narch did not preserve a consistency of English style in the most extensive Palace appertaining to his crown, or did not, on another site, raise an edifice equally sumptuous in a style purely and uniformly classical.

We proceed to an examination of the interior of Hampton Court in the same mode of progress which we have adopted in regard to the exterior of the structure; taking as primary objects of notice the portions connected with Wolsey and his royal master, portions charged with the emphasis of many a grand historic tale.

This

It is usually said that the subordinate parts only of the an cient edifice are now remaining, yet the Great Hall and the Chapel still exist. We have already observed that the former building occupies the north side of the middle quadrangle :its lofty embattled walls constitute a prominent feature in the general view of the palace; and its fine west end, comprising a large mullioned window with a turret at each extremity, and a curious perforated parapet, surmounted by a vane, assumes the aspect of an ecclesiastical building, and aids in imparting a grateful and venerable air to the whole vast pile.* Hall is 106 feet in length, and 40 feet in width. The flooring was formerly of large, square, paving-bricks, but is at present of stone. At the east end is the high pace, which is now elevated one step only above the other parts of the room. On the south side of this division of the hall is an oriel window of great beauty, divided into numerous compartments by stone mul lions. The ceiling of the oriel is of stone, groined, and adorn ed with fan-work and pendants, elaborately and delicately executed. At the west end, beneath the spacious pointed and mullioned

As to general effect, combining the ancient and comparatively modera parts of the palace in one comprehensive view, we have judged the more desirable point of prospect to be that taken from the opposite Surrey shore, inclining towards the bridge. We present a view of the Palace from this spot.

mullioned window before noticed, is the screen which for. merly supported the minstrels' gallery.

The sides of the hall are now covered with a cement imitating stone. The roofing is open-worked, and is truly attractive and beautiful. This ceil-work consists of oak, free from paint or gold-leaf; and the wonderful intricacy of parts, very finely carved and thoroughly worked out in every particular, conduces, through each individual portion, to a general splendour of effect, which may safely be pronounced grand, and which almost approaches to sublimity. The arms and cognizances of Henry VIII. occur in many parts of this truly fine piece of carving. The initials of that King and of Jane Seymour, joined by a truelover's knot, are, likewise, introduced among the decorations; and thus it is ascertained that the internal parts of the room were not completed before the year 1536.*

The circumstances of regal banquetting connected with this hall are equally numerous and interesting. The unfortunate Catherine Howard was here first openly shewn as Queen; as, also, was Catherine Parr, her more prosperous successor. Henry VIII. often kept wassail within these walls; and here, during the Christmas of 1543, he entertained Francis Gonzaga, the Viceroy of Sicily. Edward VI. likewise presided, in puerile magnificence, over the table in the high-pace of the hall. Philip and Mary, kept their Christmas, with great solemnity, at Hampton Court, in 1554. On this occasion," The great hall of the palace was illuminated with 1000 lamps, curiously disposed. The Princess Elizabeth, (then under the care of Sir Thomas Pope) supped at the same table with the King and Queen, next the cloth of state, and after supper was served with a perfumed napkin and plate of confects by the Lord Paget; but she retired to her ladies before the revels, maskings, and disguisings began. On St. Stephen's day she heard matins

Jane Seymour was married to Henry VIII. in 1536, and died in the following year.

matins in the Queen's closet, when she was attired in a robe of white satin, strung all over with large pearls. On the 29th of December she sat with their Majesties and the nobility at a grand spectacle of justing, when 200 spears were broken. Half of the combatants were accoutred in the Almaine, and half in the Spanish fashion."

By direction of George the first this venerable Hall was fitted up as a Theatre, in the year 1718! It was intended that dramatic pieces should have been here represented twice in each week, during the summer-season, by the King's com pany of comedians; but only seven plays were performed, in the whole, before George I. One of these representations was of a memorable description: On the first of October, 1718, Shakspeare's tragedy of Henry VIII. was performed here. Thus, were the most remarkable events in the life of Cardinal Wolsey represented, as a history calculated to admonish pride and to restrain ambition, on the theatre of his greatest splendour! The ill-placed stage was not used after the year in which it was constructed, except for one evening in the month of October, 1731, when a play was performed for the entertainment of the Duke of Lorraine, afterwards Emperor of Germany; and the theatrical appurtenances, which had so long deformed this grand apartment, were removed, by direction of the King, about the year 1798.†

Contiguous to the east end of the Hall is an apartment, now termed the Board of Green Cloth, which appears to be the only chamber, of much extent and consequence, that retains, both on the external and interior, its ancient character. On the outside, this apartment displays a bay window rising to the whole height of the elevation; an octangular tower; and a large square-headed window, divided into compartments by PART IV. mullions

2 G

Vide Progresses of Queen Elizabeth.

✦ The late James Wyatt, Esq. Surveyor General of the Board of Works, had the merit of obtaining permission from his Majesty to remove these offensive incumbrances.