fore erected by Edward the Confessor, might dedicate this bell in honour of their patron saint*.

The range of antient buildings on the south side of this quadrangle, next the Thames, was appropriated to the COURT OF STAR CHAMBER, SO tremendous during the reigns of the Tudors and Stuarts. It arose a new-modelled court during the tyrannical governments of Henry VII, and VIII. and consisted of several lords spiritual and temporal, with two judges of the common law, without the intervention of a jury. Its powers were so shamefully abused, and made so subservient to the revenge of a ministry, or the views of a crown, as to be abolished by the House of Commons in the reign of Charles I.

The building next claiming attention is

WESTMINSTER HALL.

The old hall was built by William Rufus, as a banquetting house to the palace, which stood in the place now called Old Palace Yard; but Richard II. ordered the whole to be pulled down, and the present edifice was erected in its stead in the year 1397+.

This antient building is of stone, the front ornamented with two towers adorned with carved work. The hall within

Among the superstitions of the church of Rome, was that of christening bells, with the attendance of godfathers, &c. who made responses, as in the baptism of a child, giving it a name, and clothing it with a new garment, as Christians used to be clothed, and believing that this would make it capable of driving away tempests and devils. Whilst this opinion lasted, the bell kept its primeval name of Edward; but when the Reformation took plase, the poor bell's christian name was degraded to vulgar Tom; as is plain by the following catch composed to music by Eccles :

"Hark! Harry, 'tis late, 'tis time to be gone,

For Westminster Tom, by my faith, strikes one.

+ In 1399, he kept his Christmas with his characteristic magnificence. Twenty-eight oxen, three hundred sheep, and fowls without number, were consumed; and the number of his guests each day of the feast amounted to ten thousand, to supply whom two thousand cooks were employed.

is reckoned the largest room in Europe unsupported by pillars, being two hundred and seventy feet in length, and seventy-four in breadth. The pavement is of stone, and the roof of chesnut wood, which is greatly admired. It was formerly covered with lead, but that being found too weighty, it has been for some years past covered with slates. In this hall the kings of England have for many ages past held their coronation feasts. Henry III. entertained here, and in the adjoining rooms, six thousand poor men, women, and children, on New Year's Day, 1236*. It is also generally used for the trying of peers accused of high treason, or any other crimes committed against the state. And here, ever since the reign of Henry III. have been held the three great courts of Chancery, King's Bench, and Common Pleas.

In entering the hall at the front gate there are stairs on each side adjoining to the wall: those on the right hand lead to the Court of Exchequer; and those on the left to the office where the revenue is paid in, called the Receipt of Exchequer.

THE COURT OF EXCHEQUER is so called from a chequered cloth, which antiently covered the table where the judges or chief officers sat. This court was first established by William the Conqueror, for the trial of all causes relating to the revenues of the crown; and in the same court there are now also tried matters of equity between subject and subject. The judges of this court are, the lord chief baron of the Exchequer; and three other judges, called barons of the Exchequer. There is also one called the Cursitor Baron, before whom the sheriffs are sworn into their office;

This and other great halls were commonly appropriated for the entertainment of the poor at stated seasons; for it appears that the orders concerning the above feast, to William de Haverhall, the king's treasurer, were, "that he should cause six thousand poor people to be fed at Westminster, for the state of the king, the queen, and their chil. dren. The weak and aged to be placed in the great hall; and in the lesser those that were more strong and in reasonable plight. The children, in the king's and queen's chambers: and when the king knoweth the charge, he will allow it in the accounts."

but he does not sit on the bench. If any case should appear so difficult that the judges are divided in their opinion, the vote of the chancellor of the Exchequer finally determines the suit.

THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, is situated on the west side, nearly in the middle of the hall, and was established by Magna Charta in the year 1215; before that time, this court was ambulatory, and followed the king. It is called the Common Pleas, because here all civil actions, whether real, mixed or personal, are tried, and all fines and recoveries sued out. It has a chief justice, and three other judges; but no person can plead in it unless he has been called up to the degree of serjeant at law.

THE COURT OF CHANCERY is so called from the Latin word Cancelli, or a screen, within which the judges sat to determine causes without being annoyed by the spectators, who came to be witnesses of their proceedings. The supreme judge of this court is the lord high chancellor of England, who, next to the king, is the first magistrate in all civil affairs whatever. He is also usually speaker of the House of Lords, and commonly appointed high steward on the trial of peers. The Chancery consists of two courts, in one of which the chancellor proceeds according to the law of the land; but the principal is the court of Equity, designed to moderate the rigour of the common law, and grant redress of grievances, where the statute law has not made any provision.

The business of this court is very extensive: all the writs for electing members of parliament are issued from it; patents for sheriffs, and all other officers, made out; writs of certiorari against false judgment, letters patent, treaties with foreign princes, and commissions both of appeal and oyer and terminer granted. Here no juries are summoned ; for the actions are all by bill, and the depositions of the witnesses are taken at the Examination Office, and afterwards read in court as sufficient evidence; so that the determination of the sentence is solely invested in the judge.

THE