Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-08-11
From the Atlanta Constitution.
The House of Parliament,

A few pages of our last letter from
the distinguished professor. VIM. Hen
nv WaGwell, of the State University,
were misplaced. and having come to
light we annex his description of the
House of Parliament as follows:
The houses of Parliament lie but a
minutes walk from Westminster Alb
hey, between it and the River Thames.
This is probably the largest gothic
edifice in the world, covering an area
of nearly eight acres. 1t has 100 stair
cases, 100 rooms, and more than two
miles Of passages. Sixteen miles of
steam pipes are required to heat it,
and the gas for one year costs S1T, ,525.
1t has cost more than $4,000, 600. 1t
is built of magnesia limestone, from
Yorkshire. There is very little wood
work about the building. The beams
and josts are of iron, the floor of tiles,
and the roof of slate and tin. The
edifice rises from the waters edge, and
presents, on lis riverfront, a most
magnificent facade of 800 feet in
length. This is divided into five COM
partments, maguificently decorated,
and with inches containing statues of
all the kings and queens of England,
from the Conquest until EOw.
At the southwestern angle arises
the Victoria Tower, $50 feet high.
Here is the entrace by which the
Queen always enters when she comes
to open Parliament.
OF course l do not propose to enter
into a minute description of the laby-
rinthinic masses of this vast pile. In
fact, excepting Westminster Hall, and
the two Legislative Halls, the Robing
Room, st. Stephens Hall, and the
Octagon Hall, the apartments are not
especially interesting. The first named
is the largest room in the world, un
supported by pillars. Originally built
| in the reign of William ri. it was ad-
ded to and repaired in the reign of
Richard III. The Four Great Courts,
of England sit in Westminster Hall,
or rather in certain apartments abut-
ing from it. Probably no building on
earth has as many interesting histori-
cal associations connected with 1t as
this.
Here Crom we'll was inaugurated as
! Lord Protector. Here Sir William
Wallace was tried and condemned
! Here, too, Sir Thomas Moore and the
! Protector, Somerset, were convicted
Here sat the High Court of Justice
which tried and condemned Charles L
All! if these gloomy stohe walls could
speak how many a tale of darkness
J they could unfold. Here sat the coro'
nation dinners, the Kings champion
rode on horseback into the hall, clad
i'm full armor and throwing down his
guantlet, challenged all the world tC
deny the royal right.
1t is 300 feet long, 6S wide, and j
feet high.
We next visited the House of Peers
q most gorgeous apartment. second
probably, TO none in the world, Six
magnificent fresesO paintings orna
meIt its walls, and the throne of the
Queen is indescrIbably grand anC
beautiful. The twelve windows art
of stained glass, and are lighted a
night from the outside, The House
( of Commons is much less decorated
but vet are rarely beautiful even in it:
simplicity. They have no desks, a.
we have in our Congress. Velvet
covered settees, arranged in semi-cir
cular rows. are the only provision
made for the members. Parliamen
| was not in session when l was there
! and. Judging from the limited accom-
modations for visitors, should sup
pose that few strangers were admitted
to the sittings,
The House of Commons numberi
65s members, who receive no salary a
all for their services-indeed the con
tested election cost the successful Zane
the defeated too for that matter) can
didate a handsome fortune. The ses
sions are held at night. When sub
iect of peculiar interest is to be deoa
ted the House seldom adjourns, or a.
they say, rises, until two O'Clock II
the morning.
Forty constitutes quorum. Ladies
are not admitted to the interior of th'
House, though they have small gal
lery rallied of, whence, being them
selves unseen, they may partially De
bold the House.