The Penn's Grove record., 1885-02-07
Westminster PaIaee,

Westminster Palace, the assembly
place of the British Parliament, stands
on a huge granite terrrce on the left OF
northern bank of the Thames, between
that river and Westminster Abbey, and
Just above Westminster Bridge. 1t is
in the western part of the metropolis,
near the Treasury, the Horse Guards,
Charing Cross, st. James's Park and
Palace, Pail Mall and Trafalgar Square.
Further up the river is Millbank
Prison, and OH the opposite bank are
the great st. Thomas's Hospital and
Lambeth Palace. The building occu-
pies the site of the old palace which
was destroyed by fire October Is, 1884,
and covers about eight acres of ground.
1t has a river front Of 900 feet, and
contains 100 stairways. LOO apart
ments and two miles of Railways. Its
foundation was LAID April 81, 1910.
The hall of the House of Lords was
finished in April, 1847, aud the House
of Commons in February, 1852. Its
cost has been more than S., 900, 900.
The hall of the House of Lords is
probably the most splendid legislative
chamber in the world. 1t is 80 feet
IUuRa NJ HluU anu ~ IlklL 4iO AAOLDE
is lighted by twelve lofty windows, six
on either side, each with eight compart-
ments of figures. The windows are. all
filled with stained glass, representing
the Kings and Queens from William
the Conqueror to William the ". At
each end Of the House are three arch
ways, corresponding in size and mould
ings to the windows. Its walls and
ceilings are richly giIded and frescoed.
Among the paintings are the Spirit of
justice, and the Spirit of Chivalry;
Edward Ill. comforting the Order of
the Garter upon the Black Prince; the
Baptism of EthelbeTt; and the Prince
of Wales committed to Prison, for His
Assault on Judge Gascoigne. In inches
between the windows are statues of
the eighteen barons who forced King
John to sign the Magma Charta. In
this room are the Queens throne, the
Prince of Wales's chair, and the wool
sack seat of the Lord Chancellor. The
windows are filled with rich stained
glass, and at night are lighted from
outside. In this hall the Queen opens
Parliament, entering the Palace through
the Victoria Tower and passing through
her robing room, where are Dyce's
famous freseo paintings of Genes from
the history of Arthur and Guinevere,
the Victoria gallery, 100 feet long, and
the Prince of Wales's room, to her seat
on the throne.
The chamber of the House Of Com
mons is less g%orgeously furnished than
that of the Lords, and is rs feet long,
40 wide and As high. 1t occupies the
site of that famous old st. Stephens
Hall, where the House met in the days
of Burke and Pitt and Sheridan. The
Speakers chair is at the north end and
there are galleries all around. There
is a new st. Stephens Hall in the place,
on the site of the old st. Stephens
chapel which contains twelve statues
of illustrlous statesmen Another psr
table apartment rs Westminster Hat.
a monster room 200 feet long, 6S wide
and ITO high, with not a pillar to sup
port the wide expanse of its richly
carved oaken roof. 1t occupies the
site of the ancient hall of the royal
palace, and until lately was occupied 10y
the highest courts established by Henry
III. in 1924. At the eastern corner of
the hall a staircase leads to the crypt
beneath and adjoining the House of
Lords. This crypt, in which n of the
explosions occurred recently, is the
sole remaining relic Of the old palace.
1t Is a low, vaulted chamber with manv
columns, measures 80 feet long, Is wide
and 20 high, and has lately been reftted
and used as a chapel.
Westminster Hall is in the side of the
palace next to Westminster Abbey. In
the southwest end is the House of
Lords, and the Commons are in the
northeast part. The Victoria tower,
containing the royal entrance, is at the
southwest corner, and is IS feet square
and $40 high. AT 1.-THE northeast corner,
AUDITING on Westminster Bridge, Is
the clock tower, 40 feet square and BIS
high, with four dials near the top, each
80 feet across. In tins tower hang the
great bells, of which Ben, the biggest
of all, weighs eight tons. From the
central portion of the palace rises a
pointed spire 60 feet in diameter and
300 feet high. 1t stands above the &C.
tagonal central hall of the palace, and
is supported by the groined ceiling
without a single pillar.