long and 31 feet 6 inches wide, with large and well-proportioned Venetian windows on the south side; these overlook the churchyard of St. Christopher, which now forms a pleasant area planted with trees and shrubs. On the north side are three fire-places, having sumptuous chimney-pieces variegated with statuary marble; the central one is particularly grand. At the east and west ends are coupled columns, detached from the walls, supporting enriched arches, which sustain an horizontal ceiling, highly decorated by stuccoed ornaments of varied character. The west end communicates by folding doors, with an elegant octagonal Committee Room, where also is a rich marble chimney-piece; and over it a clever half-length picture of WILLIAM THE THIRD, who is represented in armour. The Governor's Room, which is square, and painted of a red colour, has an intersected ceiling, with semi-circular windows near the top. The chimney-piece is of statuary marble, and above it is a very large mirror; against the opposite wall is a fine painting by Morland, of the Bank, Bankbuildings, Cornhill, and Royal Exchange, from an interesting point of view near the Mansion House. The Anti-Room contains a good half-length portrait of the late celebrated Abraham Newland, Esq. who was Chief Cashier to the Bank, from January, 1782, till the infirmities of age obliged him to retire from office in September, 1807; * and a whole length by Hickey, of January 6th, 1814: 20

Mr.

The life and advancement of MR. NEWLAND presents a most splendid example of the beneficial consequences resulting from persevering industry and attention to business. He was the son of Mr. William Newland, who had been a Miller and Baker, at Grove, in Buckinghamshire, and who afterwards carried on the latter trade in Castle Street, Southwark, where young Newland was born on the 23rd of April, 1730. At an early age he became acquainted with the arrangements of the Counting-house; and before he was eighteen, was admitted into the Bank as a Junior Clerk. The assiduity with which he fulfilled his duty soon attracted notice, and he was progressively advanced through the various gradations of the Company's establishment, sill be attained the high and important office of Chief Cashier. In this

situation

Mr. David Race, who also was a Chief Cashier, and is represented as a diminutive man, habited in black. These paintings were executed by order of the Directors, in grateful and honourable testimony of their approbation of the faithful services of the persons thus commemorated. In the adjoining Waiting-room on brackets, are two very fine Busts, in statuary marble, by Nollekens, of the late renowned but rival statesmen, Charles James Fox, and William Pitt. The whole of this suite of apartments is elegantly fitted up, and appropriately furnished.

The Rotunda is a spacious and lofty apartment, disposed octagonally below, but terminating above in a circular dome and lantern lights. Here a vast crowd of Stock-brokers, Stockjobbers, and other persons having business in the Funds, daily assemble to make purchases, drive bargains, &c. yet the strangely discordant and Babel-like confusion which arises in this place from the avidity with which the pursuit of gain is carried on, is by no means equal to what it was previously to the erection of the Stock Exchange, in Capel Court. The original Rotunda, by Sir Robert Taylor, having been roofed with timber, was, on a survey in 1794, found to be in such a decayed state, that it was judged expedient to take the whole down; and, in the following year, the present fabric was erected from the designs,

and

situation a suite of rooms within the Bank was appropriated to his use; and so devoted was he to his official business, and so regular in his habits, that he never absented himself for a single night till the period of his resignation. He died at Highbury-Place, Islington, on the 21st of November, 1807, leaving property to the amount of about 60001. per annum, which had been principally obtained by various successful speculations in the Funds. ile ne er was married; but many instances of his liberality to his poor relations, and others, have been recorded. He is stated to have written the folJowing Epitaph upon himself only a short time previously to his decease :

Beneath this stone Old Abraham lies;
Nobody laughs and nobody cries.
Where he is gone, and how he fares,

No one knows, and no one carca

and under the direction of Mr. Soane. In measures 57 feet in diameter, and about the same in height to the lower part of the lantern; the divisions between the lights are formed by Caryatides, which support the crown of the dome, and have not an unpleasing, though singular effect. The large iron-stoves which formerly stood here, have been removed, and open fire-places introduced, as being more favourable to ventilation. Here also large desks, with pens, ink, &c. are placed for public conveniThis edifice is wholly constructed of incombustible materials, in order to exclude every danger from fire :—and it must be stated that such likewise is the case in all the new buildings erected at the Bank, under the superintendency of its present architect.

ence.

The various offices appropriated to the management of the different Stocks, (excepting the 8 per Cent. Reduced Office,) branch out from the different sides of the Rotunda and its Vestibule; the latter adjoins to the entrance in Bartholomew Lane, and is designed and ornamented with much taste. In the different offices, under the several letters of the Alphabet, are arranged the Books in which the names of all Persons having property in the Funds are registered, as well as the particulars of their respective interests.

The Stock Offices were originally constructed by Sir Robert Taylor, but considerable alterations have been made of late years, and some parts wholly taken down to make way for new and more convenient buildings. The Four per Cent. Office, which is nearly in its primary state, is more noticeable from presenting an exact imitation of the interior of the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, than from being skilfully adapted for business. The roof is sustained by Corinthian columns of stone, with wood capitals; above which, and extending to the walls, are small domes for the admission of light; through this arrangement the rays being thrown directly downwards, are unpleasantly reflected from the white paper of the books. This office measures 64 feet