West, the painters; Bishop Newton; Lord Chancellor Rosslyn, and many others. The statue of Howard was executed by the late John Bacon, R. A. in 1796, and represents the philanthropist in the act of trampling on chains and fetters, and bearing in his right hand a key, and in his left a scroll, on which is inscribed ❝ Plan for the Improvement of Prisons and Hospitals." This monument is placed near the iron gate, leading to the south aile. The inscription on it was drawn up by the late S. Whitbread, Esq. - Sir William Jones's monument was the work of J. Bacon, jun. The figure is represented leaning on the Institutes of the Hindoo legislator, Menu. — The monument of Lord Nelson, by John Flaxman, R. A., exhibits the hero, habited in an oriental pelisse, and leaning on an anchor. Beneath, on the right is Britannia, directing the attention of two naval youths to Nelson. On the other side is the British lion; and on the cornice of the pedestal are the words "Copenhagen, - Nile, Trafalgar." The figures on the pedestal are designed to denote the North Sea, the German Ocean, the Nile, and the Mediterranean. Above the entrance to the choir is a marble slab, with a Latin inscription, which may be thus translated:- "Beneath lies Christopher Wren, the architect of this church and city; who lived more than 90 years, not for himself only, but for the public. Reader, do you seek his monument? Look around." In this part of the cathedral the spectator will be struck with the appearance of a number of tattered flags, the trophies of former wars. Those over the nave were taken in part during the American war, and the rest by the Duke of York at Valenciennes; those near the north door were captured from the French by Lord Howe, on the 1st of June, 1794; some of the flags were taken from the Spaniards by Lord Nelson in 1797; and others from the Dutch by Lord Duncan, at Camperdown, and by Lord Keith at the Cape of Good Hope. This Cathedral was erected at the national expense, and cost one million and a half. The iron balustrade on the wall surrounding the church yard, (which, with its seven iron gates, weighs 200 tons) cost 11,2021. Os. 6d. This immense edifice was reared in 35 years; the first stone being laid on the 21st of June, 1675, and the building was I completed in 1710, exclusive of some of the decorations, which were not finished till 1725. The highest stone of the lantern was laid by Mr. Christopher Wren, son of the architect, in 1710. It was built under one architect, Sir Christopher Wren; by one mason, Mr. Strong; and while one prelate, Dr. Henry Compton, filled the see of London. Summary of Dimensions. Length, from east to west, within the walls From north to south, within the doors of the porticoes Feet 500 The breadth of the west entrance From the ball to the top of the cross The diameter of the columns of the porticoes The height of the campaniles, of the west front 286 100 2292 430 6 30 4 120 287 From the floor to the whispering gallery are 280 steps; including those to the golden gallery, are 554; and to the ball, in all, 616 steps.-The weight of the ball is 5600 pounds: that of the cross, 3360.—The extent of the ground plot whereon the cathedral stands, is two acres, 16 perches. The length of the hour figures on the clock dial, is 2 feet 2 inches: the circumference of the dial, 57 feet. This Church is open for divine service three times every day in the year-at six o'clock in the morning in summer, and seven in the winter; at a quarter before ten in the forenoon, and a quarter after three o'clock in the afternoon. At all other times the doors are shut, and no person admitted but such as are willing to pay for seeing the church and its curiosities. Strangers will gain admittance by knocking at the door of the northern portico. A person is ready within to pass the visitor to the staircase leading to the curiosities, for which he demands four-pence.* For this first cost, the visitor passes to the two galleries on the outside of the church; the first being on the top of the colon 1. The Library is the first object to be seen in the ascent; the charge for which is two-pence. It is a handsome room, about fifty feet by forty, having shelves with books to the top, with a gallery running along the sides. The floor is of oak, consisting of 2376 small square pieces; and is not only curious for its being inlaid, without a nail or peg to fasten the parts, but is extremely neat in the workmanship. The collection of books is neither large nor very valuable. The principal things pointed out to a stranger are several beautifully carved pillars, by Grinling Gibbons, some Latin manuscripts, finely written 800 years ago, by the monks, and an illuminated manuscript, containing rules for the government of a convent, written in old English about 500 years since. These several manuscripts are in very fine preservation. The minor canons, and other ecclesiastical officers of the cathedral, have access to the books, and may borrow any of them, under certain restrictions. 2. The Model, formed by Sir Christopher Wren's order from his first design for this cathedral. In the room with this are also deposited the frame-work of the great lantern that was suspended in the centre of the dome, the streamers, and the heraldic emblems, used at the funeral of Nelson. Here is also a fine Model of the cornice of the entablature of the temple of Jupiter Stator at Rome. The charge for seeing these models is two-pence. 