The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-29 00:00:00

F PA RLIA_-

The respectful Represcntafon of the whole Magistracy of
the City of Hanover, concerning their Protest against
the so-called Assembly of the States in :he Second
Chamber.
The Undersigned Magistracy of the City of Hanover
belong to those Corporations which have considered the
Royal Patent of the let of November 1837 an act which
partially and unlawfully injured the dearest rights of
single Corporations and of the whole country, and they
have never wavered in that opinion.
To explain and defend this opinion, which has al-
ready been done by numerous representations, would be
' here unnecessary. It is sufficient to state that the
Magistracy of Hanover have ever abided by the validity
of the Constitution founded on the fundamental Law of
1833, that they have never departed from that opinion,
Dare placed their Protests consequent thereon in proper
time on the records of the Second Chamber of the As-
sembly of the States ; and have for the same reason
lately declined by the non-election of a Deputy for the
City to take a part in the proceedings of that Chamber.
This decision of the Magistracy is so well known to
the Cabinet of his Majesty, and to the country at
large, that no doubt can exist on the subject.
Such a line of conduct, they hoped, would, for the
time, satisfy the just demands of their own city, and
of the deeply injured country.
This solemn and effective proceeding, though ap-
parently deficient in activity, seemed best to answer the
exigencies of the moment ; and the Magistracy were gra-
tified by being able to avoid more positive steps, as it
would have been extremely painful to them directly to
complain of, and oppose any particular acts of; his Ma-
jesty's Government. Aware of their duty as subjects,
and duly weighing their peculiar position in the country
as the Magistrates of its capital, they deemed it most
conducive to the general interest., of the people, to
give to the whole country, by the scrupulous observance
of the laws, an example of quiet self-possession, and o
a moderate modest resistance.
These feelings of the undersigned are still unchanged,
and if they now, following the example of other cities
and corporations, di-.eetly address the Germanic Diet,
they are compelled to this step only by the most press-
ing and most lamentable circumstances.
The Second Chamber, called together by the Royal
Patent of t}-.e 7th of January, 1839, was in the outset
unlikely to become complete ; but at length the
Cabinet succeeded in bringing together the requisite
number of persons (and no more) to constitute
the Assembly. Almost all the former Deputies belong-
i.ag to the opposition, were excluded (where they did
not themselves decline taking seats in an unlawful
Assembly) by an order, which cannot be lawful, as no
law prescribes that only such representatives are to be
chosen as recognize the validity of that Constitution ac-
cording to which the States are convoked. It is well
known, and need not be detailed, that promises and
threats affecting the prosperity, nay, the very existence
of the voters and their families, were largely employed
to influence the elections, but it is worthy of remark,
as being a further and most clear violation of the law,
that elections by a minority (where the majority
declined to vote) were recognised as valid, that all the
Deputies were allowed to take the oaths, and thereby
enabled to vote, without any examination of their cre-
dentials or powers, and the few legally elected Deputies
were forced to admit these individuals by having either
the whole or the defective parts of the Protocols of
the elections withheld from them. Thus an Assembly
has been constituted, the members of which were they
to look at themselves dispassionately, must avow theta-
selves to be the passive instruments of another's will, and
either smile pityingly at their own nothingness, or be
filled with indignation at their own disgraceful position.
In this manner, all that justice, law, and custom
have sanctioned, even that very Constitution upon
which his Majesty relies and insists, and has de-
clared to be inviolable, has been denied and trod-
den under foot, and thus only could an Assembly be com-
pleted totally unworthy of the name of a Representative
Chamber, void of all confidence, destitute of all public
respect, and unrecognised by the country, and which has
yet dared to come to conclusions which are to bind the
people.

