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situated in a populous and smoky town than for one to be placed in an open country, where all edifices usually become covered, as above stated, with lichens; for, although in such towns those fronts; which are not exposed to the prevailing winds and rains will soon become blackened, the remainder of the building will constantly exhibit a tint depending upon the natural colour of the material employed."

The Report proceeds to give the following interesting examples of the degree of durability of various building-stones in particular localities:

"Of the sandstone buildings which we examined we may notice the remains of Ecclestone Abbey, of the thirteenth century, near Barnard Castle, constructed of a stone closely resembling that of the Stenton Quarry, in the vicinity, as exhibiting the mouldings and other decorations, even to the dog's-tooth ornament, in excellent condition. The circular keep of Barnard Castle, apparently also built of the same material, is in fine preservation. Tintern Abbey may also be noticed as a sandstone edifice that has, to a considerable extent, resisted decomposition; for, although it is decayed in some parts, it is nearly perfect in others. Some portions of Whitby Abbey are likewise in a perfect state, whilst others are fast yielding to the effects of the atmosphere. The older portions of Ripon Cathedral, constructed of sandstone, are in a fair state of preservation. Rivaulx Abbey is another good example of an ancient sandstone building in a fair condition. The Norman keep of Richmond Castle, in Yorkshire, affords an instance of a moderately hard sandstone which has well resisted decomposition.

"As examples of sandstone buildings of more recent date, in a good state of preservation, we may mention Hardwicke Hall, Haddon Hall, and all the buildings of Cragleith stone in Edinburgh and its vicinity. Of sandstone edifices in an advanced state of decomposition we may enumerate Durham Cathedral, the churches of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carlisle Cathedral, Kirkstall Abbey, and Fountains Abbey. The sandstone churches of Derby are also extremely decomposed; and the church of St. Peter's at Shaftesbury is in such a state of decay, that some portions of the building are only prevented from falling by means of iron ties. As an example of an edifice constructed of a calciferous variety of sandstone, we may notice Tisbury Church, which is in unequal condition, the mouldings and other enrichments being in a perfect state, whilst he ashler, apparently selected with less

care, is fast mouldering away. The choir of Southwell Church, of the twelfth century, may be mentioned as affording an instance of a magnesio-calciferous sandstone, resembling that of Mansfield, generally in good condition, after long exposure to the influences of the atmosphere.

"Of buildings constructed of magnesian limestone we may mention the Norman portions of Southwell Church, built of stone similar to that of Bolsover, and which are throughout in a perfect state, the mouldings and carved enrichments being as sharp as when first executed, The Keep of Koningsburgh Castle, built of a magnesian limestone from the vicinity, is also in a perfect state, though the joints of the masonry are open in consequence of the decomposition and disappearance of the mortar formerly within them. The Church at Hemmingborough, of the fifteenth century, constructed of a material resembling the stone from Huddlestone, does not exhibit any appearance of decay. Tickhill Church, of the fifteenth century, built of a similar material, is in a fair state of preservation. Huddlestone Hall, of the sixteenth century, constructed of the stone of the immediate vicinity, is also in good condition. Roche Abbey, of the thirteenth century, in which stone from the immediate neighbourhood has been employed, exhibits generally a fair state of preservation, although some portions have yielded to the effects of the atmosphere.

"As examples of magnesian limestone buildings in a more advanced state of decay, we may notice the churches at York, and a large portion of the Minster, Howden Church, Doncaster old Church, and others in that part of the country, many of which are so much decomposed that the mouldings, carvings, and other architectural decorations, are often entirely effaced. We may here remark that, as far as our observations extend, in proportion as the stone employed in magnesian limestone buildings is crystalline, so does it appear to have resisted the decomposing effects of the atmosphere; a conclusion in accordance with the opinion of Professor Daniell, who has stated to us that, from the results of experiments, he is of opinion that the nearer the magnesian limestones approach to equivalent proportions of carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia, the more crystalline and better they are in every respect.'

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Of buildings constructed of oolite and other limestones we may notice the Church of Byland Abbey, of the twelfth century, especially the west front, built of stone from the immediate vicinity, as being in an almost perfect state of preservation.

Sandysfoot Castle, near Weymouth, constructed of Portland oolite in the time of Henry the Eighth, is an example of that material in excellent condition; a few decomposed stones used in the interior, and which are exceptions to this fact, being from another oolite in the immediate vicinity of the castle. Bow and Arrow Castle, and the neighbourimg ruins of a church of the fourteenth century, in the Island of Portland, also afford instances of the Portland oolite in perfect condition. The new Church in the island, built in 1766 of a variety of the Portland stone termed roach, is in an excellent state throughout, even to the preservation of the marks of the chisel.

"Many buildings constructed of a material similar to the oolite of Ancaster, such as Newark and Grantham churches, and other edifices in various parts of Lincolnshire, have scarcely yielded to the effects of atmospheric influence."

