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 DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT 
 
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 PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
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 1871. 
 
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 THE NEW PALACE 
 
 OF 
 
 WESTMINSTER. 
 
 BT PERMISSION OF THE LORD GREAT CnAMBEULAIN. 
 
 ILonOon : 
 WARRINGTON & CO., 
 
 OAUlilCK STREET, ST. MAini.\'tf LANE, W.C. 
 
 1871. 
 
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 H55 THE 
 
 PALACE 
 
 OP 
 
 WESTMINSTEE. 
 
 ESTMINSTER abounds in Ancient and His 
 torical Edifices, and the new building, now 
 ^3 appropriated to the use of the Houses of 
 Legislature, stands on the sarae site in which 
 a Royal Palace has existed since the time of Edward the 
 Confessor, who, we are told by Indulph of Croyland, often 
 held his court here — the Palace was added to by William the 
 Conqueror, and his successor, William II., built further addi- 
 tions, among which was the great Hall of Westminster — this 
 was done in 1097, and the King held his Christmas in the 
 new Hall in 1099. In 1103, Thomas a Becket, then Chan- 
 cellor of England, superintended further repairs, which were 
 much needed, for Stow tells us, at this time, that "it was 
 ready to have fallen down;" but he mentions that after this, 
 many banquets were held there, specially one on New Year's 
 Day, 1230, when Henry III. feasted six thousand poor people, and 
 when " triginta millia " 30,000 meat dishes were put on the table. 
 In 1-^99 there was a great fire at tha Palace, the injury done by 
 which was however restored by Richard 1 1., in the style of architecture 
 of his time. He it was who raised the walls of Westminster Hall, 
 and altered it, and added the present roof, unequalled in the world 
 
 A '2
 
 4 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 for originality of conception, scientific construction, and beauty of 
 effect. In 1512 there was again a very destructive fire at the Palace 
 of Westminster, from which the Hall and St. Stephen's Chapel, 
 with its Crypts and cloisters, were nearly the only parts that escaped 
 — the ravages of this fire were never repaired. Some buildings were 
 however added by Henry VIII., who is supposed to have erected the 
 famous Star Chamber, so called, says Stow, " from the ceiling being 
 decked with stars, gilt," although portions of this were evidently 
 done at a later time, since a doorway and stairs leading to this once 
 dreaded court existed after the last fire, with the date 1602 over the 
 door. In forming the foundations for the new Palace, many foun- 
 dations and relics of the old building were discovered, of which 
 accurate di'awings have been made ; all the work was composed of 
 that excellent rubble masonry for which our old buildings are so 
 remarkable, so that the greatest labour was required for removing the 
 remains, especially the old river wall, extending the entire length of 
 the building, but which was considerably less advanced into the river 
 than that of the new Palace. A plan of the old Palace is engraved 
 in the Vol. 5 of the Vetusta Monumenta, measured in 1823. There 
 is also an interesting one in Smith's History of Westminster. 
 
 It was, from the consideration of the great amount of traditional 
 and historical interest which attached to the site, that it was, after 
 much deliberation and the consideration of numerous suggestions on 
 the suljectj determined to erect the new Palace on the same spot, 
 after the destructive fire in 1834 ; and at the opening of the ensuing 
 Parliament one of the earliest measures decided upon was, " that a 
 " Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon such 
 " plans as may be most fitting and convenient for the permanent 
 " accommodation of the Houses of Parliament." 
 
 It was at first contemplated that the old buildings might be so 
 far retained that, with additions and improvements, the Houses of 
 Parliament might again assemble in them ; but, on due consideration, 
 this idea was abandoned. In fact, it can hardly be said that this 
 country has ever yet possessed such " Houses of Parliament" as may, 
 in every point of view, be deemed worthy of the age and nation ; the 
 old Houses were neither suitable in an architectural point of view, 
 nor, as concerned the convenience of the Members of Parliament,
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 5 
 
 constructed in such a way as to be suitable for the great amount and 
 importance of the business. The original buildings, confined and 
 incommodious, had been so altered from time to time that the whole 
 structure was a mass of patchwork. 
 
 The Committee made a report in June, 1835, in which, after 
 giving the evidence they had obtained, they came to a scries of 
 thirty-four resolutions, referring to the construction of the new Houses 
 of Parliament, in which they stated. 
 
 " That it is expedient that the design for the rebuilding of the 
 " Houses of Parliament be left open to general competition, and that 
 " the style of the building be either Gothic or Elizabethan ; that 
 " the plans be delivered in to the office of the Woods and Buildings, 
 " on or before the 1st day of November, 1835." Moreover, that in 
 " order more effectually to secure a correct decision upon the merits 
 " of the several plans, it is expedient that an humble Address be 
 " presented to His Majesty, requesting him to appoint five Commis- 
 " sioners to examine and report generally to both Houses of Parlia- 
 " ment upon the plans offered by competition ; and that such 
 " Commissioners shall select and classify such of the plans, being 
 " not less than three or more than five in number, as shall seem to 
 " them most worthy of attention, and shall state, if required, the 
 " grounds upon which the propriety of such selection and classifica 
 " tion is founded." 
 
 It having been finally resolved that a structure should be raised 
 which should be as perfect in all its arrangements and details as 
 possible, whilst it should give scope for the development of national 
 architectural ability ; plans were advertized for, and as mwi^y as 
 ninety-seven sets of designs were sent. The Committee, aft6f toL-.h 
 consultation, selected the plan by Sir Charles (then Mr.) Barry, lo 
 which the Commissioners had awarded the first premium, and in 
 May 1836, reported to the House of Commons that they considered 
 themselves warranted in recommending this plan for adoption ; sub- 
 sequently to the award, however, some alterations were made at the 
 suggestion of the Commissioners as well as of the architect himself, 
 which they considered calculated materially to improve the original. 
 
 The commencement of the present magnificent Structure, which 
 affords, for the first time, a place of meeting for the Parliament
 
 6 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTFR. 
 
 worthy of England, was made in the year 1837, when the coffer 
 dam was commenced. 
 
 With a view to the selection of the proper stone to be employed 
 in the erection of the new building, the Lords Commissioners of the 
 Treasury authorized, in the autumn of 1838, a commission, including 
 Sir C. Barry, the architect, to make a tour of inspection to the 
 various stone quarries in the kingdom, and also to examine the 
 different stone which had been used in the erection of public and 
 other buildings; and an elaborate report was published of the 
 result of their labours ; in which they recommended that the most fit 
 and proper material to be employed was the stone from Bolsover 
 Moor and its neighbourhood. This quarry, however, did not yield 
 the quantity required, and the hard magnesian lime stone from 
 Anston, in Yorkshire, which is part of the same formation and of 
 like quality, has been used by recommendation of the same Commis- 
 sion for the exterior of the building with Caen stone for the interior. 
 In 1840, the river wall having been erected in Aberdeen granite, 
 and some other necessary foundations made, the first stone of the 
 superstructure! which it may be interesting to some to know, is that 
 forming the south-east angle of the plinth of the Speaker's House, 
 was laid on the 27th of April, but without any public ceremony ; 
 from which time the building progressed, till, on the 15th of 
 April, in 1847, the House of Peers and its adjoining Lobbies were 
 used for the first time. At the commencement of the Session of 
 1852, the first ofiicial occupation of the new House of Commons 
 took place, with which most of the public portions of the building 
 were also opened for their destined use. 
 
 In 1841, a '* Select Committee was appointed to take into consi- 
 " deration the promotion of the Fine Arts of this country in con- 
 " nexion with the re-building of the New Houses of Parliament ;" 
 and in a Pieport, issued shortly after, they stated " that it was the 
 " unanimous opinion of very distinguished professors and admirers 
 " of Art, that so important and national a work as the erection of 
 '* the two Houses of Parliament, affords an opportunity which ought 
 " not to be neglected of encouraging, not only the higher, but every 
 " subordinate branch of Art in this country :" adding " Your Com 
 ♦' mittee fully concur in this opinion, supported as it is by witnesses
 
 THE PALACa: OF WESTMINSTER. 7 
 
 •* of extensive information, and by artists of the highest character 
 " and ability. In adopting this, however, and further, in recom- 
 " mending that measures should be taken without delay, to encourage 
 " the Fine Arts by employing them in the decoration of the New 
 " Houses of Parliament, they desired to express their decided 
 " opinion, that to accomplish this object successfully, it was abso- 
 " lutely necessary that a plan should be previously determined on 
 " (and that as soon as practicable,) in order that the Architect and 
 " the Artist or Artists to be employed might work, not only iu 
 " conjunction with, but in aid of each other." 
 
 The Committee had examined during that year many individuals 
 well acquainted with the progress and position of the arts, both at 
 home and abroad, and the result of the enquiry carried on with th 
 best and most impartial spirit of investigation tended to direct them 
 to select the fresco style as the most eligible and best adapted for 
 the decoration of public buildings. Their Report concludes thus- 
 '• During this enquiry the attention of your Committee has been 
 " called to one branch of the Fine Arts, hardly known in this 
 " country, viz.. Fresco, and which must, in a great measure, depend 
 " for its encouragement upon direct public patronage. The space 
 " which it demands for its free development, and the subjects which 
 "it is peculiarly fitted to illustrate, combine to point out national 
 " buildings as almost the only proper sphere for the display of its 
 " peculiar characteristics, grandeur, breadth, and simplicity. Your 
 " Committee having carefully considered the evidence, are disposed 
 " to recommend that this style or mode of painting should be 
 " adopted." 
 
 Having thus come to an opinion on the first point to which their 
 enquiry was directed, the Commissioners said, that they had given 
 their attention to the question whether it would be expedient that 
 Fresco Painting should be employed in the decoration of the New 
 Houses of Parliament ; but they had not been able to satisfy them- 
 selves that the art of Fresco Painting had been hitherto sufficiently 
 cultivated in this country to induce them iu at once i-ecommending 
 that it should be so adopted. In order, therefore, to assist them in 
 forming a judgment in this matter, they proposed that artists should 
 be invited to enter into a competition in cartoons, and prepared
 
 8 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTEK, 
 
 a draft of an announcement on this subject, oifering premiums of 
 public money, to which they requested the sanction of Her Majesty, 
 ■which was most graciously accorded. 
 
 The Commissioners gave notice that premiums would be given to 
 artists who were to funiish cartoons which should be respectively 
 deemed worthy of the said premiums by judges to be appointed to 
 decide on the relative merits of the works which were to be executed 
 in chalk or charcoal, or in some similar material, but without colours. 
 Artists were also invited to send in models for sculpture, specimens 
 of carved work in wood, specimens of stained glass, and also of 
 frescoes, arabasque drawings, and ornamental metal work and pave- 
 ments, during the year 1843. 
 
 It was proposed (and subsequently sanctioned by the Lords of the 
 Treasury) that six compartments in the House of Lords should be 
 decorated with Fresco Paintings ; that the subject of each should 
 be illustrative of the functions of the House of Lords, and of the 
 relation in which it stands to the Sovereign ; that the subject of 
 three of the said Fresco Paintings should personify in abstract repre- 
 sentations. Religion, Justice, and the Spirit of Chivalry ; and that 
 the three remaining subjects should correspond with such repre- 
 sentations, and express the relation of the Sovereign to the Church, 
 to the Law, and as the fountain of power, to the State. 
 
 Sculpture was also duly considered, and Sir C. Barry reported 
 respecting the localities in the New Houses of Parliament which 
 might be adapted for the reception of works in sculpture, by which 
 it appears that there were niches in the whole building, provided for 
 the purpose of receiving statues as follows : — In Westminster Hall, 
 twelve ; in the Royal Gallery, eight ; in the Queen's Porch, four ; 
 in the House of Lords, eighteen ; in St. Stephen's Hall, twenty- 
 four ; Norman Porch, sixteen ; in the Central Hall, forty-eight ; 
 making altogether 118, averaging seven feet high; and he also 
 stated that, according to his proposed arrangements, " the entire 
 •' number of public monuments that the building and its quadrangles 
 " could accommodate would be, in isolated monuments or statues, 
 " two hundred and seventy and in mural monuments and tablets 
 " about four hundred, or, in the whole, six hundred and seventy 
 " monuments of all kinds."
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 9 
 
 In a subsequent Report, the Commissioners were of opinion, that 
 six insulated marble statues might be conveniently placed in St. 
 Stephen's Porch, and 12 such statues in St. Stephen's Hall. 
 
 The principal portions of the New Palace which it is proposed 
 to decorate, are, the Uoyal Gallery, St. Stephen's Hall, St. Stephen's 
 Porch, the Queen's Robing-Room, the Guard- Room, the Peers' 
 Robing-Room, the Prince's Chamber, the Peers' and Commons' 
 Corridors, &c., &c., in many of which the decorations have been duly 
 completed. 
 
 The Palace of Westminster occupies an area of about eight acres, 
 has four principal fronts, the eastern one being that towards the 
 river, and contains within its area no less than 13 quadi'angles 
 or courts for the admission of light and air into the numberless 
 rooms, residences, and offices, of which, besides the two Houses and 
 their adjuncts, it is made up. 
 
 Some idea may be formed of the intricacy and extent of its plan 
 when it is considered that it contains no less than 500 rooms, of all 
 kinds, with separate residences, (some of them of large size), for 18 
 different officers of the Houses of Lords and Commons ; the principal 
 of these are residences for the Speaker of the House of Commons, 
 the Serjeant-at-Arms, the Librarian of the House of Commons, and 
 the Librarian and Usher of the Black Rod of the House of Lords. 
 There is also within the building a suitable Chapel formed in 
 St. Stephen's crypt, for the use of the residents in the building. 
 
 We propose in the following pages, for the guidance of visitors, 
 to describe in order all the principal parts of this magnificent pile, 
 as well as those portions of the interior to which the public are now 
 admitted. 
 
 EXTERIOR. 
 
 The most important fagade may be said to be that towards the 
 river, or East Front ; it is in all 040 ft. in length, of which the 
 projecting portions in wings at the extremities are each 1 "SO ft. in 
 length, leaving between them a fine paved terrace, overlooking the 
 water, above 700 ft. long and 33 ft. wide ; this facade consists of five 
 portions — the centre, which has three stories above the ground floor,
 
 10 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 and the north and south curtains, which each have two stories only 
 above that level, while the wing towers (the beautiful design of which 
 is best seen from the river) are the most lofty portions. The portion 
 of this front between the wing towers is composed of bays, separated 
 by hexagonal buttresses the entire height of the building, richly 
 panelled, terminating in hexagonal open worked pinnacles, carrying 
 gilt vanes. The carved decorations have, as is the case throughout 
 the building, historical significancy ; the rich band of carving between 
 the windows of the principal and one-pair floors is composed of a 
 succession of the Royal Arms of England in each reign, from 
 William I. to our present Sovereign. These arms have their appro- 
 priate supporters under each dynasty, except in those which precede 
 the time of Richard II., when there were no heraldic supporters to 
 the royal coat, and this want is supplied by human figures, expres- 
 sing in some way the leading events which mark the various reigns 
 as, for instance, the figure supporting the arms of Rufus bears a 
 model of Westminster Hall, as being founded by him ; the supporter 
 to that of Edward III. is a figure of St. George and the Dragon, the 
 order of which was instituted by him — the others in like manner. 
 The band below the principal floor windows has inscriptions bearing 
 the date of each sovereign's accession and decease — while the panels 
 on each side of the coat of arms have sceptres and labels with 
 appropriate badges and inscriptions. In the parapet of each bay is 
 a niche with a figure of an angel bearing a shield. The carved 
 panels to the oriel windows, of which there are six in this front, have 
 the coat of arms of the present Sovereign, which also ends the series, 
 in order to indicate that the building was erected during her reign. 
 The wing towers are most harmoniously grouped together, and rise 
 considerably above the rest of the roofs ; at each angle are rich 
 octagonal stone pinnacles, while the roofs of the towers themselves 
 are covered with steep roofs, with elaborately perforated ornaments 
 in iron at the angles and tops, reminding one of the steep picturesque 
 roofs of some of the chateaux and belfry towers on the Continent, 
 especially in the Low countries. 
 
