The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-07 00:00:00

being 70 feet high and 48 feet by 45 wide. It is
separated from the large hall by a glass screen. In
the centre of the vestibule stands the colossal
statue, in white marble, of Queen Victoria.
The Great Hall is entered from the vestibule,
and, whether viewed in relation to its size, the hari

mony of its proportions, or the extreme beauty of
its decorations, it is one of the noblest public rooms
in the country. Its dimensions are 161 feet long
by 72 feet wide and 75 feet high, giving, as will be
seen from the following table, a greater area than
that of almost any other provincial hall :

Feet Feet Feet
long. wide. high.
228 66 92

Westminster-hall _

Liverpool St. George's-hall 169 .. 74 .. 75
Leeds Town-hall ' 161 .. 72 .. 75
Bradford St. George's-hall
Birmingham Town-hall . 145 .. 65 .. 65
Durham Castle _ __ lBO .. 50 .. 36

Liverpool Concert-hall
London Guildhall 153 .. 50 55

London Exeter-hall - -
130 ..
London Euston-sq. Station-hall 125 ..

72 .. --
61 .. 60

With the exception of a small balcony over the
entrance at the south end, the room is without (Pal-

[cries, and. the general effect is considerablyen-
[lanced by the uninterrupted view thus obtained of
the entire hall. It is enriched with ornament in

•elief and in colour in an almost lavish manner,

every portion being more or less decorated. The
sides of the hall are divided into five bays by com-
posite Corinthian columns and pilasters in imitation
of Rosso Antico, with gilt bronze capitals and bases,

standing upon a surbase inlaid with rare specimens
of marbles. The inter-columns (or wall spaces be-
tween the columns) are of a pale green colour, bor-
dered with a rich fret ornamental margin. The
columns and pilasters support an enriched entabla-
ture, which, like the surbase, also runs entirely
round the hall. From this entablature springs the
fine circular ceiling, which is divided into five bays,
corresponding with the columns, each bay being
subdivided into five compound panels, highly orna-
mented with foliage, in relief and coloured. The,
hall is lighted by 10 semicircular windows imme-
diately above the entablature, and at the springing
of the ceiling. Projecting from the keystones are
rams' heads, from which are suspended 10 of the
most superb cut-glass chandeliers by Osler, specially
made for the hall. The north end is formed by a
huge semicircular alcove, in which stand the
orchestra and the noble organ, built by Gray and
Davison. The case for this instrument was designed
by Mr. Brodick, the architect of the hall, and it is,
as we have said, one of the finest and most elabo-
rate of its kind in England. With all its domes
and spires it seems a very cathedral of harmony.
The ornamental portions are entirely of wood, and
executed in a highly Satisfactory manner. The
pipes are burnished and diapered in gold, the wood-
work being either gilded or of polished -wainscot.
On the top are four figures and the Leeds arms,
standing in bold relief against the deep azure back-
ground of the cove, powdered with stars.
In the second recess of the large hall on the right,
on entering, is the statue of the late Mr. Edward
Baines. It is in statuary, marble and of colossal
size, and at the same time simple and dignified, the
figure being represented as in the act of addressing
an assembly.
The whole of the coloured decorations in the
large hall and vestibule have been executed by
Mr. John Crace at the cost of £1,600.
On the west side of the hall are two large refresh-
ment-rooms, and on the opposite side ant: and
cloak-rooms, communicating with the side or car-
riage entrance of the hall.
Returning to the vestibule, and taking the corri-
dor to the left on leaving the large hall, we come to
the Council Chamber, which is 50 feet by 40 feet,
and 35 feet in height. It is lighted in the day-
time by a coloured glass skylight, and at night by
four gilt chandeliers. The room is highly orna-
mented, but the coloured decorations have for the
present been left out, there not being time to com-
plete them before the inauguration.
Continuing on the east corridor, we pass several
large and lofty rooms, appropriated for the offices
of the borough surveyor and other officials, after
which we come to the Nisi Prius Court, a lofty and
well ventilated apartment 50 feet by 45 feet.
Vaal to it are several rooms for witnesses,
counsellors, and other persons. At the opposite
side or corner of the building, and connected with
this court by a large vestibule, is the Crown Court,
of the same size, and precisely similar in its arrange-
ment and enrichments to the Civil Court. The
fittings of this court have been completed. It is
connected with the prison on the basement, by a
stone staircase from the dock. There are immedi-
ately contiguous many large and commodious
rooms intended for the use of officials.
Leaving this and continuing the route along the
west corridor, we come to the Borough Court, which
is 50 feet by 40 feet, and 40 feet in height. Like
the Council Chamber, it is lighted by a skylight in
the centre. The fittings in this court have also
been completed. It has a communication with the
police establishment in the basement by means of an
iron staircase fromthe dock. Adjoining, and in some
instances communicating with it are several rooms
for the magistrates, their
oclerk, the chief of police,
&e. Returning to the door by which we entered,
and taking the corridor to the right, we have im-
mediately before us the south vestibule, the corri-
dors and the vestibules thus completing the entire
circuit of the building, the large hall being in the
centre. They are well lighted by the several
windows opening upon them, and -are fitted with
sgea smAet e pendantsc
staircaseh
re
aod night.leading
ncotrrheidofirrsst fithenrner,iswabeb
hand-
somes-
planned on precisely the same arrangement as the
ground floor, the courts alone being excepted. The
rooms in the centre part of the east front on this
floor are appropriated as reception rooms for the
mayor, and are connected with folding doors, so
that, if requisite, a hundred guests can with com-
fort sit down to dine at one time.
The cost of the whole building has been within
whole borough, and apparently all the towns
LlTOhO ,00,
e 0
around it, have been iept in most painful anxiety
with regard to the weather, which has certainly
been such as to warrant the most unfavourable sur-
mises. During Saturday it rained heavily, and was
cold and otherwise miserable. Sunday it was still
worsethclouds
that beend to-day,
such a master of menacing cloud though there has been no rain
that confidence in to-morrow is as far from being
restored as ever.
r e ;
has

LEEDS, MONDAY.
Her Majesty and the Royal family arrived here
at six o'clock.
All well.
Thousands of people throng the streets.'
Her Majesty was most enthusiastically received.
Leeds is inundated with visitors from all parts.
The weather is unfavourable, and threatens rain.