THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
IT appears from the plans just put forth of the ground appropri- ated to the New Houses of Parliament, that there is au asailable space upwards of 900 feet in length and 380 feet in width, includ- ing the site of Westminster Hall and the Law Courts; but, deduct- ing their area, the space seems to be amply sufficient for the accosnmotlatians tequired, even to a residence Mr the Speaker. The width of the site has been increased by a platform or embank- ment, to extend along the whole line of the river front, and project as far out as the pier on the other side of the first water-arch of the Bridge.
The Hall will, of course, form a prominent feature in the design of the new buildings; the Gothic or Elizabethan style (by which we understand the Tudor Gothic to be meant) having been fixed upon, apparently with a view to include the Hall. It appears, too, as it the Law Courts were either to be removed, or their front remodelled, from the circumstance of one of the two points of sight indicated for the perspective views being the corner of the enclo- sure opposite Fentlall's Hotel; a spot from which the Hall and the Law Courts alone can be seen. So gross a blunder as this must otherwise be, could hardly have been committed or overlooked.. The difficulty requires explanation, however,
In consequence of the delay in getting out the plans—which, by the way, is not accounted fee—the time that the architects are allowed to make their designs is enlarged to the end of the year. The Commissioners for deciding upon the designs to be elected for the choice of the Parliament, were gazetted before the plans were issued : a sarcastic jester assigned as the reason fur this, a tender regard for the architects, that none might enter into the compe- tition but such as had access to one or other of the five Commis- sioners. Without in any may questioning the honour and inde- pendence of the gentlemen named, we may remark, that it certainly does appear inconsistent that precautions should be taken. to prevent the names of the competitors appearing in conjunction with their designs, while the names of judges are made public beforehand. Indeed, we are inclined to think that the Commis- skilless would themselves prefer—or at least that they will have cause to wish—that their appointments had been delayed until designs were sent in; for the appointments once made or deter- mined upon, they could hardly have been kept secret.
The rejected, as well as the elect designs, will of course be ex- hibited for the satisfaction of the public and of the unsuccessful competitors.
A prodigious deal of stuff has been talked and written about preserving the burnt walls, and restoring to its pristine. condition St. Stephen's Chapel. The affected veneration for a few crumbling arches, without an atom of preservable surface—the carved work being completely calcined by the fire—and a fragment of an old cloister, is sheer cant : put forth in the first instance by interested parties, and reechoed by a few well-meaning persons who are made the tools of jobbers. The trade of " restoring" old ruins is just now a most successful one : under its proper name, " rebuild- ing," it would not thrive so well. As far as the ruins of St. Stephen's are concerned, the case is clear to common sense. If all that re- mains of the old building could be preserved, not an inch of it would appear to view : but this cannot be; the walls are scarcely safe even now ; and no architect in his senses would think of building upon any part of the remains. Messrs. SAVAGE and COTTINGHAM, two of the most zealous " restorers," correct the statement that appeared in our last week's number, that they were the only two out of ten architects who were of opinion that the re- mains are in a substantial state; and quote the authority of Sir JEFFERY WYATTVILLE and three other architects in support of their opinion, " that the building may be restored without any difficulty, and that it is not to be deemed in a dangerous state. But what does this amount to?—That the ruins are not in imme- diate danger of falling; and no more. That they might be " re- stored," or rather "rebuilt,- is true, Is cause drawings exist of the Chapel in its former state. Our notion of restoring is, to strengthen the weak parts and supply the defaced surface of a building, so as to preserve and complete what remains : now nothing remains of St. Stephen'sChapel but tottering walls and a few crumbling ornaments.
An architect, who is favourable to the sc-called " restoration" of Sr. Stephen's, in a letter in the Morning Chronicle, adds his opinion to that of other experienced men, that the ruins are actu- ally now unsafe. He instances " the two westernmost arches on the south side- as being especially dangerous, and urges their immediate removal, to prevent lass of life. The fact is, the ruins are just strong encugh for the "restorers" to build their argils merits upon: the foundation and superstructure are alike rotten.
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