 It may be here mentioned that the roofs of the entire building are 
 of iron framing, involving in many parts most interesting and pecu- 
 liar construction, and the covering plates are also of iron, galvanized
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 11 
 
 - to protect them from rust, so that the principle of making the New 
 Palace as nearly fire-proof as possible, as far as the roofs are con- 
 cerned, has been thoroughly carried out. 
 
 The NoETH Fkont towards Westminster Bridge has bays and but- 
 tresses similar in disposition to that of the river front, and the 
 strings, windows, &c., range with those, but there are here two lofty 
 windows in place of one in each bay, the band between them as 
 before having coats of arms, which in this part bear the quarterings 
 of the Kings of England between the Heptarchy and the Conquest, 
 (thereby keeping up the above historical illustrations,) with inscrip- 
 tions of the dates of accession as before, while niches which divide 
 the windows laterally in each bay, have effigies of the Sovereigns 
 whose arms are below. This front terminates to the west, with the 
 lofty clock tower, which will be described hereafter. 
 
 The South Fbont is of similar design to the north, and has similar 
 decorations chronologically arranged, it terminates westward in the 
 great Victoria Tower. 
 
 The land or West Front is more broken than any of the rest, and 
 presents an effect chiefly striking from its picturesque appearance 
 and the varieties of light and shade produced, while on the other 
 hand, the river front is impressive from its extent and uniform 
 symmetry. This land front will embrace the area of the present 
 Law Courts, which are probably to be removed elsewhere at no 
 distant time, while the space will be usefully occupied by rooms 
 and offices of more immediate connection with the business of 
 Parliament. 
 
 Those portions of this front which are now complete, viz., that 
 portion fronting New Palace Yard, and the beautiful alteration and 
 improvement of the South Gable, &c., of Westminster Hall, St. 
 Margaret's Porch, Old Palace Yard, and the Victoria Tower, leave 
 no doubt of its future pictorial effect when complete. 
 
 The New Palace Yard front is composed of bays, divided by boldly 
 projecting square buttresses, terminating, as elsewhere, in rich pin- 
 nacles, and this portion of the building is devoted to the official 
 residences of the chief officers of the House of Commons, the figures 
 in the niches of this facade will, it is proposed, contain statues of 
 Kings and Queens. The north gable of Westminster Hall and the
 
 12 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, 
 
 adjoining Law Courts will one day, if the comprehensive designs of 
 the architect are carried out, be made to accord in character with the 
 beautiful front, and it w^as also a suggestion of the late Sir Chakles 
 Barry's that New Palace Yard be entirely enclosed by parliamentary 
 buildings, thus making it, by means of an important Gateway looking 
 towards Whitehall, the Entrance Court Yard of the New Palace, as 
 it was originally of the old Palace of Pdchard's II, time. Recently, 
 by the removal of the houses on the south side of Bridge Street, 
 New Palace Yard has been entirely incorporated with the Building, 
 and enclosed by a handsome iron-railing surmounted at short dis- 
 tances by ornamental globe gas-lights richly gilt.* 
 
 That portion of this side opposite Henry VII*^^- Chapel is called 
 St. Margaret's Porch, and adjoins the new gable of Westminster 
 Hall, which has been erected considerably south of the old gable, 
 and the great window which was therein has been moved and 
 replaced in the new wall, thus forming a magnificent porch at the 
 end of Westminster Hall (see St, Stephen's Porch, p. 42), The 
 facade between this point and the Victoria Tower is different in 
 design from the other parts, although accordant in character and 
 disposition ; it contains the entrance for the Peers to the House 
 of Lords, Lord Chancellor's apartments. Parliament offices, &c. Tlie 
 internal courts, of varied design and most picturesque effect, more 
 plainly treated than the external facades, admit light and air to 
 the innumerable rooms in this wonderful building, while, by means 
 of archways connecting these courts there is afforded facility of 
 access by carriages to all parts of the interior. Numberless towers, 
 oriels, and turrets, add to the effect of the sky-line of the building, 
 whether viewed from the exterior or from the courts ; but the three 
 most important towers which deserve special remark are the Victoria 
 Tower, at the south-west angle ; the Clock Tower, at the north-west 
 extremity, and the Central Tower, connecting and balancing as it 
 were the other two. 
 
 • " The New Palace Yard being anciently enclosed by a wall, there were four gates therein, 
 
 " the only one at present remaining is that on the east side leading to Westminster Stairs 
 
 " the three others which were demolished were that on the north which led to Woolstaple, 
 " that on the west called Highgate, a very beautiful and stately edifice, situate at the east end 
 " of Union-street, it was taken down in tlie year 170(5, as was also the third at the north end 
 " of St. Margaret's Lane, Anno 1731. Maitland ed., 1739."
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 13 
 
 The Victoria Tower is the largest and highest square tower in the 
 world, being 75 feet square and 336 feet high to the top of the 
 pinnacles, and over 400 feet to top of flagstaff, intended (when the 
 Sovereign is within the walls) to bear a Royal Standard of 
 12 yards long by 9 yards wide. Its great mass rendered 
 necessary the utmost care and scientific treatment of the very 
 treaclierous ground of its foundation ; this is made of solid con- 
 crete 9 feet 6 inches in depth, with solid brickwork over that, 
 tlie whole enclosed and strengthened by piling. The lower part, 
 which is entered by a gigantic archway to the west, 50 feet high, 
 is appropriated to the sole use of the Sovereign, who, when opening 
 or proroguing parliament, will always enter here, the Royal Carriage 
 being driven under the Tower to the foot of the Royal Staircase 
 within the Tower. Colossal statues of the Lion of England, bear- 
 ing the National Standard, flank the portal, while carving, rich 
 and emblematical, adorns the walls and groined roof of the interior. 
 Within the Porch and over the Archway, on the east side, are 
 niches containing statues of the Guardian Saints of the United 
 Kingdom ; St. George of England, St. Andrew of Scotland, and 
 St. Patrick of Ireland ; while the similar Archway on the north 
 side which forms the access to the Royal Staircase, has niches of 
 accordant design, containing a colossal figure of Her Majesty Qaeea 
 Victoria in the centre, while those on either side contain allegorical 
 statues of Justice and Mercy, as the two best prerogatives of the 
 British Crown. Recurring to the exterior of the Tower immediately 
 over the above great entrance, as well as on the south side, is a row 
 of rich niches, the centre one higher than the rest, and containing a 
 statue of the Queen, while the others are occupied by her Parents 
 the late Duke and Duchess of Kent, and other members of the Royal 
 Family. Above these, deeply recessed and lofty windows arise, and 
 over them a delicately beautiful tier of arcade work divides them 
 from a second tier of windows above. These have ogee canopies 
 richly carved, and are more deeply recessed in the walls ; each of 
 these windows has a balcony, from whence may be obtained views of 
 the river and of the surrounding country, and above these windows 
 again arises a similar arcade of small openings to that below. The 
 Tower is completed by a pierced parapet of appropriate design, and
 
 14 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 finishes harmoniously the elaborate richness of every part of its wall 
 surfaces. The roof, resembling those to the towers of the river 
 front, from the centre of which rise the before-mentioned flagstaff, 
 from which the Royal Standard will be hoisted upon the Queen's 
 opening or proroguing Parliament. The whole of the interior of the 
 Tower, above the groining over the entrance, is to be fitted up with 
 numerous fire-proof floors to receive parliamentary records and docu- 
 ments ; the lowest of these floors being fitted up as a sorting room, 
 from whence a circular staircase leads to the several rooms in each 
 floor. Access to these rooms is obtained by the staircase turret at 
 the south-east corner of the Tower, as well as by a special door in the 
 Peers' Facade. 
 
 The Clock Tower is a structure equally original, but quite differing 
 in design. It is situated at the north-west angle of the building, in 
 New Palace Yard, and it is a curious circumstance, and one evidencing 
 the desire of the architect to perpetuate the traditions of this interest- 
 ing spot that the well-known Clock Tower of the old Palace, (which 
 has been engraved by Hollar,) stood almost on the site of the present 
 one ; this structure was built in the reign of Edward I., and its 
 expense defrayed from a fine imposed on Ralph de Hingham, a Chief 
 Justice of England. An old chronicle of 1657 tells us that "its 
 " intent was by the clock striking continually, to remind the judges 
 *' in the neighbouring courts to administer true justice, they calling 
 " thereby to mind the occasion and means of its building." The 
 great bell in it, called " Tom of Westminster," was given by 
 William III. after the Tower was destroyed, to the Dean and 
 Chapter of St. Paul's, and its metal forms a part of the great bell 
 of that Cathedral at present. The plan of the present Clock Tower is 
 square, and its altitude is not far short of that of the Victoria Tower, 
 being 316 feet from high water mark (Trinity standard) to the top 
 of the sceptre on its roof ; but its design is totally dissimilar ; its 
 walls are pannelled and buttressed delicately, yet with simplicity ; 
 the richest part of its design being in and above the stage of the 
 great Clock, with the beautiful lantern spire which surmounts the 
 whole. The Clock itself is, of course, the chief feature in the com- 
 position, and has a dial 23 feet 6 inches in diameter, which is the 
 largest in the world that is, where the Clock is an integral part of
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 15 
 
 the design, the only larger one being that at Mechlin, but there the 
 dial is formed of open metal work applied over, but having no connec- 
 tion with the architecture. The Clock works have been placed under 
 the able superintendence of the Astronomer Royal, Professor Airey, 
 and will, it is expected, be very remarkable for their excellency and 
 the different indications of time, date and month of year. &c., that 
 they will be made to show, and it having been proposed to set the 
 time daily by electric communication with the Greenwich Observa- 
 tory, the time shown by this Clock will be, of course, the standard 
 time for London. 
 
 The roof is of cast and wrought iron, after the style and appear- 
 ance of the other roofs of the Palace, but more fully developed in its 
 ornaments and finishing, gilding and colour being introduced to an 
 extent not elsewhere to be seen in this country, and producing a most 
 striking and beneficial effect. 
 
 Within this roof are placed the enormous hour bell and quarter 
 bells belonging to the Clock. The design and superintendence 
 of the castings of these remarkable bells were entrusted to the 
 care of E. B. Denison, Esq., M.P., who from his long study of the 
 principles and art of bell-founding, was presumed to be the most 
 competent practical authority on these subjects. The first great 
 bell, called familiarly " Big Ben," from Sir Benjamin Hall, the late 
 First Commissioner of Works, was broken by its own hammer, while 
 temporarily suspended in a timber frame-work at the foot of the 
 Tower for experiments on its sound and quality. 
 
 The second great bell, cast from a design supplied by A. Ashpitel, 
 Esq., architect, by Messrs. Mears, the well-known bell-founders, was 
 equally unfortunate, for, shortly after being hoisted in its proper 
 place, at great labour and expense, it met with nearly the same fate 
 as its predecessor. The crack however, did not spread, and after 
 being silent for some time, it is now again in use. The weight of 
 the hour-bell is about 14 tons, and the united weight of the four 
 quarter-bells is nearly 9 tons. 
 
 The Central Tower, occupying as its name imports, the centre of 
 this great building, is different in design from either of the fore- 
 going ; it is a marvellous piece of construction, containing the largest 
 octagon gothic vault known where a centre pillar is not used, as is
 
 16 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 the case in most of the larger chapter-houses of our cathedral cities. 
 The Tower is eutirely occupied in the lower part by the Central 
 Hall, of which a description will be found below; above its stone 
 vault rises a great cone of bricks, faced with stone, which carries 
 the light and beautiful open lantern, rising far above the roofs ; this 
 portion of the Tower is used as the air shaft or outlet for the venti- 
 lation of the whole of the great building, evincing how possible it 
 may be to convert a necessary and not usually ornamental append- 
 age into a most original and attractive feature. 
 
 Besides the three towers above described are many others of 
 varying design and great beauty and character, forming from all 
 points of view from the courts of the building pleasing and ap- 
 priate features. To complete our survey of the exterior of the 
 building, it is quite necessary to walk through the Courts. They 
 are called, beginning at the north end of the building : 1. The 
 Speaker's Court, so named from its giving access to the splendid 
 official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons. 2. The 
 Commons Court. 3. The Commons Inner Court. Then passing 
 the centre of the building, and still in direct communication with the 
 last, we enter, 4. The Peers' Inner Court. 5. The Peers' Court; 
 and lastly, passing under the Bishop's Tower, the Royal Court, from 
 which access is obtained either to the south facade of the building or 
 to the Victoria Tower. There is a second range of inner Courts 
 parallel to the last, and to the west of them ; going through them 
 from the Royal Court, in a direction south to north, these are 
 called :— I. The Chancellor's Court, 2. The Judges' Court. 3. St. 
 Stephen's Court, 4, The Cloister Court. 5. The Star Chamber 
 Court. The last giving access by means of a double carriage archway 
 into New Palace Yard. 
 
 Having thus hurriedly called the attention of the visitor to the 
 principal parts of the exterior, we shall proceed to accompany him 
 through the State Apartments of this Royal and National Palace, 
 although, at present, the public are not admitted to some few of the 
 apartments here described to make the series complete.
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 VICTORIA TOWER. 
 
 17 
 
 HE internal decorations and arrangement of this 
 Tower have been described ; to the left is the 
 Royal Staircase, formed of grey granite, 
 simple in its character and imposing from its 
 scale ; at its summit we enter the Norman 
 Porch, so called from its being intended to 
 place therein statues of our Norman Sovereigns 
 ^ on the various pedestals, as well as to adorn 
 
 i:^:^^tP the panels of the walls with fresco painting of 
 SI/ the subjects taken from this period of English 
 
 history. The beautifully clustered centre shaft and the 
 carved groined ceiling of this apartment deserves at- 
 tention. The paving of this chamber is inlaid with 
 Devonshire and Irish marble and encaustic tiles, while the 
 seats in the recesses are formed of Purbeck marble, and the 
 risers of Devonshire marble. The door on the right hand 
 leads through an anti-room to the Royal Robing Room, 
 which, when finished, will be a magnificent apartment ; it was pro- 
 posed to decorate the walls with a series of fresco paintings by the 
 late Mr. Dyce, R.A., intended to illustrate the effects and benefits of 
 Chivalry, in fostering generous and religious feelings — the subject 
 being " The Legende of Kinge Arthur ;" the recent decease how- 
 ever of that Artist, has for the present, postponed the completion of 
 the series. 
 
 THE PEERS' ENTRANCE 
 Is in the centre of the front towards Old Palace Yard, and is en- 
 tered from thence under a massive and ornate Carriage Porch with 
 stone groining; from it the visitor enters the outer Hall or Vestibule 
 communicating through a screen to an inner Hall, used also as a 
 Cloak Room. This inner Hall is divided into central and side isles, 
 as it were, by clustered pillars and groins, and has, from this cause, 
 a somewhat ecclesiastical effect. The windows of the Hall, as well 
 as the panels and windows of the staircase, are appropriately filled 
 with the emblazoned arms of the Peers of the realm, with the dates
 
 18 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 of their creation— the earliest may be seen in the windows imme- 
 diately opposite the Porch. Under an archway at the south-east 
 corner of the inner Hall, is seen the Peers' Staircase, from whence, 
 through a corridor at the east end, an entrance is obtained to the 
 Prince's Chamber, and at the west end to the rooms of the Lord 
 Chancellor and various other Officers connected with the House of 
 Lords. From this staircase, through a screen on the north side, is 
 a corridor leading to the Peers' Piobing Room. 
 
 THE ROYAL GALLERY. 
 
 A magnificent apartment, 110ft. in length, by 45ft. in width and 
 
 45ft. high, but not yet complete in its finishings. To this Gallery 
 
 the public are admitted to view the Royal procession on its way from 
 
 the Robing Room to the House of Peers when Her Majesty opens 
 
 and prorogues Parliament ; seats rising one above the other extend 
 
 along its entire length for the use of the public on these occasions — 
 
 the walls above these seats are to be decorated with a chronologically 
 
 arranged series of subjects from English history, — two fresco 
 
 paintings by D. Maclise, Esq., R.A., " The Meeting of Wellington 
 
 and Blucher, after Waterloo," and " The Death of Nelson," have 
 
 already been completed in the large panels, (see pages 53 & 57,) 
 
 — while a band of shields emblazoned with the arms of the Kings 
 
 of England and Scotland runs immediately below the windows ; 
 
 these are filled with stained glass of appropriate design, while a 
 
 splendidly paneled and decorated ceiling crowns the whole. In the 
 
 niches of the doorways and bay window, are placed gilded statues of 
 
 the English Kings and Queens, as follows — 
 
 SOUTH DOOR. WEST DOOR. 
 
