The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-25 00:00:00

THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
We yesterday had an opportunity of minutely inspecting the
buildings intended for the accommodation of the Houses of
Parliament, and which are now in rapid progress towards
completion. Indeed, it is expected that the erections will be
finished at hies:, by the middle of January ; at all events be-
fore the new Parli'amen:: can be elected they will most unques-
tionably be ready to accommoul.ate the Members. The number
of workmen employed has, in fact, ~:en considerably reduced,
ry t.pu!ll the opc-
in consequence of its being found unnece3s.:
indispensable.
rations so fast as it was at one period deemeu
The following statement of the progress of the works may, per-
haps, not be uninteresting to our readers :
It will be recollected that at first it was deemed necessary tt.'
take down the whole of the tower at the southern end of
Westminster Hall over the Commons entrance and waiting-
rooms, as well as the various committee-rooms contiguous, and
that the materials were actually advertised for sale by auction
by Mr. Eversfield. Subsequently, however, and before the
day of sale arrived, it was found that the damage was not
nearly so great as was imagined, and consequently, only the
upper or third story was sold, the walls of the basement and
the first and second stories of the committee-rooms and the
whole of the tower being found secure. The latter, however,
was for a considerable time a matter of doubt ; but the opi-
nions of some architects of considerable eminence having been
taken, it was determined to let it remain, taking, of course,
the necessary precaution of applying iron stays, girders, &c.
To make the description more distinctly understood, we will
first speak of—
THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
The handsome and extensive room that has hithert' been
known as the " Painted Chamber," is, as has been frequeutlY
stated, fitting up for the accommodation of the House of
Peers. Sir Robert Smirke was of opinion that he could make
that room perfectly adapted for the accommodation of their
Lordships ; and, from what we can judge, that eminent ar-
chitect is likely to perform his promise. The only inconve-
nience that strikes us is its narrowness, it being only 26 feet
wide by 86 feet 6 inches long. There are side galleries for
the accommodation of Peers, and it is calculated that with
these galleries it will accommodate as many as the old house.
There is also a small and, as would appear, very inconvenient
gallery for the public press and strangers ; and if this arrange-
ment should be carried into effect, the inevitable consequence
would be, that their Lordships' speeches could not by possi-
bility be reported, for we would defy the acutest ear to catch
even the substance of what was said.
We believe, however, that this point is not finally decided,
and that it is yet probable that a certain portion of the Peers'
gallery will be appropriated to reporters, in which case they
will have no reason to complain.
The new throne, which we understand is nearly finished, is
built upon a plan very similar to that of King George the
Fourth's, and it will be placed in a similar situation to that of
the Speaker's chair in the late House of Commons, that is,
with the back towards the Thames. This, too, will be com-
pleted long before the next Parliament assembles.
The entrance for the Peers will be that which has hitherto
been appropriated to his Majesty, when the King attends to
open or prorogue his Parliament. Strangers will be admitted
by a staircase opening into Palace-yard, but the accommoda-
tion for them must be far inferior to what it was when they
were admitted below the Bar, or into the gallery of the old
House.
The committee-rooms appropriated to the Lords have been
found much less damaged than was at first expected, and they
are already sufficiently repaired to admit of adequate accommo-
dation. On the whole we are inclined to think that, although
this building may afford temporary accommodation, it will
not, nor cannot be made sufficiently so to render it a permanent
place of meeting for theliereditary Legislators of the land.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The old House of Lords, it is already known, is fitting up
for the accommodation of the Commons, and most unques-
tionably the popular branch of the Legislature will have many
more conveniences than the Peers. Here the works are
nearly completed, and if it does not prove a more convenient,
it will most certainly be a much more elegant " hall" than
they have hitherto had. Spacious galleries are erected on
both sides for the accommodation of the Members ; on the
north end is a gallery for strangers, and on the south, just
above the spot where the Speaker's chair will be placed, is a
small gallery for the reporters. They, therefore, will enjoy
an advantage they have never yet been favoured with. Hither-
to all the Members in addressing the chair were necessarily
obliged to turn their backs on the reporters, and these gentle-
men, consequently, were unable to watch the countenance of
the orators—a point which every body who knows any thing
of their onerous duty must be well aware is a matter of the
very first importance. This inconvenience—and it has long
been felt as a very
.great one will, by these arrangements, be
obviated. Immediately behind the Speaker's chair is a small
space appropriated for Peers who may feel inclined to attend
the debates. This is fitted up with convenient seats. In
St. Stephen's Chapel there was a similar accommodation ;
but that was below the bar, and their Lordships were conse-
quently exposed to some inconvenience. The accommodation
in this respect, at present contemplated, is unquestionably far
superior.
A very small room, at the back of the chair, is fitting up
for the Speaker's retiring-room ; and several others, but these
on a yet smaller scale, are preparing for the other officers of
the House.

