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the Church, by the restoration of Charles II. This apartment is fitted up and furnished with the greatest elegance : the throne and its appendages are constructed with much taste. The canopy and ornamental parts were wrought under the direction of Mrs. Pawsey, from beautiful paintings by Miss Moser: and the drawings, which ornament the richly-gilded columns, were executed by Rebecca. The paintings consist of seven large pictures, by West, which represent some of the brightest achievements of English bravery.

The King's Presence Chamber.—Another portrait of King Charles II. with allegorical figures, and one of the best which adorn the ceilings. In this apartment were the other four Cartoons of Raphael, which are removed to Hampton Court. The pictures which now decorate it are, a Prometheus, by young Palma; Duns Scotus, by Spagnolet; Charles II. and James II. by Sir P. Lely; Queen Mary, King William, Queen Anne, and George I. by Sir Godfrey Kneller; George II. and Queen Caroline, by Zeeman; their present Majesties, by Ramsay.

King's Guard Chamber.—The ceiling is painted in water colours, and represents subjects suited to the character of the apartment, which is decorated with various kinds of arms, arranged in fanciful devices. The armour of Edward the Black Prince is placed over the door which opens into St. George's Hall.

In this room the Knights of the Garter dine, in the absence of the Sovereign, on the occasion of an installation of that order.

The paintings are Charles II. King of Sweden, on horseback, by Wyck; and eight views of battles and sieges, by Rugendas.

Against the north end of this apartment a building has been lately erected, which is to be called Blenheim Tower, in which will be deposited the banner of France, annually delivered here on the second of August, by the Duke of Marlborough, by which he holds Blenheim, in Oxfordshire,

This banner, the memorial of John, Duke of Marlborough's victories over the French, was formerly placed in a closet, which is now no longer shewn.

St. George's Hall. This magnificent apartment is dedicated to the honour of the most noble order of the Garter. In a large oval, in the centre of the ceiling, Charles the Second is represented in the habit of the order, attended by the personifications of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and other attributes. Near the throne is a representation of St. George's cross, encircled with the garter, within a star supported by winged boys, with the motto, Honi soit qui mal y pense. In the lower compartments of the ceiling is the collar of the garter, supported by boys, and encompassed with a variety of characters, emblematic of this most illustrious order of knighthood.

On the north wall of this noble room is painted the triumph of Edward the Black Prince, son of Edward III. founder of the order. That sovereigu is represented as sitting on a throne, receiving John, King of France, and David, King of Scotland. The Prince, crowned with laurels, is seated in a triumphal car in the midst of the procession, preceded by captives, and attended by the emblems of Liberty and Victory, with the banners of France and Scotland. The painter has closed the procession with the Countess of Salisbury, in the character of a female making garlands in honour of the ceremony.

At the east end of the Hall is the Sovereign's throne, the ascent to which is by five steps of fine marble; to which were added three more in painting, and they were so skilfully managed as to deceive the eye, and give them the appearance of absolute reality. Above them was painted a large ca nopy and its drapery; on the latter of which was represented St. George encountering the dragon: beneath it was represented William III. in the habit of the order of the garter, painted by Sir G. Kneller. On a part of the drapery was this inscription: Veniendo restituit rem. The canopy on the cove of the ceiling and upper part of the wall still remain;

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but the other parts of the picture have been supplied by modern and better objects. A canopy is now placed there which was brought from Hanover; and above the throne is a gallery, with an organ. At the lower end of the Hall is another music gallery, supported by four figures, beautifully carved in wood; and tradition represents them as a father and three sons, who were the captives of Edward the Black Prince.

The ceilings and mural pictures were painted by Verrio, who was permitted to enjoy the distinction of the following inscription, which is over the latter gallery:

ANTONIUS VERRIO, Neapolitanus,

Non ignobili stirpe natus.
Augustissimi Regis CAROLI SECUNDI,
SANCTI et GEORGI,

Molem hanc felicissimâ Manu

Decoravit.