 Henry V. and Elizabeth. William III. and Anne. 
 
 NORTH DOOR. BAY WINDOW. 
 
 Alfred and William I. Richard I. and Edward III. 
 
 B. PHILIP, Sculptor. 
 
 THE PRINCE'S CHAMBER. 
 
 Serves as a kind of anti-ro(im to the House of Lords, where the 
 Sovereign is received on entering by the chief of the nobility. 
 
 The large doorway on the south side, the principal entrance 
 from the Royal Gallery, is of lofty pitch, richly decorated, and 
 deeply recessed. Four shields, with crowns over them in alto- 
 rehevo, and bearing the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and 
 Wales, respectively, are at intervals in the mouldings on either side 
 of the door, roses filling up the vacant spaces ; whilst small labels, 
 on which are inscribed Auglia, Scotia, Hibernia, and Wallia, are
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 19 
 
 under each shield. Around the arch, a series of small quatrefoils is 
 introduced, and the spandrils have quatrefoils with a rose and a 
 fleur-de-lis within them. The archway on the north wall corresponds 
 exactly in design to its companion opposite ; and contains the statue 
 
 MARBLE GKODPr 
 BY JOHN GIBSON, ESQ R.A
 
 20 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and the figures of Justice and 
 Clemency on either side of her, with Bassi-releivi in the pedestal ; 
 the whole is the work of John Gibson, R.A., of European celebrity. 
 The group, although a work of great merit in itself, may we think be 
 considered to detract from the scale of the chamber, as it is sugges- 
 tive of a much bolder and simpler style of decoration. 
 
 Entrance is obtained from the Prince's Chamber to the House of 
 Lords by two doors one on either side of the Throne. The walls are 
 paneled to a considerable height, having a deep frieze running round 
 the room. On the north and south sides, the walls above the 
 panehng are, at present, covered with drapery of a dark marone, 
 having roses and crowns diapered upon it in gold colour, as a 
 temporary adornment to blank walls, it being intended, at a 
 future period, to have tapestry in the vacant places between the 
 pillars. The east and west ends have each three windows, above 
 the paneling, each window being divided into three lights. The 
 windows are filled with stained glass of simple design, consisting, in 
 each light, of the rose, thistle, and shamrock, surmounted by Royal 
 crowns on a ground of diaper-work, and the whole is bordered by a 
 narrow fillet, having roses at intervals. Tlie effect of these windows 
 is beautiful. The rich colours, and the softened tone of the light 
 which streams through them give additional magnificence to the 
 decorations of the apartment : in the paneling, on either side of 
 the apartment, is a series of spaces, nearly square, which are 
 filled with the following bassi-relievi, in bronze, representing 
 important events in the lives of the Queens of England. Six of 
 these spaces occur on the sides of the room, and over each fire-place 
 is a long space or panel, and are occupied with bas-reliefs, the work 
 of Mr. William Theed. 
 
 In the two compartments on the east 6. Queen Elizabeth knighting Drake, 
 
 and west sides : 7. Ealeigh Spreading his Cloak as 
 
 1. The field of the Cloth of Gold. a Carpet for the Queen. 
 
 2. The Visit of Charles V. to Heiu-y 8. The Death of Su- Phihp Sidney, 
 
 VIII. • (The subject of the Knighting 
 
 In the three compartments in the of Drake occupying the centre 
 
 south side, west of the door : panel.) 
 
 3. The Escape of Mary Queen of Scots. On the north side : 
 
 4. The murder of Rizzio. 9. Edward IV. granting a Charter to 
 
 5. Mary looking back on France. Christ's Hospital. 
 
 (The Escape of Mary occupying 10. Lady Jane Gray at her Studies, 
 
 the centre panel.) 11, Sebastian Cabot before Henry 
 In the three compartments on the VIII. 
 
 south bide, east of the door. 12 Catherine of ;\n-agon pleading.
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 21 
 
 The panels over these bassi-releivi, are filled up with the fuU 
 
 length portraits of Sovereigns of England, of the Tudor Family, 
 
 Princes and Princesses of the realm and Consorts of the Kings and 
 
 Queens : — 
 
 Henry YII. Elizabeth, daughter of Edward FV. 
 
 (House of Lancaster.) (House of York.) 
 
 Arthur. Mary. 
 
 Katharine. Louis XII. of France — Brandon D. of Suffolk. 
 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 Katherine of Arragon. Jane Seymour. Katherine Howard. 
 
 Anne Boleyn. Anne of Cleves. Katherine Parr. 
 
 Margaret. 
 
 James IV. of Scotland — Earl of Angus. 
 
 James V. — Mary of Guise. Frances. 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots. 
 Francis II. of France — Eai*l Darnley. 
 
 Edward VI. EUzabeth. Mary— Phihp of Spain. 
 
 Jane Grey — Lord Guildford Dudley. 
 
 The frieze above these panels is enriched with oak leaves and 
 acorns, having shields charged with the armorial bearings, properly 
 blazoned and gilded, of the different Sovereigns of England since 
 the Conquest. At intervals, and between each shield, is a narrow 
 label, running diagonally over the oak leaves, on which are the names 
 of the Sovereigns whose arms are delineated on the shields. 
 
 The Ceiling of the Prince's Chamber is exceedingly rich in decora- 
 tion. The surface is painted a dark blue. Within the compartments 
 are shields, containing, alternately, the arms of England, Scotland, 
 and Ireland, and around them are enriched quatrefoil borders, with 
 fleur-de-lis and coronals, the former in the central angles, a,nd the 
 latter at the corners. From the variety and richness of the sculpture 
 decorations of this ceiling, and the vivid colours employed in their 
 enrichment, the effect is beautiful, artistically softened by the tone 
 of the stained glass as to be perfectly free from crudity of colour. 
 
 The Fiue-places are of very elegant design and elaborate workman- 
 ship. The opening for the fire is a low arch, deeply recessed ; the 
 sides and back incrusted with red and blue encaustic tiles, having 
 the hons of England and the Koyal monogram on them respectively. 
 The spandrils of the arch are enriclied with Tudor roses, crowned, 
 painted and gilded; and from them flow, in graceful arrangement, 
 the thistle and shamrock, also gilded. In a long panel, immediately
 
 2Q THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 above the arch, are three quartrefoils, within circles, having in their 
 centres, shields of the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and 
 in gilt letters, on blue labels twining under the shields, the respec- 
 tive national mottoes " Dieu et mon Droit," " Nemo me Impune 
 Lacessit, and " Quis Separabit," In the spaces between the quatrefoila 
 are circlets of oak branches, with sceptres and swords placed saltire- 
 wise, inter-twined by a cord and tassels. The stove is low, and along 
 the top bar are fleur-de-hs ; the back has in relief the Royal Arms of 
 England, with the supporters and crest. The fire-dogs are of brass, 
 and represent shields, with the lions of England upon them ; the 
 standards being surmounted by Regal cro\\Tis. The fire implements 
 are of wrought brass, elegantly designed ; a raised moulding round 
 the hearth serving in lieu of a fender, besides being made in accord- 
 ance with the style of architecture of the room. From the Prince's 
 Chamber we enter 
 
 THE HOUSE OF LORDS. 
 
 The Interior of which is, without doubt, the finest specimen of 
 Gothic civil architecture in Europe ; its proportions, arrangements 
 and decorations, may be said to be perfect. The size and loftiness 
 of the apartment, its finely proportioned windows, with the gilded 
 and canopied niches between them ; the Throne glowing with gold 
 and colours ; the richly-carved panelling which lines the walls, with 
 its gilded and emblazoned cove, and the balcony of brass, of light 
 and elegant design, rising from the canopy ; the roof, most elaborately 
 painted ; its massy beams and sculptured ornaments, and pendants 
 richly gilded ; all unite in forming a scene of Royal magnificence as 
 brilliant as it is unequalled. 
 
 The House of Lords is 90 feet in length, 45 in breadth, and of 
 the same height. In plan, the House is divided into three parts ; 
 the northern and southern are each considerably smaller than the 
 centre, which constitutes the body or floor of the House, wherein are 
 the Woolsack, Clerks' Table, &c. ; and on either side the seats for the 
 Peers, in rows. The southern end is the part of the House in which 
 the Throne is placed, and is also for the accommodation of distin- 
 guished foreigners and others ; whilst the northern has the Bar for its 
 boundary, and is for the service of the House of Commons, when
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 23 
 
 summoned to the Upper House to attend Her Majesty or the Royal 
 Commissioners ; and where, also, counsel stand during judicial investi- 
 gations. The House is lighted by twelve lofty windows, six on either 
 side, each with eight compartments for figures. The windows are all 
 filled with stained glass, representing the Kings and Queens — both 
 Consort and Kegnaut— of the United Kingdom, standing under cano- 
 pies, classed, according to their historical connection, from the reign 
 of WiUiam the Conqueror. The rich draperies of the female figures 
 add much to the beauty of the windows. Six of them contain figures 
 of the Royal Line of England before the union of the Crowns ; three 
 of the Royal Line of Scotland, from Bruce to James VI. ; and three 
 of the sovereigns of Great Britain, from the reign of Charles I. 
 
 THE PAINTED WINDOWS. 
 
 ROYAL LINE OF ENGLAND BEFORE THE UNION OF THE CROWNS. 
 
 William tlie Conqueror. Matilda of Flanders. 
 Matilda, Queeu of Henry I. Empress Matilda. 
 
 Henry II, 
 John. 
 
 Edward I. 
 Edward Ill- 
 
 Richard II. 
 Henry V. 
 
 Edward IV. 
 Richard III. 
 
 Arthur Prince of Wales. 
 Jane Seymour. 
 
 Eleanor of Guienne. 
 Isabella of Augouleme. 
 
 Eleanor of Castile. 
 Philippa of Hainault. 
 
 Anne. 
 Katharine. 
 
 Elizabeth Wydeville. 
 Anne NeviUe. 
 
 Katharine of Aragon. 
 Edward VI. 
 
 William Rnfus. 
 Stephen. 
 
 II. 
 
 Richard I. 
 Henry HI 
 
 III. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 The Black Prince. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Henry IV. 
 Henry VI. 
 
 V. 
 Edward Prince of Wales. 
 Henry VII. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Henry VIII. 
 Mary. 
 
 Henry I, 
 
 Matilda of Boulogne. 
 
 Berengaria of Navarro 
 Eleanor of Provence. 
 
 Isabella. 
 Joan of Kent. 
 
 Mary Bohun. 
 Margaret of Anjou. 
 
 Edward V. 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Anne Boleyn. 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 ROYAL LINE OF SCOTLAND, BEFORE THE UNION OF THE CROWNS. 
 
 Robert Bruce. 
 Robert II. 
 
 David Duke of Rothsay. 
 James II. 
 
 James IV. 
 Mary. 
 
 Charles I. 
 James H. 
 
 Anne. 
 George II. 
 
 George HI. 
 Pnncuis Charlotte. 
 
 Elizabeth de Burgh. 
 Elizabeth Mure. 
 
 Marjory Douglas. 
 Mary of Guelders. 
 
 Margaret. 
 Damley. 
 
 VII. 
 
 David II. 
 Robert III. 
 
 VIII. 
 James I. 
 James III, 
 
 IX. 
 
 James V. 
 James VI. 
 
 Joanna. 
 
 Annabella Drummond. 
 
 Jane Beaufort. 
 Margaret of Denmark. 
 
 Mary of Guise. 
 Anne of Denmark. 
 
 ROYAL LINE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 Henrietta Maria. 
 Mary of Este. 
 
 George of Denmark. 
 Queen Caroline. 
 
 Queen Charlotte, 
 Duke ot Kent. 
 
 X. 
 
 Charles II. 
 WiUiam HI 
 
 Katharine of Braganza. 
 Mary. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Princess Sophia. George I. 
 
 Frederick, Prince of Wales. Augusta, Princess of Wales 
 
 XII. 
 
 George IV. Queen Caroline. 
 
 William IV. Qaeea Adelaide.
 
 24 THE PALACE OF WESTM[NSTER. 
 
 At each end of the House are three archways, corresponding in 
 size and mouldings with the windows ; and on the surface of the 
 wall, within the arches, are the first Frescoes, executed (as wall deco- 
 rations) in this country, under the superintendance of the Committee 
 for the Fine Arts. Those over the Throne are, 
 
 Edward III. conferring the Order of the ) p -ry p/^p-p t> a 
 Garter on the Black Prince ....)' ' > • • 
 
 The Baptism of St. Ethelbert . . . . W. Dyce, E.A. 
 
 Prince Henry acknowledging the autho- ) p -^ Cnvv "R A 
 rity of Judge Gascoigne i * ' > • • 
 
 The archways at the northern end of the House are very deeply 
 recessed, affording space for the Strangers' Gallery. Between the 
 windows, the arches at the ends, and in the comers of the House, are 
 niches, richly canopied ; the pedestals within which are supported by 
 angels holding shields, charged with the armorial hearings of the 
 Barons who wrested Magna Charta from King John. The angels, 
 piUars, pedestals, and canopies, are all gilded, and the interiors of 
 the niches elegantly diapered ; above them are corbels, whence spring 
 spandrils to support the ceiling. 
 
 The Eflfigies of the Barons who were deputed to obtain Magna 
 Charta from King John, in all eighteen, are placed in the niches 
 between the windows, and the following is a list of the statues and 
 the sculptors who have executed the models for the statues — 
 
 Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1 j m 
 WilHam, Earl of Salisbury |J. ±HOMAS. 
 
 Henri de Londres, Archbishop of Dublin ...1 t -c m„„ 
 William, Earl of Pembroke T ' ^- T^°^^^- 
 
 Almeric, Master of the Knights Templar .. | p ^,j)^ r^, 
 
 Waryn, Earl 01 Pembroke ... ... ... j ' 
 
 William Earl of Arundel 
 Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent 
 
 Richard, Earl of Clare 
 William, Earl of Aumale 
 
 ^ W. E. WoODINGTON. 
 
 Ih. Timbeell. 
 
 Geoffry, Earl of Gloucester ... ... ■•■lTaTir„, 
 
 Saher,'Earl of Winchester | J. S. Westmacott. 
 
 Henry, Earl of Hereford ... ... ...Ixm 
 
 -D 17 1 f AT rn > J . Thoenyceoft. 
 
