NEW PALACE OP WESTMINSTER.

panels have lions and unicorns sitting, and holding banners displayed, on which are the triple ostrichfeathers on an azure ground, and a red cross on a white ground, respectively.

In the centre at the northern end of the House is the Reporters’ Gallery. The Strangers’ Galleryis above the Reporters ’; and, as before mentioned, is placed in the recesses of the great arches.

The Reporters’ Gallery is most convenient, both in its arrangement and ease of access, the comfortof the gentlemen of the Press having been well studied.

From the floor of the House, the appearance of this Gallery is eminently beautiful. It projectsseveral feet from the wall, and is supported by five arches, three in the front, and one at each end; thecentral arch in the front being of wider span than the others; the compartments over the centredoor having within them the coat armour of the Saxon, Norman, Plantagenet , Tudor, Stuart, andHanoverian houses painted on shields; whilst in the compartments over the side door are the arms ofthe Archiepiscopal sees, and some of the Bishoprics , in continuation of the series of Episcopal arms,emblazoned at this end of the room.

FRONT OF REPORTERS’ GALLERY.

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The front of the Gallery is divided into three compartments, to correspond to the doorways beneath;within them are sunken panels beautifully ornamented withthe badges of the different Sovereigns of England.There are two ranges of seats in the Reporters’ Gallery, the front has accommodation for ten persons,for whose use inkstands are sunk in a shelf. The arches under the Gallery, and the three small archeson either side of it, are hung with the richest red velvet, and a clock, the face of which is exquisitelyenamelled, in colours, stands on a bracket in front of the Gallery.

The Bar is about nine feet wide and three deep; and each corner of the Bar is a post, having on itsouter faces the monogram , V. R. within quatrefoiled circles. The angles of the posts are ornamentedby moulding. The two inner posts of the Bar are crowned with small figures of the lion and unicornholding shields ; and the two outer are embattled. Affixed to the wall, on the right hand of the Bar, isthe enclosed and elevated seat of the Usher of the Black Rod: it is paneled and decorated incorresponding style with the extreme ends of the Peers’ seats, which have panels of extremely intricatetreillage of vine, oak, rose, and thistle patterns, beautifully sculptured and pierced, let into them. Thaton the left for Peers’ eldest sons, who have the privilege of standing on the steps of the Throne. Theextreme ends of the seats rise in steps, corresponding to the steps on which the seats are elevated, and attheir corners are badges of some of the Royal Houses of England; the white hart, dragon, greyhound, &c.

On each side of the House are two doors, one near either end, leading into corridors. The doorsare paneled, with open-worked arches in the upper portion, glazed with plate glass.

The Corridors are very handsomely paneled, and ceiled with oak, extending the whole length of the