“The alcove, or recess,” he writes, “is used in Spain for seats and sometimes for beds of state. The English have imitated these by sometimes fitting up the end of long rooms in this style; which may answer both for ornament and to bring any apartment of undue length into proportion. In forming such an alcove for a place of retirement to rest on, a couple of Corinthian columns may be placed on each side of the room, so as to leave a spacious entrance into the alcove. The columns should not be placed less than six feet from the end of the room, nor more than nine, except in extraordinary cases. The seats are made low to receive their cushions, and drapery valances are fixed to the under edge of the frame. From surbase height the walls are covered with silk quilted, or disposed into uniform panels, in any other manner to suit the rest of the room. In the space between the surbase are placed back cushions, or a stuffed back, framed to fit all round and screwed to. From the frieze of the cornice below the ceiling is fixed draperies, either with or without tails: such alcoves when properly applied have a pleasing effect. When they are fitted up for beds, it will add to the effect if the bed be placed on a double plinth, in the form of two steps, laid with a carpet to suit the rest, and the effect will still be heightened, if a drapery be fixed, parting from the centre of the entrance and flowing down each side of the inner columns. “There is a curtain under the drapery which slides on a rod, and may be brought forward to cover the whole bed. The other tied up may be considered as a fixed drapery, but may be taken down occasionally. The tester and cornice need not project more than twenty inches, and the length of the bed, including the volutes, about eight feet.” “Duchess, a kind of bed composed of three parts, or a chair at each end and stool between them. They are only intended for a single lady, and are therefore not more than about 30 inches wide. The chair ends, when apart, have the appearance of large arm or fauteuil chairs, and the middle part may be used as a stool.” The tester is made to fold. The arms of the chair part are dolphins, and an acanthus spray ending in a scroll ornaments the back. The duchess is covered with a striped material, a square or round cushion is at each end, and the drapery is composed of two curtains falling from a kind of dome (ornamented by a pineapple or pomme), while a scarf is slipped through rings and forms a swag in front of the dome and two festoons at each side. An illustration of Sheraton’s duchess is given on Plate LIX., No. 2.