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in this hall； and the reason given for this is； that the timber of which the roof is composed is Irish oak； in which spiders will not harbour； but I am inclined to believe that this is a fact not to be depended on； for I find the timber for rebuilding and repairing the Palace of Westminster in the reign of Richard III。 was brought from the forests in Essex； and as there is no colour from history to surmise that the timber of this hall was Irish oak； so is there no imaginable reason why timber should be fetched from another kingdom for the repair of the hall； when the counties of Middlesex and Essex were great part of them forest； and afforded timber enough to have built twenty such places； and we find that the timber of the Essex forests was in fact applied to the repairs of this palace； for it cannot be pretended that the present roof is the same that was erected by William Rufus when it was first built； it appearing that Richard II。； about the year 1397； caused the old roof to be taken down and a new one made （as has been observed already） and this is probably the same we now see。 Here are hung up as trophies； 138 colours； and 34 standards； taken from the French and Bavarians at Hochstadt； anno 1704。
The House of Lords； or chamber where the peers assemble in Parliament； is situated between the Old Palace Yard and the Thames。 It is a spacious room； of an oblong form； at the south end whereof is the King's throne； to which he ascends by several steps： on the right hand of the throne is a seat for the Prince of Wales； and on the left another for the princes of the blood； and behind the throne the seats of the peers under age。
On the east side of the house； to the right of the throne； sit the archbishops and bishops； on the opposite side of the house sit the dukes； marquises； earls； and viscounts； and on forms crossing the area； the barons under the degree of viscounts。
Before the throne are three wool…sacks； or broad seats stuffed with wool； to put the Legislature in mind； it is said； that the right management of this trade is of the last importance to the kingdom。 On the first of these wool…sacks； next to the throne； sits the Lord Chancellor； or Keeper； who is Speaker of the House of Peers； and on the other two； the Lord Chief Justices and the rest of the judges； with the Master of the Rolls； and the other Masters in Chancery： about the middle of the house； on the east side； is a chimney； where a fire is usually kept in the winter； and towards the north； or lower end of the house； is a bar that runs across it； to which the commons advance when they bring up bills or impeachments； or when the King sends for them； and without this bar the council and witnesses stand at trials before the peers。 The house is at present hung with tapestry； containing the history of the defeat of the Spanish Armada； in the reign of Queen Elizabeth； anno 1588。
The house or chamber where the commons assemble is to the northward of the House of Lords； and stands east and west； as the other does north and south。 The room is pretty near square； and towards the upper end is the Speaker's armed chair； to which he ascends by a step or two； before it is a table where the clerks sit； on which the mace lies when the Speaker is in the chair； and at other times the mace is laid under the table。 On the north and south sides； and at the west end； are seats gradually ascending as in a theatre； and between the seats at the west end is the entrance by a pair of folding…doors。 There are galleries also on the north； south； and west； where strangers are frequently admitted to hear the debates。
This room was anciently a chapel； founded by King Stephen about the year 1141； and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin； however； it obtained the name of St。 Stephen's Chapel。 It was rebuilt by King Edward III。； anno 1347； who placed in it a dean； twelve secular canons； thirteen vicars； four clerks； five choristers； a verger； and a keeper of the chapel； and built them a convent； which extended along the Thames； endowing it with large revenues； which at the dissolution of monasteries in the reign of Edward VI。 amounted to near eleven thousand pounds per annum。 Almost ever since the dissolution； this chapel has been converted to the use we find it at present； viz。； for the session of the Lower House of Parliament； who； before that time； usually assembled in the chapter…house belonging to the Abbey； when the Parliament met at Westminster。 The Painted Chamber lies between the House of Lords and the House of Commons； and here the committees of both houses usually meet at a conference； but neither this nor the other remaining apartments of this Palace of Westminster have anything in them that merit a particular description。
The open place usually called Charing Cross； from a fine cross which stood there before the grand rebellion； is of a triangular form； having the Pall Mall and the Haymarket on the north…west； the Strand on the east； and the street before Whitehall on the south。 In the middle of this space is erected a brazen equestrian statue of King Charles I。； looking towards the place where that prince was murdered by the rebels； who had erected a scaffold for that purpose before the gates of his own palace。 This statue is erected on a stone pedestal seventeen feet high； enriched with his Majesty's arms； trophy…work； palm…branches； &c。； enclosed with an iron palisade； and was erected by King Charles II。 after his restoration。 The brick buildings south…east of Charing Cross are mostly beautiful and uniform； and the King's stables in the Mews； which lie north of it； and are now magnificently rebuilding of hewn stone； will probably make Charing Cross as fine a place as any we have in town； especially as it stands upon an eminence overlooking Whitehall。
The Banqueting…house stands on the east side of the street adjoining to the great gate of Whitehall on the south。 This edifice is built of hewn stone； and consists of one stately room； of an oblong form； upwards of forty feet in height； the length and breadth proportionable； having galleries round it on the inside； the ceiling beautifully painted by that celebrated history…painter； Sir Peter Paul Rubens： it is adorned on the outside with a lower and upper range of columns of the Ionic and Composite orders； their capitals enriched with fruit； foliage； &c。； the intercolumns of the upper and lower range being handsome sashed windows。 It is surrounded on the top with stone rails or banisters； and covered with lead。
St。 James's Palace； where the Royal Family now resides in the winter season； stands pleasantly upon the north side of the Park； and has several noble rooms in it； but is an irregular building； by no means suitable to the grandeur of the British monarch its master。 In the front next St。 James's Street there appears little more than an old gate…house； by which we enter a little square court； with a piazza on the west side of it leading to the grand staircase； and there are two other courts beyond； which have not much the air of a prince's palace。 This palace was a hospital； suppressed by Henry VIII。； who built this edifice in the room of it。
But the house most admired for its situation is that of the Duke of Buckingham at the west end of the Park； in the front of which； towards the Mall and the grand canal； is a spacious court； the offices on each side having a communication with the house by two little bending piazzas and galleries that form the wings。 This front is adorned with two ranges of pilasters of the Corinthian and Tuscan orders； and over them is an acroteria of figures； representing Mercury； Secrecy； Equity； and Liberty； and under them this inscription in large golden characters； viz。； SIC SITI LAETANTVR LARES （Thus situated； may the household gods rejoice）。
Behind the house is a fine garden and terrace； from whence there is prospect adjacent on the house on that side； viz。； RVS IN VRBE； intimating that it has the advantages both of city and country； above which are figures representing the four seasons： The hall is paved with marble； and adorned with pilasters； the intercolumns exquisite paintings in great variety； and on a pedestal； near the foot of the grand staircase； is a marble figure of Cain killing his brother Abel； the whole structure exceeding magnificent； rich； and beautiful； but especially in the finishing and furniture。
Grosvenor or Gravenor Square is bounded on the north by Oxford Road； on the east by Hanover Square； by Mayfair on the south； and by Hyde Park on the west； the area whereof contains about five acres of ground； in which is a large garden laid out into walks； and adorned with an equestrian statue of King George I。 gilded with gold； and standing on a pedestal； in the centre of the garden； the whole surrounded with palisades placed upon a dwarf wall。 The buildings generally are the most magnificent we meet with in this great town； though the fronts of the houses are not all alike； for some of them are entirely of stone； others of brick and stone； and others of rubbed brick； with only their quoins； fascias； windows； and door… cases of stone； some of them are adorned with stone columns of the several orders； while others have only plain fronts； but they are so