 Roger, Earl of JN orlolk ... ... . . J 
 
 Ie. Theupp, 
 
 ... ... J 
 
 Robert, Earl of Oxford 
 Robert Fitz waiter 
 
 Eustace de Vesci 
 Wilham de Mowbray 
 
 :::} 
 
 A. H. Ritchie.
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 25 
 
 The Ceiling of the House is flat, and is divided into eighteen large 
 compartments ; these are each again divided, by smaller beams, into 
 four, having in their centre lozenge-formed compartments, deeply 
 moulded. Different devices and symbols, carved, fill the lozenges, and 
 all of them are gilded. Amongst the devices, and immediately over 
 the Throne, is the Royal monogram, crowned, and interlaced by a cord, 
 the convolutions of which are so arranged as to form loops at the 
 corners ; whilst similarly crowned and decorated, the monograms of 
 the Prince of Wales and the late Prince Consort fill the lozenges over 
 their respective seats. The cognizance of the White Hart, of PJchard 
 the Second ; the Sun, of the House of York ; the Crown, in a bush, 
 of Henry the Seventh ; the Falcon, the Dragon, and the Greyhound 
 are in some of the lozenges ; whilst the Lion passant of England, 
 the Lion rampant of Scotland, and the Harp of Ireland, fill others. 
 Sceptres and orbs, emblems of regal power, with crowns ; the scales 
 indicative of justice ; mitres and croziers, symbols of religion ; and 
 blunted swords of mercy, add their hieroglyphic interest; while 
 crowns and coronets, and the ostrich plume of the Prince of Wales, 
 form enrichments more readily understood, and equally appropriate. 
 These devices are encircled by borders, in admirable intricacy, and 
 all of them are most elaborate in workmanship ; indeed, so minute 
 in detail, that a glass is required to detect all their beauties. In the 
 vacant corners, between the lozenges and the mouldings of the 
 beams, the ceihng is painted of a deep blue, and surrounded by a 
 red border, on which are small yellow quartrefoils. Within the borders 
 are circles. Royally crowned, and from them proceed sprays of roses, 
 parallel to the sides of the lozenges. The circles contain various 
 devices and shields; amongst the former are the rose of England, 
 the pomegranate of Castile, the portcullis of Beaufort, the lily of 
 France, and the lion of England ; and in the latter are the fanciful 
 armorial bearings of those counties which ages since composed the 
 Saxon Heptarchy. Where the lozenges are filled with the mitre, the 
 circles are gules, and charged with a cross, and issuing from the 
 circle are rays, instead of sprigs of roses. The wliole are gilded, and 
 enriched by colour. The ceiling is, as may be inferred, most striking 
 in its appearance ; the massy tie beams, apparently of solid gold, so 
 rich as they are with that precious metal, and tlie minute carving
 
 26 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 which fills up the lozenge-formed compartments, aided by the 
 colours of the devices, painted on the surface of the ceiling— unite 
 in producing a most imposing and gorgeous effect. 
 
 Under the window the walls of the House are covered with oak 
 panehng of a varied pattern. In alternate panels are beautifully 
 carved pillars, each crowned with a small bust of one of the Kings 
 of England. The busts of the very earliest Kings are, of course, 
 imaginary ; but those for which authorities could be found, are 
 perfect specimens of portrait carving in wood. The pillars in the 
 southern division of the House have pedestals affixed to them, on 
 which are lions, sejant, holding shields emblazoned with the arms of 
 England. Above the panels, between each bust, runs the following 
 inscription—" God save the Queen," in open-worked letters of the 
 Tudor character. A canopy springs from this, the surface of which 
 is gilded and decorated with the armorial bearings of the various 
 Lord Chancellors of England, from Adam, Bishop of St. David's, in 
 1377, to the late Chancellor. These escutcheons present a remarkably 
 rich and unique decoration ; and the variety of colours so displayed 
 is very striking. The arms of the various Sovereigns under whom 
 the Chancellors have held office are also painted. 
 
 At the northern end of the House, the episcopal arms fill the 
 spaces of the canopy. The front of the cove or canopy, is moulded, 
 and at every space corresponding to the pillars of the panelling is a 
 small carved pendant ; above it is a lion's head in strong rehef, and 
 thence spring the standards to the brass railing of the Gallery. 
 This railing is of simple but exquisite design. The standards are 
 partly twisted, and between each runs a rail, supported by segments 
 of arches. Admission to this balcony is obtained from the upper 
 Corridor by small doorways under each window ; and as the doors 
 are panelled like the rest of the wall, and have no distinguishing 
 features to indicate their purpose, it would be impossible to surmise 
 the existence of so many entrances when they are shut. A single 
 row of seats runs along the Gallery. The panelling above the Gallery 
 is very rich in its details. The remaining portion of the panels are 
 filled with vine-leaves and grapes in relief. Two elegantly carved 
 slender pillars, with capitals of varied design, are at the angles of 
 the windows, and one on either side of the doors under the latter ;
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. '27 
 
 they support a cornice, above which a richly carved brattishing runs 
 all round the House. 
 
 The centre of the southern end of the House is occupied by the 
 Throne, and on either side of it, below the Gallery, is a doorway, 
 leading to the Prince's Chamber. 
 
 The northern end of the House has the Reporters' Gallery over 
 the principal doorway in its centre. The Strangers' Gallery is 
 behind the Reporters'. 
 
 The frescoes in the archways at the back of the Strangers' Gallery 
 are — 
 
 The Spirit of Justice D. Maclise, R.A. 
 
 The Spirit of Religion J. C. Horsley, 
 
 The Spirit of Chivalry D. Maclise, R.A. 
 
 From the floor of the House, the appearance of this Gallery is 
 
 eminently beautiful. It projects several feet from the wall, and is 
 
 supported by five arches, three in the front and one at each end ; 
 
 the central arch in the front being of wider span than the others, 
 
 the compartments over the centre door having within them the coat 
 
 armour of the Saxon, Norman, Plantagenet, Tudor, Stuart, and 
 
 Hanoverian Houses painted on Shields ; whilst in the compartments 
 
 over the side door are the arms of the Archiepiscopal sees, and some 
 
 of the Bishoprics, in continiiation of the series of Episcopal arms, 
 
 emblazoned at this end of the room. The front of the Gallery is 
 
 divided into three compartments, to correspond to the doorways 
 
 beneath ; within them are sunken panels beautifully ornamented, 
 
 on which the badges of the different Sovereigns of England are 
 
 painted. There are two ranges of seats in the Reporters' Gallery, 
 
 and the front one has accommodation for ten persons. The arches 
 
 under the Gallery, and the three small arches on either side of it, 
 
 are hung vdth the richest and brightest red velvet, and a clock, the 
 
 face of which is exquisitely enamelled in colours stands on a bracket 
 
 in front of the Gallery ; the case is beautifully carved. 
 
 The Bar is about nine feet vride and three deep, at each corner of 
 which is a post, having on its outer faces the monogram, V.R., 
 within quatrefoiled circles. The angles of the posts are ornamented 
 by moulding. The two inner posts of the Bar are crowned with 
 small figures of the lion and unicorn holding shields ; and the two
 
 28 THE PALACK OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 outer are crabftttlcd. AHixcrl to the wall, on the right hand of the 
 Bar, is the enclosed and elevated seat of the Usher of the Black 
 Eod : it is panelled and decorated in corresponding style with the 
 extreme ends of the Peers' seats, which have panels of extremely- 
 intricate trcillage of vine, oak, rose, and thistle patterns, beautifully 
 sculptured and pierced, let into them. That on the left is for Peers' 
 eldest sons, who have also the privilege of standing on the steps of 
 the Throne. The extreme ends of the seats rise in steps, corres- 
 ponding to the steps on which the seats are elevated, and at their 
 corners are badges of some of the Pioyal Houses of England ; the 
 white hart, dragon, greyhound, &c. 
 
 On each side of the House are two doors, one near either end, 
 leading into corridors. The doors are panelled in the lower part, 
 and tilled with open tracery in the upper panels, which are glazed 
 with pLite-glass. 
 
 The Corridors are very handsomely panelled and ceiled wltli oak, 
 and extend the whole length of the House. Their appearance is 
 singularly rich and effective, the warm colour of the panelling har- 
 monising thoroughly with the stained glass and the rich blue of the 
 cai'pet ; the whulows are square-headed, divided by mullions, and 
 traceried. 
 
 The glass is richly diapered, and in labels running diagonally the 
 motto " Dieii et niou Droit " is many times repeated. In recesses 
 opposite to the wnulows are seats cushioned and covered with red 
 leather. In recesses, also, arc branches for gas, and opposite 
 tlie doors leading IVoui the House globe lights hang from the 
 ceilinij. 
 
 Above these principal corridors are others, without any decoration, 
 whence ingress is obtained to the Gallery. This upper corridor is 
 lighted by small quatrelbil-shaped windows, and gasliglus are 
 pendtmt from the roof. 
 
 Two magnificent Candelabra of brass rise from the posts at the 
 end of the Peers' scats. They are about twelve feet and a half high, 
 and consist of a shaft ornamented with u leaf pattern and supported 
 at tlio sides by short pillars, crowned with fleurs-de-lis; at about 
 eight feet iVom the grouud the sliaft has eight flying buttresses
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTEIl. 
 
 '^9 
 
 ^,^^ 
 
 % 
 
 .a 
 
 projecting from it, and from them, in curves, spring out branches 
 
 with socliets for lights. Above this series of 
 lights are four others, of lesser dimensions, 
 and the whole is crowned by a single light 
 rising from the centre. The workmanship of 
 these Candelabra is most elaborate, and is 
 worlhy of their exquisite design. They uro 
 manufactured by the iirni of Hardman, of 
 Birmingham. 
 
 There are two other beautiful specimens of 
 Candelabra on either side, a little in advance of 
 the Throne, which have an imposing a[)pcar- 
 ance. To the topmost coronal they stand about 
 seventeen feet high, of which the pedestal is 
 nearly five feet, and are beautiful speciiaens of 
 skill in brass working, weighing 11 2- cwt. each. 
 The seats for the Peers are extremely com- 
 fortable. There are four rows of seats, each 
 disposed in three ranges, so as to allow of free 
 passage between them. The carpet is of deep 
 blue, ornamented with roses in gold colour. 
 
 The whole of tlie excellent arrangements 
 for tlie warming, lighting, and ventilation of 
 tlie House of Peers, were carried out originally 
 by the architect on a plan of his own, tbc 
 woiking of them, however, together with the 
 ventilation and warming of the whole building, 
 have been entrusted to a resident ofliccr 
 specially appointed by the Governmunt for 
 that purpose. 
 The Throne is elevated on steps, the central portion having three 
 
 and the sides two steps, covered with a carpet of richest velvet pile. 
 
 The ground colour of the carpet is a bright scarlet, and the pattern 
 
 is composed of roses and lions, alternately. A gold-coloured fringe 
 
 borders the carpet. 
 
 The Canopy to the Throne is divided into three compartments ; 
 
 the central one is much loftier than the others, for her Majesty 
 
 .ai 

 
 so 
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 that on the right hand for the Prhice of Wales, and that on 
 the left for the late Prhice Consort. The back of -the central 
 compartment is paneled in the most exquisite manner. The 
 
 three lowest panels have Hons passant of England, carved and 
 gilded, on a red ground, and above them, in a wide panel, arched 
 and enriched with quatre-foihng, are the Royal Arms of England, 
 surrounded by the Garter, with its supporters, helmet and crest, 
 and an elaborate mantling, forming a rich and varied background. 
 The motto, " Dieu et mon Droit," is on a horizontal band of deep 
 blue tint. Above the brattishing is a series of five panels, with ogee 
 arches. The crests of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, richly 
 carved and gilded, fill the panels. The ceiling is flat, divided into 
 many small squares. In the centre is the monogram V.R., surrounded 
 by a border beautifully designed and carved. The flat surfaces of 
 the ceiling are enriched by stars painted on them. As before 
 mentioned, the overhanging canopy of the central division projects 
 considerably beyond the sides, and it is suj)ported by spandrils 
 rising from octagonal pillars, having small roses and fleur-de-lis 
 wrought in trellis work, with the most delicate execution upon
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 31 
 
 their several sides. The capitals of these pillars are peculiarly 
 beautiful, having a coronal form, with floreated enrichment. The 
 spandrils are enriched with quatrefoil tracery, and in tlieir angles 
 are representations of St. George and the Dragon, beautifully 
 executed. The sides of the canopy have deeply sunken panels, 
 enriched with shields of the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland, 
 and Wales, most beautifully carved and gilded. Affixed to the 
 pillars supporting the canopy are octangular pedestals, ornamented 
 with quatrefoils, and having canopied and groined capitals, on the 
 faces of which are shields charged with the escutcheons of England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland. Upon these pedestals are figures of winged 
 angels, sitting and holding shields, with the arms of England 
 enamelled upon them. 
 
 The paneling on the sides, on either hand of the Chair of State, 
 consists of two rows of open-worked arches, with elaborate tracery, 
 and above them other panels filled with floreated enrichments of the 
 most exuberant design. 
 
 Much skill has been displayed in the construction of Her 
 Majesty's State Chair, which is particularly splendid in its 
 
 enrichments. In general out- 
 line it is similar to the cliair in 
 which the Sovereigns of England 
 have been wont to sit at their 
 Coronations, but in detail it 
 differs widely from its plain 
 prototype. The legs of the 
 Chair, resting upon four lions 
 couchant, have pinnacled but- 
 tresses on each side, those on 
 tlie back being, of course, con- 
 sidcrablv his>licr than the front 
 ones. Tlie arms are boldly 
 moulded, and in the sunken 
 panels beneath them are lions 
 passant. On moulded capitals, above the pinnacles to the back legs, 
 a lion and unicorn are seated holding scrolls. The back of the Chair 
 is gabled, of lofty pitch ; and within it, in a circle, is a cpiatrefoiled
 
 82 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 ornament of eight, points, having in the centre the monogram V.R. 
 entwined by a cord. A broad border surrounds the square part of 
 the back of the Chair, on which are, alternately, large and brilliant 
 egg-shaped pieces of rock crystal, and lions within quatrefoils 
 enamelled. The addition of crystals as enrichments to the Throne 
 is a peculiarly happy idea, as the effect and the sparkling brilliancy 
 they impart, is most charming. Within this border are the Royal 
 Arms of England, worked in embroidery on velvet. 
 
 The State Chairs of the Prince of Wales and the late Prince Con- 
 sort are exactly alike in form and general details, the only variations 
 being in the embroidery on the velvet backs, and in the monogi-ams. 
 The backs are circular-headed. The velvet backs are most magnificent 
 specimens of embroidery, and in design command unqiialiried praise, 
 ornament and appropriateness being so happily blended. 
 
 The Chair of the Prince of Wales has the ostrich feathers most 
 beautifully worked issuing from the coronet, having the motto " Ich 
 Dien " under it, while, on the side, are the letters P.W. respectively. 
 That of the late Prince has his armorial bearings, and in circlets 
 at the sides the letters P. A. are worked. The cushion to the seats 
 is of crimson velvet, richly embroidered. 
 
 As every portion of Her Majesty's Throne, and the Chairs for the 
 Princes is gilded, some idea may be formed of their splendid appear- 
 ance ; and standing under a canopy of the richest design, glowing 
 with gold and colours, they produce a magnificent effect. 
 
 The Footstool to the Queen's Throne is of oblong shape, about one 
 foot four inches in length. The top is covered with the richest crimson 
 velvet, and is embroidered in gold. The pattern is a rose of eight 
 leaves, within a circular border, from whence small roses spray out 
 towards the corners, and the whole is included in a border to the 
 outer form of the footstool, of fleurs-de-lis, &c. 
 
 The side compartments of the canopy are like in general architec- 
 tural detail, but differ in heraldic insignia, the one side having the 
 symbols of the Prince of Wales, blended with its architectural features, 
 whilst the other has those relating to the late Prince Consort. On 
 the pedestal, at the Prince of Wales's side, is a lion holding a shield, 
 on which the arms of England are displayed ; and on that on the 
 other side is a unicorn holding a shield similarly charged.
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. S3 
 
 The paneling is alike in both compartments, the lowest row con- 
 taining fanciful bands, with rich foilage interwoven ; the second and 
 third series quartrefoils ; and the fourth richly traceried ogee arches. 
 Within the quartrefoils, P. W. and P. A. respectively, are carved and 
 gilded, relieved by a deep blue background. The arches in the 
 upper row have shields of arms helmeted and crested with Koyal 
 crowns. Tall arched panels display the armorial bearings of the 
 Prince, in gold and colours, surrounded by the Garter, and having 
 crowns above them. On blue labels, under the arms, are the respec- 
 tive mottoes " Ich Dien," and " Treu und Fest," in slightly raised 
 letters. The arched coves above are each divided into four panels by 
 enriched ribs, the two central panels containing shields helmeted and 
 mantled, on which, in the Prince of Wales's Canopy, are the armorial 
 ensigns of the Principality, and the Royal Arms of England ; and in 
 the late Prince Consort's are the escutcheons of Saxe Coburg Gotha 
 and England ; the two outer panels have lions and unicorns sitting, 
 and holding banners displayed, on which are the triple ostrich 
 feathers on an a^ure ground, and a red cross on a white ground 
 respectively. 
 
 THE PEERS' LOBBY. 
 
