Exchunge.—The Exchange is entered nom four arched openings in the centre of each side; the form is a parallelo gram, and the inner area exactly a double square. This firm has many advantages, both in point of convenience and elegance over the old lore, and is also better adapted to the shape of the ground.
As to the level of the floor of the Exchange. I ha\ e heard many opinions ; but it appears to me to be of the greatest importance, that it should be as nearly level with the street is possible. From the natural fill of the ground, however, which is quite gradual, but amounts to :1 feet 6 inches in the length of the building from east to west, it is impossible to avoid a few steps at the north, south, and west entrances. This is an advantage at the west end, as it gives height and character to the fac,!ade or portico ; the exact efffiet :mil extent of this fill of the ground is shown in my north and south elevations. in the shops the steps are avoided, they can follow the natural inclination of the ground.
Busement.-1\luch of the basement (or vaults,) is occupied by the establishments over the respective divisions, and I have added some to the lesser shops, but there is still a large space which may be let off, as the basement of the old building was. I have lighted the basement by area gratings in the pavement of the Exchange, exactly as formerly.
The public vaults arc approached by two staircases, which are placed in the eastern entrance. The central area is proposed to be left without a basement ; it would be difficult to keep it dry, and I do not know any use to which it could be applied which would pay for the cost.
Style of Architecture.
This is naturally one of the most important considerations in the design. and one in which I have most to regret the limited time I have had to consider this most extensive and difficult composition. It appears to me, that a building for essentially commercial purposes should present the character of grandeur, simplicity. and usefulness. In this way, the universally acknowledged good effect of the Bourse at Paris has been obtained. In that building the lines are simple and unbroken, and the large arched windows surrounding the walls behind the columns have all the character of shops or offices. The west front of the Exchange of London, as in
that of Paris, must lie the principal feature, the other sides being bounded by buildings.
Another difficulty arises front the shape of the ground ; any tower idaeed to agree with the lines of the south front must disagree with the lines of the east :aid west fouits, which are in different planes; and such an object, when seen froin a distance, or froin the area of the Exchange, would produce an effitet that would be discordant and unarchitee tural, because it would bring into distinct notice a fact it should be the business of the architect to conceal. For a long time I contended with this difficulty, because I was anxious to place the tower or in the south front, but it was impossible to get over the irregularity ; it would, indeed. have been easy to have concealed this defect in the or have kept it out of notice, butt the result. when built, would only have ended. in my judguient, in disappoint. meet and fillure. For these reasons, and with these views, I have composed my design as it is now exhibited. I have platted a portico at the west end, and the tower at the cast. The south and north fronts exhibit unbroken lines of entab lature. with a repetition of arches of the same character fur• he shops, offices, and entrances. We are deficient in Eng land, of specimens of architecture of this unbroken kind ; were I to adduce instances, I should quote the National Gal lery. us affit•ding an illustration of the bad effect of broken and detached masses, and the Reform Club, of the excellent effect of and unbroken ones.
The portiere would be very superior in dimensions to any in this country, and not very inferior to any in the world. The width, from outside to outside of the S columns, is 90 feet, and the height. from the ground to the apex of the pediment, is 74 feet 6 inches. The portico of St. INIartin's Church is 64 feet wide and 5S feet hth ; that at the Post Office 76 feet wide and 67 feet high ; and from these dimen sions a litir comparison may be of the relative size of the two porticos.