t, Past and Present, I.,
Chaps. 11-13. The classic history of the old Palace
of Westminster is E. W. Brayley and J. Britton,
History of the Ancient Palace and Late Houses of
Parliament at Westminster (London, 1836).]

*122. The Chambers of the Commons and the Lords.*--From opposite sides
of a central lobby corridors lead to the halls in which the sittings
of the two bodies are held, these halls facing each other in such (p. 119)
a manner that the King's throne at the south end of the House of Lords
is visible from the Speaker's chair at the north end of the House of
Commons. The room occupied by the Commons is not large, being but
seventy-five feet in length by forty-five in breadth. It is bisected
by a broad aisle, at the upper end of which is a large table for the
use of the clerk and his assistants and beyond this the raised and
canopied chair of the Speaker. "Facing the aisle on each side long
rows of high-backed benches, covered with dark green leather, slope
upward tier above tier to the walls of the room; and through them, at
right angles to the aisle, a narrow passage known as the gangway, cuts
across the House. There is also a gallery running all around the room,
the part of it facing the Speaker being given up to visitors, while
the front rows at the opposite end belong to the reporters, and behind
them there stands, before a still higher gallery, a heavy screen, like
those erected in Turkish mosques to conceal the presence of women, and
used here for the same purpose."[169] The rows of benches on the gallery
sides are reserved for members, but they do not afford a very desirable
location and are rarely occupied, save upon occasions of special
interest. In the body of the house there are fewer than 350 seats for
670 members. As a rule, not even all of these are occupied, for there
are no desks and the member who wishes to read, write, or otherwise
occupy himself seeks the library or other rooms adjoining. The front
bench at the upper end of the aisle, at the right of the Speaker, is
known as the Treasury Bench and is reserved for members of the
Government. The corresponding bench at the Speaker's left is reserved
similarly for the leaders of the Opposition. In so far as is possible
in the lack of a definite assignment of seats, members of avowed party
allegiance range themselves behind their leaders, while members of
more independent