“THE PICTURE-GALLERY.—This noble gallery, about 150 feet in length, has a fine oak and glass ceiling, supported by a series of arches, which spring from corbels formed of demi-talbots, holding in their paws shields with the Talbot arms, while in each spandrel of the roof are also the same arms. The room is lit with sumptuous chandeliers. In this gallery was formerly a series of tables, containing articles of _vertu_ and a large assemblage of interesting objects, while the walls were literally covered with paintings of every school, including the collection formed by Letitia Buonaparte, which was purchased in Paris by Earl John. It is now entirely denuded of this treasure of art. From the Picture-Gallery a pair of Gothic screen-work oak and glass folding-doors, with side lights to correspond, opens into— “THE OCTAGON (sometimes called the ‘Saloon,’ or ‘Sculpture-Gallery’), an octagonal room designed to some extent from the splendid Chapter House at Wells Cathedral. Like this it has a central pier, or clustered column, of sixteen shafts, from the foliated capital of which the ribs of the vaulted roof radiate. Other radiating ribs spring from shafts at the angles of the room; and where the radiations meet and cross are sculptured bosses, while a series of geometric cuspings fills in between the intersecting ribs at the points of the arches. Around the base of the central column is an octagonal seat, and stone benches are placed in some parts of the sides. It is lit with pendant Gothic lanterns. “The ‘Octagon’ opens on its east side into the ‘Picture-Gallery;’ on its west into the ‘Talbot Gallery;’ and on its north into the ‘Conservatory.’ On its south is a fine large window of Perpendicular tracery filled with stained glass, while on the other four sides are small windows, diapered in diagonal lines, with the motto, ‘Prest d’Accomplir,’ alternating with monograms and heraldic devices of the family. Over the Picture-Gallery doorway the following curious verses—a kind of paraphrase of the family motto, ‘Prest d’Accomplir,’ which is everywhere inscribed—are painted in old English characters on an illuminated scroll:— “‘The redie minde regardeth never toyle, But still is Prest t’accomplish heartes intent; Abrode, at home, in every coste or soyle. The dede is done, that inwardly is meante; Which makes me saye to every vertuous dede, I am still Prest t’accomplish what’s decreede. “‘But byd to goe I redie am to roune, But byd to roune I redie am to ride; To goe, roune, ride, or what else to bee done. Speke but the word, and sone it shall be tryde; Tout prest je suis pour accomplix la chose, Par tout labeur qui vous peut faire repose. “‘Prest to accomplish what you shall commande, Prest to accomplish what you shall desyre, Prest to accomplish your desires demande, Prest to accomplish heaven for happy hire; Thus do I ende, and at your will I reste, As you shall please, in every action Prest.’