THIS elegant structure is built in the purest style of Grecian Architecture *, upon an eminence to the North of the River Thames, on the same spot where in majestic pomp stood the ancient Gothic Cathedral, so beautifully described by Dugdale and Hollart, which shared the fate of the metropolis in the memorable conflagration of 1666.

* St. Paul's is the only English Cathedral in this style. All the other great ecclesiastical edifices in the kingdom are of Saxon or Norman architecture.

This valuable work has lately been re-published by Henry Ellis, Esq.

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After several ineffectual attempts to repair the venerable fabric, it was resolved to demolish every vestige of the original building, and the foundations of the present Cathedral were laid A. D. 1675, from a design by Sir Christopher Wren, who lived to see his great work completed.

It is built, conformably to the general practice of the Christian World, in the form of a Cross, and is divided by two rows of pillars into a nave and side ailes, according to the established mode of ecclesiastical architecture. The extreme length is 500 feet, the breadth from north to south, through the transepts, 285 feet. The ground plot exceeds two acres.

It stands in a considerable area in the Wards of Castle Baynard and Farringdon, and in the parishes of St. Gregory and St. Faith. The Cemetery is enclosed by an iron balustrade of singular magnificence, cast at the forge of Lamberhurst in Kent, at an expence of more than £11,000. The palisades are in number about 2,500, each 5 feet 6 inches in height. In the west Church-yard is a statue of Queen Anne, in whose reign the Church was completed. The figures on the base of the Pedestal are allegorical of her dominion over Great Britain and Ireland, France and America. Between England and France is a guideron shield with the Royal Arms.

This admirable group was the performance of Francis Bird.

The west front of the Cathedral towards Ludgate-street is extremely noble. The elevated portico leading to the grand entrance consists of 12 Corinthian columns, with an upper portico of eight columns in the Composite order, supporting a triangular pediment. The entablature represents the History of St. Paul's Conversion, by Francis Bird. On the apex of the pediment is placed a statue of the Holy Apostle to whom the Church is dedicated; on his right hand towards the north St. Peter is distinguished by a cock; St. James in the habit of a pilgrim is placed on St. Paul's left hand. These figures are 11 feet in height.

At the north west and south west angles of the Cathedral, two campanile turrets are erected of light and elegant architecture, each terminating in a dome head, ornamented with a gilt pine apple. The south tower contains the clock, the north tower the belfry. On the west front of these turrets the four Evangelists, with their distinguishing symbols, are represented in a recumbent posture.

A semicircular portico leads to the great north door, or entrance to the transept, over which is an entablature containing the Royal Arms, sup

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ported by angels *. The south front of the Cathedral corresponds with the north, excepting the entablature, which represents a Phoenix rising from the flames, the performance of Gabriel Cibber; underneath is the expressive word RESURGAM T.

The east end of the Church is semicircular, in a plainer style of architecture than the rest of the building. The cypher W. M. within a compartment of palm-branches, surmounted by an imperial crown, commemorates the joint reign of William and Mary, under whom this part of the Cathedral was finished.

Four massy piers of stone-work, each about 40 feet square, form the principal support of the stupendous dome, which rises in beautiful and majestic proportion where the great lines of the cross intersect each other. The dome is surrounded by a colonnade, and is terminated by a

At the north door of the Cathedral, attendants are in constant waiting to admit persons desirous of seeing the Church in the interval between the hours of service. this accommodation a small gratuity is expected.

For

↑ A very curious anecdote is related upon this subject. When Sir Christopher Wren had marked out the dimensions of the great dome, and fixed upon the centre, a labourer was ordered to bring a flat stone from the heaps of rubbish, to be laid for a direction to the workmen. It happened to be a piece of a grave-stone, with nothing remaining of the inscription but the single word RESURGAM.

lantern and globe. On the summit of the whole is placed the sacred emblem of the Christian Faith*.

Entering the Church by either of the west doors, the basement of the turret on the right hand contains the geometrical staircase, that on the left hand the belfry. Beyond them, in the ailes of the nave, are the Consistory Court and the Morning Chapel. In the first mentioned the Bishop of the Diocese holds his Visitation; and in the latter divine service is performed every morning (Sundays excepted) at six in the Summer and seven in the Winter.

A large marble font occupies the second intercolumniation of the South aile; but the initiatory sacrament of baptism is rarely, if ever, administered in the metropolitan Cathedral.

Within the great north west pier is the Lord Mayor's vestry; the Dean's vestry is within the south east pier; and that appropriated to the Minor Canons, in the corresponding pier to the north east. Within the south west pier is a circular staircase, which leads by an easy ascent to the iron gallery at the base of the cupola. This is called the Whispering Gallery, from an

* The globe is six feet in diameter; the cross is six feet in height. The ball and cross were taken down, re-cast, and gilt, in the year 1821, when the Cathedral was thoroughly repaired and beautified.