ral rooms, in which will be disposed the
king's magnificent collection of armour. The floors throughout are
fireproof, formed of iron joists, and arched with hollow bricks of
a singular construction.

The group for the pediment of the _east facade_ of the palace,
representing the triumph of Britannia, by Mr. Bailey, is nearly
finished.

The original gardens of Buckingham House, an extensive space, will
of course continue to be the grounds of the new royal residence; but
considerable alterations have been made to render them eligible for that
purpose. In order to conceal from the windows the great pile of stables
lately erected in Pimlico, near the lower end of Grosvenor-place, a
large artificial mound has been raised, and planted with curious trees
and shrubs.[1] The whole area now assumes all the appearances of natural
hill and dale, is finely wooded, diversified with flowering and
evergreen shrubs, with fine lawns broken into parterres, and possessing
a noble serpentine piece of water, so disposed as to give the idea of
great extent.[2] This water winds round clumps of forest trees, which
have been preserved for that purpose, and all that could be retained of
the previously existing scene. It is supplied from a large circular
reservoir, (near the top of the hill at Hyde Park Corner,) which is fed
by a main from the Serpentine river. This reservoir, almost like a Roman
work for magnitude, may be made a beautiful feature in the gardens--in
copious and refreshing fountains, but not in pools and ornamental
basins, such as are included in the anathema of Dr. Macculloch.

Although the scheme of the garden may, like many other projects, look
better _on paper_, than in practice, it affords ample space for the
display of much skill in artificial gardening. St. Cloud and Versailles
have their fountains, and why not St. James's? "Fountains, (that
sprinkle or spout water, or convey water, _as it never stays_ in
the bowls or the cistern,)" says Lord Bacon, are a great beauty and
refreshment; "but pools mar all, and make the garden unwholesome,
and full of flies and frogs."

[1] This mound is said to resemble, in miniature, the scenery of
Cumberland and Westmoreland. Perhaps this is too courtly; but
it is surprising what the union of nature and art may effect in
this way. Barrett, Cipriani, and Gilpin contrived to paint a room
for Mr. Lock, at Norbury Park, so as to blend the scenery of