Its central part con

fully and advantageously seen. sists of a portico, with retiring wings: the former is composed of a lofty arch-way, opening from the middle intercolumniation of four Corinthian three-quarter columns, and with them supporting an entablature of the same order, over which, in the centre, are the arms and supporters of King George the Fourth, and, on each side, a balustrade, &c., surmounted by statues emblematical of the four quarters of the globe. Within the niches, over the lesser lateral arches, are wellexecuted statues of the Kings Charles the First and Second, by Bushnell.

From the roof of the portico rises the tower, which is 128 feet in height, from the ground, and consists of three stories, the lowermost being of a square form, and of the Doric order. Here, within a niche, is a statue by Bushnell, of Sir Thomas Gresham, and over the cornice, facing the cardinal points, are four busts of Queen Elizabeth at the angles are colossal griffins, holding shields of the City arms. The façade walls, which project laterally from the basement, are ornamented with two alto-relievos in pannels, by Bubb, executed in Lithargolite, or artificial stone: the one representing Queen Elizabeth, with attendant figures, and heralds proclaiming the original building; and theother Britannia, (seated amidst the emblems of Commerce) accompanied by the Polite Arts, Science, Manufactures, and Agriculture. The second story is of an octagonal form, and contains an excellent clock with four dials, which range alternately with a similar number of wind dials. The upper story displays a circular peristyle,

or colonnade, of eight Corinthian columns, surmounted by an entablature and cupola, and crowned by a lofty vane, gilt, shaped like a grasshopper, the crest of the Greshams.*

The area within the quadrangular, which measures 144 feet from east to west, and 117 feet from north to south, is paved with Turkey stones of a small size, the gift, as tradition reports, of a merchant who traded to that country. It is surrounded by a broad piazza, constituted by a series of semicircular arches springing from Doric columns, and supporting a corresponding entablature in the spandrels are tablets, &c. surrounded by festoons, scrolls, and other ornaments; the key-stones are sculptured with the grasshopper, the griffin, and the maiden's head, in alternate order, except those of the main entrances which exhi

:

* Sir Thomas Gresham's shop was in Lombard Street, nearly opposite to the Post Office, on the site now occupied by the banking-house of Messrs. Martin and Co. who are still, Pennant says, in possession of Sir Thomas's original sign, the Grasshopper. But that sign was taken from Lombard Street nearly forty years since, by one of the then partners in the firm, and is supposed to have been long ago destroyed. In Dean Swift's " Wonderful Prophecy," &c. there is a curious allusion to the Grasshopper on the Royal Exchange, and the Dragon on Bow steeple, but what is still more curious is, that during the late repairs of this building and Bow Church, both Vanes were actually deposited together in one yard, though not at Stocks-market, which now forms the site of the Mansion-house. The lines are as follow:

"The Dragon upon Bow-Church and the Grasshopper upon the Royal Exchange, shall meet together upon Stocksmarket, and shake hands like brethren."

bit the lion and the greyhound. Over the piazza is a flattish groined roof which springs, interiorly, from a series of antæ, or pilasters, with intervening corbels masked by animal heads, blank shields, &c.; and in the centre of each division of the groining is a large ornamental shield, displaying either the City arms; the arms of the Mercers' Company, viz. a Maiden's Head, crowned, with dishevelled hair; or those of Gresham, namely, a Chevron ermine between three mullets, pierced, sable. In the centre of each rib, also, in alternate succession, is either a maiden's head, a griffin, or a grasshopper. Under the piazza, between the pilasters, are twenty-eight large niches, only two of which, on the west side, are occupied by statues: these represent Sir Thomas Gresham, by Caius Gabriel Cibber; and Sir John Barnard, whose figure was placed here in his life time, (in George the Second's reign) at the expense of his fellow citizens, "in testimony of his merit as a merchant, a magistrate, and a faithful representative of the City in Parliament." A raised step and seat, of stone, with wainscotting above, goes round the entire piazza, except where interrupted by the entrances. Against the walls, over the wainscotting, are numerous painted shewboards, and placards of various descriptions both printed and written, which are permitted to be set up here as advertisements, on payment of a small sum, annually. Both the piazza and the area are, for the general accommodation, arranged, nominally, into many distinct portions, called Walks, where domestic and foreign merchants, and other classes engaged in mercantile

pursuits, daily assemble, and by which means, however great may be the crowd, the finding of any particular person is much facilitated.*

There is an air of considerable grandeur in the inner face of the superstructure, but the decorations are somewhat too unsparingly lavished. It consists of two stories, surmounted by a regular balustrade : on each side, the upper cornice is interrupted by a semicircular pediment, beneath which, on the north, are the Royal arms; on the south, the City arms;