 Entering the Peers' Lobby, which is the chief approach to the 
 House of Lords, the visitor is struck with its magnificence ; the de- 
 corations, both architectural and pictorial, are extremely elegant 
 and appropriate, though of course, less elaborate than those of the 
 House. In plan, the Lobby is square, each side being divided into 
 a wide central, and two smaller arched compartments. 
 
 The wide central compartments, on either side, have lofty arches, 
 or doorways, all of precisely similar proportions and arrangement. 
 The doorways on the east and west sides correspond with each other 
 in detail, having quatrefoils in the spandrils, with the rose and port- 
 cullis in their centres. Above each arch is a series of six arches, 
 separated by small buttresses with pinnacles ; within them are painted 
 the arms of the six different Royal lines who have swayed the English 
 sceptre— the Saxon, Norman, Plantagenet, Tudor, Stuart, and 
 Hanoverian — each surmounted by a Royal Crown. Below eacii 
 arch, and forming, as it were, a l)ase to it, is a small panel, quatre- 
 
 c
 
 34 
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 foiled, and bearing in its centre a shield, on which the initials 
 S.N.P.T.S.H. are painted, to correspond with the armorial bearings 
 above them. The north doorway opens into the long corridor leading 
 to the House of Commons ; whilst the eastern 
 and western open into corridors connected with 
 the Libraries and other rooms. The doors 
 themselves are of oak, the hinges and locks 
 being of brass. 
 
 At the corners of the Lobby are magnificent 
 standards of brass for gas lights. They consist 
 of a shaft about twelve feet high, rising from a 
 plinth of black marble, from each corner of 
 which rises a small circular pillar to support the 
 shaft, crowned with a lion's head. Every part 
 l^ of the pillars and shaft is elaborately worked out 
 
 in lozenges and hexagons, with quatre foils. The 
 shaft is surmounted by a wrought coronal for the 
 gas jets. The standards are gilded, relieved by 
 gilt bronze. The representation will enable a 
 correct idea to be formed of these works of art. 
 The East, West, and Northern Entrances 
 have recessed doorways, with arches of lower 
 pitch, to correspond in general character with 
 the South door, but of much plainer design. 
 Each recessed doorway is divided into three 
 parts — a central and two narrow compartments. 
 In the central one is the doorway ; above it the wall is formed into 
 three quatrefoil panels, having within them shields containing the 
 Arms of England, Scotland and Ireland, royally crowned with blue 
 labels, on which are Anglia, Scotia, and Hibernia alternately. The 
 doors are of oak, richly panelled, and having plate glass in the 
 upper panels. Over the East and West Doors are clocks, the dials 
 of which are beautifully enamelled in white, gold, and blue. On 
 either hand, in the thickness of the wall are small doorways, which 
 lead to the staircase to the galleries and into small rooms. 
 
 The South Door, opening into the House of Lords, corresponds, 
 in its general form, with those on the other side of the Lobby 
 having six arches over it embellished, like them, with the Royal 
 armorial bearings ; but, in the details of the archway itself, the
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, 
 
 Utmost magnificence is displayed The arch is deeply moulded, 
 whilst, at intervals, Tudor roses, very boldly sculptured in alto-relief, 
 royally crowned, give richness to the whole. Recessed about four 
 feet is another arch, but not of so lofty a pitch as the external one, 
 and within the mouldings of this, oak-leaves, gilded, are introduced. 
 The space over the arch is divided into five compartments, the 
 central one quatrefoiled, and bearing in its centre a shield of the 
 Royal Arms of England, surmounted by a crown, and having the 
 motto "Dieu et mon Droit" on a blue label; whilst, in the panels on 
 either side, likewise quatrefoiled, are the lion and unicorn, each 
 bearing a small banner; roses and thistles fill up the other panels, 
 whilst shamrocks form a cresting round the arch ; and, as all parts 
 are coloured and gilded, the effect is magnificent. 
 
 The massive brass gates under the soutn door especially deserve
 
 86 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, 
 
 notice : they are splendid specimens of intricate and masterly -work- 
 manship by Hardman, in weight 1| tons, and are only equalled in 
 beauty of design and workmanship by those to the tomb of Henry 
 VII., in Westminster Abbey, of the 15th century. 
 
 The Encaustic Tiled Pavement from the richness of the colours is 
 particularly striking; it was manufactured by Minton, in Stafford- 
 shire. The marble margins of the floor, with that of the centre, is 
 the produce of Derbyshire. The texture of these marbles is equal, in 
 all respects, to the finest jasper : surrounding the centre is a very 
 fine enamel, inlaid with brass by Hardman. The stained glass 
 windows represent the arms of the early families of the aristocracy 
 of England, and are also manufactured by Hardman. This Lobby 
 is 38ft. square and 33ft. in height. 
 
 Leaving this Lobby by the archway on the east side, a corridor 
 brings us to the Refreshment Rooms — these are conveniently arranged, 
 the one as a Dining Room, and the other as a Tea Room, the double 
 screen in the centre, dividing and yet connecting these rooms, and 
 which is so great an ornament to them, forms a waiting room for the 
 attendants, and give access to the Kitchens, which are immediately 
 under it. By means of a staircase connecting them and also by an 
 hydraulic lift, for raising and returning dishes, the utmost convenience 
 and dispatch is ensured. Proceeding to the end of the corridor from 
 which these rooms are entered we gain entrance to the 
 
 PEERS' LIBRARIES. 
 
 This magnificent suite of rooms has been arranged with the utmost 
 attention to the comforts and convenience of its occupants, every 
 portion is complete and harmonious, and even ewerj article of furni- 
 ture in the rooms has been designed and manufactured in strict ac- 
 cordance with the architecture, indeed, we could quite fancy ourselves 
 in one of those artistic and lordly apartments of olden time, once to 
 be found in the old mansions of Henry's and Elizabeth's time, such 
 as Nash or Cattermole delight to paint, but few of which known now 
 remain in their pristine state. The walls are completely lined with 
 bookshelves in dark oak, wliile, above the shelves is a frieze, the 
 panels of which have the armorial bearings of the Chief Justices of 
 England, arranged according to date. The ceiling is covered with
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 37 
 
 paneling, harmoniously and elaborately painted, while the recessed 
 windows, giving a fine view of the Thames, are most inviting places 
 for quiet study. From the Peers' Lobby the opposite door conducts to 
 
 THE PEERS' ROBING ROOM. 
 
 Which it is proposed to decorate with frescoes, illustrating Human 
 
 Justice and its developement in Law and Judgment. The following 
 
 are the subjects proposed : — 
 
 In the single compartment on tJie West side : 
 1. Moses bringing down the Tables of the Law to the Israelites. 
 
 In the two small compartments on the Sast side : 
 2. The Fall of Man. 
 3. His Condemnation to Labour. 
 
 On the South side, in the larger compartment : 
 4. The Judgment of Solomon. 
 
 In the two smaller : 
 
 '5. The Visit of the Queen of Slieba. 
 
 6. The Buildmg of the Temple. 
 
 On the North side, in the larger compartment : 
 7. The Judgment of Daniel. 
 
 In the two smaller : 
 
 8. Daniel in the Lions' Den. 
 
 9. The Vision of Daniel. 
 
 These Frescoes are intrusted to J. E. Heebebt, E.A. 
 
 Returning to the Peers' Lobby, the archway on the north side 
 gives access to the Peers' Corridor, corresponding with the Commons' 
 Corridor immediately opposite in the Central Hall, the walls of which 
 are paneled for frescoes, most of which have been completed. 
 
 The decorations of the corridors leading from the Central Hall to 
 the Houses of Lords and Commons are as follows : — 
 
 Charles II. assisted in his Escape Alice Lisle conceahng the Fugitives 
 
 by Jane Lane. after the Battle of Sedgemoor. 
 
 Tlie Executioner tying Wishart's The Sleep of Argyll * 
 
 book round the neck of Montrose. The Acquittal of the Seven Bishops. 
 
 Monk declai'ing for a Free ParUa- The Lords and Commons prcsenthig 
 
 ment. the Crown to William and Mary in the 
 
 The Landing of Charles II. Banqueting Hall. 
 
 • See Woodrow, "Church History," book 3, c. 9, s. 9. 
 
 Charles I. erecting his Standard at Speaker Lentlial asserting the Privi- 
 
 Nottingliam. leges of f lie Commons against Charles I., 
 
 Basing House defended by the when the attempt was made to seize the 
 
 Cavaliers against the Parliamentary five Members. 
 
 Army. The setting out of the Train bands from 
 
 The Expulsion of the Fellows of a London to raise the siege of Gloucester. 
 
 College at Oxford for refusing to sign The Embarkation of a Puritan Family 
 
 the Covenant. to New England. 
 
 The Burial of Charles I. The pai-ting of Lord and Lady Russell.
 
 38 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 We thence pass into the 
 
 CENTRAL HALL, 
 
 A vast apartment, 60ft. diameter, octagon on plan, and vaulted over 
 with stone ; the panels formed by the intersections of the enormous 
 ribs of the roof are inlaid with Venetian glass mosaic in various 
 devices, the Rose, Shamrock, Thistle, Portcullis, Harp, and other 
 royal badges being introduced, the whole forming with its varied and 
 beautifully sculptured bosses a most pleasing and striking effect. 
 The four panels over the great door-ways are also to be filled with 
 glass mosaic pictures of the four patron Saints, St. George, St. 
 Andrew, St. David, and St. Patrick; one of which, St. George is 
 completed from the cartoon of E. J. Poynter, A.R.A. Each of the 
 eight sides have moulded archways, the jambs of which are decorated 
 with a series of beautifully designed niches, which are filled with 
 appropriate statues, as follows — 
 
 NORTH DOOE. 
 
 Isabella Queen of 
 Eilward II. 
 
 Henry IV. 
 
 Edward III. 
 
 Richard II. 
 
 Anne of Bohemia, Q. 
 of Kichard II. 
 
 Philippa, Queen 
 Edward II. 
 
 of 
 
 SOUTH DOOE. 
 
 Elizabetli, Queen 
 of Edward IV. 
 
 Edward V. 
 Richard III. 
 
 Anne, Queen of 
 Richard III. 
 
 Henry VII. 
 
 Elizabeth, Queen of 
 Henry VII- 
 
 Johanna of Navarre, 
 Q. of Henry IV. 
 
 EAST DOOE. 
 
 Henry VI. 
 
 Henry V. 
 
 Katherine, Queen of 
 Henry V. 
 
 Margaret Queen of 
 Henry VI. 
 
 Edward IV. 
 
 WEST DOOE. 
 
 Edward I, Isabella Q. of K. John 
 
 Eleanor, Queen of „ „^ 
 
 Edward I. "^^^^ ^"• 
 
 Edward II. Eleanor Q. of Henry 
 
 These eight arches contain, alternately, great doorways, giving 
 access to all parts of the building, and enormous windows which 
 give light to the Hall ; these windows, are filled with stained 
 glass, and illuminating the walls and floor with many coloured 
 light, have a gorgeous effect — special attention should be directed 
 to the very beautiful encaustic tile pavement of the Hall, with its 
 appropriate inscription, " Except the Lord keep the house, their 
 " labour is but lost that built it," given in the latin of the vulgate; 
 unique in its effect, and evidencing, as do the pavements in this 
 material in different parts of the building, that there is no lack of 
 power in our present manufacturers when their abilities are really 
 called out to vie with the most elaborate and artistic effects of deco-
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 39 
 
 ration of this kind of former times. The carved stone screens with 
 inscriptions below the windows also give access to ditTerent parts of 
 the building. Leaving the Central Hall by the archway to the east 
 we enter a square chamber called the Lower Waiting Hall, paved 
 also in tiles from the factory of Messrs. Minton, and bearing the 
 inscriptions " Virtue Prevails " and " Love and Fidelity to our 
 Country ;" from this there is access to a large apartment occupying 
 the centre of the river front, called the Conference Hall, from it 
 being the appointed place of meeting of delegates from both Houses 
 of the Legislature on certain occasions. From the Lower Waiting 
 Hall an octagon staircase, the effect of which is very generally 
 admired, leads to the Upper Waiting Hall ; on the first landing 
 of this staircase is the statue of the Architect of the Palace, by 
 J. H. Foley, Esq., E.A. The Upper Waiting Hall is of the 
 same size as the lower one, and chiefly remarkable from the fresco 
 paintings with which the walls are adorned ; they are all the first 
 eff"orts of living English artists in this, till now, neglected though 
 important style of wall decoration (at least in this country). The 
 list of their subjects is as follows : — 
 
 SUBJECTS. ARTISTS. 
 
 Chaucer : " Griselda's First Trial of Patience" . .C. W. Cope, R.A. 
 Spencer : " St. George overcoming the Dragon ". . G. F. Watts. 
 Shakespeare: "Lear disinheriting CordeHa" . . . . J. R. Heebeet, R.A. 
 Milton: "Satan touched by Ithuriel's Spear" ..J. C. HoESLEr. 
 
 Dryden : " St. Cecilia" J. Tenniel. 
 
 Pope : " The Personification of Thames " Edwaed Aemitage. 
 
 Scott : " The Death of Marmion " Edwaed Aemitage. 
 
 Byron : " The Death of Lara " C. W. Cope, R.A.
 
 40 
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 ST. STEPHEN'S HALL 
 
 U^ N arched doorway on the west side of the Central 
 Hall leads us to St. Stephen's Hall, which occu- 
 y, pies the site and is nearly of the same dimensions 
 of the old St. Stephen's Chapel, the history of the 
 fortunes of which have been strange indeed. It 
 was founded by King Stephen as the Chapel 
 Koyal of the Palace, and was almost rebuilt with 
 'i great magnificence by Edward IL, about 1330, 
 ( in the rich architecture of that period. It was 
 nearly cotemporary with the beautiful Sainte 
 Chappelle of Paris, and the arrangement of these two 
 buildings, their use,- and the style of their architecture, 
 were curiously parallel ; both were originally built for 
 Chapels Royal, attached to the Palaces of the Sovereigns 
 .„. ^^^ of the two countries ; both were built over crypts or lower 
 cv/ chapels, which were used independently of the building 
 above, as parish churches ; both have been desecrated, our St. Ste- 
 phen's having been appropriated to the use of Parliament for its 
 sessions, since the time of Henry IV., while the French Sainte 
 Chappelle was long used as a depository for the national archives. 
 The French example (more fortunate in its destiny than our own) is 
 now in course of faithful restoration, ecclesiastically as well as archi- 
 tecturally, while our St. Stephen's Chapel only survived the fire of 
 1834, a perfect wreck, and though some of its beauties were thus 
 after being long hidden restored to light, the whole structure was in 
 so ruinous and dangerous a condition that its removal was inevitable. 
 Great anxiety was expressed at the time for its restoration, but it 
 was very properly felt that uiiless such restoration could be carried 
 out perfectly, and from sufficient authority, the whole interest in it 
 would be gone, while its anomalous character with the rest of the 
 building would be disagreeable and apparent to aU. The traditions 
 of its pristine dedication are, however, stiU kept up by the name of
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 41 
 
 St. Stephen's Hall, as it is now called, as well as by the character of 
 the architectural sculpture of its beautiful stone vault, the bosses of 
 which have subjects taken from the life of St. Stephen. 
 
 Its windows are filled with similarly appropriate glass, while it has 
 not been thought an unfit memorial of its having long been the arena 
 where our best and wisest statesmen of former days acted their parts, 
 to erect marble statues on the several pedestals to those men to 
 whom England owes her gratitude for their patriotism and public 
 virtue, and whom their country deliglits to honour, the whole of 
 which are now completed as follows : — 
 
 SUBJECTS. 
 
 ARTISTS. 
 
 SUBJECTS. 
 
 ARTISTS 
 
 Selden .... 
 
 Hampden .... 
 
 Lord Falkland . 
 
 Lord Clarendon 
 
 Lord Somers 
 
 Sir Robert Walpole . 
 
 J. H. Foley, R.A. 
 
 J. H. Foley, R.A. 
 
 .John Bell. 
 
 W. C. Marshall, A. R.A. 
 
 W. C Marshall, A.R.A. 
 
 John BelL 
 
 Lord Chatham , 
 
 Lord Mansfield 
 
 Burke .... 
 
