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CHAPTER VIII.

COMMERCIAL EDIFICES.

Architecture has its political uses; public buildings being the ornaments of a country. It establishes a nation, draws people and commerce, and makes the people love their native country, which passion is the original of all great actions in a commonwealth. Modern Rome subsists still, by the ruins and imitation of the old; as does Jerusalem by the Temple of the Sepulchre, and other remains of Helena's zeal.-Sir Christopher Wren.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE,

Cornhill. The first Exchange, founded by Sir Thomas iresham, was destroyed by the great fire of London in 1666. A new edifice was erected at the expense of the City and the Mercers' Company, which was opened in 1699. This magnificent pile was destroyed by fire in January, 1848; soon after which, the erection of the present building was commenced under the auspices of Mr. Tite. The principal front faces the west, and exhibits a handsome portico of eight Corinthian columns supporting a tympanum, richly sculptured by Sir R. Westmacott, R.A. The east end of the building is ornamented with a clock tower that contains a set of chimes consisting of seventeen bells, the largest, or tenor bell, weighing a ton. The merchants' area is larger than that of the old Exchange, the central part being, like that also, open to the sky. The dimensions of the area are 170 feet by

112, and of the open part 116 feet by 58; it is approached by the entrance already described at its western extremity, and corresponding ones on the east, north, and south sides. The ambulatory is separated from the open portion by arches and columns, the interior being arranged after the best examples of such open and uncovered courts in the palaces and buildings of Italy. Lloyd's Coffee-house occupies a large portion of the first floor at the east end. The principal room is a magnificent apartment, ninety feet long by forty feet wide, in addition to which there is the subscribers' room, almost as large. A self-registering anemometer and rain-gauge, erected by Mr. Follett Osler, of Birmingham, is a remarkable feature in the furnishing of the building. It records, on paper prepared for the purpose, by its own automatic motions, the force and direction of the wind for every minute of the day, the quantity of rain that falls, and the periods of greatest humidity.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND,

Threadneedle-street.

The first portion of this vast building was opened for business June 1st, 1734, but was soon found insufficient for the immense and increasing business of the Bank; and some neighbouring houses were purchased to increase its dimensions. In 1788, Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Soane was appointed architect, and to him are due the principal ornaments of the building, particularly the rotunda, a fine octagonal hall, fiftyseven feet in diameter, surmounted by a dome. The whole building is of stone. The court-room, the payhall, the different offices, the vestibule, the governor's apartments, directors', cashiers', and the necessary offices, employ eleven hundred clerks. The arrangements are most perfect; and nothing can surpass the order and

regularity of this colossal establisament. In the vestibule is a curious clock, which by ingeniously contrived mechanism indicates the hour in six different offices

where dials are placed. The affairs of the Bank of England are regulated by a governor, deputy-governor, and twenty-four directors, who are annually elected.

Strangers are admitted during the hours of business, from nine till four o'clock, and will be gratified, on visiting the great hall, with a fine marble statue of William III., by whom the Bank was founded.

I ower Thames-street. This grand and extensive pile was built from the designs of David Laing, Esq. by Messrs. Miles and Peto, at an expense of £235,000, and first opened for business in May, 1817. It is four hundred and ninety feet in length, and one hundred and eight feet in breadth. The river-front is of Portland stone, divided into two compartments by statues, and has a very imposing appearance. The two principal entrances are in Thames-street: they lead by halls, more commodious than vast, to the grand staircase conducting to the porticos, which are on each side of the long-room; the latter, which is in the centre, is one hundred and ninety feet long and sixty-six feet wide. The long-room contains about one hundred departments appropriated to the different branches of the Customs. Some of the offices are fire-proof, in which are deposited nightly the books, papers, and other important documents. The

Custom-house is managed by thirteen directors, or commissioners, two filling the functions of president and vice-president; also a secretary, clerks, and a great number of subalterns.

St. Martin's Le Grand. This extensive building, one of the best conducted establishments in Europe, was begun in 1818, from the designs of Mr. (now Sir R) Smirke; and was ready for public business in 1829. The front is four hundred feet in length. It consists of a centre and two wings, having a portico of the Ionic order, with fluted columns, seventy feet in breadth and thirty feet deep. In the tympanum of the pediment is placed the royal arms.