'The walls are battened, and the canvas is painted throughout with a delicate peach blossom, as a ground colour, on which rocks, trees, shrubs, birds and other embellishments in the Chinese style are very neatly pencilled in a subdued tone of pale blue. There are three fire places, over which stand beautiful jars and vases of china and porcelain, intermingled with open tulips and lotus flowers of stained glass, inclosing branches for lights. Many large jars and other vessels and figures of China ware, are, also, distributed throughout the gallery, the furniture of which is entirely of an oriental description. All the couches and chairs, which are numerous, are of ivory, curiously figured; and, in some instances, variegated with black.
'The extreme compartments to the north and south, are occupied by double Staircases, rendered light and airy in appearance by the steps being fronted with perforated brass and iron work; the railings are of cast iron, wrought and painted to resemble bamboo. These compartments are illumined by horizontal lights of stained glass, of similar elevation and accordant adornments to that of the central division of the Gallery; the southern one exhibiting the Imperial five clawed dragon, surrounded by flying bats, and the northern one the Chinese bird of Royalty called the _Fum_, with other ornaments. Above the landing place, at the north end, are also three windows, each being embellished with a full sized representation, in stained glass, of a Chinese god; and corresponding imitative windows are depicted over the southern landing place. The staircases lead into an upper gallery, or corridor, which communicates with the superior bed rooms and other apartments. When the doors at the ends of the Gallery, which are fronted with looking glass, are closed, an almost magical illusion is produced, the perspective appearing interminable. The carpeting is of English manufacture, and accords, in decoration, with the other furniture. From the respective extremities of this Gallery, access is obtained to the Music Room and the Banqueting Room.
'No verbal description, however elaborate, can convey to the mind, or imagination of the reader, an appropriate idea of the magnificence of this apartment; and even the creative delineations of the pencil, combined with all the illusions of colour, would scarcely be adequate to such an undertaking. Yet, luxuriously resplendent and costly as the adornments are, they are so intimately blended with the refinements of an elegant taste, that every thing appears in keeping, and in harmony.