191 ^ 



THE NEW HOUSE OF LORDS. 



Scarcely had the ruins of the late parliamentary buildings al 

 Westminster ceased to smoke, when the attention of his Majesty's 

 Government was directed to the provision of accommodation for 

 the approaching session of parliament. The conflagration had 

 reduced the House of Commons to a roofless, open-sided shell, 

 but had, at the same time, unveiled its pristine, architectural 

 beauty to the admiring antiquarian. The walls of the House of 

 Lords and of the Painted Chamber were found to be entire; 

 and, as circumstances would not allow the removal of the ruins, 

 and the rebuilding of "the Houses," without the concurrence of 

 Parliament itself, it was resolved to appropriate the last named 

 structures for the temporary accommodation of the two branches 

 of the legislature. Accordingly, Sir Robert Smirke was com- 

 missioned to construct within the walls of the Painted Chamber 

 an apartment for the Peers; and within the walls of the former 

 House of Lords, accommodation for the Commons. 



In converting the Painted Chamber into a House of Lords, it 

 was found advisable to heighten the walls by at least one-third; 

 tliey were then roofed with slate, and the internal fittings were 

 commenced. It now presents an apartment 50 feet long, 18 or 

 20 feet wide, and nearly 28 feet in height. The flooring on each 

 side is raised hy two low steps for the sf^ats, which are of solid 

 and beautifully grained English oak, and are covered with super- 

 fine crimson cloth. The space allows of three tiers on each side, 

 over which is a gallery, capable of holding two tiers of seats, 

 supported by an octangular column and iron brackets, cased with 

 composition. These brackets are tastfully enriched, as is the 

 front of the galleries, which is filled with quatrefoils and centre 

 shields, every six or seven feet, divided with square oak stan- 

 chions, and surmounted by an iron railing of two longitudinal 

 bars. The ascent to each gallery is by a handsome geometrical 

 staircase : and over this end of the apartment is a large gallery 

 for strangers, reporters, &c., which immediately communicates 

 with the Reporters* Gallery in the House of Commons. 



The accommodation below the Bar for members of the House 

 of Commons, who attend to bring up bills, is larger by four feet 

 than formerly, and at least 150 gentlemen may attend on these 

 occasions without inconvenience. On the left of the Bar is a 

 door leading to four new committee- rooms, formed out of the 

 long gallery, and the passage connecting them leads to the lobby 