To such a collection of persons, can any one to whom
the honour and the rights of his country are dear, or who
means well by his fatherland and his King, concede any
right ? No ! not even the shadow of a right to influence
the dearest interests of the country, or, in common with
his Majesty's Government, to decide upon any measures
which affect the people.
If Government had left the cities and corporations to
the exercise of their own free will and good sense, and
had not done its utmost to lead them astray, by all kinds
of artful tricks, nor cramped them in the open, explicit
expression of their opinions, never, never would a suffi-
cient number of Deputies have been sent, the opposition
of the whole entire country, to its present Government,
would have been clearly apparent to all the world, and
all foundation for the false assertion made to the Diet,
" that the Constitution, (or rather the law of 1819),
was in acknowledged activity, and that the King
and the States were consulting in peace and unity
upon the affairs of the country," would he entirely
wanting.
To meet the above false assertion, put forth with
so much boldness, and all the equally erroneous deduc-
tions drawn from the sitting of the Second Chamber,
and to deny its validity—as being entirely void, deficient
in the character of the Constitutional Assembly of the
States, is the object of the present appeal to the Diet.
The Magistracy with the consent, and at the
distinctly expressed wish of the representatives
of the citizens (Burger Representanten) takes this
only peaceable means in their power to secure the
country at large, and their own immediate city
in particular, against the decisions of the now sit-
ting, so-called Assembly of the States, it being a com-
pletely unlawful body, kept is apparent valid activity
only by means as contrary to law as to custom ; and
they declare once more that they recognise the Repre
sentative Constitution founded on the fundamental law
of 1833, as the only valid and existing one, and they
respectfully pray, that the Diet will take the sacred, but
deeply and violently invaded rights of the people under
its protection, and to procure for them the restoration
of their Constitution, which has been partially and un-
warrantably taken from them.
Indeed, if the Diet inquire into, and consider the
present unhappy state of the country, the pressing ne-
cessity for speedily ending its lawless and insecure
position, cannot escape its wisdom.
All political relations are disturbed ; the Adminis-
tration has neither power nor authority ; Ministers
possess neither influence over, nor the confidence of, the
country; the servants of the State generally are discon•
tented and wavering ; their former high character for un-
impeachable honesty is at stake ; the internal peace of
the country is fled ; intrigue, mistrust, and secret spies
have taken its place ; family ties are rent asunder by
violent differences in political opinion, and the general
agitation, whatever may be said to the contrary, and
however convincing the external appearance of quiet
may seem, is threateningly increasing day by day.
And all this in a country celebrated for its unshaken
loyalty towards its ancient hereditary Princes ! Truly
it is worthy of a better fate than has been meted out
to it by its present ruler. How eagerly was the arrival
of the King looked forward to ! How many high hopes
were founded on the continued presence of the Sove-
reign ! And almost all have vanished unfulfilied !
Not that the people undervalue the noble qualities of
their Sovereign, which might be ornaments to any Prince;
not that the people doubt the honest wish of his Ma-
jesty to make his people happy, for who could expect
otherwise from a son of George the Third ? But they
complain that the Government measures, recommended by the Cabinet, Laid pursued with obstinate and unde-
viating firmness, loosen all bonds of confidence, and pre-
vent that union between the Sovereign and his subjects
which is their most ardent wish ; and they are sure that
this wish can only be attained when a man is placed at
the head of the Cabinet who is not led astray by par-
tial and narrow views—not given up to the interests of
one class only—who does not despise the citizens and
the mass of the people—and who possesses, and de-
serves to possess, the confidence of the country. The
people demand only the protection of their rights, and
will readily and most willingly concede all just claims of
their Sovereign, even though at the cost of the greatest
sacrifices.
If his Majesty could be persuaded, guided by the
paternal wish to restore peace and quiet to his people,
to call together the States, according to the Constitu-
tion of 1833, protesting, at the same time (if he so
pleased), against those clauses which were objected to
in the patent of Nov. 1, 1837, and to consider with this
lawful Assembly the alterations which he deems neces-
sary in the Constitution before it can receive his sanc-
tion, a few short months would suffice to settle every
difference, to restore peace, to fill all hearts with joy,
and to pour blessings on the throne !
Would not such a consummation be worth purchasing
at any price, by a Prince, in the evening of his days, that
he might be upheld and cherished by the love of his
people while living, and dying, leave so beautiful an in-
heritance to his only son and successor!
May the longed-for decision of the Diet soon produce
this result, so welcome to the people, and may this
respectful prayer be deemed worthy of its consideration.
Let the Diet consider in its wisdom, to what steps it
may lead, and in the end must lead, if a nation is debar-
red from every lawful means of obtaining their good
rights.

