church. But, since it was surrendered to Edward VI., it has been used for the assembly of the representatives of the commons of England, and is now generally called, "The House of Commons." The benches, which ascend behind one another as in a theatre, are covered with green cloth; the floor is matted; and round the room are wainscot galleries, supported by cantilevers, adorned with carved work, in which strangers are permitted to sit, and hear the debates.

House of Lords.

THIS building is so called, from being the place where the peers of Great Britain assemble in parliament. It is an oblong room, not quite so large as the House of Commons.

It is furnished with a throne for the king, and appropriate seats according to the various ranks and offices of the members, as described in another part of this work.

New Court House, Westminster, or Westminster Guildhall.

THIS building stands on the south side of the area which has been lately formed in front of Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey, by the removal of many old houses, which heretofore obstructed the view of these venerable edifices, and St. Margaret's Church. It is a handsome modern structure, entered by a few steps under a

BB

66

vestibule, supported by massy columns of the Doric order. It is plain and substantial, and answers the double purpose of a court of sessions for the city of Westminster," and a for the relief of insolvent debtors.".

66 court

Mr. Sergeant Runnington is the commissioner of the latter court.

Whitehall.

ON the bank of the Thames, at the east confines of St. Margaret's parish, was a palace called Whitehall, originally built by Hubert de Burgh, earl of Kent, before the middle of the 13th century. It afterwards devolved to the archbishop of York, whence it received the name of York Place, and continued to be the city residence of the archbishops, till it was purchased by Henry VIII. of Cardinal Wolsey in 1530. At this period it became the residence of the court; but in 1697 was destroyed by accidental fire, all except the banquetting-house, which had been added to the palace of Whitehall by James I., according to a design of Inigo Jones. This is an elegant and magnificent structure of hewn stone, adorned with an upper and lower range of pillars, of the Ionic and composite orders: the capitals are enriched with fruit and foliages, and also between the columns of the windows. The roof is covered with lead, and surrounded with a balustrade. The building chiefly consists of one room of an oblong form, 40 feet high, and a pro

J

portionable length and breadth. The ceiling is painted by Rubens. It is now used only as a chapel royal, and the other part of the house is occupied with state offices.

The Horse Guards.

THIS building is so called, in consequence of being the station where that part of his majesty's troops usually do duty. It is a strong building of hewn stone, consisting of a centre and two wings. In the former is an arched passage into St. James's Park; and over it, in the middle, rises a cupola. In a part of the building is the war-office.

The Treasury.

THIS is a large building, near the Horse Guards, and fronts the parade in St. James's Park. The board of treasury is kept here.

Admiralty Office.

THIS is a large pile, built with brick and stone, The front towards Whitehall has two deep wings and a lofty portico, supported by four large stone pillars. A piazza, consisting of beautiful columns, runs almost from one end to the other. The wall before the court has been built in an elegant manner, and each side of the

gate is ornamented with naval emblems. Besides a hall, and other public apartments, here are spacious houses for seven commissioners of the admiralty.

Charing Cross.

So called from one of the crosses which king Edward I. caused to be erected to the memory of his queen, Eleanor, and Charing, the name of the village in which it was built. The cross remained till the civil wars in the reign of Charles I., when it was destroyed, on the foolish pretence that it was a monument of popish superstition: but after the restoration an equestrian statue of Charles I. was set up in its stead. This, which is of brass, continues to be an ornament to the place. It was made in 1633, at the expense of the Howard-Arundel family. The parliament sold it to a brazier in Holborn, with strict orders to break it to pieces: but he concealed it under ground till the restoration, when it was set up in 1678.

The Adelphi,

THE estate of Durham Yard having become an unprofitable heap of ruins, was purchased by Messrs. Adams, four brothers, by whose labours the metropolis has been embellished with edifices of distinguished excellence. "To their researches," says Mr. Malton, "we are indebted for many improvements in ornamental architecture, and for a style of decoration unrivalled for

elegance and gaiety, which, in spite of the innovations of fashion, will prevail as long as good taste prevails in the nation."

The front of the Adelphi, towards the river, on account of its extent, becomes one of the most distinguishing objects between the bridges of Westminster and Blackfriars, from each of which it is nearly at an equal distance. The Terrace is happily situated in the heart of the metropolis upon a bend of the river, which presents to the right and left every eminent object which characterizes and adorns the cities of London and Westminster, while its elevation lifts the eye above the wharfs and warehouses on the opposite side of the river, and charms it with a prospect of the adjacent country.

Somerset House.

ON the site of this magnificent structure a palace was built by Somerset, the protector, in the time of Edward VI.; to make way for which, he demolished a great number of buildings, without making any recompense to the owners. Part of the church of St. John of Jerusalem, and the Tower, were blown up for the sake of the materials; and the cloisters on the north side of St. Paul's, with the charnel-house and chapel, underwent the same fate, the tombs being destroyed, and the bones thrown into Finsbury fields. This happened in 1549: but it is probable that he did not live to inhabit the palace he built, as he was executed in the year 1552. After his death, the