The entrance for the Members of the Commons will be the
same as before, opposite Henry the Seventh's Chapel : but
they will then have to turn into a long passage, which leads to

. _
the lobby of the old House of Lords, which is considerably en:
larged, and will in future be the lobby of the Commons, and
furnish a much more convenient one than they have hitherto
had for the purpose of " divisions."
The greatest difficulty that was found in the new arrange-
ment was the provision of committee-rooms for the Commons;
but that inconvenience has been removed by Sir George
Rose, the Clerk of Parliament, who occupied a large house
situated No. 7, Old Palace-yard. This gentleman offered his
residence for that purpose, which offer has been accepted, and
it is found that it will obviate nearly, if not all, the inconve-
niences that were apprehended. The Committees in the fiat
Session of Parliament will, therefore, for the most part, as-
semble there.

Both Houses will be again heated by steam, but we under"
son. 2n a very improved principle. The apparatus for this
completed, and the greater portion of it al-
it delivered on the premises.
purpose is riem:Jv
ready erected, and ail 91.
It is calculated that both new Houses will accommodate
quite as many members as the oit: ones. The ruins of the
late St. Stephen's Chapel present one 9f the finest pictu-
resque effects it is perhaps possible to conceive. It is not yet
determined whether they will be preserved or not, but it is
somewhat doubtful whether a frost will not much deteriorate
their present grandeur as well as security. As they now stand
it is difficult to imagine a more interesting scene, for inde-
pendent of the natural association of ideas that cannot fail to
be raised in viewing such remains, the grotesque and goer!:
appearance of the whole is at once grand, solemn, alw
imposing.
A number of individuals of rank and distinction daily visit
the spot. Among those we noticed yesterday was the Lao
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, accompanied by a pail
of ladies and gentlemen, and several members of both Houses
of Parliament.
We undei-stand that for the present there will be no distinct
entrance to the House of Lords for the Spiritual Peers, se
accommodation they have heretofore enjoyed, which at tile
earliest possible opportunity, will, as a matter of course, he

restored to them.
On the whole the arranaeZients are such that reflect the
highest credit upon Sir Robert gn:.irke, the distinguished ar-
chitect employed, who, from the limiteci space allotted to bir.
has furnished accommodation to a much greater extent then
could by possibility have been anticipated.

PRICES OF IRISH STOCKS, DUBLIN, DEC .92- 9214
3 per Cent. Consols thi% Grand Canal Deb.. 6 per cent.
",,.,t
Ditto Reduced 8944 Ditto, 4 per cent................ ;
!, per Cent. Stock 86% Hibernian Bank ..................
Ditto New, 163,1
.14 per Cent. Debentures 9o4i National Insurance Company.',;,,
Wink Stock 22614 City Debentures, 4 per cent... ."'"
Royal Canal Stock
ill".
Grand Canal Stock 24 pe - cent.
....,....---

HIGH W ATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
i.atsl2llo
ine 19 minutes after 10. 1 Evening m±

HAMBURG, Nov. 26, 1834.
"'EINE, BROTHERS, Contractors, for tbed
Great Lottery, published and drawn by authority all
under guarantee of the Hamburg Government, beg to inform Ole
public, that the 65th Lottery of 10,000 Tickets will be drawn Ll'
the 13th of March next ; and Tickets are now selling at 108 an,Tarr-
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1 of '20,000, 1 of 10,000, 2 of 5,000, 4 of 3,000, 7 of 2,0009 `2".
1,000, 40 of 500, and 1,500 of 108 marks, which 1,578 no'le:'
prizes are altogether stated ;n marks banco, and payable without 3:1,
deduct ion whatever; 4,000 tickets being delivered gratis to the hold.,
of the 2,000 first-drawn tickets, as per scheme; those purchasn
one ticket, at the trifling cost of 81., may obtain three prizes:
the
thus, if fortune prove favourable,. gain 180,000 marks banco, at t
present exchange, equal to 13,0001. sterling.
Owing to the gratis tickets, the number of tickets on sale iss
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such draft fmniz_Niitely when presented. A full scheme, and e,v605,
,;:i. desirable informati
_being always sent with the tickets, ti' r
giving orders will only nzve to write a line, ordering the ticket;le
tickets, adding the meney, or NI order for the same, or stating.na
mode of payment that may be more convenient to the orderer, of:*.
giving their full and plain directions, to secure the safe revel?'
the communications. - depend

Those honouring Heine, Brothers, by purclssing,
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THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
TO.MORROW will be presented
JANE SHORE. ?Jr' a.
Flnstingi, Mr Vandenhoff; Dumont, M. Wardc ; Gloster,
Bmnett. Jane Shore, Miss E. Tree; Alicia, Miss Clifton.
c 314
After which (first time), a New Grand Chivalric Entertainment, s
KING ARTHUR and the KNIGHTS of the ROUND TADL_,OOd,
In which Mr. Ducrow's magnificent Stud of Horses will be intro'