The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-26 00:00:00

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LETTERS FROM MR. MAC
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PRICE sn.

THE NEW PALACE AT WEST-
MINSTER.

The following particulars, relative to the building
familiarly known as the New Houses of Parliament, but
which has lately assumed the above appellation, have
been derived from authentic sources, and will probably
prove interesting to the reader, detailing, as they do, the
progress of this great national undertaking. We com-
mence with

The River Front, containing the committee-rooms and
libraries of both Houses, with the Speaker's and other
residences. This is now completed externally, and the
whole of the scaffolding; removed. It is also ready in-
ternally for the fixing of the finishings, which are being
proceeded with elsewhere with great rapidity. We next
come to

The House of Lords, 'a building that fir gorgeousness
of appearance will not be surpassed by any edifice to be
found on the Continent. The house is covered in, anti
the windows, twelve in number, glazed. The ceiling, a
most magnificent piece of workmanship, is finished, and
the effect is grand in the extreme. We may venture
to say that there is nothing in London or even in Eng-
land equal to it in richness of design or elaborateness
in ornament. It is composed of panels and emblazon-
meats, the centre of each panel being a shield or crest.
The panels are painted in a variety of rich colours, and
the emblazonments are gilded. The upper part of the
wall will present a stone facing, but the lower part,
reaching to the windows, will be lined with oak wains-
cotting, which we understand has been prepared, and
only awaits more favourable weather to admit of its
being put in its place. The elaborate nature of this oak
panelling is almost beyond the powers of description.
It is entirely covered with carving of the most exquisite
workmanship, the armorial bearings of the different
Peers being introduced in the numerous panels. The
throne, with its appendage and canopies, all of oak, is
is a state of great forwardness. The carving is of a
most magnificent character, and is equal, in point of
enrichment, to any Gothic screen-work seen abroad.
All this elaborate wood-work and decoration are being
prepared by Messrs. Grissell and Peto, the contractors
for the erection of the New Palace, upon Government
premises at Thames Bank, which have been fitted up
at great costfor the express purpose of expediting the
work. The large windows in the House of Lords, in
each of which there are eight compartments, will be
filled in with stained glass, representing the portraits of
the kings and queens of England and Scotland.
Between each window are niches for the re-
ception of the statues of those barons who
compelled King John to sign Magna Charts, in the field
of Runnymede. A model statue, about six feet in
height, representing the celebrated Prelate Langton,
has been fixed in the centre niche on the east side, and
the effect is very fine, and is said to have elicited Prince
Albert's approbation on Friday. Over the throne are
three large panels, most lavishly decorated, and which
are intended to be ornamented with frescoes. The hatk
of the Strangers' Gallery will also be decorated, it Is
believed, with frescoes. From information we have re-
ceived, we have every reason to believe that tbr,, House
of Peers, the Peers' and Commons' libraria-a, and the
committee rooms will be ready for use atout the middle
of next session. It should be statza that the floor of
the House of Peers will be of perforated cast-iron of a
very peculiar character,
Victoria Hall is roofed in, and in a state of great for-
, wardness. This hail will contain the chief statues of
eminent men that have existed during the last 200 years;
and also fresco paintings of historical subjects. It will
have a parquette flooring—that is, a flooring composed
of various descriptions of oak, with a very rich border.
This hall will be used as an ante-room to the House of
Lords.
The 'Victoria Gallery, the robing, and guard rooms,
the royal landing, the latter having a most exquisitely
grained roof, enriched with bosses, and lighted from
above, are all roofed in, and the access from them, is
nearly cemplete, to,
The Victoria Tower, which is now 65 feet in height.
Its large and magnificent arches have been completed
some time; and the staircase, from the tower to the royal
gallery, is arched in with stone. The stone carvings of
the gateway are not only numerous but majestic in ap-
pearance, and two lions, in stone, in an upright position,
and fixed on either side of the gateway, have a very
imposing appearance. The next twenty feet of the
tower to be erected will, according to the model prepared
by Mr. Thomas, from designs by Mr. Barry, be one
mass of elaborate earring. In the front, or Abbey side.
will be nine niches, as at present contemplated, contain-
ing the statues of ancient kings and queens, the centre
niche, which is directly over the gateway, being occupied
with a statue of the Queen. The frontage, towards
Millbaek, will be treated in the same manner; and the
two other sides will be enriched with stone carvings.
Above this height the carving and decoration will be
continued, but not of so lavish or prominent a character.
The House of Commons is nearly ready for the root,
which is itself in readiness for fixing. The interior fit-
tings of the House will be of oak carved, but not so ela-
borately as the panelling in the House of Peers. The
completion of the House is expected in 1848. The,
residences of the Sreaker and other officers of the House
of Commons are also roofed in, and in a forward state,
The clock tower and the new Palace-yard front, in
connexion with it are at present 60 feet in height,
St, Stephen's Hall and porch, which will le;rm the,
main principal entrance to both houses from A.'oingdon-
street, where the principal entrance to the House of
Commons now is, has just been commenced, and the stone
work is in course of fixing, the outside being similar ins
appearance to that of Palace-yard,
In concluding this account, it may not bo uninteresting
to state that the New Palace will, when completed,
occupy the area of eleven acres. This fact in itself will
show how great must be the labour and responsibility
incurred by Mr. Barry, the architect, and the contractors,
Messrs. Grissell and Peto, whom we should state, employ
nearly 800 men on the works, under the superinter,d.
°rico of Mr, Allen, and 200 more in the establislyanena
at Thulies Bank, preparing the internal fittings.

