National Republican., 1873-09-30
TIE BRITISH EMBASSY.

tobc Used In Construct iion-Dcsc Of
the Interior Arrangements.
About two years ago the English Government
decided to build In Washington a mansion for
the accommodation OF their Minister to the Unit
ted States. The building was begun on lot se-
lccted on Vermont avenue and street, hut owing
to some unknown cause the project fell through,
and work on the building ceased. Nothing more
waa said about this mansion until last April,
when the project was again taken up, and ioca-
tlon was selected on Connecticut avenue aud N
streets, when bids were received and plans pre-
sentcd. Mr.. John Fraser, the wellknown archl-
tect OF washington, who planned Vernon Row,
Judge Lowrys residence, and many others In
this city, as well as many tlre-proof buildings
for the Government, made The most acceptable
plans, which. with the printed specifications,
were fory ardcd TO England, and were accepted
by the Home Governmcht. Immediately upon
notification OF their acceptance orders were
issued TO 20 forward with tho work, and Colonel
r. l. Fleming, the cnterprislng builder and con-
tractor OF the District was awarded the con-
tract for the erection OF the building for fl5 Spt
and work was at once begun.
TuE BUILDING
IA to he pressed brick, with sandstone trim.
minrs, two stories, basement and Mansard roof,
80 feet front by 102 feet deep exclusive OF front
and rear projections. The eSteiior faces OF the
walls on Connecticut avenue will have return
on N street ~ far as the internal angle OF the
1rst break and corresponding distances on the
north aide OF the building are to be faced with
heb ,he best quality OF dark pressed br,ck, lad IN
wsllsto be faced with the best quality OF darkre
brick, with joints penclled with black lead. The
base course of the building, which Is to extend
along the front on Connecticut avenue with the
return on N street and north front, Including
the bases and piers OF the carrlageway porch,
and the steps leading TO the door Of entrance, are
20 DC o. dark Maryland granite, finished In patent
hammered work.
the wiudow.caps and sllls OF the two principal
fronts are TO be OF Ohio sandstone from the
courses beyond the points described are 10 have
sandstone as well as all the arches and spring
ers; where sandstone Ia not used, are to be OF
cream-colored brick. The columns and arches
Iron OF handsome design. The doors OF en-
trance and yestibulc are TO he black walnut. elab-
crate designs, and executed In the highest style
OF art; the upper panels OF the vestibule doors
TO be nlled with embossed French plate glass,
with appropriate designs. The cornices, dOrmer
windows and root decorations are to be Of gal
nanentai pattern, painted with ultra marine;
the upper portions Of ornaments tipped with
gold. Tho sloplng side OF the French roof Is TO
be covered with dark slate; the nat portion with
tin.
rHE BASEMENT FLOOR
will be reached by broad night OF steps under
the main stairway, which leads into large hall.
On the south side OF the hall there Ia TO be bill
Hard room, 20 by 2s feet. with toilet room at
tnc nOftn t1cfe ~ 10 DC n nOuHe-
keepers room, 20 BY 10 feet, adjoining which
will be q bedroom, large kitchen, 20 by 10 feet;
pantry, sculiery, laundry, servants hail, store
room, bedroom, larder, footmans room. wine
cellar, cool cellar and cellar for steam heating
apparatus. There Is To be broad area running
on the north aud west sides, finished six inches
below the noor, with an average OF ten feet In
dows ior light and az, thereby rendering the
rooms perfectly dry. Access from the area to
yari Is TO be had BY three points by stone steps.
The walls are to be built Of stone against the
bank, faced with brick, leaving q hollow space
between the two walls, so as 10 render the out
side facing perfectly dry. The walls are to be
coped with dressed North fIver stone, 10 Inches
drained by sewers. The doors In the basement
are to be coucreted, and the spaces between the
slecpcrs to which the flooring boards are to be
nailed are TO be nlled In with the same material.
wood Ia to be used for partitions. In the kitchen
there Is TO be large range and boilers, with
hood over II, ventilated into shaft, to be built
for the purpose. The laundry Is TO have six
soap.stone wash-tubs, with backs, ends and
capplng OF soap-stone. The boiler In the Kitchen
Ia to holi 140 gallons. In the scullery a large
aud spap-stone Jrips and water. closets arc 10 be
erected.
PIRsr FLOOR.
After entering at the main entrance By flight
OF granite steps hail IS by % fee; 10 reached
on the right of which Is 10 DO u library 20 by 2s
& NdjoInIns is IS to be another psrIo y BY 20 feei,
with large bay window fronting on n street.
