them to the very creme de la creme of aristocracy, including the members of the Peerage and the high functionaries of the Court.

The outskirts of London, and particularly those of the West, have been for many centuries extending greatly; the wealthy magistrates of the City, and the gilded aristocracy of the Court, have been planting whole streets of palatial dwellings, each according to his own peculiar fancy, around and between which, attendant assemblages of buildings of a less pretending character have sprung up, occupied by the humbler followers of the noble and rich.

Southern View of the New Parliament House at Westminster.

Originally the sittings of Parliament, and the High Courts of Judicature, were held in the palace of the Sovereign, who often presided over them in person, and is still supposed to do so. In some instances in early history, the Parliament has attended the person of the Sovereign in other places of temporary abode-as Winchester and Oxford. But this is never now the case, though location within a Royal palace is still assigned to it; so that, although the abode of her Majesty is no longer at the Palace of Westminster, the two Houses of Parliament, and the several high courts of law, have chambers permamently appropriated to them within its precincts, where they exercise their important functions.

Until the period of the fire at the Palace of Westminster, in November, 1834, the House of Commons held its sittings in a temporary chamber constructed within the ancient Chapel of St. Stephen; the House of Lords occupying a larger room, separated from it by a long apartment called the Painted Chamber. After that event, and for a period of nearly fifteen years, while the New Palace was

building, the Commons removed to the room formerly appropriated to the Lords, the substantial walls of which had resisted the fury of the flames, while the Lords retired to the Painted Chamber; both apartments being temporarily fitted up for their respective occupants.

Upon the destruction of the Old Houses of Parliament, already referred to, it was determined to rebuild that portion of the Palace of Westminster appropriated to their use, upon a scale of magnitude and grandeur worthy of a great nation, and commensurate with the dignity of Parliament, the authority of which in that nation had long been paramount. A committee was appointed to receive and consider plans, who eventually adopted that of Mr. Charles Barry, who, after some years employed in erecting a terrace built upon piles on the river front, saw the first stone of this building laid on the 27th April, 1840. In its main features, it may now be said to approach towards completion. The style is of richly decorated Gothic, and will undoubtedly be memorable for ages, as the largest building of that character in the world. It covers an area of nearly eight acres, and when completed will have four fronts, (the river front, which alone is completed, is 900 feet long,) and three principal towers the Royal Victoria Tower, (340 feet high, by 75 feet square,) at the southern extremity; the Central Tower, (300 feet high, by 60 feet square;) and the Clock Tower, (320 feet high, by 40 feet square,) at the northern extremity, close to Westminsterbridge.

It would be impossible within the limits of the present publication to give even a faint idea of the architectural details of this stupendous structure; of the various halls, courts, passages, and minor apartments into which it is divided.

In like manner, the northern portion of the building is devoted to the House of Commons, with its various committee-rooms and offices; the residences of the Speaker, the Serjeant-at-Arms, &c., being at the the extreme end, near the Clock Tower. In the midst, between the two Houses, and communicating with both, is a grand central hall, which is approached from the western front by another passage called St. Stephen's Hall.

There is a Strangers' Gallery in either House, to which persons having orders from a member are admitted to hear the debates. During the hours the House of Peers sits judicially, being the highest Court of Appeal in the realm, the public have free access, as to other Courts. At other times permission to view the House, when not sitting, may be obtained by application at the Lord Chamberlain's office. The Lords assemble for legislative business at five o'clock; the Commons generally at four, sometimes at twelve.

An interesting portion of this palace is the large and ancient Gothic apartment known as Westminster Hall, the largest room in

the world unsupported by pillars, being 270 feet long, 74 wide, and 90 feet high. The wooden roof, with its flying arches and curious carving, is worthy of careful inspection. Charles I was tried and condemned in this Hall; and here Warren Hastings was tried; and here George IV held his grand banquet after his coronation.