"Windrush Church, Gloucestershire, built of an oolite from the neighbouring quarry, is in excellent condition; whilst the Abbey Church of Bath, constructed of the oolite in the vicinity of that city, has suffered much from decomposition; as is also the case with the Cathedral, St. Nicholas and St. Michael's Churches in Gloucester, erected of a stone from the oolite rocks of the neighbourhood.

"The churches of Stamford, Ketton, Colley Weston, Kettering, and other places in that part of the country, attest the durability of the shelly oolite termed Barnack rag, with the exception of those portions of some of them for which the stone has been ill selected."

"The excellent condition of those parts which remain of Glastonbury Abbey, show the value of a shelly limestone similar to that of Doulting; whilst the stone employed in Wells Cathedral, apparently of the same kind, but not selected with equal care, is in parts decomposed. The mansion, the church, and the remains of the Abbey at Montacute, as also many other buildings in that vicinity, constructed of the limestone of Ham Hill, are in excellent condition. In Salisbury Cathedral, built of stone from Chilmark, we have evidence of the general durability of siliciferous limestone; for, although the west front has somewhat yielded to the effects of the atmosphere, the excellent condition of the building generally is most striking.

"In the public buildings of Oxford we have a marked instance both of decomposition and durability in the materials employed; for, whilst a shelly oolite similar to that of Taynton, which is employed in the more ancient parts of the Cathedral,

in Merton College Chapel, &c. and commonly for the plinths, string-courses, and exposed portions of the other edifices in that city, is generally in a good state of preservation, a calcareous stone from Heddington, employed in nearly the whole of the colleges, churches, and other public buildings, is in such a deplorable state of decay, that in many instances all traces of architectural decoration have disappeared, and the ashler itself is in many places deeply disintegrated.

"In Spofforth Castle we have a striking example of the unequal decomposition of two materials, a magnesian limestone and a sandstone; the former employed in the decorative parts, and the latter for the ashler or plain facing of the walls. Although the magnesian limestone has been equally exposed with the sandstone to the decomposing effects of the atmosphere, it has remained as perfect in form as when first employed, while the sandstone has suffered considerably from the effects of decomposition."

"In Chepstow Castle may be observed a magnesian limestone in fine preservation, and a red sandstone in an advanced state of decomposition, both having been exposed to the same conditions as parts of the same archways; and in Bristol Cathedral we have a curious instance of the effects arising from the intermixture of very different materials, a yellow limestone and a red sandstone, which have been indiscriminately employed both for the plain and decorative parts of the building. Not only is the appearance in this case unsightly, but the architectural effect of the edifice is also much impaired by the unequal decomposition of the two materials, the limestone having suffered much less from decay than the sandstone."

"Judging, therefore, from the evidence afforded by buildings of various dates, there are many varieties of sandstone and limestone employed for building purposes which succcessfully resist the destructive effects of atmospheric influences; among these, the sandstones of Stenton, Whitby, Tintern, Rivaulx, and Craigleith, the magnesio-calciferous sandstone of Mansfield, the calciferous sandstone of Tisbury, the crystalline magnesian limestones, or dolomites, of Bolsover, Huddlestone, and Roche Abbey, the oolites of Byland, Portland, and Ancaster, the shelly oolites and limestone of Barnack and Ham Hill, and siliciferous limestone of Chilmark, appear to be amongst the most durable. To these which may be all considered as desirable building materials, we are inclined to add, though they may not always have the evidence of ancient buildings in their favour, the sandstones of Darley Dale, Humbie,

Longannet, and Crowbank, the magnesian limestones of Robin Hood's Well, and the oolite of Ketton."

The Report concludes thus :-" If we are called upon to select a class of stone for the more immediate object of our inquiry, we should give the preference to the limestones, on account of their more general uniformity of tint, their comparatively homogeneous structure, and the facility of their conversion to building purposes; and of this class we should prefer those which are most crystalline. For crystalline character, combined with

a close approach to the equivalent proportions of carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia, for uniformity in structure, facility and economy in conversion, and for advantage of colour, the magnesian limestone, or dolomite, of Bolsover Moor and its neighbourhood, is in our opinion the most fit and proper material to be employed in the proposed new Houses of Parliament."

Bolsover is a small market town in Derbyshire, on the borders of the county of Nottingham, and about 145 miles from London.

ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.

WHALE SKELETON IN DURHAM CASTLE.