On Friday morning Charles Brown, aged eight
years, was leading by a halter a horse up and down Keppel.
mews, when the animal suddenly backed upon him, and
kicking out struck the child on the forehead. He fell
bleeding and apparently lifeless, and one of the men em-
ployed in the mews ran with him to University College
Hospital. His skull is so dreadfully that his recovery is
not expected. In tl,e afternoon of the same day, a boy
named Bryant, who was teasing a horse standing in Chan-
dos-street, Covent-garden, by pulling hair from his tail,
received a kick which fractured his skull. He was con-
veyed to Charing-cross Hospital, Hopes are entertained
of his recovery.

Extract from a Report (addressed to the Commissioners
of bar Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues
NVorks, Buildin ,
g
dertaken under the authority o the Loads Commis-
s) as e lof an Inquiry, un-
sioners of her Majesty's Treasury, by Charles Barry,
'F. De La Beebe, Esq., F.R.S, and F.G.S.,
William Smith, Esq., D.C.L. and F.G.S., and 'Mr.
Charles H. Smith, with reference to the Selection of
Stone for Building. the New Houses of Parliament.
My Lorct and Gentlemen—ln conformity with your
instructions we have the honour to report, that in the
months of August, September, and October last we
made a tour of inspection to various stone quarries in
the kingdom, and visited numerous public buildings, with
a view to the selection of a proper stone to be employed
in the ere..tion of the New Houses of Parliament. We
!lave also, its, further compliance with your instructions,
procured fair average specimen of the workable stone
from each of the quarries which we have visited, and
have deposited cubes, prepared from such specimens, as
well as from others which have been forwarded to us, in
the Museum of Economic Geology.
From the number of quarries which we have visited,
we consider that we have been enabled to obtain a com-
petent knowledge of the varied character of each of the
several classes of building stone in the kingdom which
are likely to be suited to the object in view, although
we are well aware that there are many other freestone
quarries in various parts of the country which we have
not examined, where stone of different varieties, in some
cases, perhaps, not inferior to those which have been
brought under our immrnediate inspection, may be ob-
tained. From many of such last-mentioned quarries we
have received specimen blocks, and the requisite infor-
mation concerning them, since the completion of our
tour. We have not considered it necessary to extend
our inquiry to granites, porphyries, and other stone of
similar character, on account of the enormous expense
of converting it to building purposes in decorative
edifices, and from a conviction that an equally durable
and more eligible material could be obtained for the
object in view from among the limestones or sandstones
of the kingdom. We have, nevertheless, to acknow-
ledge the receipt of several specimens ofgranite, among
which are some from the estates of the Marquis of
Breadalbane, near Oban, in the west of Scotland, ac-
companied by a munificent offer on the part of his
Lordship that, should the granite from that locality be
considered fit and available for the proposed new
Houses of Parliament, he would be willing to make a
free gift to the nation of his interest in any quantity
that might be required for the purpose.
In order to render more complete the inquiry upon
which we have been engaged, we have availed ourselves
of the valuable assistance of Professors Daniell and
Wheatstone, of King's College, London, in determin-
ing the physical properties of a large proportion of the
specimens which we have obtained.
In proof of the necessity and importance of the in-
rioiry upon which we have been engaged, the lamentable
effects of decomposition observable in the greater part
of the limestone employed at Oxford, in the magnesian
limestone of the Minster, churches, and other public
buildings at York, and in the sandstones of which the
churches and other public buildings in Derby and
Newcastle are constructed, afford, among numerous
other examples, incontestible and striking evidence.
The unequal state of preservation of many buildings
often produced by the varied quality of the stone from
the same quarry, employed in their construction, shows
the propriety of a minute examination of the quarries
themselves, in order to acquire a proper knowledge of
the particular beds from whence the different varieties
have been obtained. An inspection of quarries is also
desirable for the purpose of ascertaining their power of
supply, the probable extent of any given bed, and many
other matters of practical importance.
It frequently happens that the best stone in quarries
is often neglected, or only in part worked, from the