The ceremony of the Queen going in person to Parliament to open the session, is an interesting one. The Queen also generally closes the session; and sometimes, though very rarely, she goes down during its continuance to give assent to bills for some special purpose; but the opening of the session, being a time of the greatest expectation, is generally regarded with most interest. The approach of the Queen is announced by successive salutes, or ordnance, in St. James' Park, and at the Tower. If the weather is fine, there is usually a large assemblage to witness the procession.

The interior of the House of Lords presents a brilliant and animated scene, the Peers being in their robes, and a large number of ladies being present, either peeresses in their own right, or the wives, daughters, or other relations of peers.

The House of Lords is ninety-seven feet long, forty-five broad, and forty-five high, presenting a most magnificent appearance, no expense having been spared to make it one of the richest chambers in the world. It is lighted by six Gothic windows of stained glass on either side, having painted on them effigies of the kings and queens of England, under canopies of elaborate design. Three arches at each end of the house, corresponding in shape and size to the windows, contain frescoes illustrative of some of the chief events in British history. The ceiling is flat, and divided by massive, richly gilded tie-beams, into compartments, and those again subdivided into smaller ones, each containing some heraldic symbol or device, the exquisite carving and harmonious coloring of which really produce a most gorgeous effect. At the southern extremity is the throne, resplendent with gold and colors, and its surface most profusely adorned. It is divided into three compartments; the central being the loftiest, contains the state chair for her Majesty; that on the right hand for the Prince of Wales; and the one on the left contains the Prince Consort's seat.

The New House of Commons is sixty-two feet in length, fortyfive in width, and the same in height. Its decorations are of a less gorgeous character than those of its aristocratic neighbor, the House of Lords. The ceiling exhibits richer work than any other part of the chamber, which contains windows of stained glass, and the walls of which are pannelled with oak, beautifully carved. The following descriptive of legislate proceedings, &c., is from a recent publication:

If the visitor has entered the Stranger's Gallery of the House of Commons, without knowing the subjects on which the House will proceed to business, and if he sits down, expecting, as a matter of course, that there will be a grand oratorical display, a keen encounter of wit, and all the excitement of a brilliant assembly, he will very frequently meet with a complete disappointment. Even on what are termed "field-nights," patience is considerably tried. If you can not make interest to get introduced into the reserved seats outside the bar, on the floor of the House, and below the Stranger's Gallery, you must then, if a strong debate is expected, take your station on the gallery stairs, and wait with patience; you may be admitted when the Speaker is at prayers. He, the chaplain, and the clerks, are kneeling at the table; there are but five or six members present; and though the gallery is nearly crowded, and you have secured a front seat, an apprehension steals over you that the required number, forty, will not arrive in time to make a House. But the members are dropping in; the speaker begins to count slowly and deliberately; he arrives at thirty-nine, and then takes the

chair. The debate, however, will not begin immediately. You must wait two or three hours for that. In the meantime a variety of motions and business of a formal nature is gone through, the half of which only reaches your ear. There appears to be an apprehension that a division will take place on some private bill-that the words "Strangers withdraw!" will be pronounced, and that you will be dislodged from your position.

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A message from the Lords! The form of proposing and assenting to the admission of the messenger is through so quickly and so quietly as almost to escape attention. Straightway a gentleman in full dress emerges from beneath the gallery, where he has made a profound bow; vancing to the middle of the floor, he bows again; and on reaching the table he bows a third time. On delivering his message, he retreats, walking backward with a dexterity that amuses the stranger, and bows three times as he did on advancing. This is the Usher of the Black Rod, come to summon the Speaker and the House to hear the Royal assent given by commission to certain bills. The Sergeant-at-arms, who is dressed with a bag-wig, and sword by his side, takes up the mace and marches before the Speaker; a few members follow, but the rest remain. Now the strangers pent up in the little gallery may avail themselves of their privilege-the Speaker and the mace are gone, and there is therefore "no house;" they may stand up, stretch themselves, and talk, without