ber, seventy-nine feet long by forty-six broad, and twenty-eight feet high from floor to ceiling. The interior is not yet finished, but it will, no doubt, be worthy of the building and of the Province. From the dome there is a splendid view of the picturesque scenery around, which is gained by ascending a staircase until the spectator reaches a small gallery on the outside, and encircling the dome, at the base of the lantern. The whole building is solid and substantial, being of cut stone. The remaining apartments are all for the use of the ASSEMBLY. The Wardrobe and Library are large and in due proportion: the passages and staircases wide and well ventilated. Every care has, in truth, been taken to meet the convenience of the Members, and to expedite the business of the Province. The centre of the NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE was designed by Mr. Berlinguet, the wings by Mr. Baillarge. The whole was built by Mr. Fortier, Master Mason; and the sums voted by the Legislature to defray the expense amount to £16,000.

It is to be hoped that no long time will elapse, ere the liberality of the Legislature shall have provided for the completion of the NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE, as represented in the engraving. But in order that the building should be seen to advantage, it is highly necessary that the row of houses, which would seem to have intruded themselves between Freemasons' Hall and the Seminary, should be removed by an Act of the Legislature, on a fair compensation. When these improvements are made, the PARLIAMENT HOUSE will appear one of the finest buildings in NORTH AMERICA.

THE COURT HOUSE.

It has been stated that the COURT HOUSE Occupies part of the site once belonging to the Récollet Fathers, and forming the western side of the ancient Place d'Armes, immediately opposite to the Fort. The Court House stands at the angle of St. Lewis Street and the Place d'Armes, to the south of the English Cathedral. Its front is on the north side of St. Lewis Street, looking towards the Commissariat Office across an open space, in which is a broad walk of stone flags. The edifice is built of grey stone, plain and substantial, standing within an area inclosed by an iron railing, and is one hundred and thirty-sixfeet long, by forty-four feet broad. The roof, like that of most of the public buildings, is covered with tin. The approach from St. Lewis Street is by a double flight of stone steps, leading to an arcade, or vestibule; from which are passages leading to the rooms below, and wide staircases to the Courts above. mediately in front of the lower story, and facing the arcade, is the chamber in which the COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS is held. On the right are the Police Office, the Justices' Room, and Grand Jury Room. On the left, the Offices of the Prothonotary of the Court of King's Bench. On the upper floor is the COURT OF KING'S BENCH, fitted up in an appropriate manner, with a gallery for spectators. Immediately behind the Bench, as in the Quarter Sessions' Room, are the IMPERIAL ARMS. To the left of the COURT OF KING'S BENCH are the Judges' Chambers, and the COURT OF APPEALS; and on the right, the Vice-Admiralty Office, the Sheriff's Office, and the Advocate's Wardrobe. The COURT OF VICE-AD

Im

MIRALTY is generally held in the Quarter Sessions' Room. In the basement are kept the records of the Courts.

Previous to the erection of the COURT HOUSE, the Judges sat in the Jesuits' College. The Commissioners appointed for the work, were the Honorable JONATHAN SEWELL, now Chief Justice of the Province, JOHN MERVIN NOOTH and AMABLE BERTHELOT DARTIGNY, Esquires. The COURT HOUSE was finished in 1804, at an expense to the Province of £30,000. Though entirely void of ornament, it is, generally speaking, convenient, although the great encrease of the legal business of the Province seems to require greater accommodation as to space.

THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

These Offices, several of which were formerly held in the lower apartments of the Bishop's Palace, and others in different parts of the Upper Town, are now for the most part united in a large building, which stands on the north side of the Place d'Armes, and adds considerably to its general appearance. It is a well proportioned and strongly built stone house, three stories high, eighty-six feet in length, and fortyfour in breadth. It was built in 1803, by a jointstock company, incorporated by an Act of the Provincial Parliament; and was originally designed for a grand hotel for the reception of strangers visiting Quebec, under the title of the UNION HOTEL. This spirited undertaking did not, however, answer the expectations of the projectors; and the property was subsequently offered at public

sale, and purchased by His Honor the CHIEF JusTICE, who raised an additional story. It is rented from this gentleman by the Province, it having been found most convenient to concentrate the offices of Government as much as possible under one roof. The following offices are at present kept in this building :-The offices of the Civil Secretary of HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-INCHIEF, and of the Assistant Secretary :-Of the Executive Council, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the Inspector General of Public Accounts, the Surveyor General, the Royal Institution, the Adjutant General of Militia, and the Hydrographical Office, under the superintendence of Captain BAYFIELD, R. N.

On the first floor, in front of the principal story, are the rooms occupied, with permission of the Government, by the LITERARY and HISTORICAL SOCIETY of QUEBEC, founded, in 1824, by the Earl of DALHOUSIE, Governor-in-Chief, and incorporated in 1830. In the large room are their extensive collections of mineralogical and other specimens, admirably arranged and scientifically classed. In the smaller one are held the meetings of the Society; and here, during the winter, are delivered their lectures on classical and scientific subjects,

THE JAIL.

It has been mentioned that under the early French Government the public Prison was situated in rear of the old PALACE of the INTENDANT. Fifty years ago, the vacant apartments of the RECOLLET CONVENT were used as a place of temporary restraint for

prisoners, who had fallen under suspicion of treasonable practices; but latterly, the common Jail was kept in part of the range of buildings which now adjoin the Artillery Barracks, at the east end.

The present JAIL was erected during the administration of Sir JAMES CRAIG, and was first occupied in 1814. The cost, to the amount of £15000, was defrayed by a vote of the Legislature. It is one hundred and sixty feet in length, by sixty-eight feet in breadth. Behind it, in a separate building, is the HOUSE OF CORRECTION for females; and between the two is the court yard of the male prison, in part of which the inmates are allowed to take exercise under certain regulations.

The situation of the JAIL is advantageous as to elevation and airiness, being at the top of St. Stanislaus Street, in a line towards the north with the Scottish Church. There are, however, strong objections to its position in the heart of a populous city. Its interior is under the best regulations, and is remarkable for cleanliness and general salubrity. For some years past an useful society of gentlemen, among whom are numbered the heads of the Clergy, have met, by permission of the Sheriff, in the Chapel of the Jail, once a week, where any prisoner may state any peculiar hardship that may attach to his case. It is called the "QUEBEC JAIL ASSOCIATION," and its objects are to promote education, industry, and moral improvement among the prisoners. It is supported by donations and annual subscriptions.

FREEMASONS' HALL.

This building is immediately opposite to the GENERAL POST OFFICE, situated in Buade Street, near