The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-07-21 00:00:00

I 111111

Prince's Tat

Orchestra

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Ante Room.

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ANTE ROO3l

1 11

SMALL •
BALL ROOM. II

grand Staircase

_J

SALOON

A more magnificent suite of rooms than these, on one
floor, are not to be found in England, or, perhaps; in the
world, taken as a whole.
The writer of this hasty sketch was politely permitted
by the Mayor to view the apartments, as they now are, in
course of completion. He entered by the smaller or
western staircase, which is itself fine, though not to be
compared with the great staircase, which we shall after-
wards notice. We shall thence take the rooms, with the
novelties introduced, in order, from the landing round.
The DINING Room, on the west side, is a fine apart-
ment, 50 feet in length and 30 in breadth. The walls are
enriched with Corinthian pilasters of scagliola marble : the
roof is empanelled, with gilded moulding ; and the furni-
ture, including two splendid stoves, is unique and elegant.
The room has three windows with semicircular tops.
These are finished with a rich crimson coloured damask
tissue silk, beautifully and appropriately fitted so as to
fall over the arch of each window. The Royal Arms are
introduced on the drapery of the centre window, and
" The Liver" on each end window, altogether in keeping
with the light character of the gold panelling of the ceil-
ing and walls of the room. The ground-work of the
painting (all of which as well as the drapery is new) is of
a salmon colour. The finely-raised compartments of the
roof, which is cored, are delicately guilded in the mould-
ings. The cornices from which the draperies of the win-
dows descend are highly tasteful and classical in design,
and the guilding superb. The painting was executed by
Messrs Porter and Sons, and the upholstery work by
Messrs J. Hand and Sons, of our own town.
The three DRAWING RooMs adjoining, and on the
southsaloo
1,1
at hvee cbeenetnre
soon eal ot
efrewdh c m
ub
painting,y b e
gilding,a e "
and
other decorative embellishments, as to give them an en-
tirely new character. The whole may be thrown, as it
were, into one, by the opening of large polished maho-
gany doors, forming one magnificent apartment, looking
down Castle-street, of 96 feet in length. Each room has
three windows, making nine. The roofing. is segmental,
divided into panelled compartments, richly touched with
gold. They are furnished in the most magnificent and
princely manner. The window cornices and double ban-
nered curtains are finely and elaborately designed, the
latter of superb amber silk. These, together with the en-
riched ceilings, have a most imposing effect, and do away
with that monotony of straight lines which we frequently
meet with in rooms of this order. The drapery, especi-
truly regal in effect, and, is we think, highly cre-
ditable to Messrs. Hand, who designed and executed it,
as also to the taste and liberality of the Corporation. The
walls are chiefly of a salmon colour, with gilded mould-
ings round the recesses, windows, &c., and in the entab-
lature is a band, on a ground-work f ultra marine, re-
sembling porcelain ; but, if we may express a crude opi-
nion, the depth of the tint is scarcely in analogy or keep- ,
ing with the general colour of the walls. We also ven-
ture to think, that the ceilings being considerably higher
than the tops of the windows, and consequently some-
what sombre, lighter colours than those adopted would
have produced a more lively and cheerful effect, and, at
the same time, have better shown off the gilding of_ the
mouldings. This, however, is a mere matter of taste,
and it must be admitted that, in large rooms like these,
anything new is a speculation or experiment, which
neither the artist employed, nor those who may direct
Lim, have an opportunity to correct—the cost and labour
of redeeming even a slight mistake being great. In one
of these rooms we observed a beautiful fire-screen, the
centre consisting of a large sheet of plate glass, and the
frame of highly ornamented scroll-work. This is, we
learn, from London. The furniture is rich and appro-
priate ; and splendid new gas chandeliers have been fitted
up. Here, too, the painting, as indeed thrcughout the
entire suite of rooms, was executed by Messrs. Pot ter and
Sons ; the drapery and upholstery by Messrs. H and.
The renovation that has taken place in the SMALL BALL-
ROOM is, for general effect, very beautiful; but the deco-
rations are more simplified than in the last-noticed rooms.
There are four lofty windows, hung with superb crimson
and gold silk, and remarkably elegant and richly carved
and gilded cornices. Three fine crystal chandeliers pend
from the middle of the roof. This, we should say, is
more especially the " ladies' " room, and, should our
gracious Queen honour us with a visit, will probably be
appropriated for a royal levee, should such be commanded
by her Majesty. _

