The plants are generally in a very healthy state, but the gardens are susceptible of great improvement, and many repairs are absolutely necessary. In the centre of the garden is a statue of Sir Hans Sloane, by Rysbrack, executed in 1733.

Open daily, except Sundays. Admission, by tickets, to be obtained at Apothecaries' Hall, or through the intervention of members of that body.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS,

Regent's Park. Inner circle, about 18 acres in extent. The Royal Botanical Society was incorporated in 1839, for the promotion of botany in all its branches, and its application to medicine, arts, and manufactures; also for the promotion of extensive botanical and ornamental gardens, within the immediate vicinity of the metropolis. The winter garden, designed by Mr. Decimus Burton, is a scource of great attraction, and the grounds are laid out with much beauty. Three exhibitions are held annually in the month of May, June, and July.

The old Houses having been destroyed by fire, Oct. 15th, 1834, the present magnificent structure was commenced, from the designs of C. Barry, Esq. in 1840, and

is now rapidly approaching completion. The river-front includes the residence for the Speaker at the north end, the corresponding terminal towards the south being the residence for the Usher of the Black Rod. Between the two extremes, and comprising what are called the curtain portions, are the libraries for the House of Peers and the libraries for the House of Commons: in the immediate centre is the conference-room for the two Houses. All this is on the principal floor, about fifteen feet above the terrace, or high-water mark. The whole of the floor above the libraries, and overlooking the river, is appropriated to committee rooms for the purposes of Parlia ment; the Peers occupying about one-third towards the south, and the Commons two-thirds towards the north. The House of Peers and House of Commons are situated in the rear of the front building, or that next the river; and will, when completed, be enclosed also towards the west, so as to be entirely surrounded by Parliamentary offices.

The plan of this truly national edifice is exceedingly simple and beautiful. The Central hall, an octagon of seventy feet square, is reached through St. Stephen's Hall and Porch, communicating, by noble flights of steps, with Westminster Hall and forming an approach of unequalled magnificence. From the Central Hall, a corridor to the north leads to the Commons' Lobby and House of Commons; and a corridor to the south, to the Peers Lobby and the House of Peers. In a line with the House of Lords, still further to the south, are the Victoria Hall, the Royal Gallery, and the Queen's Robing Room, communicating with the Royal Staircase and the Victoria Tower, at the south-west corner of the pile, now rearing tself in Abingdon-street, intended for her majesty's

ate entrance.

The construction throughout is externally of hard agnesian lime-stone, from North Anstone, in Yorkshire, ear Worksop, Notts. It is a beautiful close-grained

stone, of a texture considerably harder than Portland, and somewhat warmer in colour. The interior stonework is from Caen. The bearers of the floor are of castiron, with brick arches turned from girder to girder; the entire roofs are of wrought-iron, covered with cast-iron plates galvanized; so that the carcases of the entire buildings are fire-proof, not any timber having been used in their construction. The whole building stands on a bed of concrete, twelve feet thick; and the materials already used include from eight to nine hundred thousand tons of stone, twenty-four millions of bricks, and five thousand tons of iron.

Some idea of the magnitude of this national edifice may be formed when it is stated that the Palace to the eastward presents a frontage of nearly one thousand feet. When complete, it will cover an area of nine statute acres: the great tower, at the south-western extremity, which has already been raised to the heighth of ninety feet, will ultimately reach the gigantic elevation of three hundred and forty-six feet. Towers of lesser magnitude will crown other portions of the building. Fourteen ħalls, galleries, vestibules, and other apartments of great capacity and noble proportion will be contained within its limits. It comprises eight official residences, each firstrate mansious: twenty corridors and lobbies are required to serve as the great roadways through this aggregate of edifices: thirty-two noble apartments facing the river will be used as committee-rooms. Libraries, waitingrooms, dining-rooms, and clerk's offices, exist in superabundant measure: eleven greater courts and a score of minor openings give light and air to the interior of this superb fabric. Its cubic contents exceed fifteen millions of feet; being one-half greater than St. Paul's and it contains not less than between five and six hundred distinct apartments, amongst which will be a chapel for Divine worship, formed out of the crypt of old St. Stephen's.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Is situate on the northern side of the building, about two hundred yards east of the Victoria Tower; the exterior presents no enriched architectural features; but its massive walls are well proportioned and please the eye by their solid appearance. As seen from the House-court, the exterior shows a low and boldly embattled portion, resting on an arcade of flattened arches, with windows of square form, traceried, and having moulded weathertables; a string-course, with patero, runs along above the windows. This portion serves as the Corridor of the House, and projects many feet from the main building. Above this, the six finely proportioned windows of the House are seen; and between each a plain massive buttress. The windows have weather-tables; and a stringcourse, with patero, decorates the walls above the windows, whilst lofty battlements crown the whole.

The interior presents a noble room, ninety feet by forty-five feet; and in heighth forty feet: without doubt the finest specimen of Gothic architecture in Europe. The general effect on entering is gorgeous in the extreme: such a blaze of gilding, carvings, and coloured decorations is not to be elsewhere found in England; whilst the noble proportions of the apartment, the elaborately carved panels, and the brilliant colours which meet the eye on every side, contribute to produce a coup-d'-eil at once startling and beautiful. At the upper end is the throne, which her Majesty occupies on state occasions; to the right is a chair for the Prince of Wales; and to the left a corresponding one for Prince Albert. The Lord-Chancellor sits immediately below the throne, on what is called the wool-sack; and to the right and left are benches, covered with red Morocco leather, for the exclusive use of the peers. There is a bar across the House at the end opposite the throne, without which the sher of the Black Rod is stationed. Access to the