WESTMINSTER FROM LAMBETH. (Page 265.)

THE view from this spot is uncommonly beautiful.  In the foreground are Lambeth-palace stairs; and on the right, within the cross railing, is the walk, which is separated from the palace gardens by a high wall, and shaded by lofty and venerable trees.  Both are in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury's palace.  The opposite side of the river embraces an uncommon portion of striking objects.  On the left is the Abbey; at the eastern extremity of which is the roof of Henry the Seventh's chapel.  St. Margaret's church is distinguished by a flag on the tower.  The large building, with a turret at each end, is Westminster-hall.  The trees between that and the river are in the gardens of the Speaker of the House of Commons.  In the opening of those trees, toward the left, is seen the east end of the House of Commons, which looks into the Speaker's garden; and a little further to the left, at the upper end of the hall, is seen the House of Lords.

Adjoining to the lower end of the great hall, is a low range of buildings in which the famous Court of Star Chamber (so called from Starra, the Jewish covenants being deposited there in the time of Richard the Second,) was held, which is now occupied by the offices of the Duchy of Lancaster.  Adjoining thereto is the Speaker's house.  It is faced with stone, and in the Gothic style.

The tower and cupola seen immediately above the trees, to the right, are those of the Horse-guards; they are surmounted by a gilt ball, with a vane, and form a pleasing object in the view.  The church seen beyond the Horse-guards is that of St. James's, in Piccadilly; the large church to the right and more advanced to the front is St. Martin's, near the Strand; and that beyond it St. Giles's in the Fields.  The pyramid below the bridge is the Hungerford water-works, which supply Piccadilly, St. James's square and street, and that neighbourhood, with water.  The lofty building on the right, with a tower on the top, is Drury-lane Theatre.  On the right of the Horse guards, that building which overtops the rest is the Banquetting-room, Whitehall, the upper colonnade being seen with the light falling upon it.  The houses between Whitehall and the river are in Privy-gardens.  The mass of building below the bridge, resting upon arches, is the Adelphi, which has a magnificent terrace upon the water.

Westminster-bridge, which is one of the grandest and most beautiful in Europe, is seen to great advantage from Lambeth-walk.  The expanse of water here is extremely fine.  The Plate represents the river at high water; or rather the tide just turned, and running out; and gives a lively idea of this beautiful scene.  In the background are seen the range of hills which run on each side of Hampstead from east to west.

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