LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that though he feared that this conversation held out very small hope of an early termination of the Session, yet he would fain ask his noble Friend, what prospects their Lordships had of speedily inhabiting a more habitable place than that in which they were then assembled? His anxiety to enter the new palace had not been diminished by what had happened to him that day, when he enjoyed the gratification of visiting the new Houses, and seeing the most magnificent building that he had ever seen in any part of the world, doing the greatest possible honour to the very skilful, learned, and ingenious architect, both in the interior and the exterior of the splendid palace which was to be devoted to the two branches of the Legislature. If anything could mitigate his dislike of Gothic architecture, it was what he had seen that day. True, it had not altered his opinion with reference to that style; but this he would say, that what he had seen to-day, fully confirmed his original expectations, and that if anything could make Gothic architecture palatable to those who had a totally different taste, it was the skill which had been exhibited by that most eminent architect (Mr. Barry), in the design and construction of the new Houses of Parliament.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEfeared that he could not indulge his noble and learned Friend's hopes so far as to confirm any opinion which he might entertain with regard to a speedy prospect of an early termination of the Session. He could state, however, about the period when their Lordships might expect to assemble in their new House. He owed it to the architect, of whom his noble and learned Friend had spoken in such handsome and justly-deserved terms, to say, that he had also the inferior but not-to-be-despised merit of keeping the engagements which he had entered into with that House at the end of the last Session of Parliament; for he (the Marquess of Lansdowne) was enabled to state, that even if it were the wish of their Lordships to occupy their new House 514 earlier than Easter, means might be found of preparing it for them before the end of the next month. But he thought their Lordships would agree with him that the adjournment which usually took place at Easter, would be the most convenient time for completing those arrangements which would enable them to be received there. He could confidently state, on the authority of Mr. Barry, as well as on his own inspection, that there could not be the slightest doubt that in the Easter week every preparation would be made for their Lordships' reception the very first day after the recess.
LORD BROUGHAMwould take that opportunity of supplying an inadvertent omission which had occurred in the observations he had addressed to the House. He begged to state that a gentleman of great experience had assured him that the fresco paintings designed and superintended by Mr. Dyce had been most successful.