It Was Truly Sublime, This Concentrated
Sound Of This Living Multitude Of Human Beings, These Breathings And
Heavings Of The Heart Of The Mighty Monster, London.
We were shown all over the cathedral; we first ascended to the
inside gallery, and walked around, looking down upon the whole
interior; we then visited the clock, and we heard and felt the
quiver of its tremendous voice.
We next entered the famous
whispering gallery, which is made around the base of the dome
inside. The faintest whisper is heard at the point opposite that
whence it comes. Then we went outside, and walked some time around
the dome, gazing about with great delight. Then we ascended to the
Golden Gallery, as it is called from the fact that the balustrade is
gilded. It runs around the top of the dome. From here, you see
London all spread out like a map before you, - its towers, its
spires, all its multitudinous abodes, lie beneath your eye. One
little thing remained. The ball was yet above us. The gentlemen of
our party went up various perpendicular ladders, and at last pulled
themselves through a small hole into the ball. There is room, I
think, there for a dozen people, if well packed, not to stand, walk,
or sit, however; these things the nature of the place forbids. It is
a strange feeling, they say, to crouch in this little apartment and
hear the wind roaring and shaking the golden cross above. The whole
ball shakes somewhat, and by a sudden movement one can produce quite
a perceptible motion.
We descended the infinity of stairs, and entered the crypt, as it is
called, under the church. There were many grand tombs there.
Nelson's occupies the centre, and is a fine work. But what impressed
me most was the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren himself; a simple
tablet marks his tomb, with this inscription, which is repeated
above in the nave: -
Subtus conditur
Hujus Ecclesias et Urbis Conditor,
CHRISTOPHERUS WREN;
Qui vixit annos ultra nonaginta,
Non sibi, sed bono publico.
Lector, si monumentum requiris,
Circumspice.
Obiit 25 Feb. MDCCXXIII., aetat. XCI.
We subjoin a translation of this inscription for our young
friends: -
"Underneath lies buried Christopher Wren, the builder of this church
and city; who lived beyond the age of ninety years, not for himself,
but for the public good. - Reader, if you ask for his monument, look
around you. - He died on the 25th of February, 1723, aged 91."
He is called the builder of the city, as well as of the church; for
Sir Christopher Wren was the architect of more than fifty of the
churches in London.
One morning, our friend, Miss S., was kind enough to accompany us to
Greenwich, where, you know, is the Hospital for disabled sailors of
the British navy. The day was warm and lovely, like what we call the
Indian summer in America. We took an omnibus to London Bridge; from
thence we proceeded by railway, and in a few minutes were in
Greenwich.
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