strength. In Sithney parish, near Helston, in Cornwall, stood the famous logan, or rocking stone, commonly called Men Amber, that is, Men un Bar, or the top stone. It was 11 feet by 6, and 4 high, and so nicely poised on another stone, that a little child could move it. It was much visited by travellers; but Shrubsall, the Governor of Pendennis Castle, under Cromwell, caused it to be undermined, by the dint of much labour, to the great grief of the country. There are some marks of the tool on it; and it seems probable, by its triangular shape, that it was dedicated to Mercury.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.

[See Plate, No. 80.]

THE chief ecclesiastical ornament of London is the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, which stands in the centre of the metropolis, on an eminence rising from the valley of the Fleet. The body of the church is in the form of a cross. Over the space where the lines of that figure intersect each other, rises a stately dome, from the top of which springs a lantern adorned with Corinthian columns, and surrounded at its base by a balcony; on the lantern rests a gilded ball, and on that a cross (gilt also) crowning the ornaments of the edifice. The length of the church, including the portico, is 510 feet; the breadth 282; the height to the top of the cross 404; the exterior diameter of the dome 145; and the entire circumference of the building 2,292 feet. A dwarf stone wall, supporting a ballustrade of cast iron, surrounds the church, and separates a large area, which is properly the church-yard, from a spacious carriage and foot-way on the south side, and a foot pavement on the north.

The dimensions of this cathedral are great; but the grandeur of the design, and the beauty and elegance of its proportions, more justly rank it among the noblest edifices of the modern world. It is adorned with three porticoes; one at the principal entrance, facing the west, and running parallel with the opening of Ludgate Street; and the other two facing the north and south, at the extremities of the cross aisle, and corresponding in their architecture. The western portico combines as much grace and magnificence as any specimen of the kind in the world. It consists of 12

lofty Corinthian columns below, and 8 composite above, supporting a grand pediment; the whole resting on an elevated base, the ascent to which is by a flight of twentytwo square steps of black marble, running the entire length of the portico. The portico at the northern entrance consists of a dome, supported by six Corinthian columns, with an ascent of twelve circular steps, of black marble. ́ The southern portico is similar, except that the ascent consists of twenty-five steps, the ground on that side being lower.

The great dome is ornamented with thirty-two columns below, and a range of pilasters above. At the eastern extremity of the church, is a circular projection, forming a recess within for the communion table. The walls are wrought in rustic, and strengthened and ornamented by two rows of coupled pilasters, one above the other, the lower being Corinthian, and the other composite. The northern and southern sides have an air of uncommon elegance. The corners of the western front are crowned with turrets of an airy and light form.

To relieve the heavy stile of the interior, statues and monuments have been erected to the memory of great men. The statues are plain full-length figures, standing on marble pedestals, with appropriate inscriptions, in honour of Doctor Samuel Johnson, the benevolent Howard, and Sir William Jones, of Asiatic celebrity. Several of the monuments would disgrace the most barbarous age, and ought to be removed. The tomb of the great Nelson is beneath the pavement immediately under the dome.

The two turrets on the right and left of the west front are each two hundred and eight feet in height. In one on the southern side is the great clock, the bell of which, weighing 11,474 pounds, and 10 feet in diameter, may be heard in the most distant part of London, when the wind blows towards that quarter. The entire pavement, up to the altar, is of marble, chiefly consisting of square slabs, alternately black and white, and is very justly admired. The floor round the communion table is of the same kind of marble, mingled with porphyry. The communion table has no other beauty; for, though it is ornamented with four fluted pilasters, which are very noble in their form, they are merely painted and veined with gold, in imitation of lapis lazuli. Eight Corinthian columns of blue and

white marble, of exquisite beauty, support the organ gallery. The stalls in the choir are beautifully carved, and the other ornaments are of equal workmanship.

This Cathedral was built at the national expence, and cost £736,752. The iron ballustrade on the wall surrounding the space that is properly the church-yard, which, with its seven iron gates, weigh 200 tons, cost £11,202. This immense edifice was reared in 35 years, the first stone being laid on the 21st of June, 1675, and the building completed in 1710, exclusive of some of the decorations, which were not finished till 1723. The highest stone of the lantern was laid on by Mr. Christopher Wren, son of the architect, in 1710. It was built by one architect, Sir Christopher Wren, by one mason, Mr. Strong; and while one prelate, Dr. Henry Compton, filled the see of London.

The dimensions of St. Paul's, from east to west, within the walls, are 510 feet; from north to south, within the doors of the porticoes, 282; the breadth of the west entrance, 100; its circuit, 2292; its height within, from the centre of the floor to the cross, 340 feet. The circumference of the dome is 430 feet; the diameter of the ball, 6; from the ball to the top of the cross, 30; and the diameter of the columns of the porticoes, 4 feet. The height to the top of the west pediment, under the figure of St. Paul, is 120 feet; and that of the tower of the west front, 287.

From the bottom of the whispering gallery are 280 steps; including those to the golden gallery, 534, and to the ball, in all, 616 steps.-The weight of the ball is 5600 pounds. The weight of the cross is 3360.-The extent of the ground whereon this Cathedral stands, is two acres, 16 perches. The length of the hour figures 2 feet 2 inches; the circumference of the dial is 57 feet.

The Whispering Gallery is a very great curiosity.-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 the visitor being seated, the man who shews the gallery whispers, with the mouth close to the wall, near the door, at the distance of 140 feet from the visitor, who hears his words in a loud voice, seemingly at his ear. The mere shutting of the door produces a sound to those on the opposite seat like violent