The University of Durham, requiring increased accommodation for students, determined this year to appropriate the old Tower of Durham Castle for such purpose. This tower, or master-keep, which is considered as of Norman structure, (though probably great part of what remains was erected in the reign of Edward III., by Bishop Hatfield,) had long been going to decay, and was at length, about fifty years ago, dismantled, by reducing the upper story, and throwing the materials down into the interior. In clearing out the rubbish for the purpose abovementioned, the workmen found the basement story to consist of arched crypts, much broken. Amongst the rubbish in these crypts, or cellars, they were suddenly surprised by finding several large bones, and as they advanced these accumulated from time to time, until twenty vertebræ, and about the same number of ribs, of enormous size, were taken out; and in a crypt or room on the opposite side of the tower, two large jaw bones were laid bare. This latter discovery enabled Mr. George T. Fox (who gave an account of the remains at the late meeting of the British Association,) to determine, from the form and position of the jaws, that the bones belonged to a spermaceti whale. While the inquiries, to which the strange circumstance had given rise, were going on, the Rev. James Raine discovered a curious and interesting letter, in a MS. volume of the late Mr. Surtees' collection, relative to the history of the Castle of Durham, which at once accounted for the discovery of animal remains under such circumstances. The letter is addressed by John Cosin, Bishop of Durham, to his Secretary, Mr. Miles Stapylton :

"Pall Mall, London, June 20, 1661. "Mr. Stapylton,-I have received yours

of the 15th instant, wherein you write, that, as you have been informed by ye bailiff of Earington, there hath of late beene cast up uppon ye sea shore within my said manor a royall fish, but you trouble not yourself to assure me of what kinde it be, (truly your omissions of this sort are both numerous and perplexing,) and you proceed to ask my will and pleasure touching ye same. Now in reply to this your question, my answer is as followeth, and I pray you to note it well. Do with the flesh of this fish, of whatever kinde it be, that which seemeth good unto you, for by this time, methinks, it stinketh, and will satisfie neither your palate nor your purse; but, forasmuch as I well remember that in the time of my assured friend and patron, of happy memory, Bishop Morton, who fell on evil days, there did hang up in the kitchen of his castle of Duresme a right stately skeleton of a fish, perchance of this sort, which was much admired by his most sacred majestie King Charles in A.D. 1633, but which was plucked down and destroyed by that knave Thomas Andrews, who did purchase the said castle from those still greater knaves, who did steal and sell the same,-I will that the bones of the fish you mention, so it be of a convenient size, be carefully cleansed from all impurities which may adhere to the same, and then being reduced into the form and fashion of a skeleton, I would have hung up for their preservation and the admiration of the curious, not in my kitchen aforesaid, in which there may be a lack of room, but in some meet place in the old tower of my castle, which hath long ceased to be inhabited, to be chosen at your and Mr. Farrer his discretion.

“I pray you begin to make provision for the due treatment of his Majesties Justices of Assize, which, as this is my first yeare, must be managed sumptuously, but I would have you to remember without

waste. The bailiff of Derlington did write of one William Man, of Piersebridge, who is and hath been of long time noted for his fat oxen. You will do well to let my Lords Judges taste his beef. I would also have you procure some Westfalia hams and Holand cheeses, and look there be ready some caggs of sturgeon, to be got where and as you can. Touching these matters you shall have further premonition in due time from

"Your very loveing friend,

"Jo. DURESME. "Postsc.-His Matie hath this day assured the house touching the Act of Indemnitie, and hasteneth to make a pro. gress through some parts of his kingdom, and first to Worc to offer up thanks for his delivce there."

This letter clearly shews that the bones discovered in Durham Castle belonged to the whale cast on the shore on the coast of Durham, at Earington in 1661. The remains, when collected, were found to be those of the great bluntheaded Catodon (Physeter macrocephalus); and to consist of the atlas, the cervical bone, nine dorsal and ten lumbar vertebræ, out of sixty, in the whole, the entire tail, or caudal portion, being wanting; and there are only half the proper number of ribs-fourteen, out of twenty-eight. The bones of the cranium and face, and the arm bones (or pectoral fins), were not found. One of the ribs was attended with a curious coincidence. In the crypt of the private chapel of Durham Castle had stood for many years, an old oak chest, popularly known as St. Cuthbert's Chest, of which a figure was given in Hutchinson's History, at vol. ii. p. 248, and in which chest had always remained a large bone, usually called the Giant's Bone. When Bishop Cosin's whale was discovered, this bone was found to be the corresponding one of the first rib, and thus was brought into connexion with its fellow. Many fragments had been broken off; but, the whole being carefully gathered by the workmen, they were easily joined, being found to coincide with the rest; and it may, therefore, be concluded, that no more of the whale, notwithstanding the somewhat peremptory order of Bishop Cosin, had been brought to his castle. These have been set up in the Museum of Durham University, and the ribs being attached to the vertebræ, and the jaws placed in front, they form an interesting preparation, and convey no very imperfect idea of the form of the animal. From the proportion of its remains, Mr.

once more

Fox conjectures that it was above fifty feet long. The first authentic account of this species of whale is that given by Clusius, in 1605, from an individual thrown ashore, in 1598, at Berchey, in Holland; the head of which, much mutilated, Cuvier conjectures to be that still preserved in the church at Scheveling. Many other captures are recorded by Cuvier, though none, except that related by Clusius, are prior in time to Bishop Cosin's. In recent times, the only instances of the capture of a spermaceti whale on the shores of Britain, which have been recorded by authors, are those given by Pennant, of one taken in 1762 on Blyth Sands (in Northumberland), and the other by Robertson, in the Phil. Trans., of one cast ashore on Cramond Island, in the Frith of Forth, in 1769. Besides these, however, another came ashore at Cresswell, in Northumberland, in August 1822; and on the 11th of that month, several were seen sporting in the deep off the same coast.