 Fox ..... 
 
 Pitt 
 
 Grattan .... 
 
 P. M'Uowell, R.A. 
 E. H. Baily, R.A. 
 W. Theeil 
 E. H. liaily, R.A. 
 P. M 'Do well, R.A. 
 L. Carew. 
 
 The panels under the windows are to be filled, in course of time, 
 with frescoes, as also the large arched recesses at either end ; the 
 floor is paved, as elsewhere, with appropriately designed encaustic 
 tiling, so that even now, and still more when complete, the effect of 
 this fine apartment must excite the admiration of the stranger, and 
 cause the less regret for the loss of the old chapel. A small staircase 
 at one end leads to 
 
 ST. STEPHENS CRYPT,* 
 
 the more proper name of which is, or was, the Church of St. Mary's 
 Undercroft, once a very richly ornamented and still a beautiful 
 building, which is now being most carefully restored, and will again 
 be used as a place of worship, being destined for the numerous 
 residents v^ithin the area of the New Palace, and when it is 
 remembered that there are therein included some eighteen or 
 twenty official residences, of different sizes, it will be seen that 
 a need exists for some such provision. This Crypt has been 
 sadly abused, while the beautiful Chapel above was occupied as the 
 House of Commons, part being used for a gasometer house, while 
 another part was in use as the Speaker's State Dining Room. Con- 
 siderable interest was some years since excited by the discovery of 
 the embalmed body of an ecclesiastic, built into a rough recess in 
 * For more detailed description of the Crypt, see Appenrlix
 
 42 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 the north-east angle of the Crypt underneath the window sill ; the 
 body was found wrapped in many folds of cere cloth, and having a 
 carved oak episcopal staflf lying diagonally across the breast. The 
 ingenious researches of Mr. Pettigrew, the well-known antiqua- 
 rian, apparently established the remains to be those of Stephen 
 Lyndwode, Bishop of St. David's, from 1442 to 1446, and Keeper of 
 the Privy Seal to Henry VI., and author of several ecclesiastical 
 works. He founded a chantry during his life at St. Stephen's, as 
 his will (which still exists at Lambeth Palace) expresses it, " in 
 bassa capella," and directed that his body should be there buried. 
 It has been thought that the position where the body was discovered 
 was not that where he was originally buried, but that his descendants 
 either hastily removed his remains to save them from insult at the 
 Reformation, or that his shrine was rifled of its ornaments and the 
 body put, where found, out of the way ; this latter supposition has 
 the more probability from the fact that when the body was discovered 
 the coverings of both arms below the elbows were wanting : and as 
 it was usual for bishops, when buried, often to have their gold em- 
 broidered greaves, and also their episcopal rings, the spoiler would 
 make prize of these parts. Mr. Pettigrew obtained leave from the 
 Government to open the wrappings, when it was discovered that, so 
 skilfully had the body been embalmed, that the features were per- 
 fectly distinguishable, and even the skin of the face and hps still 
 soft. After this strange disinterment, the poor bishop has found a 
 resting place once more in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. 
 
 The Statues recently erected in the niches at the doorways of 
 St. Stephen's Hall are — 
 
 EAST END. 
 Matilda. Richard I. 
 
 Henry II, Berengaria. 
 
 Eleanor. John. 
 
 WEST END. 
 WiUiam the Conqueror. Henry I. 
 Matilda. Madilda. 
 
 WiUiam II. Stephen. 
 
 Returning, however, to St. Stephen's Hall, we leave it by the 
 archway at the western end, and find ourselves in St. Stephen's 
 Porch, and here one of the grandest parts of the building is seen. 
 By a happy idea and most skilful treatment, Sir Charles Barry 
 made our time-honoured Westminster Hall an integral part of his 
 new building — the great window which was at the south end of the 
 Hall has been moved back southwards, leaving sufficient room for a
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 43 
 
 spacious landing, richly groined overhead in stone, while, where the 
 window originally stood, a lofty and striking archway leads by a 
 grand flight of steps nearly the whole width into Westminster Hall, 
 which thus forms the public entrance to the New Palace from New 
 Palace Yard. In the Porch, the window above-mentioned has a 
 stone gallery below its sill, whence a fine view of Westminster 
 Hall is obtained, and now a handsome stained glass window (not 
 unlike in general effect the famous west window of St. George's 
 Chapel at Windsor) has replaced the old glazing. The view hence 
 of Westminster Hall is hardly a less striking one than that from the 
 Hall. From St. Stephen's Porch, by descending other steps, we 
 gain St. Margaret's Porch, the stone arched gallery around which is 
 very beautiful, and thence we may emerge into Old Palace Yard, 
 opposite Henry Vn*'°' Chapel ; so that an entrance from either Old 
 or New Palace Yard leads equally to the Central Hall, by the course 
 we have been conducting the visitor, and so to all parts of the build- 
 ing. As yet little has been done, except forming the archway men- 
 tioned above to 
 
 WESTMINSTER HALL. 
 
 But it is understood that it was part of the plan of the architect to 
 decorate its walls with frescoes, as well as to make it an appropriate 
 anti-chamber of the Houses of Legislature, by adorning it with au 
 avenue of pedestals, bearing statues of those public men whose worth 
 and patriotic efforts in Parliament may entitle them to such a dis- 
 tinction. Sir Charles Barry also expressed a wish to raise 
 the roof, and although this has been considered by some almost as 
 desecration, yet it must be owned that its connection with the loftier 
 proportions of the new building gives an appearance of uncomfortable 
 depression to its noble roof Of historic interest, Westminster Hall 
 has had its share in all ages. Built, it is supposed, originally about 
 1097, it was almost entirely rebuilt, and the roof (the beauty and 
 constructive skill of which has interested architects and antiquarians 
 for many an age) erected by Richard II., about 1398. The first 
 great public act taking place within its walls was, by a strange 
 fatality, the deposition of that very king himself in 1399. From 
 the year WU till the present time the great Law Courts of England
 
 44 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 have been established here, while its walls witnessed the installation 
 of Cromwell, as Lord Protector, and, a few years later, the ignomi- 
 nious exposure of his head on a pole, with those of his associates 
 Ireton and Bradshaw. Here Sir Thomas More was condemned to 
 die — here the regicides sat in judgment on Charles I., who had him- 
 self been present while his faithful servant Strafford was tried and 
 condemned a short time before — here the trial and acquittal of the 
 Seven Bishops took place in the reign of James II , while the same 
 walls witnessed the famous trial of Warren Hastings in later days, 
 besides numerous other trials, banquetings, and ceremonials con- 
 nected with stirring periods of our national history. The last state 
 occasion on which the Hall was used was for the Coronation Feast of 
 George IV. In forming the new archway at the end, some portions 
 of an arched passage in the thickness of the wall were discovered, 
 belonging to the Hall of Eufus ; drawings of these were made before 
 they were again hidden by the new work. The beautiful stained 
 glass in the large window represents the Arms of the various 
 Sovereigns, from the time of the Conquest. 
 
 Leaving the Hall by an extremely beautiful new doorway on the 
 east side, we enter the old cloisters of St. Stephen's, which have 
 undergone a thorough restoration and had considerable additions 
 made to them with such skill that it would be impossible for an 
 unprofessional observer to detect where the new work has been 
 incorporated with the old. The fan traceiy of this groin is one of 
 the most elaborate and beautiful specimens of the architecture of this 
 kind that yet remains in England, and from the richness of this 
 portion it may be gathered what was the splendour of the Royal 
 Palace and Monastery, of which it formed a part. The small pro- 
 jecting chapel, anciently an oratory on the west side of the cloister 
 court, is well worth attention for the beauty of its details. An entirely 
 new upper Cloister has been added to fit the whole to serve as the 
 Private Entrance, with its necessary offices and appendages, for 
 members of the House of Commons, either from the Hall, or from 
 New Palace Yard. The effect of the rich groining of these Cloisters, 
 both above as well as below, heightened in effect by the sparkling 
 stained glass of the windows, and the many coloured tiles of the floor 
 is most charming, and the staircase from the lower to the upper
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 45 
 
 Cloister, with its central clustered pillar supporting the groined stone 
 roof above, is most picturesque and original in its composition ; pro- 
 ceeding up this staircase and through the upper Cloister, we enter the 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS' LOBBY, 
 
 A spacious and rich apartment, about 45ft. wide, each way. Like 
 the Lobby of the House of Lords, it is square on the plan, having 
 each of its four sides symmetrical, and each containing an archway, 
 giving access to those parts of the building pertaining to the House 
 of Commons; that to the north being the entrance to the House 
 itself — that on the south to the Central Hall — through the Commons' 
 corridor, which, like the Peers' corridor before described, is decorated 
 with frescoes. 
 
 The archway on the south side of the Commons' Lobby, leads to the 
 Libraries, Refreshment Rooms, &c.. and that on the west to the 
 Cloisters we have spoken of. Carved open screens, bearing the words 
 " Domine salvam fac reginam," on eacli side of these various arch- 
 ways part off the Post Othce, Vote Office, and other apartments 
 connected with the daily business of members, while windows over 
 these with stained glass, bearing the coats of arms of various boroughs 
 returning members to Parliament, give light to the interior — the roof 
 is of dark wood and massive in its character, while the flooring is 
 paved with encaustic tiling, with the motto "God save the Queen" 
 introduced. The massive and elaborate carved brass gas standards 
 in the four angles, especially deserve examination, they are from the 
 factory of Messrs. Hardmau. The gas lights of these are ventilated 
 on the principle invented by Professor Faraday, by means of which 
 all communication between the air of the apartment and the lights 
 is cut off, and thus the deteriorating effect of gas upon the air is 
 prevented. We now enter 
 
 THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, 
 
 An apartment of original composition and striking character, be 
 fitting place from the care bestowed on every part, both as respects 
 the most studied convenience of the members, as well as on the har«
 
 46 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 monious arrangement and design of the whole to the most muiute 
 detail, for the affairs of deep interest, not only to England, but to 
 all the world, that are here deliberated upon and settled. The House 
 is arranged in somewhat similar manner as respects the floor, as the 
 House of Peers, except that there are here no cross seats, and the 
 table, on which the mace (the same that was so rudely handled by 
 Cromwell), rests during the sitting of the House, occupies the place 
 of the woolsack, the seats too, which rise one above the other on 
 the sides of the House are returned at the Bar end, and altogether 
 from the compactness with which everything is arranged, there is 
 more an air of business than in the House of Lords ; the size of 
 the apartment on the floor is 75ft. long, 45ft. wide, and 41ft. high 
 to the centre of the ceiling, the size being made as small as possible 
 (consistently with occasional necessities) for the purposes of speaking 
 and hearing without effort during the average attendance of members, 
 which amounts to about three hundred. 
 
 The Chair of the Speaker, which bears the Arms of England, 
 is at the northern end opposite the Bar ; the Ministerial seats are 
 on the front bench to the right of the speaker, the leaders of the 
 Opposition occupying the front bench opposite ; a special seat placed 
 at the Bar end, looking towards the Speaker, is the official post of 
 the Sergeant at Arms, always occupied by him or his Deputy during 
 the sittings. There are seats behind the bar on each side for the 
 use of the Peers or their sons, who may wish to be present ^at the 
 debates. A Gallery, with a double tier of seats runs along each side 
 of the House for the use of Members, the communication between 
 them being at the south end ; at this end there is a deep Gallery, 
 extending a very considerable way back, the front row of which is 
 appropriated to the use of the Diplomatic corps behind this there 
 is a considerable space for those fortunate enough to obtain Speaker's 
 orders, and between this and the ornamental stone screen at the 
 end, the space is destined to the use of strangers gaining admittance 
 by means of orders from Members ; the Gallery immediately over 
 the Speaker's chair is divided into a certain number of separate 
 seats for the reporters of the daily papers, while behind them is 
 accommodation for the reporters in waiting. For the first time in
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 47 
 
 the history of ParUament a specific place has been assigned for the 
 use of ladies, but as this is still considered against parliamentary 
 regulations, and as they are only there as it were by courtesy, their 
 seats are placed behind the ornamental brass trellis in the stone 
 screen at the north end ; connected with these seats there are com- 
 modious retiring rooms, so that the comfort of the fair politicians is 
 cared for in reality if not in appearance. In the old House, the only 
 place were ladies could go was in the space above the roof over the 
 chandeliers, when peeping down from the extreme height and bearing 
 as long as they were able, the heat and smell arising from the 
 lamps, many ladies of rank have passed several hours. The House 
 of Commons is more plainly decorated, at least, as respects colour, 
 tlian the House of Lords, but it will be seen, on a close examination 
 of the delicate carving with which it is covered, that on every portion 
 tliere has been expended no less an amount of thought and labour ; 
 the prevailing colour of the whole is rich oak, heightened, to a slight 
 extent by the decorated panels of the ceiling and the emblazoning 
 of the coats of arms, which bear the Royal cognizances of our 
 Sovereigns in succession arranged along the front of the Gallery. 
 
 The windows of the House are filled, as elsewhere, with stained 
 glass, the rich colours of which relieve the otherwise monotonous 
 colour of the oak work, and by mellowing the otherwise painful 
 glare of light, contribute to increase the general effect of magnifi- 
 cence. It was, we understand, proposed by the architect to decorate 
 in colour, on a gold ground, the coved under-side of the Galleries, 
 emblazoning thereon the armorial bearings of the Speakers of the 
 House, in chronological order, but as yet nothing has been done, 
 except to prepare the ground, from a fear, lest in gaining splendour 
 the House should appear to lose its business-like appearance — we 
 cannot but hope, however, that the designs of the late architect will 
 be carried out in this respect, as the series of arms would have much 
 historical interest, apart from the effect of colour being evidently de- 
 sirable at this point. The ingenious and elaborate specimens of orna- 
 mental brass work in the Chandeliers for gas with which the House 
 was first lighted, have been replaced by a mode of lighting through 
 the panels of the ceiling, after a plan of Mr. Gurneys's, which is 
 considered by sonic of the Members to be more pleasant to tlie eyes,
 
 48 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 although the effect on the room artistically, is far from satisfactory 
 Very costly and elaborate provisions for ventilating and warming the 
 House and its Lobbies were formed under the direction of Dr. Reid, 
 who, although appointed at an early stage of the building to ventilate 
 and warm the whole, ceased to act in the year 1846, in consequence 
 of a report of a Committee of the House of Lords, from that part of 
 the New Palace devoted to their use, as well as from all other parts 
 of the building, except from the House of Commons and its imme- 
 diate adjuncts; and the ventilation and warming of the building, with 
 this exception, was left entirely to the architect. Appliances have 
 been provided for managing the ventilation of the House of Com- 
 mons, either by admitting fresh air from large chambers when it is 
 mixed and warmed below the floor, which has cast-iron plates per- 
 forated for this purpose over the whole area — or from above the 
 ceiling through the carved ornament of the beams and spaces left 
 around every panel for this purpose. 
 