St. George's, or the Royal Chapel.-This was fitted up with all the usual apparatus for choir service; but is now converting into a saloon; and another chapel is to be built in an adjoining court, formerly called Horn Court; and at present the private domestic service is performed in the Queen's Guard Chamber. The ceiling represented the Resurrection. The altar-piece contained a picture of the Last Supper; and over it was the organ. The north wall consisted of one large painting, the subject of which was a display of the miraculous power of Christ, in several particular acts of it, as recorded in the New Testament. This is one of the best designs of Verrio, but accompanied with his usual absurdities. The King's closet occupied the west end, and was fitted up with suitable splendor. The stalls and other parts of the Chapel were decorated with various scriptural devices, in the carving of Gibbons.

Here ends the range of apartments open to the view of the public.

The Royal and Collegiate Chapel of St. George.-This Chapel enjoys the site of one which Henry the First built and dedicated to Edward the Confessor. The present sacred edifice was erected by Edward the Third in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; which was shortly after the institution of the Garter, and the foundation of the college of that order. Edward the Fourth, however, does not appear to have been contented with its original form, and accordingly very much enlarged and beautified it, adding at the same time suitable residences for the Dean and Canons. It afterwards received great improvements from Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth.

This chapel offers a very beautiful example of gothie architecture. The roof, which is of stone and elliptical, is an admirable piece of workmanship. It is supported by appropriate pillars, whose ribs and groins sustain the whole ceiling, and add to the elegant effect of the whole. The ceiling is lofty, and adorned with a great variety of devices, which are executed with great skill. Among these are the arms of Edward the Confessor, Edward the Third, Edward the Black Prince, Henry the Sixth, Edward the Fourth, Henry the Seventh, and Henry the Eighth. There are also the arms of England and France, the holy cross, the shield or cross of St. George, the rose, portcullis, lion rampant, unicorn, fleur-de-lis, and dragon, with the distinctive feathers of the Prince of Wales, and the coats of many noble families.-In the nave or centre arch are curiously designed and emblazoned the arms of Henry the Eighth sovereign, and several knights companions, of the garter in the year fifteen hundred and twenty-eight; among which are the arms of Charles the Fifth, Emperor of Germany; Francis the First, King of France; Ferdinand, Infant of Spain and King of the Romans; who were at that time knights of this illustrious order.

Between the years 1776 and 1789 this Chapel was completely repaired and beautified with additional decorations

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at the expense of about forty thousand pounds; towards which his Majesty was pleased to contribute nearly one half of that sum. The centre and side aisles were paved with Painswick stone; the columns, sides, and ceiling cleaned, and all the coats of arms and heraldic insignia which adorn it, painted and correctly emblazoned. A ground plan of the whole was also taken, in order to ascertain the tive situation of the reliques beneath: but as many of these records of the dead were greatly defaced by time, and the families to which others related being extinct, those alone which are most entire, or that belong to the most eminent persons, have been preserved. These are placed with a pleasing regularity between the pillars that divide the centre from the side aisles, and in the centre of those on each side the choir.

The Choir was built by Edward the Third, but received a great variety of curious decorations and enrichments from the piety of Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh. Here public worship is performed according to the cathedral ceremonial. It is also the scene of the installation of the Knights of the Garter, and the repository of honour of this most noble order of knighthood.

It is divided from the body of the church by the organ gallery, beneath which, on each side of the entrance to the choir, were formerly seats and pews, as the pulpit was placed in the adjacent part of the centre aisle, and the sermon consequently preached there; but they have been removed, and the pulpit transferred to the choir. The organ which had been erected soon after the restoration of Charles the Second, was placed in the parish church. The present organ-loft is built of Coade's artificial stone, and happily unites with the general appearance of the whole. The roof and columns which support it form a light and beautiful colonade, which is embellished with the several devices peculiar to the Sovereign and the order of the garter.

The new organ, erected by Mr. Green, was the particular donation of his Majesty, and is a superior instrument. The

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