3. The Clock-work and great bell are also to be seen for two-pence. The former is curious, both for the magnitude of its wheels and other parts, and the very great accuracy and fineness of its workmanship. The length of the pendulum is fourteen feet, and the weight at its extremity is equal to one cwt.* The great bell, in the southern campanile, is said to weigh 4 tons, and is ten nade, and the highest at the foot of the lantern. For each of the other places there is a separate charge, and the visitor may see or pass by which of them he pleases. The body of the church may be viewed for two-pence. • We recommend strangers, if possible, to visit this part of the cathedral between the hours of twelve and one, as at that time the man who superintends the clock, to wind it up, will feet in diameter. The hammer of the clock strikes the hours on this bell, whose fine deep tones have been heard at twenty miles' distance. This bell is never tolled but on the death of the king, queen, or some other member of the royal family; or for the bishop of London, the dean of St. Paul's, or the Lord Mayor. 4. The Whispering gallery is a real curiosity, exhibiting an amusing example of the wonderful effect of the reverberation of sounds. It is 140 yards in circumference. A stone seat runs round the gallery, along the foot of the wall. On the side directly opposite the door by which the visitor enters, several yards of the seat are covered with matting, on which when he is seated, the man who shows the gallery whispers, with his mouth close to the wall, near the door, at the distance of the whole diameter from the stranger, who hears his words, seemingly, at his ear. The mere shutting of the door produces a sound, to those on the opposite seat, like thunder. The effect is not so perfect, if the visitor sits down half way between the door and the matted seat; and still less so, if he stands near the man who speaks, but on the other side of the door. The paintings on the inner side of the cupola, by Sir James Thornhill, are also viewed with most advantage here.—The whispering gallery is shown for two-pence. The Ball is to be seen for one shilling and sixpence each person; and one shilling per company to the guide. The ascent is attended with some difficulty, and is encountered by few, yet both the ball and the passage to it well deserve the labour. The interior diameter of this ball is six feet, and eight persons may sit within it. A singular Geometrical staircase is shown for two-pence. The prospect from every part of the ascent to the top of St. Paul's, wherever an opening presents itself, is extremely curious. The form of the metropolis, and the adjacent country, are most perfectly seen from the gallery at the foot of the lantern, on a bright summer's day. The be on the spot to give the proper explanations. The spectator should take a survey of the streets from this place before he ascends to the upper galleries. ascent to this gallery is by 534 steps, of which 260, nearest the bottom, are extremely easy; those above are difficult, and in some parts dark and unpleasant. In the ascent to this gallery may be seen the brick cone that supports the lantern, with its ball and cross. The timber work, which strengthens at once the outer dome and the cone within it, is an object that the stranger will do well to inspect.* The Crypts, or vaults, of St. Paul's are dark, dreary mansions; lighted, at distant intervals, by grated prisonlike windows, which afford partial gleams of light, with strong shades intervening. Vast piers and immense arches divide these vaults into three avenues. The centre one under the dome is totally dark; but a portion of the north aile, at the east end is railed in, and dedicated to St. Faith, and is used for interments. When the ancient church was finally pulled down, many monumental statues were broken to pieces, and the alabaster powdered for cement. A few escaped, and are now preserved in the vaults of St. Faith. Among them is the celebrated figure of Dr. Donne, representing him as a corpse in a winding-sheet: it was executed in his lifetime, and was the object of his daily contemplation. Two very interesting opportunities for visiting this cathedral are annually presented to the stranger. The first is in the month of May, when a grand musical meeting is held for the benefit of the children and widows of poor clergymen. The other occurs in June, and consists in the assemblage, upon an average, of seven thousand children, from the various parochial schools, for the purpose of uniting in the public worship and praise of the Deity. The union of so great a number of infant voices, thus engaged, is strikingly affecting, and partakes even of the sublime. WESTMINSTER ABBEY, Or, the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, derives its name from its situation in the western part of the metropolis, and * Plans, sections, views, and an ample account of this Church, its dome, &c. by Mr. Gwilt and Mr. Brayley, are given in vol. i. of " Public Buildings of London.” |