 Along both sides of the House are the Division Lobbies, that on 
 the west side being for those who say " Aye" to any motion put 
 from the chair, that on the east to the " Noes;" these Corridors are 
 plainly and substantially fitted up with oak panelling, the stained 
 glass in the windows is of less elaborate character than that in the 
 House, but in its effect, at least, equally beautiful. There are also 
 Corridors over these, connected by several doors with the Galleries 
 of the House, these, how^ever, are divided by oak framing into 
 different rooms, which are for the convenience of members retiring, 
 either to refer to documents or to see friends — the windows here also 
 are filled with delicate flowered quarries and stained glass — stairs at 
 either end communicate with the Corridor below. At the Speaker's 
 end of the House behind the chair, are two small chambers, one for 
 the use of the Members of the Government to hold conferences 
 with each other during discussions when need arises — the other for 
 the use of the Opposition for similar purposes — this door also 
 affords access, by means of a long Corridor, to the ofiicial residences 
 of the Librarian to the House of Commons, the Clerk of the House, 
 and the Sergeant at Arms, who all have accommodation provided in 
 that portion of the building, as before-mentioned, which faces New 
 Palace Yard. The Speaker's Residence occupying the entire wing
 
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 50 THE PALACE OF WESTIIINSTER. 
 
 tower at the north end of the river front, is also in connection with 
 the same Corridors. Returning to the House Lobby, the visitor 
 may leave it by the archway on the east side, and enter a Corridor 
 leading to the 
 
 REFRESHMENT ROOMS, 
 
 Which consist of two long apartments of similar arrangement to 
 those of the House of Lords, one being a Dining Room for Mem- 
 bers only, the other for strangers accompanied by Members, 
 divided by a carved oak screen, from which communication for the 
 attendants with the Kitchen below is obtained; the panels of the 
 ceilings are enriched with appropriate decorations of fruit, flowers, 
 &c., the same Corridor from which these rooms are entered also 
 leads to 
 
 THE LIBRARIES, 
 
 The rich and beautiful design of which, combined with the appear- 
 ance of the most complete comfort, commands almost universal 
 admiration. Oak bookcases with well furnished shelves extend from 
 floor to near the ceiling, rollers for maps of all countries are ranged 
 around ; the recessed windows looking towards the river afford con- 
 venient retiring places for studv — the thick carpets prevent noise — 
 the perfume of Russia leailier pervades tlie atmosphere — woiks con- 
 taining the most minute and varied information, bearing on almost 
 every subject brought under the notice of Parliament are available 
 at a moment's notice, and, in short, every possible inducement of 
 convenience and utility is afforded to that section of Members who 
 devote their time and best powers to their respective duties. To 
 those, however, who have time to look around them, and to the 
 visitor, the series of panels which will be filled gradually with the 
 portraits of our most distinguished statesmen, which extend all 
 round the rooms over the bookcases, the various designs of fanciful 
 character with which the ceilings are decorated — the minute and 
 beautiful carved wood work — the quaint and characteristic fire- 
 places with their shining brass fire-dogs — the peculiar design of the 
 carpets, which, with all other articles of furniture throughout the 
 New Palace, have been manufactured from the designs of the arclii-
 
 THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 51 
 
 tect, the curious old fashioned, though comfortable chairs, and the 
 rich hangings of the windows form altogether a " tout ensemble," 
 which carries back the imagination perhaps more than any other 
 part of the building to those old times of feudal magnificence, in 
 the style oJ which both the New as well as the Old Palace at West- 
 minster has been conceived, and which may now be denominated 
 our national style of architecture. Leaving these rooms, we pass 
 a small Staircase, which gives access for the Members to 
 
 THE SMOKING ROOM. 
 
 A luxury provided for the first time in the New Palace ; this is 
 fitted up with strict relation to its peculiar use, with floor of en- 
 caustic tiles, of varied colour and design ; the walls, 6ft. high 
 from the floor, are also lined with coloured china slabs ; clustered 
 stone pillars support the roof, which is formed of hard polished 
 cement, and yet render the room a cheerful and comfortable retiring 
 place, it immediately adjoins the magnificent Paver Terrace, so 
 that a quiet cool promenade is thus available during the heats of a 
 summer session. Once more returning to the House Lobby, we 
 leave it by an archway on the west side, which conducts us to 
 the Upper Story of the Cloisters, which have been made one of 
 the most attractive portions of the building, aud appropriated, as 
 before-mentioned, to the 
 
 MEMBERS' PRIVATE ENTRANCE. 
 
 The Cloisters of St. Stephen's, as already said, have always been 
 considered one of the most beautiful examples of the architecture of 
 their time and style existing in England, and in the restoration of 
 them which has been most scrupulously effected from authorities, 
 the architect of the New Palace has shewn the best judgment, since 
 by their incorporation with his magnificent building, which will 
 endure, we may hope, as long as England exists, he has taken the 
 best means of permanently preserving to us and to future times this 
 evidence of our forefather's taste aud skill. The Upper Story of the 
 Cloister had been almost entirely destroyed, either by innovations or 
 by fire of 1834, and only just sufficient remained to afford an idea 
 and authority for its restoration : the visitor will especially notice 
 
 D 2
 
 53 THE PALAeB OF WESTMINST15R. 
 
 the characteristic and beautiful new Staircase which connects the 
 upper and lower Cloister — the latter is used for the depository for 
 members' cloaks and coats on entering from the Star Chamber 
 Court or from Westminster Hall. Leaving the Cloister in this latter 
 direction and passing through Westminster Hall, we shall emerge 
 once more into New Palace Yard, and take leave of this wonderful 
 building, which, whether we consider its importance nationally — the 
 extent and intricacy of its details — the multifarious operations which 
 go on within its walls, must excite our interest and national pride of 
 Knglishmen, while in common with the multitudes of intelligent 
 foreigners who visit it, we cannot but feel admiration at the talents, 
 the energy and perseverance of the able author of the whole, who 
 must have felt that the almost universal admiration which he has 
 received from all the intelligent, in some measure compensated 
 for the troubles, vexations, and labour which it would seem, 
 always necessarily arises in so protracted a work, more especially 
 when carried out under successive administrations. The New 
 Palace at Westminster has, at least, removed the reproach so 
 long cast on us by foreigners, that ours, the richest and largest city 
 in the world, had no Public Buildings of magnificence or originality, 
 compared with the capital cities of our continental neighbours. 
 
 The public are admitted to view both Houses of ParHament and all the Public 
 portion of the New Palace of Westminster every Satiu-day between 10 and 4 
 o'clock, by Tickets, which are obtainable on Saturdays, during those hours, at 
 the Office of llie Lord Great Chamberlain, in the Eoyal Court, adjoining the 
 Victoria Tower
 
 PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 
 
 INTEEYIEW BETWEEN WELLINQTON AND BLUCHER, 
 AFTER THE BATTLE OP WATERLOO. 
 
 (FEESCO BY D. MACLISE, Esq., E.A.) 
 
 This picture is executed upon one of the large compartments, which 
 are forty feet long, of the Royal Gallery in the Palace of Westminster. 
 Nearly in the centre of the work is placed the Duke, mounted upon his horse 
 Copenhagen ; Bliicher, also mounted, grasps the hand of Wellington with 
 characteristic force and fervour, — his eager, resolute face, with his grizzled 
 moustache, his grey hair and keen grey eyes — hard, strong and grim — 
 show beneath the Prussian travelling cap he wears. He has just moved his 
 horse to go, and yet again pulls him up to clasp the victor's hand, whose 
 work he is now ahout to finish ; for it has been settled between the Generals 
 that the pursuit should be taken up by the Prussians, while the tired and 
 war-worn English rested upon the field of battle. Tired and war-worn is 
 the Duke ; calmer, more resolute and still than the demonstrative Prussian. 
 The composition forms itself into great masses, very skilfully designed to 
 emphasize this central group of the Duke and General, and without obviously 
 declaring the art employed to that end, resolving itself into sections which 
 are subservient to a grand whole. We see along the back of the picture 
 the English cavalry pursuing the artillery and waggon-train down a
 
 54 
 
 hill and upon its rising crest. Immediately behind the heads of the 
 Generals is the name ot the inn, " La Belle Alliance,'''' appropriately 
 written upon a board fixed against the side of the house. The ruined roof, 
 the torn walls, the slow wreaths of smoke that rise through the denuded 
 rafters, the deserted dove-house, whose inmates the war has frightened away, 
 are all signs of the havoc that has been going on, and even yet not ceased, 
 as the flying artillery hows. 
 
 Like two wings of the composition, on either side of the Generals is grouped 
 the Staff of each. On the Prussian side, next to Bliicher, ride Gneisneau, 
 the commander to whom the pursuit was gl'^'en, with white plumes in his hat, 
 Nostitz, Bulow — an old, yellow man, in a blue coat loaded with orders, — 
 Zeithen, and others ; amongst them a Brunswick officer, with the skull and 
 cross-bones on his shako, and nearest to the front, mounted upon a magni- 
 ficent white horse, rides Sir Hussey Vivian (Lord Vivian) in a hussar's dress. 
 On the Duke's side is a group of officers, few, indeed, of note, seeing that 
 most of the heroes of the fight had been rendered hors de combat before the 
 meeting took place. Just behind the Duke are General Somerset and Lord 
 Arthur Hill (Lord Sandys), and between them is seen the face of the 
 Hon. Henry Percy, who bore home the despatches and the captured eagles. 
 A few of the 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards Blue, in the blue 
 or red uniforms of each corps, such as the fortunes of the day had left in 
 their saddles, to form the Duke's escort, make up this wing of the com- 
 position. Some of them cheer, waving their sabres ; one bears an eagle, 
 and another the shot-torn banner of his regiment. The shakos, helmets and 
 bearskins worn by each body respectively, have been grouped and got 
 together by the artist with wonderful skill, so that they fall into harmonious 
 masses of fine composition. 
 
 No part of this extraordinary picture deserves more unqualified admiration 
 than the grouping of the horses, with the immense variety of their actions 
 and even their expressions. Solid, alive, vital, as it were equine, and mag- 
 nificently drawn and grouped are these animals. The steed Bliicher is 
 mounted upon is full of the fire of his fierce master, and seems bent upon 
 dashing off. Wellington's famous animal, Copenhagen, stands with gingerly 
 delicacy and grace amongst the slain ; his glossy flank seems to twitch and 
 his grave eye to look commiseratingly about. Hardly inferior to these are 
 the black horses of the English Guards, which form a mass of solid colour 
 gravely contrasting with the lighter bays mounting the Prussians on the 
 other side, to which last the most magnificently painted white horse ridden 
 by General Vivian forms a luminous central point of brilliant colour that 
 will win the admiration and delight of every spectator.
 
 55 
 
 This horse of General Vivian's is a verj' important element of tlie 
 composition, not only by centralizing and illuminating the whole of that 
 side of the composition by its colour and brilliant treatment, but by its 
 action connecting the upper group of riders with the line of wounded and 
 slain men lying upon the ground athwart the front of the picture. The 
 animal snuffs at the face of a Carabineer, whose breath has gone for ever. 
 Beside this Carabineer lies a wounded Englishman ; next is a French 
 Cuirassier, and then a Highlander, who, having been w'ounded in the arm, 
 has had a tourniquet applied to it. He is a piper, and has blown his 
 instrument wiih liis latest breath ; for the surgeon, who left the tourniquet 
 upon his limb, will find, indeed, more pressing cases to attend to, seeing 
 that he is going beyond the reach of human ministration. Tiiere he is left, 
 with outstretched arm and fingers strained and rigid ; beside him, fallen from 
 his grasp, lie the pipes he will never blow more, and the steel-hilted claymore 
 that failed to save him from the winged Death. Above are two Irishmen, 
 frantically cheering their victorious countryman the Duke, And waving their 
 caps ; these are Connaught Rangers. Next, beyond thi'j, is a group about 
 a captured gun, over which lies a French Artillery officer's body, just as he 
 died to defend his command, and a Cuirassier dead upon the ground before 
 the muzzle ; the gun-carriage has been. shattered, and the gun itself indented 
 by English shot. Below lies an English colour-sergeant, disabled by a 
 wound in his leg, which an hospital orderly bandages up. This is an 
 Englishman ; and his face, confessing but not succumbing to pain, is finely 
 expressive. 
 
 On tlie other side of the composition, behind the Duke, are several 
 groups ; a Highlander, a Foot-guard and a Fusileer carry off the body of a 
 youth of twenty- two years of age :— this is the "young, gallant Howard," 
 mentioned with grief by Byron. He has been struck down just at the end 
 of the battle, and leaves a young widow and unborn child to mourn the 
 terrible war. The faces of his attendants, full of tender commiseration, are 
 perfectly expressive and apt. Upon tlie ground lies an English General 
 Officer, wounded in the breast, attended by a Light Dragoon, a Foot-guard, 
 and a drummer. Neaier the centre, three of the Life Guards, wliose 
 contorted faces show the pain the effort costs them, brandish their sabres 
 and cheer. Their trumpeter lies dead in the front, his silver instrument 
 battered by a musket ball, its embroidered, beard-like banner across his 
 knees. Quite in the centre, and seen between the horse's legs, lie more of 
 the wounded and the dead. Removed from this, and at the extreme left 
 of the picture, is the wounded white horse of a Cuirassier, vainly striving to 
 rise from under his master's body, which, thrown almost from the saddle.
 
 56 
 
 lies athwart the carcase of another horse, whose eyes are just glazing in 
 death. Against the margin of the picture lies a tall Enniskillen Dragoon, 
 badly wounded, his helmet off, attended by a comrade. On a gun above 
 these lies a dying Hanoverian, to whose lips a priest holds the crucifix, with 
 wondrous earnestness of expression, — a companion holds up the heavy 
 head. A Sister of Mercy and a Vivandiere regard the scene ; the last, 
 hardened but commiserating, holds a glass of spirits for the dying man, 
 taken from her barrel. Behind her and upon the frame of the gun is 
 placed a knapsack filled with crosses, jewels and gew-gaws torn from the 
 slain ; these a round-headed infant, the woman's child, plays with. All 
 about the field are scattered arms, stove-in drums, broken musical instru- 
 ments, spent shot an.d shattered shell. — AthouBum.
 
 57 
 
 THE DEATH OF NELSON, 
 
 (BY D. MACLISE, E.A.) 
 
 In this Picture Mr. Maclise has cast himself as wholly and heartily into 
 his naval task as he did into that with a military theme. The scale of both, 
 life-size, on a space forty-live feet long by twelve feet high, is the same ; 
 they form the largest single portions of the wall-pictures to be produced by 
 him in the Royal Gallery — a hall set apart for his hands alone to decorate. 
 Anxious as befoie to produce a permanent and eminently characteristic 
 record of the scenes, the painter has not only availed himself of existing 
 portraits of men engaged in the battles, but studied and portrayed every 
 detail of manners, costume and arms of the period in question. So happily 
 has he done this, and so vigorous are the pictures, that their subjects and 
 motives impress the spectator before he learns that such and such were the 
 buttons, plumes, and head-dresses of the one, or the guns, rigging, pigtails 
 and cutlasses of the other. An artist recognizes in both that admirable 
 generalization which is consistent with the utmost elaboration of detail; and 
 while it renders the number on a soldier's button, gives the texture, lustre 
 and minutest character of the thing, even to those on its stamped ornamenta- 
 tion, yet does not make the same distinct in the picture. To deal with the 
 masses of blue supplied by the sailors' dresses in the new subject has been a 
 difficulty far beyond that of the red coats of tiie former one. ■ Mr. Macli.se 
 has hardly been recognized as a colourist ; indeed, excepting some phases 
 in the 'Hamlet,' he has seldom aimed at that quality. In ' The Death of 
 Nelson,' the very difficulty referred to has stimulated him to an unwonted 
 success ; and, considering the whole nature of the task, no one will deny its 
 value therein. 
 
 Mindful of the architectonic character of his task, the artist has jilaced 
 his principal incident in the centre of his picture, and ably led the eye to 
 that point by its colour, and giving a strong note of white in the lower part 
 of Nelson's dress, in contrast with his deep blue coat. Not less guiding 
 the eye to the same point is the concentration of the action of the principal 
 group upon the wounded hero, who, half-raised from the deck, and supported 
 in the lap and arms of Capt. Hardy, lies back, with an expression of subdued
 
 58 
 
 suffering ; while the surgeon, Dr. Beattie, heedfully raises the right arm of 
 his patient, for it was on that side he was wounded, and, with his own 
 disengaged hand, approaches the hole the ball has made in the upper part of 
 the coat-hreast. The lower limbs of Nelson are drawn up on the deck, his 
 empty coat-sleeve buttoned up in the usual way. Between the surgeon's 
 and Nelson's faces appears the handsome countenance of a Lieutenant of 
 marines, named Ram, who was present on the occasion, and seems here full 
 of anxious grief. 
 