In the LARGE BALL-ROOM, 89 feet by 42, the painting,
gilding of the sides and roof, mouldings, &c., in delicate
tints, is extremely well executed ; and the room is much
improved by the new curtains being elevated seven feet
higher than their "predecessors in office"—imparting to
the windows a larger and more elevated appearance, and
admitting a fuller volume of light. The double-bannered
and richly-gilded cornicing over them is deep and massive,
without, at the same time, being heavy. The designs
entirely originated with Messrs. Hand, and though there
may be a difference in the respective tastes of individuals,
we have no doubt but that the public at large, when they
are seen, will pronounce them to be truly beautiful and
appropriate. This splendid room is to be appropriated
for the civic banquet to be given to Prince Albert, and
the tables are already fixed. The diagram we have given
will show their position. "The Prince's" table, under
the orchestra, is longitudinal with the room. It is about
fourteen yards in length. There are nine long tables
across the room : the tao at each end of about nine yards
in length, and the central ones, closer to the royal table,
about seven yards each. There can be no question but
that when Ihese are plenished with good things, and sur-
rounded by the distinguished guests, the scene presented
will be magnificent.
We now come to the GRAND STAIR CASE, in the cen-
tre of the building, of which we lastly obtained a glimpse,
though, in due order, we should have noticed it first. In

Queen, we entertain no doubt but that the illustrious
visitor will be surprised to find so magnificent a mansion
in a provincial town. In the lower story of the building,
the fine Entrance Hall, the Council Chamber, the public
offices, the lobbies, &c., have been excellently painted,
and, where deemed in taste, gilded, by our townsman,
Mr. Troutbeck. The present Mayor's private audience-
room was painted by Mr. Porter, son of T. C. Porter,
Esq., who was Mayor of this town. It is but justice to
state, that Mr. Solomon and his wife, who have charge of
the establishment, keep it in palacial order and cleanli-
They have now resided within its walls since 1811.

PRINCE ALBERT'S VISIT,

he following addition 11 pa

temporary

ulars of the preparations

In addition to the Blue Coat Boys, the Freemasons, the
Odd-fellows, and shipping trades, as mentioned last week,
the Druids, to the number of 1,009, will also walk in the
procession. Each society, except the Freemasons, has
received the sum of £-15 from the Council to defray ex-
penses. The master ship-builders of the port, with their
usual spirit and loyalty, have subscribed the handsome
sum of ..£250, in order that the shipwrights may appear
in the procession with becoming splendour. This is
an example worthy of imitation by the masters of all
the trades in town.

We understand Mr. Lynn will receive two guineas a
head for providing the banquet, and one guinea a-head
for providing the dOetine.

The gi
rus.s?ls

rand staircase is to be covered with a very rich
.4 carpet, at the sides of which the stairs will he

the vestibule, commanding a fti'l view of that splendid
work of art, Gibson's statue of Canning, forms a coup
&mi~ of surpassing grandeur.
__

It was the intention of the Mayor to admit ladies to
the sides of the grand staircase, but we bolieve this de-
sign has been abandoned for the spacious landing at the
summit, which will command a view of the whole ascent.
The address of the Town Council will be presented by
Gilbert Henderson, Esq., the recorder of the borough, in
one of the suite of rooms adjacent to the banquetting-
hall. It is to be written on vellum, and its preparation is
entrusted to Mr. Uriah Phipps, law-stationer, Lower
Castle-street. The ornamental border is to be beauti-
fully executed with a rich gold scroll, interlaced with a
pink ribbon. At the top are to be the arms of her
Majesty and Prince Albert, surmounted by a correct re-
presentation of the arms of the town, as granted by
charter; and at the foot are to be well-executed views of
the Custom-house and Town-hall, with the Liver in the
centre. The whole will have a very chaste and elegant
appearance. _ _ _

