10. Dedication of the Temple by Solomon.-1 Kings viii. 22. 11. Elijah's sacrifice.-1 Kings xviii. 37, &c. 12. Josiah renewing the covenant.-2 Kings xxii. 3, &c. General Admeasurements of the Interior of the Abbey. Having thus noticed what is usually considered most interesting in the interior, we will take a glance at the exterior. We have already observed that the form of the Abbey is that of a cross, in which you are to consider Henry the Seventh's Chapel has no part. The south side answered exactly to the north in the original plan, by attending to which, you will be able to form a true judgment of the whole. The cloisters on the south side were added for the conveniency of the monks, and the contiguous buildings are of a still later date. What will principally engage your attention, in viewing the outside of this building (the new towers excepted), is the magnificent portico leading to the north cross, which, by some, has been styled the Beautiful, or Solomon's Gate. This portico is Gothic, and extremely beautiful; and over it is a most magnificent window of modern design, admirably executed. The entire height of the north front to the top of the centre pinnacle is one hundred and seventy feet. The north side of the Church, between the west front and the Transept, is supported by nine graduated buttresses; each has a turreted niche, wherein are placed full length statues of the founders and principal benefactors of this Church. The towers at the west end were raised under the directions of Sir Christopher Wren, and terminate with pinnacles at the height of two hundred and twenty-five feet. The Exterior length of the Abbey is four hundred and sixteen feet; including Henry Seventh's Chapel, five hundred and thirty feet. Having now pointed out what is accounted most worthy of observation in the construction of this ancient Abbey, both without and within it, we shall next say a word or two of— Benry Seventh's Chapel. HIS wonder of the world, as it well may be styled, is adorned without with sixteen Gothic towers, beautifully ornamented with admirable ingenuity, and jutting from the building in different angles. It is situated on the east of the Abbey, to which it is so neatly joined, that at a superficial view it appears to be one and the same building. It is enlightened by a double range of windows, that throw the light into such a happy disposition, as at once to please the eye and inspire reverence. An author some years ago, has very highly, and yet not undeservedly expressed the beauty of this Chapel in the following words:" It is the admiration of the universe; such inimitable "perfection appears in every part of the whole composure, which "looks so far exceeding human excellence, that it appears knit "together by the fingers of angels pursuant to the direction of "Omnipotence." And here we cannot omit taking notice of a most beautiful window that was designed for this Chapel. It was made by order of the magistrates of Dort, in Holland, and designed by them as a present to Henry VII., but that monarch dying before it was finished, it was set up in Waltham Abbey, where it remained till the dissolution of that monastery, when it was removed to New-Hall, in Essex, then in possession of General Monk, and by him preserved during the civil wars. Some years ago, John Olmius, Esq., the then possessor of New-Hall, sold it to Mr. Conyers, of Copt-Hall, who resold it to the inhabitants of St. Margaret's parish, in 1758, for four hundred guineas; and it now adorns St. Margaret's Church. Thus it has arrived near to the place for which it was originally intended, but is never likely to reach it. The grand subject is that of our Saviour's crucifixion; but there are many subordinate figures: those at the bottom of the two side panels represent Henry VII., and his Queen, and were taken from the original pictures sent to Dort for that pur-. pose. Over the King is the figure of St. George, and above that a white rose and a red one. Over the figure of the Queen stands that of St. Katharine of Alexandria; and in a panel over her head appears a pomegranate vert, in a field of or, the arms of the kingdom of Grenada. General Admeasurements of the Exterior of Ft. In. Of the Monuments in the Cloisters. HERE are many persons of distinction buried in the Cloisters, as will appear from the number of inscriptions, many of which are almost obliterated from wear or time ; we shall therefore only notice a few of the most 'particular. The most ancient are in the South Walk of the Cloisters, towards the east end, where you will see the r mains of The first four Abbots, marked in the pavement by four stones. is inscribed to the Abbot VITALIS, who died in 1082; and was formerly covered with plates of brass, The second is a stone of grey marble, to the memory of GESLEBERTUS CRISPINUS, who died in 1114. The third is a raised stone, of Sussex marble, under which lies interred the Abbot LAURENTIUS, who died in 1176, and is said to have been the first who obtained from Pope Alexander III. the privilege of using the Mitre, Ring, and Glove. The fourth is of black marble, called Long Meg, from its extraordinary length of eleven feet ten inches, by five feet ten inches, and covers the ashes of GERVASIUS DE BLOIS, natural son of King Stephen, who died 1106. All these seem to have had their names and dates cut afresh, and are indeed fragments worthy to be preserved. In 1349 twenty-six of the monks of this Abbey fell victims to a dreadful plague which at that period had extended its ravages over great part of the globe, and are reported by Fuller to have been buried all in one grave in the South Cloisters, under the remarkable large stone called Long Meg. Against the wall is a monument to PETER FRANCIS COURAYER, a Roman Catholic clegyman, born at Vernon, in Normandy, 1681. He was Canon and Librarian of the Abbey of Geneviève, at Paris. He translated and published several valuable works. In 1727 he took refuge in England, and was well received, and presented by the University of Oxford with the degree of D.D. On his dedicating a book to Queen Caroline, his pension was augmented to £200 per annum from £100 which he had obtained before from the court. He died, in 1776, after