Heaven. This small piece is univerfally admired, and large fums of money have been offered for it. On this fcreen ftands a noble organ, which has been lately erected at a great expence, by Mr. Avery, it is one of the largest in the kingdom, and much admired for its tones. But this, though lofty, does not prevent the eye from enjoying a full view of the elegant roof, from the great weft door to the eaft window and here it is, that the fpectator is filled with that rapture and admiras tion which this fublime monument of architecture always commands. A ftructure of these dimenfions, and composed of the moft folid and durable materials, yet, appearing to the eye light, airy, and elegant; may fairly be styled the triumph of Gothic architecture.

On the top of the screen were formerly placed nine colours, taken from the Ifland of Manilla, by Sir William Draper, in 1762; and, by permiffion of his Majesty, given by him to the college, of which he was a member. These have been lately removed to the Library.

3

In the middle of this partition, through large folding doors finely carved in open work, and lined with crimson, you enter the Choir; which has an air of uncommon grandeur. It has been lengthened by the space of a window; and is, from the entrance quite up to the altar, paved with fine marble. On each fide are two rows of stalls of carved dark wood. The back part of the upper row (which is for the graduate Fellows) is completed with fifty-four pannels; in fifteen of which, on each fide of the Choir, are carved the arms of all the Kings of England, from Henry V. to James I. the arms of the two Univerfities, Cambridge and Oxford; and of the two colleges, King's and Eton. These arms are carved with great skill; the supporters have a high relief, and appear to advance from the pannels in full proportion. On each fide the entrance are the feats of the Provost and Vice-Provost. Behind the Pro

vost's stall, on the right hand of the entrance, is St. George and the Dragon, and fome other carvings, exceedingly well executed. The lower row of stalls are for the under-graduate Fellows, Scholars, and finging-men. Beyond these are benches, on two of which, on each fide, fit the Choristers.

The whole east end of the chapel, which had remained unfinished till within these few years, is now completed in a ftyle of fymmetry, nearly corresponding with the general magnificence of the building. A grand altar-piece has been erected, under the inspection of the late Mr. James Effex, F. S. A. which is executed with great tafte, and is peculiarly appropriated to the elegance of the reft of the chapel. This altarpiece has been still farther embellished, with a fine painting of the Taking down from the cross; presented to the fociety by the Earl of Carlisle, who was of this college. The painting was purchased by his Lordship, when travelling on the Continent, as the work of Daniel de Volterra; but connoiffeurs are of opinion that it is actually a production of Raphael, and one of the best, in the fecond manner, of that immortal master.

But these are not the only circumstances that have promoted the fame of this chapel; an additional caufe of its celebrity may be found in the exquifite beauty of its painted windows. There are twenty-fix windows in the Gothic form, each of which is nearly fifty feet high. Twenty-five of thefe windows are painted in colours the most brilliant and beautiful imaginable; the fubjects of which are taken from the Old and New Testament. The great west window is the only one left plain, and that appears to have been done in order to give light to the chapel; as that window alone, is supposed to admit more light than half the rest. The fubjects of the paintings are expreffive of the most interesting fcriptural events, and are upwards of 100 in number. In the arrangement of

the fubjects, a peculiar order has been observed, and something like a concordance attempted. Each window is separated by munnions into five lights, and these are divided, about the middle, into upper and lower parts, by a stone tranfom. In the upper parts of the windows, the fubjects are always taken from the Old Testament; and in the lights immediately underneath, are represented fome circumstances taken from the New Testament, correfponding in fome degree with those above. Thus a peculiar correfpondence is obferved, throughout the whole, between the delineations of the upper and lower divifions of the fame window. In the central light of each divifion is depicted an Angel and a Saint, exhibiting fcrolls and labels, defcriptive of the events reprefented in the other lights, on each fide. The east window differs from the others: the upper and lower divifions are feparated, by buttreffes, into three compartments; and thefe are again fubdivided, by munnions, into three lights, occupied by one fubject. These fix fubjects are all derived from the New Testament; and reprefent, in colours of almost inconceivable beauty, the Crucifixion, and the most material events immediately connected with it.

:

We have fubjoined an explanation of the paintings in each window; but how, to those who have not seen them, fhall we be able to convey the fmallest idea of their fuperlative beauty? The following account must be considered as merely a list of the fubjects represented in these windows their full defcription would fill volumes. In the greatest part of them the strong contrast, energy, and variety of character; the judgment evinced in the difpofition and grouping of the figures; the boldness and freedom of the pencilling; the fublimity of the defigns; the richness and brilliancy of the colouring; and the exquifitely characteristic expreffion of the countenances, and majestic flowing of the draperies; are, all, astonishingly natural, and have very rarely been parallelled; fcarcely ever

exceeded! But, however imperfect may be the powers of description, it is hoped the following account of the feveral fubjects, will affist the fpectator in his examination of them.

Left Side.-Thefe two lights represent an offering, pre. fented to God by Jofeph and Mary before their efpoufals. Right Side. The efpoufals of Tobias and Sarah.

Lower Divifion.

Left Side.-Jephthah offering his daughter.
Right Side. The espousals of Jofeph and Mary.

THIRD WINDOW.

Upper Divifion.

Left Side-The temptation of Eve.

Right Side.-God appearing to Mofes in the burning bush.

Lower Divifion.

Left Side.-The Salutation of the Virgin Mary.
Right Side.-The Birth of Christ.

We are happy in having an opportunity of informing the Public, that a series of prints from these interesting windows are intended to be engraved, and published under the direction of Mr. J. K. Baldrey, Cambridge. The paintings are all to be copied by himself, and the engravings coloured in imitation of the originals. The drawing of the Eaft-window is already completed, and now exhibiting at the Artist's house.

FOURTH WINDOW.

Upper Divifion,

Left Side. The ceremony of circumcifion first performed by Abraham.

Right Side. Queen Sheba offering presents to King Solomon.

Lower Divifion

Left Side. The circumcifion of our Saviour.
Right Side. The wife men offering gifts to Christ.

The flowing of Mary's Drapery; the child's figure; the attitude and expression of the MAGI approaching Chrift with veneration, and the richness of his mantle, are all remarkably beautiful. A brilliant ftaṛ is feen in the upper part of the painting.

FIFTH WINDOW.

Upper Divifion.

Left Side. The institution of the purification of women. Right Side.-Jacob, to avoid the fury of Efau, is fent to Haran.

Obferve the aged and venerable countenance of Ifaac.

The face of the person who is carrying Chrift; the cage and doves; have great merit,

Right Side.-Jofeph, to avoid the fury of Herod, travels with Christ into Egypt.

SIXTH WINDOW.

Upper Divifion.

Left Side. The children of Ifrael worshipping the molten calf.

The calf and pillar are extremely well executed.

Right Side.-Pharaoh's cruelty to the Hebrew children.