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THE ART-JOURNAL.

THE NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS.

An unceasing interest in the progress of the
modern Palace of Westminster, has been felt
since 1839, when the foundations were first
made good for a superstructure—certainly one of
the largest and most important at present
erecting in Europe.

Although the new House of Commons is
generally spoken of in terms of subdued ad-
miration, it suffers only by comparison with the

more gorgeous House of Lords; if it may justly
be considered to suffer at all by a comparison
with what we have always thought to be an
over-elaborated room. Our cut will at least
testify to the large amount of decoration it ex-
hibits, all of a legitimate and proper order.
The length of this noble room is eighty-six feet;
it is forty-five feet broad, and its height is forty
feet. The entire surface of walls and ceiling is
covered with rich oak wainscot. Every precau-
tion has been taken to prevent accident by fire,
and the flooring, walls, and roof are fireproof.

Accommodation is afforded for about four hun-
dred and sixty members. It is expected that
the acoustic arrangement will prove perfectly
satisfactory. The ventilation and warming of
the House of Commons are under the direction of
Dr. Reid. Fresh air will be brought in through
innumerable holes in the metal floor, and will
pass out through spaces left round every panel
in the ceiling, whence it is gathered into a flue.
The same arrangement is made in the lobbies.
The ceiling is wholly of oak, and the panels have
coloured decorations. The walls are panelled

with oak, carved with the well-known linen
pattern; and, on certain tiers, surmounted with
rows of shields, for armorial bearings. The
oak-leaf and acorn prevail in the minor details.
The Members' gallery extends, on each side, the
length of the chamber: the front of the gal-
eries are of richly carved oak, with shields em-
blazoned with arms of towns. The galleries are
covered beneath, to throw out the sound, which
otherwise would be considerably absorbed by
their projection. The reporters' gallery, at the
Speaker's end, is so arranged, that each reporter
has a separate stall, with a door at his back; so

that his own entrance and exit may be easily
effected without disturbing any other. They
have a private staircase, and two retiring rooms,
with desks, where they may arrange their notes,
or refer to books and papers. Above the re-
porters' gallery, behind a pierced screen, is a
gallery for ladies; while at the opposite end,
above the entrance, is the strangers' gallery,
with the front portion divided off into stalls for
the accommodation of peers, and persons ad-
mitted by the Speaker's order. The windows are
filled with the arms of cities and boroughs in
stained glass, by Hardman, good in colour and

effect, but unsatisfactory in design and drawing.
The official seats are situated to the right and
left of the public entrance, and between them is
the part technically called "the bar." The
openings in the screens at the ends of the
House are filled up with beautifully executed
brass work; the fronts of the galleries being
also decorated with brass ornaments.

Flanking the House on two sides, are the
lobbies, to which the members retire during di-
visions. A very considerable increase of accom-
modation has been gained in these lobbies by
the recent addition of three oriel windows.