columns, serving as a free communication from the two staircases. This end of the hall is further distinguished by the ceil ing being of different design from the rest, with coffers radiating to a centre. The other part of the ceiling is plainer, and is divided by beams into nine compartments, each of which contains a lesser open compartment or flat skylight, there being no side windows, the omission of which is not a little favourable to the design. The other court (35 feet by 27 ft. 6 in.) will at first be made use of as the grand jury room; but in the case of two judges going the circuit, the nisi prius causes will be held in it, provision being made for the accommodation of the grand jury in a different apartment. The building is of stone of the county cased throughout with Bath stone, and the courts are warmed and ventilated according to Price's principle.

Brunswick Buildings, Liverpool.-Though not strictly coming under the head of public structures, this piece of architecture is a very great public ornament, and so decidedly superior in taste to many erected at far greater cost, and for more important purposes, that we consider ourselves fortunate in being able to give an accurate representation of it. This building, so creditable to the taste of the architects, Messrs. A. and G. Williams, and also to that of their employer, J. C. Ewart, Esq., stands at the corner of Fenwick and Brunswick streets (from which last it derives its name), the entrance front, and so far the principal though less extensive one, being towards that street. The plan forms a parallelogram of 94 ft. 8 in. by 64 ft. 4 in., with an internal court 54 ft. by 23 ft. 8 inches.

Though the view we have given shows only a portion of the longer side, or Fenwick-street front, it serves to explain the whole of the external design as well as if it had been entirely represented, there being no change of feature in that elevation, which, except that there are no doors, and that there are nine windows on a floor instead of seven, resembles the other. Hardly need we say that the style is that which has, of late, become familiar to us under the distinctive name of "Italian Palazzo;" and, so far from having degenerated among us, some recent specimens of it in this country exhibit a refinement of taste not always to be found in the examples from which the style is derived. This is one of them, for it is a structure which, were it placed in Pall Mall, would be taken for an aristocratic Club-house, and in external appearance it puts to shame many metropolitan structures of that class, although it is intended only for sets of offices, let out to different occupiers; from which last circumstance it will probably be supposed that the building is less satisfactory in execution than in design, its material being no better than Roman cement, or some other kind of stucco. It is, however, on the contrary, entirely of fine free-stone, that of the lower part or ground-floor of a light reddish tint, and of the upper, white; added to which, great care has been bestowed upon the details throughout, so that there is nothing to chill the favourable first-sight impression, as too frequently happens in build

ings where only some parts are finished up and all the rest sadly neglected, in which case, with a good deal of embellishment, there is generally, upon the whole, no little poverty also. Here, on the contrary, soberness is combined with richness of effect; nor is the design a mere repetition of other Anglo-Italian ones, which it resembles in certain leading characteristics. The groundfloor is raised upon one which is partly below the level of the street, and the two form a rusticated basement of more than ordinarily finished character, the larger windows having architraves, and panelled console tables or breastings beneath them, and this portion of the elevation being crowned by a complete Doric entablature, which last, instead of cutting up the general mass, serves rather to set off the upper cornicione, producing what is some sort of balance to it below, yet at the same time a contrast that heightens the importance of the other. With the Italian cornicione we have here also the Italian roof and eavetile ornaments, one over every alternate modillion. The frieze or ornamented surface immediately below this main cornice is divided into compartments corresponding with the windows, and containing panels filled with scroll-work. The rustic quoins are somewhat varied on every floor, being of bolder character below, and more delicate above. The south or entrance-front in Brunswick-street is distinctly marked by the two doors and the window between them, combined into a uniform composition of three arches on pilasters, and with ornamental key-stones sculptured with masks. The doors have open-work bronze panels, and the entrance is on a level with the street, the ascent being within the building, where a vestibule of architectural character leads into the inner court; which area, instead of being merely a vacant space in the plan, with windows to some of the back rooms and corridors, is a very handsome cortile of uniform design, with rich balustrades running along the two upper floors, and a bold cornice above. Such decoration would of itself render this a striking thing of its kind-more than could be looked for in a building erected for a similar purpose; but without losing its cortile character, this court is converted into a covered hall-though not a ceiled room, being entirely glazed over by a skylight resting upon a cove over the cornice; and between the frame-work of the skylight and the cove is a continued series of small vertical openings, unglazed, so that both ventilation and shelter are equally secured. Putting convenience aside, and the comfortableness of the court being always clean and dry, the whole looks more spacious than it otherwise would do; and the attic windows in the roof, where there is an additional story not visible on the exterior, are shut out from view. After such an example, it will be strange should not something of the kind be now adopted for covering in the area of the Royal Exchange, where shelter will be of far greater importance, because there the inner court is intended not as a mere thoroughfare to the other parts of the building, but as the place of assembling for the transaction of business, and in all weathers.

