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52

THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER .

CHAPTER VI.

THE NEW PALACE OF WESTMINSTER .

It may be easily supposed that on the Meeting of Parliament, one of the earliest steps takenwas in reference to the measures to be decided upon in consequence of the destruction of the Houses of Parliament , and, on the 2nd of March, 1835, It was ordered,

“ That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon such plans as may be“ most fitting and convenient for the permanent accommodation of the Houses of Parliament .”

This Committee consisted of

The Chancellor of the Exchequer(Lord Althorp.)

The Marquis of Chandos.

Lord John Russell .

Lord Stanley.

Sir John Cam Hobhouse .

Sir James Graham .

Mr. Littleton.

Lord Francis Egerton .Sir Richard Vyvyan.Mr. O’Connell.

Mr. Hume.

Sir Harry Verney .

Mr. Ridley Colborne.Sir Charles Burrell.

Sir Robert Inglis .

Mr. Williams Wynn .

Mr. Tracey.

Mr. Warburton.

Sir George Clerk.

Mr. Hughes Hughes.

Mr. Bannerman.

Lord Granville Somerset (Chairman.)Lord Viscount Howick .

This Committee made a report, which was printed, and bears date 3rd June, 1835, in which, aftergiving the evidence they had obtained by examining the Clerks of Parliament , and others, they came toa series of thirty-four resolutions, referring to the construction of the new House of Parliament , directingthat the Official Residence of the Speaker should be within the precincts of the buildings about to beerected; but that the residence of the Chief Clerk need not be a portion of such buildings.

It was also resolved,

“ That it is expedient that the design for the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament be left open togeneral competition, and “ that the style of the building he either Gothic or Elizabethan;” that “ the“ plans be delivered in to the office of the "Woods and Buildings, on or before the first day of November,“ 1835.” Moreover, “ that in order more effectually to secure a correct decision upon the merits of the“ several plans, it is expedient that an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, requesting him to“ appoint five Commissioners to examine the report generally to both Houses of Parliament upon the“ plans offered by competition; and that such Commissioners shall select and classify such of the plans,“ being not less than three, or more than five in number, as shall seem to them most worthy of attention,“ and shall state, if required, the grounds upon which the propriety of such selection and classification is“ founded;” and finally, “ That a premium of £300. be given to each of the parties whose plans shall he“ recommended by the Commissioners, and shall be considered by them as worthy of the reward; and that