The American patriot., 1855-02-07
A Ducal Palace in Nevt;Yerk.

( The magnificent structure now al ichinki
on the corner Of Thirty -four street]
and Fifth avenue, for Dr. S. P. Townsend, Har>
saparilla memory, excites almost as much Of !
dermcnt and curiosity as did ever its more pretS u
ing cotemporary, the Crystal Palace. Though.
having very imposing exterior of handsomely
wrought brown stone, an observer would scarcely
suspect it of surprising in costly elegance any pri
vate mansionin the New World, and vieing with
the most renowned mansions and halls Of the Old.
A brief description will convey some idea Of this
new claimant to the attention of wonder-seekcrs
and letters. The building is 30 by 66 feet, and
occupies five lots of ground in an elevated position
which cost $40, ,O00.. Its general appearance is OF
the rich, massive character common to many first
class houses, though internally the arrangements
have. the claim of originality. 1t has been remark
ed however, by those who have visited the Eu-
fUpcan Continent, that the house has some resern-
blancc to the residence Of the late Duke Of Parma
Upon entering, the visitor finds himself at the
Threshold Of grand hall, tianked on either side
by tiers Of galleries and columns, which extend up
ward to the roof, where they terminate under a
gorgeous dome. The galleries, walls and columns
and all decorated in the richest manner, with fres-
co-painting, gliding and elaborate holdings The
prevailing color employed in decorating the cell
ngs being blue, relieved with gold, these are pres
ented most prominently to the eye, but the effect
of the whole when first beheld, is to bewilder with
sense OF magnifcence. The columns support
ing the galleries through the several stories, arc
sixty in number of the Corinthian style, which
sustained at the base on the first story, by pilas
ters Of scagliola. Passing to rear, in one corne,
of the edi6ce is grand spiral staircase having a
diameter of about twenty feet, and terminating in
the highest story, beneath rich dome. .Niches
at the side are to be filled with appropriate pieces
of statuary and decorations in plaster. Fresco
gold and carved wood are introduced at the dis
cretion Of tho artist. The cost of this stairway
will not be far from $4,000. The chambers anG
other apartments above all finished in the
superb style. The fresco painting upon the walls
generally represent scenes in Italy, though there arr
many figures scrolls, &C., purely fancifu othcl
portions, such as are designed for the picturc-gal
lcry and library, arc classic the bathing-rooms ar,
furnished with nymphs and juvenile angels, &c
One of the ''curiosities" is chapel for religious
worship, which occupies portion Of the third ant
fourth stories. The apartment is S3 by 16a feet
furnished in the Gothic style, and is to be provides
of the Redecmer. The requisite amount Of din
religious light" properly colored, enters through
a single circular window of stained glass; Their
is also gymnasium, with suitable apparatus 70
physical exercise, and a bowling soloon The up
per floors being too lofty to receive water from tn
public works, a tank is provided, into which waite
for the baths, &C., will be forced by a pump. Tn
picture gallery is % by "a feet and it is said tina
twenty pictures for it in course of preparatio
in Italy, by the best living masters. at an avcrag
cost of 81 900 each. Some of the apartments ar
provided with very costly fire-places We motto
cd one of beautiful Italian marble which cost $4O(
The entire cost Of the building and ground is est
mated at $200,O00 the contract for stone is abor
1000; fresco painting $4,000; plastering, fror
$4,000 to $4,000, and the carpenters contract
about $4,000. Such, in brief, as the last an
greatest of the great uptown" houses.