gracious master, Charles II., the best of kings, A.D. 1680. The remaining three sides are sculptured in basso-relievo, by Gibbon, of which Walpole says, "The fruits, fish, and implements of shipping are always exquisite-the man and the horse may serve for a sign to draw a passenger's eye to the pedestal." The satirical vein in which this writer frequently indulges, has caused him, however, to exaggerate the defects of the statue; the horse is finely proportioned, and the position of the rider is the only objectional point. This statue formerly stood nearly in the centre of the court-yard, and was removed to its present site in June, 1827. Beneath the pedestal was a machine of peculiar construction for supplying the castle with water, invented by Sir Samuel Moreland, an expert machinist, whose father was created a baronet by Charles II., in reward for the services he performed during the king's exile. This engine has not been used for several years, water being conveyed from the Thames across the Home Park, by more powerful machinery.

THE IMPROVEMENTS.

A principal defect in the old edifice was the dwarfish appearance the south and east sides of the Quadrangle presented, when viewed from the interior of the court-yard; Sir J. Wyatville, the architect, has entirely removed this objection, by lowering the area a depth of from six to eight feet, and raising the building an additional story. The workmen employed in executing this operation found at various times several coins, and a gold signet ring of Henry III., and, on the east side, a sally-port arched and roofed with stone, leading under the ancient moat into the park, and retaining traces of having been defended by massive doors, was discovered. Near the centre of the quadrangle a curious excavation was found, hollowed to the depth of nearly eighty feet, in the chalky rock that formed the foundation of the ancient edifice; its shape is circular, and the descent to it was by a few stone steps, at the base of which had been the entrance. A few bones of animals mixed with rubbish were its only contents, and it is conjectured that it was used as a depository during a siege for treasure or valuables.

The magnitude of a great national undertaking like the present, and the imperative necessity of entirely rebuilding many parts of the edifice, owing to the defective state of the timbers, rendered the completion of the projected improvements a work of considerable time. A brief outline may suffice to give some idea of this stately palace as it now appears. Connected with the Keep, by a narrow curtain, is the Devil's Tower, near which was the old principal gate

way, an entrance not only low and inconvenient, but being nearly at an angle of the court-yard, affording no distinguishing point of view.

GEORGE THE FOURTH'S GATEWAY.

This new gateway, on the contrary, presents a most noble and imposing appearance, being placed directly in a line with the Long Walk, which thus forms a grand approach, worthy of the majestic edifice that terminates it; the archway is twenty-four feet in height, above which are the apartments for the requisite attendants, the whole surmounted with embrasures "machiolated," or having apertures for pouring down melted lead, and other annoyances, upon a besieging enemy. York Tower stands on the east of the gateway, and formerly had a beacon turret on its summit, as the post of the Warder of the Castle; this has been removed, and the tower, with ́ its defences, is now fitted up in a style similar to the gateway. On the west of the entrance a corresponding tower, named after the rival house of Lancaster, has been erected; George IV. performing the ceremony of laying the foundation stone at the angle of this tower and the gateway. The following inscription, together with a series of coins of his reign, were deposited in a cavity hollowed for that purpose :

GEORGE THE FOURTH,

By the grace of God, King of Great Britain, and Defender

of the Faith,

Laid this corner stone of a new Entrance

To his Castle at Windsor,

Which has been for upwards of seven centuries
The residence of his royal predecessors,
On the sixty-second anniversary of his birthday,
August 12, 1824,

Jeffry Wyatville, Architect.

THE GRAND ENTRANCE.

