The next story contains at least one billiard-room, some club-houses have two ; • in many clubs also there is a smoking room : on the upper story are sleeping chambers fOr the ser vants, who reside on the premises. The basement contains the usual domestic offices; and, as may be supposed, every detail connected with the important department of the "cuisine" is most perfect.
The above sketch will give the reader some idea of the general arrangements of a club-house ; we shall now proceed to describe more particularly a few of those splendid edifices which have been, by some, compared to the Paluzzi of Italian cities.
The " United Service," though first in seniority as a club, deserves a very brief notice on the score of architectural beauty. It is a plain unpretending building, which may be called Italian, because it cannot be described as being of any other style, but it is Italian of an impoverished and enfeebled character, exhibiting, remarks :\ Ir. Leeds, " incontestable evidence of insipidity and poverty." The building consists of two stories, the ground-floor being rusticated, and having windows on each side of the portico. The upper story contains an elegant suite of rooms, having seven lofty windows, with pediments, over which, and running through the \whole building, is an entablature, the whole being surmounted by a balustrade. The south front is similar to the one described, but the north, facing Pall Mall, has a portico the whole height of the structure, and is in two divisions; that of the ground-floor being composed of eight fluted Dorie columns in pairs, having an entablature with trifflyphs. This is surmounted by a balustrade, over which are eight Corinthian columns arranged in the same order as those below, and crowned by an entablature and pediment. The internal arrangements are exceedingly well contrived, and furnish every convenience for the accommo dation of the members. There are some remarkably fine portraits of distinguished military and naval officers, and the apartments are furnished with great luxury and elegance.
The " Athenaeum," is situated at the opposite angle of Carlton Place. and is remarkable for the elaborate sculptured bas-relief frieze continued along its three sides. This club ranks as one of the very first in the metropolis, and the magnificent mansion belonging to its mem hers, is worthy to occupy a similar prominent position.
The building is from the designs of Mr. Decimus Burton, and displays that gentleman's usual ability and good taste. The east elevation has a rusticated basement with a portico, the ends of which are filled up and perforated with windows; the angles are finished by a square pilaster and flirted column of the Doric order ; the space between being divided by four of the same order in pairs. The frieze is ornamented with triglyphs, and the cornice surrounded by a balustrade, the space over the centre intercolumniations being filled up and crowned by a pedestal supporting a figure of Minerva.
Over the ground-story, and on a line with the cornice of the portico, is a balcony running through the three elevations, and terminating at the angles by pedestals. The principal story is lighted by seven lofty windows with sashes, by which there is access to the balcony, and which are orna mented with cornice and trusses ; above this, and continuing through the entire building, is the beautiful frieze we have already mentioned, the figures, in basso-relievo, being copied, it is said, from the Elgin frieze deposited in the British Museum. Over this is a cornice of very bold projection, the whole being crowned by a balustrade.
Adjoining the Athenamm, is the " Travellers'," of which it is scarcely possible to speak in terms of sufficient commen dation. " Could there," says a talented writer and able critic, " be any question as to the possibility of reconciling the seemingly antithetical qualities of richness and simplicity, this building might be allowed to determine it, since the design is no less remarkahle for the attention bestowed upon all its details, than for the simplicity of its composition." We have many others far more ambitious in decoration. yet not one so beautifully finished up in every part, or exhibiting so perfectly that inteyrity (f finish which is displayed in this work of Mr. Barry's. For here, indeed, we behold the full beauty of the Italian style purified from its defects, and stamped by a serene kind of dignity that renders it truly captivating.