Immediately In the rear OF the parior Is 10 be the
ballroom, 81 by 30 feet and 22 feet high, intshed
with semi-octagonal ends. On the n street front,
In the rear OF the ballroom, there is TO be u
piazza, opening from the bali room, for prone
nading. After passing from tho entrance hall
the staircase hole Is reached, which Is to be 90
by % feet, and Is lighted from the roof by sky.
lights, In the centre panel OF which is to be the
royal coat OF arms.
The staircase Is to be OF black walnut. with
massive newell posts, and at the starting there Is
to bo heavy double nodded rail and heavy turned
aud nodded baiustra,ies, the stairs passing up
the centre to a platform and branching TO right
and left, forming one OF the grandest features Of
the house. Adjoining the library there Is to be
private secretArys room, anu connected with
Il Is to be the chancery, with business entrance
on the north side TO waiting room, with halls
leading TO the same. In the rear OF the grand
entrance hall, aud connecting with the ballroom
there IL to be dning-room, 10 by ~ feet, exclu.
slye OF bay window. by 10 feet, fronting
70 1s sstvag room sd
up with closets, drawers, shelves, ac., OF black
walnut and butternut wood, aud the slab for the
buffers pantry sink Is to be OF Italian marble. IL
feet long, countcrsunk and highly polished.
There will also he In this pantry q steam plate
warmer. In the hall adjoining the diniug-ruom
there Ia to be back staircase and tollet-roOm,
In connection, opening from the back hall. The
extension walls OF the ball room are TO be built OF
red and cream.coorei brick at intervals OF six
courses OF red brick. There will be band OF
yellow brick, consisting Of two courses.
The parlors, hall, and dninR-r0Um and grand
hall are connected by mems OF large sliding
doors. BY this arrangement Of sliding doors the
windows. parlors aud ballroom Will form vista
OF eighty feet, and by similar arrangement In
parlors, entrance and library similar vista Is
obtained. Dividing the entrance hall from the
grand staircase are four columns, with enriched
capilsts and entahliture: The ceiling 10 remain.
high. The entrance hall IL TO he laid with en-
tile on Iron beams aud brick arches; 10
the centre will be the royal coat.of-arms. The
are 10 have border OF hard wood four feet wide,
with inlaid corners and intermediate figures.
The nantes, CRATES and chandeliers are to be
made to order IN Europe.
SECOND FLOOR.
Oa the south slie OF this loor there are four
bedrooms, with dressng'roomS and clothes
presses attached. over the entrance hall there
il TO be bedroom isx2t feet connected with Q
room. On the north side there will be
four bedrooms; on the ives west & sile lover over me an.
floor there will be tive bathrooms and two
water closets separate and distinct. rhe main
staircase terminates on this noor. The well
hola Is finished with heavy balastrades and
newell posts OF black walnut. In the rear OF the
main entrance staircase u hanfsome stairway
will be constructed, which will lead to the
THIRD FLOOR,
which consists OF eleven bedrooms, two Dress
Ing-rooms, two bathrooms and two water
closets. There is large air space over the cell
ing for ventilation, connecting with the ventll-
AtIng portion OF the skylights, which are to be
OF iron and glass OF the most I'm.
proved principle, and ventilated oy means OF
In ali the rooms on the nrst and second story
there are TO be handsome plastered cornices,
with centre pieces, corner beads, &c. The
plumbing work Is to be most complete. Electric
bells will be throughout the house; copper light
ming rods; French plate-giass In the windows,
North River nagstone, i've feet Wide.
The building will be heated and ventilated by
Baker, Smith A Co.'S apparatus, (indirect radia-
tor,) the cold air being supplied through brick
cod-air ducts built under the cellar noors. The
work Ia to be done by Taos. Q. Ba,shor, OF Balti-
more.
rue srABLK.
In the rear, fronting on Nineteenth street, .
stable 98xCO feet will no constructed. The nrst
moor will contain six stables and box stall, haI-
ness room and carriage-house, and the second
noor the coachmans rooms and hay and feed
loft The roof will be OF tn, with ventllator.
the stable will be OF brick, with stone trimmings
and q granite base, with Q carriage porch for
washing carriages. The no0r Of the carriage
way Is 70 be OF concrete. The feeding passages
will be at head Of each stall.
The divisions above the partitions o. the stalls
viii drainage TO sewers.
THE PKscN0.
The lot on the north side Of the dwelling Is to
he inclosed by brick wall capped with stone.
The remainder OF the lot will have an Iron rail-
ing four feet nine inches nigh.