engine, of two horse power, a beautiful specimen of this astonishing invention; the most judicious arrangements are made for the expeditious emptying and filling these baths as required, and raising them to any required degree of heat. It would be injustice not to state, that one cold, and two hot baths, of this noble range, are appropriated, by the benevolence of the proprietors, to the use of the poor. The principal entrances to these baths are situated in the two wings of the main building. The baths being separated into two divisions, one of which, that next the river, is appropriated to the use of the ladies, and the other, at the opposite end, to that of the gentlemen. The hot baths contain upwards of 350 gallons; and the cold ones, when full, 1554. The pump-room, the entrances of which are through a pair of folding doors, at each extremity of the central building, is of large size, of lofty height, and noble proportions. The ornaments of the ceiling, the cornices, and, in fact, all the interior embellishments, are chaste, and simply elegant. It is lighted on one side by a range of seven windows, and, on the opposite side, by one large window of coloured glass below which are fixed, at equal distances, two beautiful chimney-pieces, of Kilkenny marble. At the western extremity of the room, on an ornamental pedestal of Derbyshire marble, stands the pump, having a basin in the centre, the whole en : closed with a neat mahogany balustrade, here the visitors drink the waters, receiving them from the, Pumpers,-obliging damsels, that make us cry with Whitehead, "Sweet are thy handmaids, goddess of the fount, Before breakfast, from seven till nine in the morning, are the hours for promenading the pump-room, and taking the waters, though many take them between breakfast and dinner; and bathe in the evening before retiring to rest. The terms for drinking the waters here, are 3s. 6d. per week, with a gratuity to the pumper. At the other At the other pump-rooms the terms are 2s. 6d. per week, and a gratuity. The terms for bathing, which are nearly the same at all the baths, are, 3s. for a warm bath, 2s. for a child's bath, and 1s. 6d. for a cold bath, with a gratuity to the attendant. When not in use, the warm baths are always kept and shewn empty; and are either filled in the visitor's presence, or while he is preparing to use them, the process of filling only occupying two or three minutes. The cold baths are usually supplied with fresh water once every day. and oftener if required. The grand front of these royal baths presents a truly noble appearance, consisting of a central mass, extending one hundred and six feet in length, and rising to the height of thirty, supported by two wings, each thirty feet in extent, by twenty. The front building is surrounded with a spacious colonnade, formed by duplicated pillars of the Doric order, built entirely of native stone, from the design of Mr. C. S. Smith, architect, of Leamington. It is, perhaps, situated too near the road to admit of a good passing view, as there is no point from which the whole extent can be seen at once. But from the fields, at a small distance to the right, it appears strikingly grand; shaded, and surrounded as it is, by rich and variegated woods. The roof which is in the cottage style, is low and heavy in its formation, and does not afford that relief which might be wished; and the introduction of a ponderous square pillar, between the round ones, in the colonnade, has been objected to; but upon the whole these baths must be allowed to be a noble piece of architecture, rarely to be equalled, and in no instance to be excelled, in this or any other country. The spirited proprietors of this noble establishment have lately caused some beautiful and spacious walks to be laid out on that side nearest to the new town; one of these conducts by the banks of the Leam to the end of the new Mall. These walks are a very great acquisition to Leamington, situated as they are between the old and new town, and immediately contiguous to the Pump-Rooms themselves. A temporary Music |
