Amicorum operâ positum est marmor, faventibus Thesaurario cæterisque collegis suis, quos in hoc sodalitio Lincolniensi omnibus bonis officiis sibi devinxerat ; ut superesset ad posteros, cum memoriâ candidissimi animi et multiplicis doctrinæ, forma etiam et vultus tam cari viri CLEMENTIS TUDWAY SWANSTON. A.D. M DCCC LVI.

The walls both of the Council-room and Drawingroom are adorned with a very extensive and valuable collection of engravings from portraits of legal dignitaries, eminent prelates, &c., from an early period, a great number of whom have been connected with the Society.

At the north-eastern angle of the vestibule is the corridor of approach to the Library from the terrace in the garden. This is groined and arched in stone, and divided into an inner and outer porch by foldingdoors, glazed.*

The folding-doors of the Library are of oak, resembling those of the Hall, to which they are directly opposite. On entering, immediately in front of the doors, was seen till lately the rich stained glass window, containing the arms of Queen Victoria, which has been removed to the south

* It should have been mentioned in the description of the exterior of the building that the approach to this entrance is through iron gates opening on a carriage-way into the garden. On the north side of these gates a porter's lodge was built in 1852, having the arms of Christopher Temple, Esq., Treasurer, over the doorway, and the arms of Lincoln's Inn on the sides.

window of the Hall. This is one of the most beautiful heraldic compositions ever executed; the brilliant colours, and the broad treatment of the design, make it one of the finest examples of this splendid mode of embellishment. This window, as well as the other armorial insignia now transposed to the windows on the south side of the room, was designed by Mr. Willement.

This noble apartment, containing the valuable collection of Books belonging to the Society, is now one hundred and thirty-one feet in length from east to west, exclusive of the depth of the great oriels at the extremities, which are each about six feet more, and form three sides of an octagon; their width is about seventeen feet. The breadth of the Library is forty feet, and its height forty-four feet. The roof, of open oak, differs in composition from that of the Hall, but is equally remarkable for skill and elegance in its design, which exhibits much originality. It is in eight divisions, formed by trusses with very large pendants, with a series of arches against the side walls, supported on stone corbels. The timbers are relieved by deep mouldings, and there is some carving both on the corbels and pendants; the ceiling above the framework is in long panels, the ribs of which are moulded-enrichments which show a judicious attention to the most ancient models.

The admiration excited by the lofty proportions of this room is heightened by the excellence of the plan of its arrangement, the whole of its internal decoration, and the size and bold projection of the magnificent oriel windows with their enriched soffits, mouldings, and clustered pillarshafts. In fact, it would be difficult to name a library that would not lose by comparison with this admirable specimen of architecture, though it is exceeded by some collegiate libraries in dimensions.* The recesses of the oriel windows are elevated above the level of the floor, and reach in height above thirty feet; the ceilings are groined, having pendants on a small scale, and roses carved at the intersection of the ribs of the vaulting. These beautiful features of ancient architecture are enriched with heraldic insignia, each window displaying arms of the present Benchers of Lincoln's Inn. On the northern side the Library is lighted by eight large square-headed windows of three lights, arched, divided by a

transom.

The three windows on the southern side of the extension have also three lights, and contain three

* The Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, is 200 feet in length, 42 feet in width, and 37 feet in height; that of All Souls, Oxford, is 198 feet in length, 32 feet in width (51 in the central recess), and 40 feet in height. The length of the New Library at Guildhall is 100 feet, the width 65 feet, and the height 50 feet.

I

heraldic achievements in each light-arms of some of the present Benchers.* The glass of these windows is worthy of notice, consisting of small circular panes termed beryl glazing, by the peculiar manufacture of which a sparkling brilliancy is produced when the rays of the sun fall upon them.t

The book-cases, of handsome design,in projecting piers brought out at right angles to the walls on each side, form separate recesses about ten feet square. To the upper shelves convenient access is afforded by light iron galleries, and above the book-cases is another gallery against each wall extending through the whole length of the room.

Access to the upper galleries is afforded by stone staircases at the west end of the room; and to the lower galleries by four iron spiral staircases of light and elegant construction, one at each corner. To the eastern end of the south upper gallery access is also afforded by the staircase in the new turret ; and to the eastern end of the north upper gallery, by the construction of a staircase through one of the book-cases. At one end of the room is a lectern of oak, of appropriate design, on which is placed a copy of the printed Catalogue of the Books, mounted

* The same arrangement of arms has been adopted in the hall of Trinity College, Cambridge.

+ Perhaps the best view of this fine room is obtained from either of the extremities of the upper gallery, where the line of view is quite unbroken.

on writing paper of folio size, with blank columns opposite to each printed page, so that all additions may be inserted in their proper order. The valuable collections of manuscripts belonging to the Society, a considerable portion of which was bequeathed by Sir Matthew Hale, are deposited in two rooms opening from the upper gallery on the south side of the Library.

On the completion of the buildings, in 1845, the ceremony of inauguration took place on the 30th of October in that year, being honoured by the presence of her Majesty, Queen Victoria. A brief narrative of the ceremonial observed on this occasion, compared with the description of the entertainment given to K. Charles II., may serve to illustrate the difference of manners in the nineteenth century.

On the appointed day, the Benchers and Barristers having assembled in the hall, the Queen, with H.R.H. Prince Albert, attended by her ladies in waiting, and the high officers of her household, arrived at the Inn about half-past one o'clock, with a military escort, and were received at the southeastern entrance by the Treasurer, Benchers, and Cabinet Ministers. Her Majesty, amidst loud and hearty acclamations, proceeded up the central avenue of the hall to the Council-room, and thence to the Library, where she held a brief levee, the Benchers, four senior Barristers, four of the