h is decorated
with paintings by the hand of a famous artist in his
day--Verrio--celebrated by Pope for his proficiency in
ceiling-painting. The effect of the hall is singularly good,
with its grand stair and triple arches opening to the principal
rooms. The sub-hall, behind, is embellished by a graceful
fountain, with the story of Diana and Actaeon, and the abundance
of water at Chatsworth is sufficient for it to be constantly
playing, producing an effect seldom attempted within doors. A
long gallery leads to the various rooms inhabited by the Duke,
the walls being decorated with a large number of fine pictures
by the older masters of the Flemish and Italian schools. In the
billiard-room are Landseer's famed picture of Bolton Abbey in
the Olden Time, with charming specimens of Collins, and other
British painters.

[Illustration: THE ENTRANCE HALL]

"The chapel is richly decorated with foliage in carved
woodwork, which has been erroneously attributed to Grinling
Gibbons. It was executed by Thomas Young, who was engaged as
the principal carver in wood in 1689, and by a pupil of his,
Samuel Watson, a native of Heanor, in Derbyshire, whose claim
to the principal ornamental woodcarving at Chatsworth is set
forth in verses on his tomb in Heanor Church.

"Over the Colonnade on the north side of the quadrangle, is a
gallery nearly one hundred feet long in which have been hung a
numerous and valuable collection of drawings by the old
masters, arranged according to the schools of art of which they
are examples. There is no school unrepresented, and as the eye
wanders over the thickly-covered wall, it is arrested by
sketches from the hands of Raffaelle, Da Vinci, Claude Poussin,
Paul Veronese, Salvator Rosa, and the other great men who have
made Art immortal. To describe these works would occupy a
volume; to study them a life; it is a glorious collection
fitly displayed.

[Illustration: THE SCULPTURE GALLERY.]

"The old state-rooms, which form the upper floors of the south
front, occupy the same position as those which were
appropriated to the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots during her
long residence here. There is, however, but little to see of
her period; if we except some needlework at the back of a
canopy representing hunting scene