The Judges' Lodgings are now quite ready for the
Prince's reception; and the whole, to the very lamps out-
side the hall-door, has undergone a complete renovation.
The state bed and bedst"ad arrived last week from the
cabinet establishment of Jackson and Graham, London.
The bedstead is known in the trade by the name of a half-
tester. A lofty canopy surmounts the head, and on each
side drapery is suspended in fluted folds. The headposts
and footboard are elegantly carved ; but, generally speak-
ing, although the workmanship is good, there is nothing
very extraordinary about the bedstead itself. It is not
what a state bedstead might be expected to be. There is
none of that elaborate carving about it which one sees in
the state bedstead at Hampton-court; but as the maker
has furnished neither the roofs nor footposts, but has
sent down, as we have said, a half.tester, his specimens in
the carving line are necessarily very limited.
The purple and gold chairs, which have been in Mr.
Hand's window, Bold-street, all the week, are intended
for the Prince's drawing-room. The lounger, inlaid with
green bilk, and covered with open netted work, also in the
same window, is intended for the Prince's state-room ;
and the antique clock, with the elaborately ornamented
dial, is being also furnished by Mr. Hand, and will be
placed upon the mantelpiece in the Prince's drawing:
room. The several apartments above and below stairs, at
the Judges' lodgings will, altogether, present a very
elegant appearance.

'We mentioned last week that the cotton-brokers, and
Custom-house clerks would discontinue business during
the visit ; and it gives us pleasure now to add that the
Stock Exchange will be closed, and that the sharebrokers,
the general brokers, and the attorneys of the town have
announced their intention of following the example set by
the cotton-brokers. Indeed, we begin to entertain some
hopes that a general holyday will be kept ; at all events,
so little business will be done during the visit, that the
holyday will be all but generally observed.
The Morning Herald, of Wednesday, gave currency to
a rumour that preparations were being made at Ports-
mouth for her Majesty to accompany.the Prince to Liver-
pool. This is not probable.

,lI.POOL COMMIT-
FION OF SHIPPING.

MR. RIPLEY AND THE LII
TEE FOR THE REGIS' ItA'

21r. ttipiey has published the following letter in reply
to the correspondence, a brief abstract of which we gave
last week " Liverpool, 18th July, 1816.
" The Committee of Lloyd's Register of British and
Foreign Shipping, Liverpool, having, by the not very
advised publication of the correspondence between that
body and Mr. Ripley, laid their official proceedings open
to observation, he, Mr. R., feels authorized to make
known to the public that the association is of recent
origin, and that they have classed a North American-
built ship, the Anne Armstrong, A 1 ten years, whilst
Liverpool-built ships, and second to none in the world,
with even one material piece of North American oak in
their composition, are classed only A 1 nine years at
Lloyd s, London ; therefore of the degree of merit due to
the Liverpool classification (the cause of the correspond-
ence) the public will judge by this comparison. The
owner of a North Atnericau-built vessel under such cir-
cumstances, she not being classed at Lloyd's, London,
where the Anne Armstrong does not appear, is enabled
to advertise his vessel as A 1 for years after she would
have passed off the London classification under that letter.
" The committee have classed the Anne Armstrong for
ten years on the supposition of her being built of live oak.
Mr. Ripley's belief is, that she was not so built, and
therefore not so entitled. It may be that the Committee
were mistaken on the subject of her build, but that does
not lessen the objection to the classification itself, and on
these grounds Mr. Ripley justifies his original observations
on the subject. _ _

" Mr. Ripley, in further notice of the published corres-
pondence, and of a paragraph which appeared in the Li-
verpool Standard, of the 14th instant, merely points out
that which, perhaps, is obvious already, that, so far from
evading, he has courted the inquiry, which has been met
by ambiguity and reserve.

" THOMAS RIPLEY."
[We can assure Mr. Ripley that we had not the most
remote idea of insinuating that he had in any way
" evaded" the inquiry. Our object was to give, as impar-
tially as possible, the substance of the correspondence.
We did not suspect the paragraph could be so read as to
imply a leaning either way.]