The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-05 00:00:00

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Whatever has been said of the chastity of the decorations,
and the convenience of the accommodations in the Lords, ap-
plies with equal, if not greater, justice to the new House of
Commons. This building, even as it now appears, is perhaps
one of the most elegant specimens of taste that can well be
conceived. The scats, which are built of the finest oak, rise
on a gentle acclivity, the two at the lower end of the House
being appropriated to such of the Members of the Upper Cham-
ber as may be desirous of attending the debates. They arc all
covered with green Spanish leather. This House. is lighted
by nine chandeliers. Then, the Reporters have a gallery ex-
clusively to themselves, and a small room will be devoted to
them for the purpose of waiting for their turns and writing
out from their notes. This gallery is immediately behind
the Speaker's chair, so that they will enjoy the advantage of
hearing distinctly the various members who address the House,
who will now of necessity turn their faces towards tham, in-
stead of, as before, their backs. The galleries are erected
with simple but most graceful elegance; and it is altogether
as superior to the old House, both for appearance and utility,
as it is well possible to conceive. It was in contemplation to
devote the house, No. 6, Old Palace-yard, lately occupied by
Sir George Rose, fur the purpose of Committee-rooms; but
on mature survey, it was found that the apartments were but
ill-qualified to afford the indispensable accommodation. It was
also discovered that the damage sustained by several of the
old ones was not so extensive as was at first apprehended.
They have for the most part been already repaired, and it is
in contemplation to take offices in Parliament-street to supply
any deficiency that may be found to exist. The expense of
these alterations must of necessity amount to a very conside-
rable sum, but it will not be found eventually to press so heavily
on the country as at the first blush it might appear. All the
seats, decorations, &c., are completed in that substantial man-
ner that they will be removed to the new buildings when they
are completed.
THE INTENDED NEW HOUSES.

Sir Robert Smirke'has, we understand, already submitted a
plan to Government for erecting new Houses of Parliament
on the present site. This eminent architect *posed to build
them on a line with the banks of the river, and for that pur-
pose to take down the old Exchequer Offices. There is
abundance of area for that purpose, and we are assured that if
his suggestions are approved of, the new buildings will form
cne of the most splendid public works in this or any other
kingdom. The front is to face the Thames. This plan, we
are informed, has already received the unanimous approbation
of Ministers, and will be submitted to Parliament, which of
course must vote the necessary sums. Of their willingness to
do that but little doubt can be entertained. The buildings
we have already described will then, as a matter of course, be
appropriated to purposes necessarily connected with the ac-
commodation of Parliament. It is calculated the new build-
ings will take three years to complete. The number of visiters
has been very great during the last few days.