Immediately opposite to this gateway is the principal entrance to the State Apartments, having in its front a square tower, the basement of which is arched, forming a lofty groined hall, and allowing carriages to pass under. Above this a splendid apartment, lighted by three beautiful windows, and ornamented with Gothic niches, having richly sculptured canopies, containing the effigies of Edward III. and the Black Prince, forms a communication with the rooms upon the north front, reserved for the purposes of state. A clock is in the upper division of this tower; above the dial face is in

scribed, in raised old English characters, 'Georgius IV. Rex.' and beneath it 'Anno Domini, 1827.' Between this tower and the northeast angle a great improvement has been effected by the substitution

of lofty Gothic windows for the circular French ones introduced into St. George's Hall by Charles II., in compliance with the ruling fashion of the time; and the roof has been battlemented. At the north-east corner of the court-yard, a gateway, flanked by two octagon towers, forms the approach to the domestic offices; near this a small square tower has been erected as an entrance for visitants. A vestibule, having an extremely light and elegant ceiling, is on the top of the staircase, where visitants are received by Her Majesty on any occasion of ceremony. This vestibule communicates with the Corridor, one of the grandest features in the interior of the edifice. It has been already premised, that the means of communication between the various apartments are extremely limited, but by the formation of this noble gallery, facility of access to the several rooms is obtained without any inconvenience.

THE CORRIDOR

Extends round the south and east sides of the Quadrangle, being 520 feet in length, and forms a fine promenade when the weather is unfavourable for out-of-door exercise; folding doors open into the

principal rooms, and the ceiling is divided into square compartments, having the centres occupied by a variety of ornamental devices richly gilt, which are so diversified as to afford continual relief to the eye. At the south-east angle is the Queen's private entrance, a stately structure, projecting thirty feet from the face of the main building, and forming a portico of great extent, flanked by octangular towers, and in a panel in the centre between the battlements, the royal arms are sculptured in basso-relievo by Rossi. Above the portico is a breakfast or morning room, which is fitted up with oak wainscoting, both ceiling and walls, of a beautiful light colour. Three very large arched windows command the whole of the great quadrangle. From these windows Her Majesty, while at breakfast, can survey the grand military parade of the two regiments stationed

in this town, which frequently takes place here. The structure of the original building interposed considerable difficulties in the erection of this staircase, but the skilful genius of the architect succeeded in obviating them, and forming an entrance of great magnificence. It is nearly of a triangular form, faced with stone, richly sculptured and ornamented with canopied niches, communicating with the corridor by a small landing, above which rises a beautifully embellished oblong lantern.

The pencil of the skilful graphist is required to give an adequate idea of the imposing magnificence of the east front, on which side is the principal suite of apartments; four square towers relieve its elevation—Black Prince's, Chester, Clarence, and the Victoria, the latter being extremely massive in its construction, and having handsome corbelled battlements.

The apartments comprise a dining room of princely dimensions, two drawing rooms, library, and other apartments requisite for the personal accommodation of the sovereign and her immediate attendants; they are lighted with beautiful oriel windows of large dimensions, enriched with luxuriant tracery; the lofty ceilings are relieved with a variety of devices splendidly gilt and burnished, and many of the doors and panels are ornamented with masterly specimens of carved work. This part of the building is constructed upon a fireproof principle, the girders being of iron, and the floor arched with brick.

THE NEW TERRACE AND GARDEN.

In front of the Library, which occupies the whole of Chester Tower, a double flight of steps forms a communication with the East Terrace, and a corresponding one furnishes a descent from that to the new Flower Garden, which was laid out under the direction of George the Fourth; it is in a most chaste and beautiful style, decorated with several bronze and marble statues, and two exquisitely carved vases, and in the centre is a beautiful fountain. The statues are―

In Bronze.-Hercules slaying the Lernean Hydra, Saturn, Mars, Hercules, Antinous, a Gladiator, Diana.

In Marble.-Pan and Apollo, Bacchus, Vulcan, a Bacchante, Pomona, Ceres, Diana, Flora.

The whole is enclosed by a pentagon terrace, crowned with a battlemented rampart of free-stone, and having bastions at the angles, on one of which is placed an excellent sun dial. An orangery, on a most extensive scale, has been constructed beneath part of this terrace; and the remaining sides form a sloping lawn descending from the flower garden to the level of the rampart. The effect altogether is truly classic and magnificent.

The total length of the terrace walk, from the entrance gate of the south terrace to the west end of the north terrace, is 978 yards.