Nearly fronting the gate, are nine or ten steps, leading to the Lord Mayor’s court, over which is a balcony supported at each end by four iron pillars in the form of palm trees; by these is a small enclosure on each side on the top of the steps, used on some occasions as offices for clerks to write in, each being just sufficient to hold one person. Under these are two prisons called Little Ease, from the lowness of the ceiling, by which prisoners were obliged to sit on the floor; these prisons are intended for city apprentices, who upon complaint and a strict examination into the offence, were sometimes committed thither by the Chamberlain, whose office is at the right hand at the head of the steps. In the front of this balcony is a clock, on the frame of which is carved the four cardinal virtues, with the figure of Time, on the top, and a cock on each side of him. But the most extraordinary figures are yet behind; these are two monstrous giants which stand on the outside of the balcony close to the wall, one on each side: they have black and bushy beards; one holds an halbert, and the other a ball set round with spikes, hanging by a chain to a long staff. These absurd ornaments, which Mr. Strype supposes were designed to represent an ancient Briton and a Saxon, are painted, as if to give them the greater appearance of life, and render them more formidable to children. Round the hall are hung up, the standards and colours taken from the French, at the battle of Ramilies. At the east end are the King’s arms between the pictures of his present Majesty King George II. and Queen Caroline; close by the first is Queen Anne, and by the last his late Majesty King George I. and at the same end of the hall, but on the north and south sides, are the pictures of King William III. and Queen Mary fronting each other. The hall is likewise adorned with the portraits of eighteen Judges, put up by the city as a testimony of public gratitude for their signal services, in determining the differences which arose between landlords and tenants, without the expence of law suits, on rebuilding the city after the fire. These Judges are all painted at full length in their scarlet gowns; and in the Lord Mayor’s court there are the portraits of five other Judges painted in the same manner.