Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-05
From tie Boston Eseairg Gazette !

from We BOSTON Ebe1iHg' Gl=etie
BOTTOM EXCHANGE COFFEE HOUSE.
This is The most capacious building. aud
most extensive establishment Of the kind in
the Lniteu Siates--and the various aIterati-
ons which during the past year have been
Greeted Tor the public accommodation may
ton.
The early history OF this structure, is that of
an unsuccessful speculation, which involved in
diyiduals iii rum, aud seriously injured "A large
class OF the community. II is about twelve or
hiteen years since the project for erecting this
building was commenced, and which was yin
hnished VIXEN il failed; having cost the pro-
lerctor, and through hin tile public, upwards
of 100000.
The Exchange Coffee House is an immense
pile OF building, seven stories in height with =
cellar under the whole, and COVERING i275g
square feet Of ground. ITS shape is an irregular
square, or that Of an SOscelest riangle cut of
al the acute angle. measuring 1872 feet on lis
broadest front, and only "a feet nits morrow.
est from which the line of the sides divorce
nearly equally. The exterior OF this building
is not in the very best style of architecture; IL
being too high and disprop0rtioned.
The front in Congress street is highly orna
mented. Six marble pilasters Of the ionic or
der upon Rustic basement. support an arclii-
travc and cOrnice Of the same aud the whole
front, which has an arched door way, is crown
ell with corintnan pedmcnt. II Is dlficnlt
ON account OF the narroWness Of the street, 10
see this side OF tie structure to any ADVANTAGE
there Is one entrance on This side, and anO-
Their towards state street through an ionic
porch or vestlJule. There is also private
entrance for the dodgers IA the Hotel on Sal
ters Court, which has lately been rendered
handsome and convenient having a passage
for the ingress aud egrcss of carriages Prom
this door there IS a circular staircase elegant
ly decorated, which leads without iuterru1tion
10 the attic story
Upon entering the house, Won stand OH an
interior area, 20 feet IN length and 10 feet
wide utie form OF paTailelogTam which is
lighted from The top by means of a magnificent
dome. Around this area is extended portico
OF rather several porticos, each consisting Of
twenty columns, which reach from the ground
floor to the roof, and support FIVE galleries lea
dug to tie different apartments The height
of lie top Of ihe dome from the floor is % feet.
Here * az asst mOdre OF the different orders
Of architecture, from tie ornamental doric 10
the cOrinihian, which prOdnces a very arree.i-
bic IMPRESSION upon tic eyes Of lhe spectator
as he passes from the dome which surmouDts
the whole 20 tile HIor uDon which be s;a1lds.
The inferior space is as nearly d. possible equi-
distant from the sides Of tie sifuctugr: and
the apartments which surround IL upon the va
rions stofics amount TO about one hundred and
sgvcntv.
Ineboasris dvidedint1 two specicr Of rooms
-thO.e which Belong 70 lie h0tci aud those
which ale routed for Offices and sh0p. TO- ip3i.
vidusl. Ihe basement story consists chiefly
Of an cnsit kitchen, private i0dgluk Rooms,
i.rdcr. and thc cc'iars; vlii b. wIth sanc Off
rcs tnat are entered irsw ine si.cot, comprise
az the apaftmeutsit coutaius.
Che pal floor was originally intended
/ for q puyiic Exchange. which design meyer
/ was eAesutCd, as ihc me chants rom long
I Bah.t prefer aiandine IN ihe street, cgeH dn.
rims flie Indictment winter months. a pulbic
! f-4ding oUn, With very large l'at ofsuD chi.
/ bsra. Is also upon ibis iloor. ahere D, iJdrrfi
in fiie hoiclbase Tie privilege OF teSofiihr, and
( in whch Is regularly Kept djouf"ei oi iis most
b., tuferss .Ar occurrences Of Use uroe, vlirtrti
! ~ q political on commercial ustnre HGrc
/ mas hc sceb 70 complete lisa Of arsivais and
[ ci4araucas e ihe port 90 B0siOn, aud me puI-
se ,ournr.s 5aei' o. husoIe and America. "A
/ easteaipat ce.ice room, = bar, aud Withdraw.
i1e raMu i9r spetdeis, are also 0n IBIS iiJog
. Hcs' 0ps vrsiofs ipdfncnis OcDatfpd bs