THE PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. THE new houses of Parliament have been denominated, "the Palace at Westminster, and their extent, magnificence, and beautiful decorations cannot fail to have struck multitudes of our resident population, as well as of the thousands of visitors who are said daily to arrive in the great metropolis. Of late years, the progress made has been much more obvious, than at an earlier period, the architect having been directed to complete with all possible expedition the "House of Lords," from the strong desire of the peers to take possession of their part of the magnificent edifice. With the difficulties that have arisen, as to ventilation and warming, the public JANUARY, 1847. are familiar; these appear in some way or other to have been surmounted, and expectations are entertained that, before long, the wishes of the peers, at least, will be gratified. Several years, however, are likely to elapse, before the whole design reaches its completion. The original plan was of such magnitude, that it would not have been surprising had it, in the course of execution, undergone some curtailment; but instead of any reduction, considerable enlargement has been contemplated by the architect, who strongly recommends that the west side of the building should be carried on to more than double its extent as first proposed, so as to be continued, though not in an unbroken line, from B the Victoria tower at its southern extremity, to the corner of Bridge-street at the northern one, thereby completely inclosing New Palace-yard, and changing that into an entire quadrangle containing Westminster Hall. Were this done, it is probable that the line would be extended still farther, and the whole pile be thus rendered a vast, uniform, insulated mass of building-worthy, in architectural design and detail, the purpose to which it is to be appropriated; and augmented, in appearance at least, to nearly twice its original dimensions. MOAB AMMEL; OR, SCENES IN THE MOAB AMMEL, a spare, but sinewy * * * Moab Ammel, in his soiled white cloak, with a kerchief of red and yellow flung over his head and shoulders, is silently gazing on the sandy waste, as the caravan slowly and sullenly moves on. Fierce is the sultry beam that is darting down wards, and boundless is the dreary wilderness. The riders are mounted on their horses and dromedaries, and the camels, heavily laden with their bales, food, vessels, utensils, and water skins, stretching out their long necks, are pacing the hot desert, with their soft, broad feet, every tread making a hissing sound as it sinks into the burning sand. The camels, with a rude bell in front of their packs, pass on in single file, headed by a driver, sitting on an ass, with a tinkling bell suspended from the animal's neck. Europeans, Arabs, Turks, and half-naked Nubian slaves, with merchants, traders, pilgrims, females in light travelling houses, and a sprinkling of adventurous travellers, form the mingled company. Silently, and almost solemnly, the lengthy line proceeds, while a few well-mounted Arabs, their spears tasselled with black ostrich feathers, hang upon their rear. No living thing is seen in the wide-spread desert. Neither eminence, nor rock, nor stone, nor tree, nor shrub varies the lonely monotony. Below is the burning sand, and above is the fiery sky. * * * * * There Moab Ammel is smoking in the door of his tent; for the caravan has halted, and the tents are pitched. He has eaten a few dates, and moistened his parched throat, though not quenched his thirst, with a scanty draught of water. is a commotion in one part of the scatfit of rage that periodically prevails, is on tered encampment. Two camels-for the them-have broken loose, and are trying their strength in an unsightly struggle. In vain the devidges, or drivers, interfere; for they are furious-grotesquely grappling with their fore legs, writhing their long necks, knocking their heads violently together, and tearing one another with their teeth, the contest is obstinately maintained. are striving with all their strength, and The huge and unwieldy rivals now they are rolling over each other on the sand. A crowd of kerchiefed and turbaned heads are gathered round them, clapping their hands and shouting. And the patient and all-enduring camel, can can it be that the gentle, the unoffending, thus become enraged, ferocious, and imof the scanty herbage. Hardy, swift, and placable? Horses are picking a mouthful beautiful is the Arab steed: "Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength." Moab Ammel is wildly straining his inflamed and bloodshot eyes; for in the desert distance a wide-spread lake to cover the burning sand. Already have appears the foremost camels entered the liquid expanse, and Moab fancies that he sees the water dashed to and fro with their feet. He urges onwards his toil-worn drome |