Thro’ this portal we pass into a large quadrangle, remarkable for nothing extraordinary, but its spaciousness and uniformity. This leads to a second quadrangle, where over the portal is a beautiful astronomical clock, made by the celebrated Tompion, on which are curiously represented the twelve signs of the zodiac, with the rising and setting of the sun, the various phases of the moon, and other ornaments, and indications of time.
On the left hand of this quadrangle is the great old hall, in which, by her late Majesty’s command, was erected a theatre, wherein it was intended that two plays should have been acted every week, during the time of the court’s continuance there; but Mr. Colley Cibber observes, that only seven plays were performed in it, by the players from Drury lane, the summer when it was raised, and one afterwards for the entertainment of the Duke of Lorrain, afterwards Emperor of Germany. In the front is a portal of brick decorated with four Cæsars heads without names.
On the opposite side of this quadrangle is a stone colonade of fourteen columns, and two pilasters of the Ionic order, with an entablature and balustrade at the top, adorned in the middle with two large vases.
This leads to the great stair case, adorned with iron balusters curiously wrought and gilt, the whole erected on porphyry. From the ceiling hangs by a strong brass chain gilt, a large glass lanthorn which holds sixteen candles, and has an imperial crown at the top. This staircase, with the ceiling, were painted by Signor Verrio, an Italian, by order of King William III.
At the top, on the left side, are Apollo and the nine Muses, at whose feet sits the God Pan with his unequal reeds, and a little below them the Goddess Ceres, holding in one hand a wheat sheaf, and with the other pointing to loaves of bread; at her feet is Flora, surrounded by her attendants, and holding in her right hand a chaplet of flowers; near her are the two river Gods Thame and Isis with their urns; and a large table in the middle, upon which is a quantity of rich plate, decorated with flowers.
On the ceiling are Jupiter and Juno, with Ganymede riding on Jupiter’s eagle, and offering the cup. Juno’s peacock is in the front: one of the Parcæ, with her scissors in her hand, seems to wait for Jove’s orders to cut the thread of life. These figures are covered with a fine canopy surrounded with the signs of the zodiac, and by several zephyrs, with flowers in their hands; and on one side of them is Fame with her two trumpets.
Beneath is a beautiful figure of Venus riding on a swan, Mars addressing himself to her as a lover, and Cupid riding on another swan.
On the right hand are Pluto and Proserpine, Cœlus and Terra, Cybele crowned with a tower, and others. Neptune and Amphitrite are in the front, and two attendants are serving them with nectar and fruit. Bacchus is leaning on a rich ewer, and, being accompanied by his attendants, places his left hand on the head of Silenus, who sits on an ass that is fallen down, he seeming to catch at a table, to which Diana above is pointing. The table is supported by eagles; on one side of it sits Romulus, the founder of Rome, with a wolf; and on the other side of it is Hercules leaning on his club. Peace in her right hand holds a laurel, and in her left a palm over the head of Æneas, who seems inviting the twelve Cæsars, among whom is Spurina the soothsayer, to a celestial banquet. Over their heads hovers the genius of Rome with a flaming sword, the emblem of destruction, and a bridle, the emblem of government, both in her right hand.
The next is the Emperor Julian writing at a table, while Mercury dictates to him.
Over the door at the head of the stairs is a funeral pile, done in stone colour; and under the above paintings are thirty-six panels, representing trophies of war, and other decorations in the same colour.