cost of baring and removing those beds with which it
may be associated ; and, in consequence, the inferior
material is in such cases supplied, especially when a
great order is required to be fulfilled in a short space of
time, and at an insufficient price, which is often the
case with respect to works undertaken by contract.
The effects of the chemical and mechanical causes of
the decomposition of stone in buildings are greatly mo-
dified according as such buildings may be situated in
town or country. The state of the atmosphere in popua
lous smoky towns produces a greater amount of decom-
position in buildings so situated, all other condi-
tions being equal, than in those placed in an open
country, where many of the aeriform products which
arise from such towns, and are injurious to buildings,
are not to be found.
The chemical action of the atmosphere produces a
change in the entire matter of the limestones, and in
the cementing substance of the sandstones, according
to the amount of surface exposed to view. The mecha-
nical action due to atmospheric causes occasions either
a removal or a disruption of the exposed particles ; the
former by means of powerful winds and driving rains,
and the latter by the congelation of water forced into
or absorbed by the external portions of the stone.
These effects are reciprocal, chemical action rendering
the stone liable to be more easily affected by mechani-
cal action, which latter, by constantly presenting new
surfaces, accelerates the disintegrating effects of the
former.
Buildings in This climate are generally found to suf-
fer the greatest amount of decomposition on their
southern, south-western, and western fronts, arising.,
doubtless, from the prevalence of winds and rains from
those quarters ; hence it is desirable that stones of great
tivrtar
oiol
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bßerr
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exercisei
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firmlyl
become
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advantage
gal should utt situated
protective
established
covered
e v a
eot rs eleastthose tl
oh
se bee countryiemployed
populous
o appear
lous
such aspects.
ppeinarfrtoontpsos'sveitshs
and smoky
lichens,
flietsruhuetenhlhvce
their
e atheugnaa
entire
inihroseentyss,tuahrlaemflai oocdser
ishinneiairmhay:
causes of the decomposition of the stone upon which
they grow.
As an instance of the difference in degree of durabi-
lity in the same material subject to the effects of the
atmosphere in town or country, we may notice the se-
veral frustra of columns and other blocks of stone which
were quarried at the time of the erection of St. Paul's
Cathedral in London, and are now lying in the Island
of Portland, near the quarries from whence they were
obtained. These blocks are invariably found to be
covered with lichens, and although they have been ex-
posed to all the vicissitudes of a marine atmosphere for
more than 1.50 years, they still exhibit beneath the
lichens their original form, even to the marks of the
chisel employed upon them, whilst the stone which was
taken from the same quarries (selected no doubt with
equal if not greater care than the blocks alluded to)
and placed in the Cathedral itself, is, in those parts
which are exposed to the south and south-west winds,
found in many instances to be fast mouldering away.
Colour is of more importance in the selection of a
stone for a building to be situated in a populous and
smoky town than for one to be placed in an open coun-
try, where all edifices usually become covered, as above
stated, with lichens ; for although in such towns those
fronts which are not exposed to the prevailing winds and
rains will soon become blackened, the remainder of the
building will constantly exhibit a tint depending upon
the natural colour of the material employed.
Before we proceed to adduce a few examples of the
present condition of the various buildings that we have
examined, we would wish to observe, that those which
are highly decorated, such as the churches of the Nor-
man and pointed styles of architecture, afford a more
severe test of the durability of any given stone, all
other circumstances being equal, than the more simple
and less decorated buildings, such as the castles of the
fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, inasmuch, as the
material employed in the former class of buildings is
worked into more disadvantageous forms than in the
latter, as regards exposure to the effects of the weather;
and we would further observe, that buildings in a state
of ruin, from being deprived of their ordinary protec-
tion of roofing, glazing of windows, &c., constitute an
equally severe teat of the durability of the stone em-
ployed in them.

