hundred; and in the area of the grand west front, on a pcdestal of excellent workmanship, stands a statue of queen Anne; with proper decorations, for which Mr. Bird received 11807. The figures on the base represent Britannia, with her spcar; France, with a crown in her lap; Hibernia, with her harp; and America, with her bow.

About thirty-six years ago, a poor negro maniac got over the railing and mutilated all the statues, under a notion that they had injured his country; they were afterwards repaired; but time and the weather have dissolved the cement, and they at present make a very ghastly appearance.

Entering at the south door, on the left hand are the stairs. to ascend the cupola, and to gratify curiosity with a prospect from the Golden Gallery, as it is called, of the river, city, and country round; which, in a clear day, discovers the most pleasing variety in the world. The access to this gallery is by five hundred and thirty-four steps, two hundred and sixty of which are so easy that a child may ascend them. From the first, or Stone Gallery, there is also a fine prospect.

The Whispering gallery is so contrived, that sounds are enlarged to an amazing degree, the shutting of the door seems as loud as thunder at a distance; the least whisper is heard round the whole circumference; and one person speaking against the wall on this side, appears to be present to another on the other side, though the distance between them is no less than one hundred and forty-three feet. This affords an idea how the oracles of old might have been delivered, and the world, by the art of the builder in the formation of their idolatrous temples, imposed upon.

The next object of curiosity is the Library, the flooring of which is most skilfully inlaid without either nails or pegs, like the framing of a billiard-table; the books are neither numerous, nor valuable, but the wainscoting and cases for their reception, want neither elegance nor convenience. There is here a fine painting of bishop Compton, under whom, as has been said, the cathedral was built.

In

In a room on the opposite side of the church is the fine Model which Sir Christopher Wren caused to be made, in order to have built the new cathedral, but which was refused for the reasons before stated.

The Great Bell*, in the south tower, weighs eighty-four hundred weight: on this bell the hammer of the great clock strikes the hour, and on two lesser bells the quarters are struck. But the sound of both is so excessively loud, that tender ears are much affected if either happens to strike while near them. The sound of the great bell is said to have been heard as far as Windsor and a soldier upon duty there in the dead of night being found asleep, as his officer believed, escaped punishment by telling him he was only attentively listening to St. Paul's clock, which had just struck thirteen; the officer thought it a matter worth enquiry, and met with a confirmation of the fact by officers as well as soldiers on duty in St. James's Park.

The Geometrical staircase, as it is called, is so artfully contrived, that the steps hang together, seemingly without any visible support. There is nothing novel in this mode of construction, and yet such a mode of building may be said to be the farthest limits by which the geometric powers have hitherto been carried into practice.

The Morning Prayer Chapel in the north west angle of this cathedral, where divine service is performed every day, Sundays excepted, at six o'clock in summer, and at seven in winter; has a magnificent screen of carved wainscot, which is particularly admired.

Facing this chapel is the Consistory, which has also a beautiful screen of carved wainscot; each of which are adorned with twelve columns, arched pediments, &c. finely decorated.

"The

* Extract from the Protestant Mercury, July 31, 1700. Great Bell, formerly called Tom of Westminster, was new cast by Mr. Philip Wightman, at his melting house, on Windmill Hill, and proves extraordinary well. It weighs above five tons, having an addition made to it of the weight of a ton. It will be erected again at St. Paul's cathedral in a short time." On the bell is inscribed "Richard Phelps made by me, 1716.”

Proceeding

Procceding towards the east, through the nave of the church, the large cross aisle, between the north and south porticos, arrests the attention; over this quadrangle is the cupola or dome. From whence you have a distant view of the whispering gallery, the paintings above it, and the surmounting cave above that. Under its center was fixed in the floor a brass plate *, round which the pavement is beautifully variegated: but the figures into which it is formed can no where be so well seen as from the whispering gallery. Here is a full view of the organ, richly ornamented with the carved work of the inimitable English artist GIBBONS, over the entrance into the choir; and an adequate idea may be formed, not of his merit, but of the small prices he received for his exquisite workmanship, when it is understood that for "the swelling frieze, with grotesque ornaments, he received 5s. per foot; and for the grotesque enrichments round the openings in the women's gallery, he had 4s. 3d. per foot. His total charge being only 13831. 7s. 5d. !" † The sculpture of the stone work is by CAIUS GABRIEL CIBBER. He had 67. for the model of the phoenix in the tympanum, over the great south door; and only 1007. for the sculpture! which, and the isles on each side of it, are inclosed with very beautiful iron rails and gates. The organ gallery is supported with Corinthian columns of blue and white marble; for each of which Mr. Strong received 521. 10s. The organ itself, cost 20001. and was built by

This plate was removed at the funeral of Lord Nelson.

An unauthenticated anecdote has appeared in several publications, stating, that "during the building of St. Paul's, a country carpenter applied to the overseer of the workmen for employment as a carver. The overseer smiling at the man's temerity, hearing that he had never worked in London, it was observed by Sir Christopher Wren, who was present; who calling the man to him, asked him what he had chiefly worked at in the country?" Pig-troughs, &c." was his answer. "Well, then," says Sir Christopher, let us see a specimen of your workmanship in a sow and pigs." The man returned in a few days, having performed his part with such exquisite skill, that he was imme, diately employed; and, in fine, executed some of the most difficult parts in the cathedral, to the great astonishment of all that knew him." En versal Magazine, vol. xc. p. 128. VOL. III. No. 72.

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Bernard