Whether, however, an idea be borrowed from it for that purpose or not, what has here been done is a very great improvement in architectural practice; and the Brunswick buildings will obtain for Messrs. Williams a much higher reputation than has been earned by every one who has had equal or even far greater opportunities.

[We beg to remind those who may be disposed to favour us with information for this section of our publication, that they would add to the obligation by transmitting it much earlier. From some parties we have had offers of communications that have not yet reached us, while those from others have come to hand so late that it was impossible for us to avail ourselves of them in the present volume. They should not be later than September.]

XVI.-CHRONICLE OF OCCURRENCES.

From August, 1841, to November, 1842.

1841. Aug. 26. The city of Amoy, deemed impregnable by the Chinese, taken, after a short but animated defence.

Nov. 2. General rising against the English at Cabul, and Sir Alexander Burnes and several other officers are murdered.

25. Akhbar Khan, son of Dost Mohammed, joins the insurgents at Cabul. Successive attacks are made on the British.

Dec. 4. Mr. Beaumont Smith, accused of forging Exchequer Bills to a large amount, is tried at the Old Bailey, and pleads guilty. He is sentenced to transportation for life. Against his supposed accomplice, Rapallo, who was in custody, no bill of indictment was preferred.

25. Sir W. Macnaghten, envoy at the court of Shah Soojah at Cabul, assassinated during a deliberation respecting the evacuation of that place.

31. The appointment of Lord Ashburton on a special mission to the United States, for the purpose of settling differences between the two countries, is announced. 1842. Jan. 6. The British troops evacuate Cabul under a convention concluded between Major Pottinger and Akhbar Khan, son of Dost Mohammed, notwithstanding which they are attacked in the Khoord Cabul Pass, and massacred. The sepoys were so completely paralysed and benumbed with cold, that they threw away their arms. On the 8th the Europeans made a last unsuccessful stand, but the whole were killed, with the exception of two or three fugitives. General Elphinstone, the commander of the troops, with several officers and their wives, including also Lady Sale, had previously been placed as hostages in the hands of Akhbar Khan.

17. The first stone of the New Royal Exchange laid by Prince Albert. In the evening a grand banquet was given at the Mansion House, which was attended by the Prince, the Ministers, and many distinguished persons.

25. The Prince of Wales christened in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, with great ceremony. The King of Prussia, who had come over for the purpose, stood sponsor.

After much previous excitement respecting the election of professor of poetry at Oxford, the friends of the two candidates submitted the promises they had each received to a scrutiny, when the numbers were-for Mr. Garbett, 921, and Mr. Williams, 623, whereupon the latter gentleman retired from the contest.

Meetings take place in many of the large towns on the depressed state of trade and the distress of the working classes, and, with meetings on the subject of the cornlaws, continue to be held during the next four or five mouths.

Feb. 2. A bazaar held at Manchester, by which the Anti-Corn Law League realize 10,000l.

4. The King of Prussia embarked at Woolwich for the continent, after spending thirteen days in this country, during which he had been unceasingly active in visiting public institutions, receiving deputations, and attending private parties.

5. The Duke of Buckingham resigns his seat in the Cabinet.

8. About 600 deputies from the anti-corn law associations in every part of the United Kingdom assemble in London, and continue their sittings, with occasional intervals, until August. Reports were read daily from districts represented by the different delegates, showing the condition of the people and the state of trade; and members of the House of Commons at times attended and took part in the proceedings, the object of which was to obtain a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws.

22. The Pope orders prayers for the state of the Catholic religion in Spain; and, on the other hand, the Minister of Justice at Madrid addresses a circular to the higher clergy of Spain against this ordinance.

March 6. Colonel Palmer evacuates Ghiznee in pursuance of a capitulation with the Afghans.

10. The Afghans, in the absence of General Nott, attempt to retake Candahar, and are repulsed.

16. The representatives of the Five Powers address a note to the Greek Government respecting its proceedings on the frontier, which were likely to lead to hostilities with Turkey; and, in consequence, the troops are recalled.

26. The King of Sardinia grants a general amnesty to the political offenders of

1821.

April 5. Sir R. Sale, in a sortie from Jellalabad, repulses the Afghans, who had for some time beleagured that place. General Pollock, at the head of 8000 troops, joins Sir R. Sale at Jellalabad, after forcing the Khyber Pass.