As examples of the degree of durability of various
building stones in particular localities, the following may
be enumerated. Of the sandstone buildings which we
examined we may notice the remains of Ecclestone
Abbey, of the thirteenth century, near Barnard Castle,
constructed of a stone closely resembling that of the
Stenton Quarry, in the vicinity, as exhibiting the mould-
ings and other decorations, even to the dog"s tooth orna-
ment, in excellent condition. The circular Keep of
Barnard Castle, apparently also built of the same mate-
rial, is in fine preservation. 'l 'intern Abbey may also
be noticed as a sandstone edifice that has to a consider-
able extent resisted decomposition ; for, although it is
decayed in some parts, it is nearly perfect in others.
Some portions of Whitby Abbey are likewise in a per-
fect state, whilst others are fast yielding to the effects
of the atmosphere. The older portions of Ripon Ca-
thedral, constructed of sandstone, are in a fair state of
preservation. Rivaulx Abbey is another good example
of an ancient sandstone building in a fair condition.
The Norman keep of Richmond Castle, in Yorkshire,
affords an instance of a moderately hard sandstone,
which has well resisted decomposition.

As examples of sandstone building- s of more recent
date, in a good state of preservation, we may mention
Hardwicke Hall, Haddon Hall, and all the buildings
of Craigleith stone in Edinburgh and its vicinity. Of
sandstone edifices in an advanced state of decomposi-
tion we may enumerate Durham Cathedral, the churches
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carlisle Cathedral, Kirkstall
Abbey, and Fountains Abbey. The sandstone churches
of Derby are also extremely decomposed ; and the
church of St. Peter's at Shaftesbury is in such a state
of decay, that some portions of the building are only
prevented from falling by means of iron ties.
As an example of an edifice constructed of a calci-
ferous variety of sandstone, we may notice Tisbury
Church, which is in unequal fandition,:the mouldings
and other enrichments being in a perfect state, whilst
the ashler, apparently selected with less care, is fast
mouldering away.
The choir of Southwell Church, of the twelfth con-

- In Spotforth Castle we have a striking example of
unequal decomposition of two materials, a magnesian
limestone and a sandstone ; the former employed in the
decorative parts, and the latter for the ashler or plain
facing of the walls. Although the magnesian lime.
stone has been equally exposed with the sandstone to
the decomposing effects of the atmosphere, it has re-
mained as perfect in form as when first employed, while
the sandstone has suffered considerably from the effects
of the decomposition.
In Chepstow Castle may be observed a magnesian
limestone in fine preservation, and a red sandstone in an
advanced state of decomposition, both having been ex-
posed to the same conditions as parts of the same arch-
ways ; and in Bristol Cathedral we have a cu ious in-
stance of the effects arising from the intermixture of very
different materials, a yellow limestone and a red sand-
stone, which have been indiscriminately employed both
for the plain and decorative parts of the building. Not
only is the appearance in this case unsightly, but the ar-
chitectural effect of the edifice is also much impaired by
the unequal decomposition of the two materials, the
limestone having suffered much less from decay than the
sandstones.
Judging, therefore, from the evidence afforded by
buildings of various dates, there are many varieties of
sandstone and limestone employed for building purposes
which successfully resist the destructive effects of atmos-
pheric influences ; among these, the sandstones of Sten-
ton, Whitby, Tintern, Rivaulx, and Craigleith, the
magnesio-calciferous sandstones of Mansfield, the calci-
ferous sandstone of Tisbury, the crystalline magnesian
limestones, or dolomites, of Bolsover, Huddlestone,
and Roche Abbey, the oolites of Byland, Portland, Ind
A ncaster, the shelly oolites and limestone of Barnack and
Ham Hill, and siliciferous limestone of Chilmark, appear
to be amongst the most durable. To thee, which may
be all considered as desirable building materials, we are
inclined to add, though they may not always have the
evidence of ancient buildings in their favour, the sand-
stones of Darley Dale, Humbie, Longannet, and Crow-
bank, the magnesian limestones of Robin Hood's Well,
and the oolite of Ketton.

If, however, we are called upon to select a class of
stone for the more immediate object of our inquiry, we
should give the preference to the limestones, on account
of their more general uniformity of tint, their compara-
tively homogeneous structure, and the facility and eco-
nomy of their conversion to building purposes ; and of
this class we should prefer those which are most chrys-
talline.

In conclusion, having weighed to the best of our
judgment the evidence in favour of the various building
stones which have been brought under our consideration,
and freely admitting that many sandstones as well as
limestones possess very great advantages as building
materials, we feel bound to state that for durability, as
instanced in Southwell Church, &c., and the results of
experiments, as detailed in the accompanying tables ;
for crystalline character, combined with a close approach
to the equivalent proportions of carbonate of lime and
carbonate of magnesia ; for uniformity in structure ;
facility and economy in conversion ; and for advantage
of colour, the magnesian limestone, or dolomite, of Bol-
sover Moor* and its neighbourhood, is in our opinion the
most fit and proper material to be employed in the pro-
posed new Houses of Parliament.
We have the honour to be, my Lord and Gentlemen,
Your very humble and obedient servants,
(Signed) CHARLES BARRY.
H. T. DE DA BECHE.
WILLIAM SMITH.
CHARLES H. SMITH.
London, March 16, 1839.
Bolsover is a small market town situated in Derbyshire,
on the borders of the county of Nottingham, and about 145
miles from London.