Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament (the), Westminster. one of the finest and largest Public Buildings in London, stands on 8 acres of ground, and was built in the middle of the century, being finished in 1857. The cost of these buildings was about £3,000,000.

The style is Tudor Gothic, the architect being Sir Charles Barry. the general view from Westminster Bridge or the Embankment opposite is very fine, with the large Victoria Tower and the Clock Tower (in which is "big Ben," heard, when striking the hours, over a large part of London).

It is naturally a place for all people to visit as being the political Centre of the Nation. when one remembers that there is scarcely a corner of the whole kingdom that does not resound, at periods, with the rush and excitement of Election time, and that here is the place where the opinions given at the polling booth have vent, and where the Government of the day have to state and defend their policy, that the great interests of the Empire are here debated, one can feel that it is the spot which necessarily stands pre. eminent in the minds of every Englishman

The interior can be viewed on any Saturday throughout the year from 10 to 3. 30, entering by the Victoria Tower to the Queen's Robing Room and the Royal Gallery, through which the Queen passes when opening Parliament to the House of Lords. in this Gallery are two fine frescoes by Maclise, "the Death of Nelson" and "the Meeting of Wellington and Blucher after Waterloo". Then through the beautiful Princes Chamber to the House of Lords, a truly magnificent chamber, where is the throne under a rich canopy, then through the Corridor to the Central Hall, and through the Commons Lobby to the House of Commons with Speaker's Chair, etc. , then out of the buildings by way of Westminster Hall.

When you have passed through the chambers and corridors, the latter richly decorated with frescoes and statuary, you will be prepared to admit that these fine buildings are worthy of the Victorian Era, in which so much has been done to add to the liberty and the improvement of the people, without interfering with the constitutional and continuous form Of Government so suited to the English race.