ROMAN CAUSEWAY.

Some works for improving the channel of the Scheldt, have occasioned several extensive cuttings across the old Roman causeway, called La Chaussé de Brunehaut, which connects in a straight line the towns of Bavay and Tournay. These cuttings took place on the spot described in the Itinerary of Antoninus as the Pons Scaldis. In the course of the works, there have been discovered on various points remains of constructions, and large quantities of materials which indicate the site of a town or large village; and it appears that in this locality several bridges had been thrown over the Scheldt. This discovery shows that the point given by antiquaries as Pons Scaldis was not merely a bridge over the Scheldt, but a Roman station which was probably fortified.

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HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.

SPAIN.

FOREIGN NEWS.

The Spanish news shews that tranquillity is far from being restored in that unhappy country. The Count d'Espagne still remains faithful in his allegiance to Don Carlos, and has gained fur. ther successes in Catalonia; whilst Cabrera appears nothing daunted by the reverses the Carlist cause has sustained in the northern provinces; but, on the contrary, seems determined to act with increased vigour, and to relinquish the sword only with his life. Large guerilla parties have been formed by the Basques; and, although the Spanish government appears inclined to act with good faith with respect to their fueros, the state of these provinces is such as to prevent Espartero sending any reinforcements to the army of the centre. In addition to these difficulties, the exaltados are again rearing their heads, and, even were the Carlists effectually put down, there is some probability that the civil war would be renewed between the two divisions of "Liberals."

INDIA.

The expedition for the restoration of the Shah Soojah-ool-Moolk to the throne of Candahar has been entirely successful. The army suffered greatly during the march for want of food, and from the attacks of Belochees and other lawless tribes; and had the Sirdars not fled at the first appearance of our troops, it may be questioned whether the victory would not have cost us more than it is really worth. An idea of the toil and misery endured by the troops may be formed from the fact, that out of 6000 native troops, comprising the division of the Shah, only 1500 reached Candahar, all the rest having perished on the way. The loss of British troops was, however, comparatively trifling, though their sufferings were very severe. Since the coronation of the Shah, he has experienced no opposition from the Sirdars; and on the 16th of June, the date of the latest arrivals in Bengal, the British army was preparing

to return.

AMERICA.

On the 23d Sept. a fire broke out in the National Theatre, New York, which entirely consumed the interior of the

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house, and communicated to the three churches in the immediate neighbourhood -the French church, the Dutch church, and the African church-the interiors of all of which were also consumed. dwelling-house next below the theatre in Church-street, and one in Franklin-street, between the Dutch church and the block of buildings next adjoining the French church, were also burned. Other buildings were considerably injured. fire originated in the theatre from an explosion of gas, which blew up the whole stage. It was erected in 1833, for an Italian Opera-house, which was tolerably maintained the first and second season, but subsequently failed. It was then converted into a theatre, but it was not very prosperous until it came under the management of Mr. Wallack, about two years ago, who has successfully conducted it up to this time. The cost of the building was about 110,000 dollars, and the ground on which it stood cost 65,000 dollars. It was built by subscription, but when the opera was given up, the stockholders sold it to Messrs. James H. Hackett and O. Mauran, for 70,000 dollars. Hackett afterwards sold his share, and it came finally into the possession of Mr. Washington Coster, who owned it jointly with Mr. Mauran at the time it was burnt. The house, it is said, was insured for 55,000 dollars in London, and 15,000 at home. It was under a lease to Mr. Wallack at 10,000 dollars per annum. of the most chaste and classical buildings The French Protestant church was one in the city. The Dutch church was insured for 8,000 dollars, which is only about the sum recently expended in repairing it. The loss is about 20,000 dollars. The lars, which will about cover the loss. The African church was insured for 8,000 dolentire loss by the fire is estimated at 200,000 dollars.

The city of Quibdo, capital of the province of Choco, in the Spanish Main, was almost wholly destroyed by fire on half-past three o'clock in the morning, the 5th Aug. The fire commenced at and the buildings being chiefly of wood and thatched with reeds and straw, gave no obstruction to the devouring element. The loss in merchandise alone is estimated at 1,000,000 dollars.

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