The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-12 00:00:00

THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIA

MENT.

THE RIVER WALL.—.This wal►, so essential to the
ultimate security of the stupendous edifices erecting in
its rear, is more than 30 feet in breadth or thickness,

and forms the Terrace level, the facings of granite, and

being built in a " battering" form, offers not only a
counteracting influence to the great weight at its rear,
but also forms an impenetrable barrier to the great body
of water pressing upon it without, and the action of
which it will still resist, when ages are passed away. Its
height above the bed of the river is 15 feet, and it is
calculated that a spring tide will reach to within three
feet of its summit.

THE NORTHERN WlNG.—This portion of the
structure, adjoining Westminster bridge, and intended
for the official residence of the Speaker of the House
of Commons, is more advanced than any other portion
of the works ; and, as viewed from the river or the

bridge. already conveys to the mind of the observer a
very g,od idea of the ultimate gigantic and magnificent
appearance the Houset will present when finished.
The first stone of the superstructure was laid on the
27th of April, 1840. From that time the " setting"
has gone on rapidly, and this part is now carried up to
the transom of the first or principal floor windows,
a height of 26 feet 9 inches from the basement floor.
The only embellishment yet to be seen on the exterior
of the northern wing are beautifully-executed crowns,
',heed under the niches of the windows. Beneath
these crowns are shields, the surfaces of which are

a; yet plain, but ultimately various coats of arms
will be richly carved upon them. The crown and
shield are encircled by the garter. In the interior of the
north( rn wing, or Speaker's residence, the little screens of
the entrance hall are completed, as is also part of the
grand staircase. A portion of the north flank, begin-
ning at the clock-tower in Palace-yard, containing the
house of the Sergeant-at-Arms, is also in course of erec-

tion. It is considered that the north wing will be car
ried up to the summit of the windows of the principal
floor by the end of the present summer. The progress
in the interior will be in the same ratio.
THE TERRACE FRONT.—In continuation with the
northern wing is the middle curtain or terrace frontage.
Tue whole of this part will be occupied by the Com-
mittee rooms of both Houses, the libraries, refreshment
and waiting rooms. The progress made is not quite so
great as in the northern wing ; the masonry is, however,
carried up to the first floor windows. Immediately in
the rear of the external wail, and between that and the
intended Committee and other rooms, runs a corridor ex-
tending the whole length of the terrace frontage, which
effects an easy and convenient ingress and egress to the
various apartments. There are several other corridors
running out of this, the archways of which only are as
set turned, the groins of neither the greater or lesser
ones being filled in. Through this corridor and the ter-
race front are the Lords and Commons entrances to the
terrace itself. The archways of which are also turned.
THE TERRACE will be about 32 feet in breadth, with
a parapet of about three feet high running along its
super verge. It will be exclusively devoted to the
Members of both Houses. It was at first intended
that there should be an approach to the Houses from
the river by means of a noble flight of steps descending
from the carpe of the terrace ; but this idea is, we be-
lieve, altogether abandoned.
THE SOUTHERN WING, containing the apartments
of the Usher of the Black Rod, tbe Librarian, the House-
keeper, &c., has reached an altitude of rather better
than 20 feet. Another portion of the South Wing, not
yet so far advanced, contains accommodation for the
Lord Great Chamberlain on state occasions. At the
end of this wing is a space left open called the Royal
Court-yard, which wiil be entered through a noble arch-
way, the carriace way of which will be 14 feet wide ; it
is teitncd the Royal entrance to the terrace, and is par-
tiaty erected.
THE VICTORIA TOWER, the chef d'cruvre of the
whoie, will be situate at the angle of the buildings, next
Abingdon-street. Workmen are busily engaged at
the excavation, and it is considered that the foundation
will be laid down in about three months. This tower
will have a gateway, that will be opened on great oc-
casions, such as when toe Queen comes to open or pro-
rogue Parliament. It will abut into Abingdon-street,
near to ti:e Chequers Tavern.
THE HOUSES OF LORDS AND COMMONS Will Oc-
cupy a central position, judging from the excavations
now going on on the site of the Speeker's garden. In
connection with this excavation, there are one or two
circumstances of antiquarian interest, which are the
exposure of two massive stone walls, running parallel
with tile one recenily erected, and which were, at a
remote time, evidently built for the same purpose, viz.,
that of confining the water. The first is about 120
feet inland from where the river now runs, and the
other about 100 fret beyond that, running close up to
the foundation of St. Stephen's Crypt. These facts
show that at no very distant time the river flowed
where the 'musts of Legislature now stand. The
workmen find it extremely difficult to demolish these
wails, which are built of stone and flint, and several by
cement, mere difficult of separation than the material
itself. The ground the Loids will occupy is 201 feet
by 82. The Commons 214 feet by 92.
'lnc entire length of the whole buildings (river front)
is 876 feet.
The number of men employed by Messrs Grissel and
Pew, the contractors, is very nearly .500, of which, 248
are masons and carvers.
ble

INTRODUCTION OF FIRE-ENGINES. Ad-
vertisement transcribed from the London Gazette of
August 14, 1676:—" Whereas his Nlajcsty hath granted
letters patent unto Mr. Wharton and Mr. Strode, for a
certain new-invented engine for quenching of fire, with
I,athern
pipes, which carries a great quantity and a con-
tinal stream of water, with an extraordinary force, to the
top of any house, into any room, passage, or alley; being
much more useful titan any that bath hitherto been In-
vented, as was attested under the hands of the Masters
of St. Thomas's Hospital and officers of the same parish,
as in the late great fire of Southwark, to their great
benefit and advantage. This is to signify," B,C.
We learn with much satisfaction from Dublin,
that the rtband of the Order of tile Knighthood of St.
Patrick, vacant by the death of Lord O'Neil, is to be
confer! ed on the Earl of Arran. If we mistake not, the
grandia her cf the present Earl was one of the original
Knights of Sc. Patrick ; but what renders the expected
honour to the Earl of Arran truly a matter of gratification
in Ireland if, that it i 3 to be conferred on a resident noble.
Irin, devoting all his time and his resources to the
pro%eawnt of ill: e,tates, and to tilt! well-htiLg aid hap-
piness of his tenantry, who look up to him as their bet
frigid and benefactor,—,Sunday Paper.