Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-16

rooms in England. II is said to be the finest
specimen of pure gothic extant. 1t is about
the size of the House of Commons. 1t is
gold gilt in every conceivable place, adorned
with magnificent paintings, and is gorgeous
in the extreme. One end of the room is oc-
cupied by the throne. A railing separates
the royal apartment from the rest of the
house. Under gorgeous canopy, sur
rounded with crimson curtains embossed
with gold, on raised platform, covered
with crimson tapestry carpet, stands a gilt,
gothic chair, surmounted by crown, with
the royal arms upon it, worked in gold and
crimson. This is her Majesty's throne.
Within the inclosure, on either side, are two
chairs, one belonging to the late Prince Con-
sort, the other to the Prince of Wales.
Here her Majesty sits when she opens the
Houses of Parliament and reads the address
| from the throne.
Since the death of the Prince Consort, the
Queen has opened the House in person but
twice. On each occasion she has refused to
ride in the state carriage or enter by the
royal door, or wear the royal robes. She
allowed them to be laid over the chair she
| sat on them, but would not use them.
| In the centre of the House of Lords, in
front of the throne, is the famed Woolsack.
1t is about the size of broad mattress. 1t.
is covered with crimson cloth. 1t is not rs
| high as q chair, and stands on no platform.
| 1t looks more like wide lounge than the
seat of presiding officer. On this the Lord
Chancellor takes his seat and is below the
Peers. He wears wig and gown, has moth
| ing before him on which to write, and when
he makes minutes, as he often does, he makes
| fhar 10 t,,aa I, ,;e la,
his wig covering the upper part of his body,
he looks like an old lady engaged in knitting
The Lord Chancellorss position is a. a.political
one. He comes in and goes out with the
Ministry. On his right sit the ministry
Directly opposite the opposition leaders,
The benches run lengthwise on the sides of
the hall. They rise, gradually, one above
the other, from the woolsack to the win
dows. The seats of the Lords are long
benches, not chairs. They are covered with
crimson leather, while those of the House of
Commons are green.
| Like the House of Commons, the Peers
room has literal bar. Beyond this no mem
ber of the House of Commons is allowed to
pass. The space allotted to the members
below the bar is so limited that but thirty
can attend. When the Commons are sum-
moned to meet Her Majesty in the House of
Lords, lots are cast to see who shall attend.
| The Usher of the Black Rod who is the Ser
geant-at-Arms of the House of Lords, is
Peer of the realm, and one of the most emil
nent men in London.
| Lord Derby, the Premier, is by far the best
| speaker in the House. He is rapid prompt,
and bold, and has more of the Lord Palmer
stoa about him than any statesman in Eng
land. Lord Russell, who leads the opposi-
ton, is very short and bald, is immensely
gross in his person, has thick, husky voice,
and is very tedious to hear. There are but
few good speakers in the House of Lords and
oratory is at discount. The Peers address
"my luds." Their utterance is jerky, and
all, speaking dull and slow with draw, lead
one to suppose that it is the style.
Many Of Englands eminent men refuse to
go into the House of PEERS They at once
lose their popularity with the people. Once
a Peer and they cease to be one OF to-be one
of the people. The noblemen are plainly
dressed, gentlemen without pretence, easy
of access, and courteous to those below them.
The buildings, of which the House of Lords
forms part, stand on the site of the royal
palace Of Edward the Confessor. William
the Conqueror completed the great hall of
Westminster. Richard Ill. raised its present
magnificent roof. The Parliament Houses
are called the New Palaces of Westminster.
They were commenced in 1884 and COM
pleted in 1852. The great Tower of Victo-
ria was built in sections, only'a given num-
ber of feet allowed to be erected each year,
to prevent settling. 1t is the largest square
tower in the world. The building covers
eight acres. There are five hundred rooms
in the palace, including the gorgeous resi-
dence of the Speaker and other residences
allotted to distinguished individuals.
| Among other noted places within the
Parliamert Houses are the Royal Gallery
and st. Stephens Hall, the Queens entrance
and robing-room, the robing-room of the
Peers, and the corridors leading to the
House of Lords and Commons. The place
is radiant with gold, gilt, and exquisite
paintings. Herbert's great painting of
Moses descending from the Mount of the
Law is painted ON the wall of the Peers
robing-room, and cost $35, 900, and is one of
the most exquisite paintings in England. 1t
took the artist eight years to complete the
work. The great national painting of the
meeting of Wellington and Blucher ON the
field of Waterloo, comprising portraits of
the most eminent warriors engaged in that
conflict, and the equally celebrated painting
of the death of Nelson adoTn the building.
The most exquisite arrangements for COM
fort are found Ia these Parliamentary Houses.
The library rooms, six in number, are spa
cious and gorgeous. The furniture and ar
rangements of these rooms are provided by
the government. Oak chairs, covered with
red leather, the crown embossed upon each,
indicate the refreshment room of the House
of Commons. Each member calls for what
he wishes and pays specified sum. The
smoking room gives one an idea of comfort
that is indcscribable. Every form of seat,
chair, sofa or lounge that can be conceived,
is found there. Every chair, seat, table and
bench has bell connected with it, so that
no member need rise for anything he may
want, in any possible position or condition.
Into this room comes the great division bell
which startles all the dozers and sends mem
bers pell nell into the House. Each peer
has an elegant room allotted to him, with his
name over the door, which is devoted solely
| TO his comfort while he lives. In the vesti-
bule are hat and coat racks with the name
of each peer over it, and nothing is omitted
which can secure the comfort of the legisla-
tors of England.
Over the whole building are emblazoned
in every direction the royal arms, and on
every panel there is to be placed a complete
gallery of paintings to illustrate some great
event in English history from the earliest
time until now. Many paintings have been
completed, and these show that the govern
ment means to be impartial in its glowing
record. Though Cromwells ashes lie in a
dishonored grave, justice is done to his mem-i
ory in magnificent painting on the walls of
Ouc Vi tnc iODDlcS. II uu JustiCe Is uOHe W
the Pilgrims in the gorgeous painting of the
embarkation on board the May Flower. The
founding of the Order of the Garter by Ed
ward III, the Baptism of st. Ethelbert, Prince
Henry acknowledging the authority of a
civil judge, the life size statues of kings,
queens and Englands eminent statesmen,
with the coats of arms of all the sovereigns
down to her Majesty the Queen, are among
the ornaments of this truly gorgeous palace.
Among the sovereigns in the House of Lords
may be seen carved bust Of Cromwell, one
of England's greatest rulers.
In the House of Lords, on row Of benches
behind the woolsack, and between the min
isterial benches and the throne, is the Bench
of Bishops. These gentlemen, in full cleri-
cal dress, twenty-six in number, march in
from their robing room and make great
show as they enter. They are led by the
Archbishop Of Canterbury, the Primate of
England. He' is about eighty years of age
bald headed, with decidedly red, English
face hale and hearty and those who wait