 Nelson, just before dying, asked " How many flags have we taken, 
 Hardy ?" Mr. Maclise has followed the suggestion thus given, and placed 
 a sailor in the fore part of this group, supposed to have come towards the 
 admiral at the moment before he fell, bearing the ensign of a captured ship. 
 This man kneels, his glorious charge forgotten in view of the stricken 
 commander's danger ; his face, no less than those before mentioned, is 
 admirably wrought. Around the group thus described, a host of minor 
 incidents appear. The bustle and uproar of a battle, at sea even more than 
 on land, cause some occurrences within arm's reach to be beyond notice, 
 while others, more distant, to which attention is driven, are potent to 
 interest. News at such a time does not always travel swiftly ; at Trafalgar 
 it was not until the end of the action that Nelson's fall was known through 
 the ship ; he himself, when carried below, spread his handkerchief over the 
 orders on his coat, hiding them so far as possible to conceal the fact. Avail- 
 ing himself of this slow spread of news, the artist has shown us, in the 
 double-ranked men forming a gun's crew in the background, one who has 
 seen the event heedfully speaking behind his hand to his next comrade, and 
 telling the secret the officers strove to hide : the next, or third, of this rank, 
 a stolid fellow, has seen nothing, and thinks of nothing, but waits, with 
 folded arms, for the word of command to haul the cannon inboard, after the 
 discharge. The captain of the piece sights along its tube, taking aim, and, 
 with stooping back, notes his mark in the near side of the Redoutable, the 
 Victory's antagonist. 
 
 Nelson fell on that spot of the Victory's deck which is now marked with 
 a brass plate. Mr. Maclise proved that, by an odd coincidence, his finished 
 pictures and the actual deck so marked are identical in size. Thus, six feet 
 from the marked spot is the ship's companiou-vvay or ladder leading below : 
 such will be the distance in the picture from the same opening, down which 
 two sailors, naked to the waist, and full of earnest care for a younger 
 wounded comrade, are carrying him. The elder man's face, showing him 
 old enough to be father to the poor fellow, is a perfect study of expression, 
 very moving to the spectator in its honest sorrow that does not weep. This 
 incident occurs a little to the spectator's left, and consequently, nearer the 
 bow of the ship than the place of Nelson's fall. Immediately behind it
 
 59 
 
 stand the crew of a gun at their quarters, three on each side, its captain on 
 the left : thus near, these men have seen the Admiral wounded ; but true in 
 discipline, they keep their posts, with diverse expressions of emotion. 
 Nothing can exceed the variety in this quality the picture sliows. The 
 artist is a master of expression, and so felicitous in dealing with it that 
 nowhere do we get the slightest stain of melo-drama or attitudinizing, 
 although the circumstances might well lead ordinary designers into those 
 follies. It is impossible to look at the crews of the above-mentioned guns 
 still less at that wliich appears still further on our right, and fail to admire 
 the power shown in rendering many personalities and varieties of humtin 
 expressions among individuals of one common class engaged in a connnon 
 office. 
 
 Between the two guns spoken of is seen a naked negro pointing out to a 
 marine the man of the Redoutable who shot the Admiral ; the soldier takes 
 aim with his musket at him. Next to these going forwards, come two 
 marine officers looking througli telescopes for signals from some other ship 
 of the English fleet. Returning aft now, we come upon the steps that lead 
 to the poop ascending and descending which arc marines and soldiers, some 
 bearing wounded men. Upon the poop deck itself is, with others, the young 
 midshipman who sliot the Admiral's slayer ; the last being a mizen top man 
 of the Redoutable. It is related that the English sharpshooters during 
 the rest of the fight kept their eyes so effectually upon this part of the 
 enemy's rigging that none came down alive, and of those that did not 
 attempt to descend the whole were slain : some of their bodies hung, arms 
 and head downwards, over the sides of their little stronghold. The mid 
 shipman with eager face watches among the knot of French sailors for his 
 man. 
 
 Seen under this poop as a gallery is the covered part of the quarter-deck, 
 and just beneath the last-named group is a third gun and its crew, the 
 captain of which pulls the lanyard or string of its flint-lock, with the 
 true professional upward jerk of his fist. An incident so apparently barren 
 of interest as this of a gun's discharge, has been rendered peculiarly 
 effective by the genius, skill and care of the artist. The men keep their 
 ranks, some quite at home and indift'erent, some interested but steady ; one, 
 a stalwart fair-faced youth in his first battle, leans a little forward to watch 
 through the port-liole the effect of tiie shot. Mindful of what we said 
 respecting the artist's heedful study of costume, let us here exemplify its 
 working. It was thought that the carronades of Nelson's time had long ago 
 been melted into new fashions, but after much search one was discovered in 
 some half-forgotten corner of the dockyard, furbished-up, re-fitted with its 
 proper breaching or rope tackle, its appropriate flint-lock and carriage ; this 
 Mr. Maclise has painted most heedfuUy, and the thing is a record for all
 
 60 
 
 time of singular interest. Many things have become quite obsolete since 
 the great Admiral's day ; before the use of percussion caps flint locks for 
 cannon vanished, with them the horn of priming-powder the captain of each 
 gun wore, slung by a belt across his body. Flint-locks were very fallible, 
 and in the hurry of action not easily got to rights ; on such failures, a 
 common fuse was employed, for safety in using which each gun was furnished 
 with a bucket, full of water, and fitted with a perforated cover, into which 
 the burning end of the fuse could be placed after use in discharging the 
 piece. With powder and cartridges about, and magazines open, such pre- 
 cautions were essential. Such a bucket stands here at the breech of this 
 gun. Round about are many old-fashioned Aveapons, chain-shot, shot 
 neatly bound up with rope to form the fearful grape, ramrods, sponges, 
 screws, handspikes, &c. Facing us, and as if drawn inboard from the port- 
 side of the ship, on which we stand, is a gun being sponged out by its 
 crew ; the captain, a weather-beaten fellow, strong and rough as a north- 
 easter, stands with his thumb on the vent ; a rosy, but powder-smirched 
 boy, all heedless of death, runs along with a cartridge for this piece in his 
 arms. 
 
 Proceeding now to the other end of the picture, passing the wounded 
 Nelson and his friends, we come upon various excellently portrayed 
 groups A man, shot in the chest, is tended by comrades ; one staunches 
 the blood, —another, an old negro with a red handkerchief round his head, 
 brings brandy in a glass. More to the right of these (forward), are three 
 sailors mightily pulling on the main-topsail halyard, with the purpose of 
 clearing the rigging of fallen spars or ropes. Across the deck and on the 
 bulwarks are the hammock nettings, forming a sort of fortress of ropes and iron 
 stanchions lined with the men's bedding, within which much of the work of a 
 ship in action, and all the scene before us, take place. Here are more men, 
 living, wounded, and dead. Thus far we have described the human element 
 of this noble picture. Alongside of Nelson's ship are visible the three 
 masts of the Redoutable. Showing beyond the rigging of both ships, 
 entangled with, and borne aloft by that of the Victory, is an upper yard, 
 with its sail attached, of her antagonist. Shot away, and thundering down 
 upon her deck, is one of the Frenchman's masts, its head and top. — 
 Athenceum.
 
 (51 
 
 ST. STEPHEN'S CRYPT. 
 
 Ft is some years now since the late Sir Charles Barry began the 
 restoration of this beautiful Crypt, the only relic that remains to us 
 of the once unequalled St. Stephen's Chapel, unless Westminster 
 Hall and the cloisters on its east side are to be considered parts of 
 the famous Palace. What the crypt was fiOO years ago, now that 
 it has been perfectly restored to the splendour of its original deco- 
 ration, we can judge for ourselves ; but the glories of the chapel 
 which once rose above it can only be guessed at from comparison 
 with the crypt, or dimly admired through the traditions of anti- 
 quaries. Long before the fire which finally destroved it the gradual, 
 but necessary, process of accommodating its interior to the wants of 
 the House of Commons had totally changed this once superbly 
 decorated edifice. Mr. Fergusson, in his Handbook of Architecture 
 says of St. Stephen's : — 
 
 " As might be expected a priori, the gem of English art was the chapel in 
 the Royal Palace at Westminster. On this was lavished all that the nietioi)olis 
 could then produce most exquisite in the art of design, and this not in archi- 
 tecture only, hut the hest works of sculpture and the highest class of painting 
 were put in requisition for its adornment. The dimensions were not large, being 
 only 90ft. by 33ft. internally, and its roof was of wood, but so elaborate were 
 its decorations that it must have cost more tlian many edifices three or four 
 times its size. There can be no doubt that it was designed to surpass everything 
 of the sort in England, and being erected wholly within the reigns of the' three 
 first Edwards, it embraced the very best period of English art, answering to the 
 Sainte Chapelle at Paris, which belongs to the great architectural age of 
 St. Louis." 
 
 But, as we have said, very little of this grandeur beyond its tra- 
 ditions remained till 1884, when, after having been partly burnt 
 about a dozen times, the old building finally succumbed in the great 
 conflagration known as "the burning of the Houses of Parliament." 
 In traditions of another kind, however, St Stephen's, as the arena in 
 which were fought out the great battles for England's Constitution, 
 was not inferior in historic interest to any building which fire had vet 
 destroyed. A building in which the Confessor died, which was not 
 new when the first Norman councils were held in England, and 
 which witnessed and survived every reformation but the reformation 
 of Parliament, must have possessed such historic associations as 
 would leave it without an equal in this respect in Europe. But, 
 endless as are the traditions about St. Stephen's Chapel, about the
 
 62 
 
 crypt beneath, with which we have now to do, there are almost none. 
 Some of the early Edwards gave banquets in it. After this period 
 it was merely a crvpt — a dull sort of ecclesiastical lumber-room, 
 about which there are no records save the doubtful rumours which 
 assign it as a place of meeting for Cromwell, Pym, Denzil Holies, 
 and others of the Liberal party, when the debates which preceded the 
 Commonwealth were drawing to a violent close. From this time 
 forth it seems to have been a lumber-room, which was left alone in 
 its dusty silence till used to prepare the coronation banquet of one 
 of the early Georges — a mode of turning it to account which 
 seems to have suggested the idea which afterwards was carried out 
 by many successive Speakers of giving their Parliamentary banquets 
 in it. After the fire which destroyed St. Stephen's Chapel above it, 
 but did not much injure the crypt, the gas meters used to be kept in 
 it. and in the New Palace the site of St. Stephen's above the crypt 
 is used in order to obtain an entrance to the present structure 
 from Westminster Hall. This Hall is exactly over the crypt, 
 which was spared by the fire, and which has now been completely 
 restored under the care of the present architect to the New Palace 
 Mr. Edward M. Barrv. 
 
 While, in common with all other architects, the late Sir Charles 
 Barry lamented the destruction of St. Stephen's Chapel, he always 
 held as his most cherished idea, the restoration of the crypt, and its 
 re -dedication to religious uses as the ])rivate chapel of the New 
 Palace of Westminster, whose inmates are some hundreds, now that 
 the Speaker, Black Rod, Sergeant-at Arms, Librarians, and other 
 officials possess regular family residences within the building, and 
 which, we believe, being necessarily extra-parochial, give no legal 
 claim for seats in the neighbouring churches. It is some years 
 since this restoration was commenced, and it has fallen to the lot of 
 Sir Charles Barry's son to carry out his father's views by completed, 
 restoring and decorating the crypt, and nothing now remains to be 
 added except the fittings to render it a chapel worthy of the most 
 important Gothic edifice of modern times. 
 
 As it appears now, the Crypt is restored to all its pristine 
 splendour of its early erection. Every tone of its rich gold and 
 colour decorations have been, wherever they could be ti'aced, most 
 diligently reproduced, and the result is a chapel which, in its general 
 richness of elFect, will bear comparison with any in Europe, with 
 the Sainte Chapelle, with the Chapter House of Salisbury Cathedral 
 itself. 
 
 The date of the erection of St. Stephen's Chapel and crypt is 
 supposed to be from about A.D. 1^90 to A.D. 1345, and, though 
 the upper chapel was roofed with wood, the crypt always possessed 
 a groined ceiling of stone, with massive ribs and bosses, which 
 have been carefully reinstated and restored. The bosses are in most 
 cases original, as their fragments have been collected and put to- 
 gether again with great care. Some of the largest bosses are really 
 medallion groups of historical sculpture, and contain representations
 
 f)3 
 
 of the martyrdoms of St. Stephen, St. John, St. Catherine. St. 
 Lawrence, and also a representation of St. George and the Dragon. 
 Some of these bosses are most quaint, especially the chief one, 
 which represents the martyrdom of St. Stephen, who is clad in 
 gorgeous robes, and being stoned by Hebrews dressed in the curious 
 costume and long pointed shoes of the time of Chaucer, who, by 
 the way, was himself clerk of the works during the erection of part 
 of the crypt and chapel. Another boss which represents the mar- 
 tvrdom of St. Catherine, is equally grotesque in its manner of 
 telling the tale of suffering. Weird and monstrous, too, are the 
 Gothic dragons which peer from the roof and vary these bosses, 
 and give such appearance of originality to the whole ceihng. 
 
 The Crypt is of nearly the same dimensions as the original chapel 
 above it — namely UOft. long by '^Sft. wide, and '^Oft. high. Jt 
 contains five elaborate groins, all richly decorated in gold and 
 colours. Attached to each of the side walls are groups of clustered 
 columns which support the groins. Each cluster contains five 
 columns, which, with their capitals and bases, are all of Purbeck 
 marble, polished. The side and end walls, as well as the private 
 entrance from the Palace, are all painted and ornamented in a 
 manner to correspond with the decoration of the groins, and as 
 from the situation of the crypt there is necessarily a deficiency of 
 light, Mr. Barry has thought it necessary to make a liberal use of 
 gold grounds as a field on which the various decorations have been 
 executed. The floor is paved with Minton's tiles, with an admxi- 
 ture of marble, the designs increasing in richness and elaboration 
 towards the east end. The windows are all filled with stained glass 
 by Hardman, and are illustrative of the life and death of St. Stephen, 
 who is depicted in the discharge of his various diaconal duties, and 
 meeting in the end a martyr's death. The east end probably con- 
 tained windows originally, as the chapel above undoubtedly did ; 
 but, as the Palace now adjoins the east end of the crypt, no 
 windows can now be obtained there. The panelling is therefore 
 occupied with full length figures on gold grounds. Commencing 
 from the left, in the first triplet are St. Oswald, St. Etheldredr, 
 and St. Edmund ; those of the centre triplet are St. Peter and 
 St. Stephen, the proto-martyr and titular saint of the old building; 
 the centre panel being temporarily filled with a cross and orna- 
 ment. The figures of the remaining triplet are St. Edward the 
 Confessor, St. Margaret of Scotland, and St. Edward the Martyr. 
 At the south-west end opposite the entrance from Westminster 
 Hall is the Baptistery, octagon in plan, groined and decorated in 
 harmony with the Chapel ; at the entrance, upoa the threshold, 
 is an incised representation of Noah's Ark with figures on the jambs; 
 the avement is laid with Minton tiles and marble, having eight 
 incised heads of the persons who were saved in the Ark. The bowl 
 of the font is of alabaster, the shafts of Ipplcpeu marble, and the 
 base of Hopton wood, stone, and Purbeck marble. 
 
 The altar cloth, designed expressly for this chapel by Mr. E. M. 
 Barry, is also well worthy of remark. The field upon wlii(^h the
 
 64 
 
 embroidery is worked is a purple velvet frontal and a red velvet 
 super-frontal. It is difficult to describe completely the colours of 
 this elaborate -work, and we must content ourselves with pointing 
 them out sufficiently to give some general idea of the way in which 
 the design is worked out. The central circle is of crimson velvet ; 
 the cross is of gold cord, stitched across at short intervals with red 
 silk, with a marginal line of white ; the sacred monogram is worked 
 
 in low relief in purd gold cord ; the rim from which the rays spring 
 is of wlhte silk with black quatrefoils, tbe rays are of gold stitched 
 with red on a blue ground ; the broad outer rim is of cloth of gold, 
 with white and red circles upon it. The foliage of the floriated 
 terminations of the cross is shaded in silks red, green, and white ; 
 the work is further enriched by the introduction of crystals in the 
 centre, and pearls round the rim of the four arms of the ci'oss. The 
 crown also over the monogram is similarly worked, and enriched 
 with a row of pearls. On the whole the work which has been 
 executed by Messrs. Frank Smith & Co., is very rich and har- 
 monious, and deserving of high praise. 
 
 Warrington, Printer, Garricli Street, W.C. 
 
 I