attic, and at the extremities with a balustrade.

The basement consists of nine large arches; three in the middle, open, forming the principal entrance; and three at each end, filled with windows of the doric order, adorned with pilasters, entablatures, and pediments. On the key-stones of the nine arches are carved, in alto relievo, nine Colossal masks, represent ing Ocean, and the eight great rivers of England, viz. Thames, Humber, Mersey, Dee, Medway, Tweed, Tyne, and Severn, with emblems to denote their various' characters.

The Corinthian order over the basement consists of ten columns, placed upon pedestals, having their regular entablature. It comprehends two floors.

The Attic, which distinguishes the centre of the

front, extends over three intercolumniations; and is divided into three parts, by four Colossal statues, placed on the columns of the order.

It terminates with a group, consisting of the arms of the British empire; supported on one side by the Genius of England, on the other by Fame, sounding the trumpet.

The three open arches in the Strand front, form the principal entrance to the whole structure. They open to a spacious and elegant vestibule, decorated with

Doric columns.

The front of this main body of the building, towards the principal court, is considerably wider than that facing the Strand, and has two projecting wings.

The terrace is spacious, and commands a view of a beautiful part of the river, with Blackfriars and Westminster bridges. It is reared on a grand rustic basement, having thirty-two spacious arches. The arcade that is thus formed, is judiciously relieved by projections ornamented with rusticated columns, and the effect of the whole of the terrace, from the water, is very noble. But, the moment the spectator casts his eye on that part of the building reared above, all the fine effect is destroyed by the meanness of its parts.

The public are at present excluded from the terrace. Perhaps, when the plan of this edifice is finished (for it is not yet complete) the terrace will be thrown open, to form one of the finest promenades in the world.

It is

In the court is a statue of the present king. At his feet is the figure of the River Thames, pouring wealth and plenty from a large cornucopia. by Bacon, and has his characteristic cast of expres sion. This statue is in an almost ludicrous situa

tion, being placed behind, and on the brink, of a deep area.

On the site of Somerset-place formerly stood a magnificent house, built by the duke of Somerset, pro tector in the reign of Edward VI. who, being attainted and executed, it fell to the crown. The present edifice was erected, under the powers of an act of parliament, for several public uses.-' -The architect was Sir William

Chambers.

In the main building are the rooms of the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries, and the Royal Academy of Arts. They are in a very grand and beautiful style. The entrance to them is by the vestibule. Over the door of the Royal Academy is the bust of Michael Angelo Buonaroti; and, over the door leading to the Royal Society and Society of Antiquaries, the bust of Sir Isaac Newton.

Other parts of this great building are occupied by various public offices, and houses belonging to various officers of the government. These offices will present objects of astonishment to the stranger. They are at once commodious and elegant, worthy of the wealth of the nation to which they belong; and business is transacted in them with most admirable order. The hall of the Navy-office is a fine room, having two fronts, one facing the terrace and the river. The stamp-office consists of a multitude of apartments. The room in which the stamping is executed, is very curious.

What will immediately attract notice in this edifice, is the solidity and completeness of the workmanship in the masonry, and in all its other parts. Somersetplace is one of the wonders of commerce.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND.*

The building called the Bank is a stone edifice, situated a little to the north of Cornhill. The front is

*The business of this corporation was originally transacted at Grocers'-hall, in the Poultry. In the year 1732 the first stone of the present building was laid, on the site