'EXTERIOR OF THE PALACE.
'The Ground-plot forms a long parallelogram; the extent of the building from north to south being 480 feet, and from east to west, about 125 feet: of this space, upwards of two thirds is occupied by the Royal apartments and their appendages; and the remainder by the great kitchen, chapel, servants' rooms, and domestic offices.
'Since the Pavilion was first built, it has been greatly and progressively enlarged, as above detailed, and, together with the adjoining grounds and stabling, it now occupies an extensive plot of ground, nearly in the centre of the town, and immediately contiguous to the far famed Steyne and Parade. The whole of the demesne comprises ten acres, the principal part of which was obtained by purchase, and the rest by grant from the manorial owners and town's people.
'The principal, or eastern front of the Palace, opens on to a lawn, which is merely separated from the Steyne Parade by a low wall and dwarf enclosure, at the distance, from the building, of 170 feet. On the north side are shrubberies; and, on the west, which includes the main entrance, are the pleasure grounds and carriage drive. The southern extremity, comprehending the Chapel Royal and offices, projects into Castle Square.
'From this Plate, it would seem that this front might be described as consisting of seven parts; namely, a centre, of a curvilinear form, connected by adjoining divisions to two wings, and those again flanked by square buildings, forming returns to the north and south: yet this is not strictly the case, the southern return never having been completed. In all other respects the Elevation is correct.
'The Centre division which includes the Rotunda, or Saloon, and has a semicircular arcade in front, is crowned by a vast dome, presenting the appearance of an inverted balloon, tapering upwards into a lofty pinnacle, the point of which is more than one hundred feet from the ground. The dome is surrounded by a horizontal band of twenty eight conjoined ovals (crossing a similar number of vertical ribs), most of which are pierced as windows to the several small apartments contained in its concavity. It is also flanked by two octagonal minarets, and appears to rise from a basement cone, faced with scale work. Smaller domes, of a more compressed form, surmount the semicircular recesses which adjoin the Saloon; these have ornamental bands and vertical ribs, but no windows. The arcade spandrils are filled up with curvilinear trellis work, inclosing quatrefoils; and, over the middle part, is the Prince of Wales's crest, and this inscription:
'"H.R.H. George. P.W.
A.D. MDCCCXI."
'Similar domes to those last described, surmount the Green and Yellow Drawing Rooms (as they are now called), which connect the Saloon with the wings, and are each curved at the ends. The upper chambers recede, and before each range is a balcony and pierced parapet. The wings, which are of a square form, are surmounted by lofty cones, rising to the height of about ninety feet; at the angles are minarets. In front of both wings is an open arcade, composed of seven arches, separated from each other by octagonal columns, and ornamented by similar trellis work to that of the Saloon arcade. The Southern extremity terminates in a square tower crowned by a dome, and minarets corresponding with those already described. A sort of running battlement, with very narrow embrasures, surmounts the upper line of the whole building.