14. The Emperor of Russia issues an ukase ameliorating the condition of the serfs. 29. General England forces the principal Pass between Quettah and Candahar, an enterprise which had not succeeded when undertaken in the previous month.

May 4. The Boers of Port Natal, who, being unable to obtain redress of some of their grievances, had established themselves beyond the limits of the Cape Colony, and

thrown off their allegiance to the British government, were unsuccessfully attacked by Captain Smith and a small armed force. He was obliged to retire, with the loss of one officer and 14 men killed, and two officers and 25 men seriously wounded.

4. Dr. Lushington gave judgment on the Braintree case against the churchwardens, thus denying the right of a minority to levy a church-rate.

5. A fire broke out at Hamburgh, which continued its ravages for three days, and destroyed a large portion of the city, including the Bank, several churches, public buildings, warehouses filled with valuable property, and 2000 houses, by which 30,000 persons, or above a fifth of the population, were rendered homeless. Subscriptions were immediately entered into in the principal cities of Europe for the relief of the sufferers.

7. An earthquake at Cape Haytien, St. Domingo, destroyed nearly two thirds of the town, and between 4000 and 5000 lives were lost.

8. An accident occurred to one of the trains on the Paris and Versailles Railway, by which above 50 persons were killed, and as many wounded.

9. General England joins his forces to those of General Nott at Candahar.

19. Her Majesty gave a splendid bal-masqué at the Palace, at which different groups of historical persons figured in the costumes appropriate to each period.

25. At a public meeting at Stockport, to memorialise the Queen on the 'existing distress, it was stated that the poor-rates had increased from 26281., in 1836-7, to 71201.; more than half the master-spinners, including 29 firms, had failed; 3000 dwellinghouses were untenanted; and, in the suburb of Heaton Norris, out of 3000 houses 700: were untenanted; in respect of 800 the rates had been compounded, and the occupants of 1000 had been excused on the score of poverty.

30. John Francis, a young man under twenty, fires a pistol at Her Majesty as she was returning to Buckingham Palace down Constitution-hill in a barouche and four, accompanied by Prince Albert. The Queen was, happily, uninjured, and Francis was imme diately seized. Some rumour of the intended attempt had previously reached the Palace, and Her Majesty in consequence had dispensed with the attendance of any of the ladies-in-waiting.

31. Apprehensions entertained of disturbances at Burnley, Lancashire, in consequence of the great number of persons out of employment.

June 1. A strike amongst the colliers at Dudley and the neighbourhood for wages, and for the adjustment of disputes with the masters. The unemployed colliers, to the number of several thousands, compelled others to join them in the strike by acts of intimidation.

4. Riots at Cork and (June 7) at Ennis for food. At Cork the potato-market was attacked three times during the day; and, at Ennis, an attack on some flour-mills was repelled by the military, when two persons were killed and 17 wounded.

7. A proposal in Convocation at Oxford to restore to Dr. Hampden, the Regius Professor of Divinity, the full powers of his office, which were rescinded by a vote about six years previously, was lost by 334 to 219.

A proclamation issued, by which the light gold in circulation is declared no longer current.

16. The British having, on the 13th, entered the Yang-tze-Kiang, the largest river in China, on the banks of which the Chinese had erected many strong fortifications, the British ships opened a heavy fire upon them, and, after a sharp contest, they were taken, and during this and the two following days other forts and batteries were taken, and, altogether, 364 guns, many of them of brass, were captured. On the 19th the Bri tish entered the city of Shang-hai, a place of great trade, and destroyed the public buildings, but threw open the granaries to the people.

17. Francis found guilty at the Old Bailey of shooting at the Queen, and sentenced to be hung and quartered.

24. The court of aldermen pass resolutions reprobating the practice of admitting strangers to hear the condemned sermons at Newgate.

25. The 'Leeds Mercury' reports than 4025 families in that town, being one-fifth of the entire population, are dependent on the poor's-rate.

26. Reinforcements having arrived by sea at Port Natal, the Boers are completely defeated, and submit themselves to the mercy of the British government.

27. A royal ordonnance issued increasing the duties on linen and linen-yarn imported into France.

28. The Colombia mail-steamer reaches Liverpool from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 9 days and 20 hours.

July 2. The sentence on Francis, the attempted regicide, is commuted into trans-> portation for life.

3. As the Queen was proceeding from Buckingham Palace to the Chapel Royal, a deformed youth, about 17 or 18, named John William Bean, presented a pistol at her Majesty, but, being seized by a young man named Dassett, was prevented firing it. On Dassett handing Bean to the police they refused to receive the charge, believing that it was a hoax, and Bean was allowed to escape. He was, however, taken into custody on the following day.