vested with this dignity, perhaps the greatest in the world, and presided, holding a long taper wand in his hand, as a mark of his office. Westminster Hall, the height of which is superior to most churches, allowed ample room for the amphitheatre which was erected on the occasion. The seats and boxes appropriated to the royal family, the peeresses, the members of the House of Commons, &c. were covered with the richest tapestry. It seemed to be a general gala; the passages were guarded with soldiers, who do not usually appear on these occasions: the peers, to the number of almost two hundred, the bishops and the judges in their robes, forming a semicircle, together with the High-Steward at the foot of the Throne erected for the King, although he is never present, formed altogether a superb and elegant appearance. At some distance a large table was placed for the secretaries of this great tribunal; and the centre of the circle was reserved for the accusers and the accused. The Duchess had two of her women attendant on her, a physician, a surgeon, an apothecary, a secretary, and six advocates. She was dressed in black; and her conduct, which was at once firm and noble throughout the whole, gained her the admiration of all the spectators. She herself addressed the assembly with great dignity. Nevertheless she was convicted by the peers, who gave their judgment by rising up one after the other, and with their hands on their breasts declaring on their honours that she was guilty. The youngest baron begins, and they rise in the order of rank and creation. The punishment inflicted by the law for bigamy is a red-hot iron applied to the hand; the nobility, however, are exempted by an ancient privilege. The counsel for the Duchess claimed this as a right, but the adverse party denied it. It was then that for the first time, this unfortunate woman seemed to lose her Such was the case; but the punishment now is transportation for the term of seven or fourteen years, or it is left to the discretion of the Court where the prisoner is tried. resolution. She fainted, and was carried away. She was at last allowed this favour, and escaped with a reprimand from the Lord High Steward, who concluded with an observation, that this was the last time she could experience this indulgence. Such was the conclusion of this singular process, which lasted six days. These six days seemed to be a festival to the whole nation. Although the court did not sit till ten o'clock, the hall was full by five in the morning; and among the rest a number of ladies, magnificently dressed, and ornamented with jewels. Of the seven years' trial of Warren Hastings, so disgraceful. to the parties that instituted it, and so dishonourable to the sacred cause of justice, the reader will find a sufficient account in a former volume of this work. Having now touched upon every matter of importance connected with the history and business of this great mass of building, called Westminster Hall, I may proceed to describe the building itself, together with the other contiguous houses and apartments mentioned in the foregoing history. The reader will have observed, that here and in some other places, I have anticipated several historical details, and collected such matters concerning the history of some places to be mentioned in a subsequent part of this volume, as properly connect themselves with the places where such accounts are given. For this reason some of my descriptions may appear more extended than needful; but I have preferred this plan rather than that of breaking my historical delineations into several detached and meagre sketches, interspersed throughout the volume. The account which I have given in the foregoing pages of the court of the Exchequer, &c. will serve as a specimen, and the judicious and candid reader will perceive that there I have superseded much that would have been said under the heads of Lincoln's Inu, the Rolls, Six Clerks Office, &c. &c. This explanation I have deemed needful to myself, and due to such of my readers as may not have adverted to the fact here mentioned. WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER HALL, properly so called, is a most stately and magnificent building; though, except the great door and window facing Palace Yard, it has not a very commanding aspect in its exterior. The annexed views will convey to the mind of the stranger a correct idea of this part of the building. It is not in its original state; the floor has been raised, the interior walls lined to the string under the timber ribs, the courts of justice erected, &c. and farther improvements are in contemplation. This venerable building is of stone, the front ornamented with two towers, adorned with carved work. Formerly there stood several old buildings in the front almost before the gate, or great door; but these have been pulled down, and the whole front is now seen from the Palace Yard. The interior of the Hall is reckoned the largest room in Europe, whose roof is unsupported by pillars, being 275 feet in length, and 74 in breadth. The roof is of chesnut, and is crowded with an infinite variety of beams, rafters, brackets, &c. crossing, and intersecting each other in the most intricate manner imaginable. Number of ribs of oak projecting from the east and west walls form pointed arches, and horizontal beams from them, terminating in angles, support others which compose trefoils, and the angles thus occasioned between the arches are filled with hundreds of little trefoiled arches. Such is the grand specimen of ancient skill, now perfect, and, as it were, suspended on the walls, its only dependence. This admirable roof was formerly covered with lead; but that being two weighty, it is now covered with slate. The pavement is of stone; and here during Term, are seen numerous barristers walking backwards and forwards linked arm and in arm, with their clients or friends, conversing on the various topics that engage their attention, Any farther description of the Hall itself is unnecessary, unless it be to notice the poor mutilated headless figures, which still |