WINDSOR, a borough of England in Berkshire, is situated on the side and at the base of a hill on the south side of the Thames, which is crossed by a bridge connecting it with Eton. The town is irregular, and consists of a principal street and several of a smaller size. The church is a neat, handsome Gothic building, erected not many years ago, and it has a good organ from St. George's chapel, presented by the late king. The guild-hall is a stately fabric, and supported by columns and arches of Portland stone, and in the area which they form the corn market is held. The free school is a neat building erected in 1706. A small but elegant theatre was built in 1805. Large bar racks have been lately built capable of holding 750 infantry and 400 cavalry. The principal ornament of Windsor is its castle, the residence of the sovereigns of England. It owes its origin to Wil liam the Conqueror, who erected here a fortified mansion as a hunting seat, and it has been brought to its present state of grandeur by the labours of successive sovereigns. On the declivity or the hill on which the castle stands, there is a terrace 1870 feet long, and faced with a rampart of free stone. Near this Walk is a gate into the Parks, which are enclosed by a brick wall, five miles in circuit. The castle consists of two courts, having a large round tower between them, the whole of the buildings covering 12 acres of land, and being defended by batteries and towers. The upper court is a spa cious quadrangle, having a round tower on the west, the private apartments of the sovereign on the S. and E., and the state apartments, together with the St. George's hall and the chapel royal on the N. The keep is the residence of the governor. It has the form of an amphitheatre, and is ascended by a flight of steps. It contains the grand room or magazine for arms, ingeniously arranged and con taining many pieces or ancient armour. The lower court, which is larger than the upper one, is divided into two parts by St. George's chapel, which is placed in the middle, and is a beautiful specimen of Gothic architecture. The houses of the dean and canon, Ste. are on the north side of the court, and those of the poor knights of Windsor on the west side. The royal apartments are on the N. side of the court, and the entrances from the Upper Court, through a handsome vestibule, designed by Mr. James Wyatt. The first room, or the queen's guard chambers, contains many beautiful paintings, and a variety of warlike instruments. The queen's presence chamber contains paintings by the most celebrated masters, and its tapestry, made at Cob lentz, was presented to Henry VIII. The ball room contains a large silver table: its tapestry re presents the twelve months of the year, and its ceil ing represents Charles Second giving freedom to Eu rope. In the queen's bed chamber, the state bed,
erected by order of Queen Charlotte, is said to have cost £14,000. The queen's dressing room, hung with British tapestry, contains the closet in which is deposited the banner of France, annually pre sented on the 2d of August by the heir of the first Duke of Marlborough. The same closet contains the tea equipage of Queen Anne. The room of beauties contains fourteen portraits of the most celebrated beauties in the reign of Charles the Second. The king's audience chamber, containing the throne, is enriched with Mr. West's seven historical paintings of events in the reign of Ed ward III. The king's presence chamber is adorned with several portraits. The king's guard cham ber contains a great collection of warlike instru ments fancifully arranged, and also the flag annually sent on the 18th June by the Duke of Wellington, in commemoration of the battle of Waterloo. The king's drawing room contains some beautiful paintings on the ceiling. St. George's hall, which is 108 feet long, is set apart for the illustrious or• der of the garter. The ascent to the throne is by five steps of marble. It is superbly decorated with allegorical paintings.
St. George's chapel was made one of the most elegant specimens of the florid Gothic by the mu nificence of George Third, who spent nearly £20,000 in embellishing it. The roof is elliptical, and is composed of stone, and the whole ceiling is ornamented with heraldic insignia, intermingled with the beautifully emblazoned arms of many sovereigns and knights of the garter. The screen is said to have cost £1500. The stall of the sovereign and those of the knights, exhibit a profu sion of rich carving. The painting of the Last Sup per, finely executed by West, adorns the altar. Several of the windows of the chapel are superbly painted. St. George's chapel is the burial place of many royal and illustrious persons, Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VI11, and Charles I. At the east end of the chapel is a neat building erected by Henry VII. as a burial place. It is now the Royal Mausoleum, and contains the remains of George III. and Queen Charlotte, and of the Princess Char lotte and others.
On the south side of Windsor is Windsor Park, which is above 15 miles in circumference, and is stocked with deer. It is entered by a walk three miles long, called the long walk, flanked by double rows of trees. At the entrance to this park stands the Queen's Lodge, the gardens of hich are ele gant and extensive. Windsor sends two members to parliament, who are chosen by about 400 voters. The population of the borough, including Old Windsor, Windsor Castle, and Lower Court, in 1821, was 917 houses, 961 families, 411 do. in trade, and total number of inhabitants 5698.