Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/25

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THE HALL.
11

elegant and pleasing effect. The walls of the hall are papered, the colour being a good representation of grained oak, and the cornice which surmounts it is of crimson. The mode of lighting the hall is generally admired. There are in all sixteen gas burners—six along the centre of each of the outer compartments of the ceiling, and four along the inner one. They have been constructed by Messrs. Bradford and Son, on a new principle, and are styled, par excellence, the League Lights. They consist of a novel arrangement of flat flames, so as to throw out an immense body of light, the four centre ones having each thirty six jets of gas and the others eighteen jets. The effect of these immense bodies of flame, however, is softened by shades made of silk rendered transparent, conveying a good representation of ground glass, but they are richly painted, and the design is altogether very elegant. Grids in the sides of the floor of the hall admit the cold air underneath the gas lights, thus carrying off at the same time any unpleasant effluvia from the gas. Among other ornaments and decorations of the hall we have omitted to name the number of small, elegant silk banners disposed along the front of the galleries and other parts of the room, bearing short and appropriate mottoes to the occasion. In place of a cornice along either side of the central compartment, stretching from one end of the room to the other, were festoons of a rich deep crimson, with ends pendant, which gave a beautiful finish to the embellishments. A large and splendid transparency will also be placed over the daïs, behind the chairman, on which is expressed in bold and legible characters, in one word, all that is sought for in this grand movement, on which the eyes of the whole kingdom are concentrated: and that word is—JUSTICE."

Amongst the persons who answered invitations to the opening meeting, were, the late Earl of Derby, who regretted an intirmity which made it impossible for him to