Bank of the United edifice is one of the most pure and chaste imitations of Grecian architecture in the United States. In its design and proportions it is intended to copy the Parthenon at Athens, omitting, how ever, the flanking columns of the latter, which would have rendered it inconvenient as a place of business. The material used in its construction is the white marble, from the quarries of Montgomery county. Its length, in cluding the portico, is 161 feet, and breadth 87 feet. The front on Chesnut street and rear on Library street are both finished in the same manner. The ascent to the porticoes from the street, is by a flight of six steps to a terrace or platform extending 16 feet on each front, and on the flanks of the edifice. It is on this terrace that the building is elevated, and from which it derives its effect. The columns, which are eight in number on each front, and of the doric order, support a plain entablature extend ing along the whole front of the building, the vertical angle of which is 152 degrees. A handsome iron rail ing with gateways fronts the building, both on Chesnut and Library streets. The door of entrance opens into a spacious vestibule leading to the banking room. On the right and left are the loan and transfer offices. The bank ing room is a large and elegant paralellogram of 45 by 80 feet, containing 12 polished.marble pillars of the Ionic order, copied from the Temple of Minerva at Priene. These pillars are placed eight feet distant from the sides of the room, and support a vaulted pannelled cieling. The counters (of polished marble) range throughout the intercolumniations, forming a large area in the centre for the transaction of business. The rooms of the president and cashier, together with the vaults and private stair ways, can only be approached by doors of communication from this room.
Bank of structure is the most pure model of Grecian architecture in the United States, with the exception, perhaps, of the one just described. It is constructed of the same kind of marble as the United States bank. The front extends on Second street 51 feet, and the depth, including the porticoes, is 125 feet. The design is taken from a temple of Minerva at Athens. The porticoes are each supported by 6 Ionic columns, 3 feet in diameter, and furnished with entablatures and pe diments. The roof is of marble, several of the blocks composing which weigh from 5 to 7 tons each. In the rear of the edifice is a small but beautiful garden, sur rounded by an iron palisade.
Girard's Bank, is an edifice of a rich and imposing appearance, originally erected for the use of the old Bank of the United States. The front is of white 'warble, with a lofty portico, and 6 columns of the Corinthian order. The style is ornate and florid, forming a striking contrast with the chaste and severe simplicity of the two buildings just described.
Philadelphia Bank, is a brick building cast over so as to resemble marble, and was the first specimen of the style of architecture commonly called the Gothic, exhi bited in the United States.
There are six other banking houses in the city and liber ties, which are plain substantial brick edifices, but not sufficiently remarkable to require a separate description.
The New Theatre, on Chesnut street, is a handsome building, with a neat marble front.
Philadelphia contains upwards of 60 places of public worship, viz Episcopalians 9, Roman Catholics 4, Friends 5, Free Quakers 1, Swedes Lutheran 1, German Lutheran 1, German Reformed 2, German Baptist 1, Evangelical Lutheran 1, Presbyterians 8, Associate Reformed 1, Scotch Presbyterians I, Baptist 6, Methodist Episcopal 5, do. Union I, Moravian 1, Universalist 2, Unitarians I, New Jerusalem 1, Dissenters I, African Episcopal I, do. Pres byterian 1, do. Baptist I, do. Methodist 1, do. Union 1, Jews Synagogue 1, Swedenborgians 1.
Few of the churches of Philadelphia have any dis tinguishing character of architecture, size or beauty, to entitle them to particular attention. There are, however, some exceptions to this observation which we shall notice below.
Christ Church, is the oldest Episcopal church in the city ; part of the present building was erected in 1727. It is an edifice of ancient and venerable appearance, 90 feet in length and 60 in width. It is surmounted with a neat steeple 190 feet in height, containing a ring of 8 bells.
St. Stephen's, is a Gothic structure, presenting a bold and impressive appearance. The front consists of two octangular stone towers 36 feet in height, terminating in an embattled parapet. The curtain, or space between the towers, contains 3 doors of entrance and 3 large Gothic windows, with leaden sash and stained glass. The whole structure presents a correct specimen of the architecture of the middle ages.
-472drrws.—This edifice extends in front 65 feet, in depth, including the base of the spire, 130 feet. Its front is a most perfect specimen of the Ionic order, taken from the temple of Bacchus at Tcos, with 6 fluted columns, and a very rich entablature. The pulpit, reading desk, communion table, and, in short, the whole of the interior finish and decorations are in a style of great richness and elegance. "1 he building, when complete, is to be sur mounted with a belfry and spire 230 feet in height.
The First Presbyterian Church, presents a beautiful and chaste specimen of Grecian architecture, taken from the Ionic Temple on the river Ilissus at Athens. Its front extends 88 feet, and depth 71 feet. The portico is supported by 6 Ionic columns. It is also furnished with a handsome cupola, and a large bell. The material of the structure is brick, cast over so to be with difliculty discriminated from marble even at a short distance.
The Presbyterian Church in ./irch near Tenth street, is a handsome new edifice of brick, surmounted with a lofty and very beautiful spire, containing a bell and clock with 4 dial faces.