enormous expenditure; and it was not until January 1819, that a bill granting one hundred and twenty thousand dollars for this edifice was passed into a law. One of the provisions of that law, makes it the duty of the commissioners to offer a premium of four hundred dollars for the plan that should be adopted by them, and two hundred dollars for the next best. These premiums, after a public invitation in the newspapers had been given to the artists of Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Baltimore and Washington, to furnish plans were awarded to Stephen Hills of Harrisburg, and Robert Mills of Baltimore.

Mr. Hills, who received the first premium, undertook to carry into execution the plan which he had offered, and to limit the expense to the sum granted by the general assembly; namely, one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, to which, however, fifteen thousand additional were voted at the last session, for the purpose of giving superior solidity, beauty and security to certain parts of the edifice. With these preliminary remarks, we proceed to give some account of the elevation and distribution of the building now erecting, and which may be properly denominated the capitol, as it is especially designed for the accommodation of the state Legislature. It forms the main or middle part of the edifice exhibited in the print.

The capitol (in the language of the architect) is set back of the wings so far that the inner columns of each portico will range, giving a clear view from one building to the other, through the portico. A great terrace or gravel walk, can be made straight from one end of the public ground to the other. The main entrance to the public ground, is in front of State street, opposite the capitol, by gates and flights of steps; and at each end of the buildings, a circular carriage road will communicate with State street, by an easy descent. One other entrance will be from Pine street by a turnstile and flight of steps; one from North street, and three from High

street by gateways. The front of the ground will be laid off in slopes, from the capitol to Third street, and likewise to North street. The walk leading from the capitol, will be a very easy descent when the ground is levelled, and will extend thirteen hundred feet, and be upwards of sixty feet above the waters of the Susquehanna.

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The dimensions of the capitol are one bundred and eighty feet front, and eighty feet deep, two stories high. The lower story is designed for the accommodation of both branches of the legislature, and the second for committee rooms, brary, &c. with a portico in front to correspond with those of the wings, and a dome on the top of the roof. The great western entrance is a circular portico, the whole height of the building, composed of six Ionic stone columns, four feet in diameter and thirty-six feet high, and recessing thirty-seven feet to a circular wall, which leads into the vestibule, from whence a double stair is seen through the great arch, communicating with every part of the interior above; likewise may be seen through the openings of the several landings, the vaulted ceiling of the vestibule; and through the opening in this ceiling, may be seen the inside of the rotunda and fluted ceiling of the dome, one hundred feet above the floor of the vestibule. It is in the centre of the building, of a circular form and the great thoroughfare of the interior. It receives abundant light from above, and through it both houses will communicate with each other. It is made spacious-thirty-four feet in diameter, and forty feet from the door of one chamber of the legislature to the other. It consists of eight openings or door ways in each story; four of which are in the first; two whereof for the accommodation of the sergeant-at-arms, and door keepers, and the others leading by a spacious circular staircase to the parts above, namely, to the committee rooms, library, and into the roof and rotunda, &c. all of which, entire in themselves, tend as

rays to the centre; and at the first view the spectator will be able to point out the way to any one of them.

The Senate chamber, situated in the west end of the building, is seventy-five feet, by fifty-seven in the clear, and twenty-one feet high, calculated to contain thirty-six members. The Hall of Representatives, situated in the east end, is seventy-five feet by sixty-eight in the clear, and twenty-one feet high, calculated to contain one hundred and eight members. Sufficient room will be found in the great circle round the speaker's chair in this Hall, for the accommodation of the senate in joint meeting of both houses. The space allotted for each member of the senate, is three feet six inches. The desks are two feet wide, and the platform five feet nine inches wide; and a space is left between the members' seats and gallery five feet six inches wide. The gallery will contain one hundred and eighty persons. On each side of the speaker's chair are two rooms; one for the office of clerk, and one for the transcriber's office; likewise two committee rooms, for the immediate use of the senate, the sergeant-at-arms and door-keeper; besides, the two rooms in the vestibule will have four large closets recessed in the wall of the gallery.

The Senate room will receive light by three large windows in front, and three back, one under the portico, and one Venetian behind the speaker's chair; making eight large windows in the whole. The chamber will be heated by two fire places, and two stoves set in niches, in the gallery. The walls on each side of the speaker's chair being circular, give ample room round the fire places. All the seats in the chamber and walls of the gallery are concentric circles.

The space allotted to each member of the house of Repre sentatives is two feet nine inches. The desks one foot nine inches, and the platform, four feet nine inches. The space between the members and gallery four feet. The galleries, stoves, fire-places and windows, the same as in the Senate