two days' illness, at the age of ninety-five. At the end of this walk is the monument of DANIEL PULTENEY, who served the court several years; abroad in the reign of Queen Anne, and at home in the reign of George I. The following is the inscription :-" Reader, if thou art a Briton, behold this tomb "with reverence and regret! Here lie the remains of Daniel "Pulteney, the kindest relation, the truest friend, the warmest patriot, the worthiest man! He exercised virtues in this age, "sufficient to have distinguished him even in the best. Saga"cious by nature, industrious by habit, inquisitive with art, he "gained a complete knowledge of the state of Britain, foreign "and domestic; in most, the backward fruit of tedious expe"rience; in him, the early acquisition of undissipated youth. "He served the court several years; abroad, in the auspicious "reign of Queen Anne; at home, in the reign of that excellent "Prince, George I. He served his country always; at court independent, in the senate unbiassed. At every age, and at 66 66 every station, this was the bent of his generous soul, this the "business of his laborious life; public men and public things he "judged by one common standard-the true interest of Britain; "he made no other distinction of party; he abhorred all other. "Gentle, humane, disinterested, benevolent, he created no enemies "6 on his own account; firm, determined, inflexible, he feared 66 none he could create in the cause of Britain. Reader, in this "misfortune of thy country, lament thy own; for know, the loss "of so much private virtue is a public calamity." EAST WALK. Near the iron gate is a tablet sacred to the memory of the Rev. THOMAS VIALLS, of Twickenham, Middlesex, A.M., many years vicar of Boldre, in the New Forest, who departed this life May 7, 1831, aged sixty-two. To the left is a very beautiful arch, beneath which is a doorway leading to the Chapter House and Library; in front of which was buried Abbot BYRCHESTON, who died of the plague, May 15, 1349; but no stone left to mark the place of his inter ment. Against the wall, in the centre of the East Walk, is a monument to the memory of GEORGE WALSH, Esq., with the following inscription: Near this place are deposited the remains of "George Walsh, Esq., late Lieutenant-General of his 'Majesty's 66 Forces, and Colonel of the forty-ninth Regiment of Foot, who "died October 23, 1761, aged seventy-three. "The toils of life and pangs of death are o'er, And care, and pain, and sickness, are no more." To the memory of JAMES WILLIAM DODD, who for thirty-four years was one of the Ushers of Westminster School, the duties of which he discharged with consummate ability. The Westminsters, his pupils, resident at the boarding-house under his immediate care, have, bewailing his loss, caused this tablet to be erected. He died on the 29th day of August, 1818, in the fiftyseventh year of his age. Beneath is a monument to preserve and unite the memory of two affectionate brothers, valiant soldiers and sincere Christians: SCIPIO DUROURE, Esq., Adjutant-General of the British Forces, Colonel of the twelfth Regiment of Foot, and Captain or Keeper of his Majesty's Castle of St. Mawes, in Cornwall, who, after forty-one years' faithful services, was mortally wounded at the battle of Fontenoy, and died May 10, 1745, aged fifty-six years, and lies interred on the ramparts of Aeth, in the Low Countries; and ALEXANDER DUROURE, Esq., Lieutenant-General of the British Forces, Colonel of the Fourth, or King's own Regiment of Foot, and Captain or Keeper of his Majesty's Castle of St. Mawes, in Cornwall, who, after fifty-seven years of faithful services, died at Toulouse, in France, on the 2nd January, 1795, aged seventyfour years, and lies interred in this Cloister. In the next arch has been lately erected a tablet, sacred to the memory of WALTER HAWKES, who, serving in the East Indies, and having deserved well during the space of more than twentyseven years, almost worn out with sickness and wounds, as he was now returning to his native country, being overtaken by a storm in the Indian Ocean, was, together with his dearest wife, the partner of his life and danger, alas! swallowed up, and perished by shipwreck, never to be too much lamented, the year of our Lord, 1808. Struck with so sad a fate of his companion, William Franklin put up this stone; for both were King's scholars in this school, brought up in the same studies, together endured arduous warfare. NORTH WALK. On the left, near the door, is a marble slab to the memory of JOHN CATLING, who died March 3, 1826, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was Verger and Sacrist, successively, of this Collegiate Church under five Deans, the duties of which he performed with the most zealous and undivided attention, for the long period of fifty-two years, respected by his superiors for the fidelity, respectability, and humility, with which he filled the offices, and beloved by all who knew him in private life, for the many virtues which adorn the man. Lady LONDONDERRY was buried underneath it. A tablet to the memory of HARRIET, wife of the Rev. John Bentall, one of the Ushers of Westminster School. She died August 7, 1838. The next is an epitaph remarkable for its quaintness, and inscribed to the memory of WILLIAM LAURENCE, in these lines: "With diligence and truth most exemplary, Short-hand he wrote, his flower in prime did fade, Art maketh some, but thus doth nature all. Ob. Dec. 28, 1628, Etat. 29." A tablet to the Rev. GEORGE PRESTON, A.M., who was several years Under-Master of Westminster School. He died September 8, 1841, aged fifty-two. Near to this is a tablet lately erected to the memory of WILLIAM MARKHAM, D.D., Archbishop of York, who died November, 1807, aged eighty-eight, and was buried near this spot. On your left is a tablet to the memory of EDWARD AUGUSTUS WEBBER, a King's scholar, son of James Webber, D.D., Dean of Ripon, and Canon of this Church; who was drowned in the River Thames, June 11, 1833, aged seventeen, and buried near this spot. The inscription is as follows:-"H.S.E. Edoardus "Augustus Webber, Jacobi Webber, S.T.P., ecclesa Riponen"sis Decani, et hujusce Præbendarii filius natu secundus in amne I |
