at one time of Addison, at another of the late Lord Holland. The stone gateway on the east of the house was designed by Inigo Jones. _Chesterfield House_, in South Audley Street, was built for that Earl of Chesterfield whose “Advice to his Son” has run through so many editions; the library and the garden are especially noted. _Buccleuch House_, in Whitehall Gardens, is recently finished. _Lansdowne House_, in Berkeley Square, the town residence of the Marquis of Lansdowne, contains some fine sculptures and pictures, ancient and modern. Scarcely less magnificent, either as buildings or in respect of their contents, than the mansions of the nobility, are some of those belonging to wealthy commoners—such as Mr. Holford’s, a splendid structure in Park Lane; Mr. Hope’s, in Piccadilly, now the _Junior Athenæum Club_; and Baron Rothschild’s, near Apsley House, lately rebuilt. HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT; WESTMINSTER HALL; GOVERNMENT OFFICES. Houses of Parliament.—This is the name usually given to the _New Palace of Westminster_, which is not only Sir Charles Barry’s greatest work, but is in all respects one of the most remarkable structures of the age. The building, which occupies a site close to the river, and close also to the beautiful new Westminster Bridge, was constructed in consequence of the burning of the old Houses of Parliament in 1834. It is perhaps the finest modern Gothic structure in the world—at least for civil purposes; but is unfortunately composed of a stone liable to decay; and, to be critical, its ornaments and details generally are on too minute a scale for the magnitude of the building. The entire structure covers nearly eight acres. [Picture: Houses of Parliament from the River] Certain old plain law courts on the north are intended to be removed. The chief public entrance is by Westminster Hall, which forms a vestibule to the Houses of Parliament and their numerous committee-rooms. The rooms and staircases are almost inconceivably numerous; and there are said to be two miles of passages and corridors! The river front, raised upon a fine terrace of Aberdeen granite, is 900 feet in length, and profusely adorned with statues, heraldic shields, and tracery, carved in stone. The other façades are nearly as elaborate, but are not so well seen. It is a gorgeous structure, which, so long ago as 1859, had cost over two millions. A further cost of £107,000, for frescoes, statuary, &c., &c., had been incurred by the end of March, 1860; and the constant outgoings for maintenance of the fabric, and additions thereto, must every year represent a heavy sum. Nevertheless, the two main chambers in which Parliament meets are ill adapted for sight and hearing. On Saturdays, both Houses can be seen free, by order from the Lord Chamberlain, easily obtained at a neighbouring office; and certain corridors and chambers are open on other days of the week. Admission to the sittings of the two