!AULA.Y.

The Edinburgh Chronicle publishes the following let-
ters from the Right Hon. Mr. Macaulay: the first being
a reply to Mr. David Greig, on the subject of the mili-
tia ; and the second an answer to a letter from the
Secretary of the Committee for the liberation of Frost,
Williams, and Jones
Albany, London, Jan. 30, 1846.
" Sir,—You quite misunderstand my sentiments about
the elective franchise. I never in my life said that you
who have no votes were not interested in the public weal.
God forbid' My reasons for objecting to universal suffrage
are very different. I believe that the non-electors areas
deeply interested as I am in the security of property and
I the maintenance of order ; but I believe that a very
large portion of them do not understand their own
interest, and might easily be induced, by the pressure of
immediate distress, to act in opposition to their own in-
terest. That this is so, I have proof under their own
hands. I refer to the petition which Mr. Duncombe
presented to the House of Commons in 1842. In that
document some hundreds of thousands of Chartists asked
for the franchise, and told us how they meant to use it.
They avowed that their objects were national bank-
ruptcy, confiscation of the soil, of canals, of machinery
—in short, the destruction of all property. I was firmly
convinced, and ain firmly convinced, that such measures
would produce indescribable misery to the great majority
of the petitioners themselves. I refused them the
franchise, not from disregard of their interests, but from
the same feeling which would lead ice to refuse a razor
to a man aho told me that he wanted it in order to cut
hip throat; and I assure you that I have never inquired
of any inhabitant of Edinburgh who complained to me
of a grievance whether he e as an elector or not.
" And now to the main subject of your letter. I shill
give my best consideration to the measures which may be
proposed respecting the militia ; but I must frankly tell
you that my conduct will be guided by principles which
differ widely from yours. I hold defensive war to be
lawful and necessary. I conceive that the State has 'a
right to call on every citizen to bear a part in protecting
his native soil against assailants. That the exertion and
burden ought to be reduced as much as possible, and
divided as fairly as possible, is quite true. But I sus-
pect that all the inconveniencies which even a vexatious
enrolment can produce would be small indeed. when
compared with the misery which would be caused by the
appearance of a hostile armament in the Forth.
" I cannot at all understand your scruple about joining
a protection society. You pay taxes, I presume, di-
rectly or indirectly. You must he aware that a,' large
part of those taxes goes to support the regular army
and navy. Now, if -Ott may law fully contribute
the support of a kind of force which has been, and
may be, employed in offensive war, surely you may,
without any twinge of conscience, contribute to the
support of a force which is, by its nature, strictly
defensive, and which is not likely ever to shed' a
drop of blood, unless danger of the most fearful
kind should come near to our own hearths. I
persuade myself that your aversion to the use of
arms does not go to such a height that you would
hold yourself morally bound to see Edinburgh sacked
by invaders without striking a blow fur your home and
family. Now, the militia is meant to be peculiarly a
security against invaders. It is not an instrument of
aggression. You must, therefore, admit it to be, as com-
pared with the regular army, an innocent institution. If,
then, you refuse to pay anything towards the militia,
while you are paying the soldiers and sailors who have
just been fighting at Buenos Ayres, I must say that yon
strain at a gnat and SVI allow a camel.
" If you have any special hardship to complain of, it
shall receive my best attention.
"I have the honour to be, Sir, your faithful and
obedient servant,

" T. B. MACAULAY."
" Albany, London, Feb. 16, 1846.
" Sir,—l cannot agree with you in thinking that the
law has, as respects Frost and his accomplices, been
thoroughly satisfied. Consider what they did, and
what they have suffered. They raised a rebellion,
which you admit to have been unjustifiable—led thou-
sands of ignorant labouring men into guilt and danger
—fired on the Queen's troops—wounded a magistrate
iu the discharge of his duty—caused the deaths of
several unhappy creatures—and would, if their. at-
tempt had not been stopped in the outset, have caused
such a destruction of life and and property as has
not been known in England for ages. This is
their offence. What has been their punishment?
Transportation for about five years—a lighter punish-
ment than has been inflicted on many poor lads for
picking pockets. You disclaim very properly all pro-
jects of insurrection. But rely on it that there will be
insurrections enough, if turbulent and designing men
are apprised that the penalty of raising a civil war is
henceforth to be less than the penalty of robbing a hen-
roots. Thinking this, I cannot hold out any hope
that I shall vote for any address in favour of these great
ci iminals.
"I have the honour to be, Sir, your faithful servant.
"T. B. MACAULAY."