CHAP. I. Of old St. Paul's.

IT will be proper firſt to inform my young [40]Readers, that upon the ſame ſpot of ground on which St. Paul's now ſtands, there was formerly a fine old church, built by Ethelbert king of Kent in the year of our Lord ſix hundred and ten, and de⯑dicated to the ſame Apoſ⯑tle. This church ſuffered many times by lightning, fire, and other accidents; which was as often repair⯑ed: and ſuch parts of it [41]as fell to decay thro' age, were rebuilt; till at laſt it was deſtroy's in the great fire of London in 1666, and one thouſand and fif⯑ty-ſix years from its firſt building.

CHAP. II. Of the foundation, build⯑ing, and ſituation of the preſent Church.

THE old church of St. Paul's having been de⯑ſtroy'd, [42]as mention'd in the firſt chapter, and the ruins and rubbiſh of it cleared in about eight or nine years after; the firſt foundation ſtone of this preſent church was laid by Mr. Strong, a maſon, and the ſecond by Mr. Long. land, on the twenty firſt of June, 1675. at the north⯑eaſt corner, facing Cheap⯑ſide: From which time it was not completely fi⯑niſh'd [43]till the year 1724. being about forty-nine years in building. It was begun and finiſh'd by the ſame architect, Sir Chriſ⯑topher Wren, and by the ſame maſon, Mr. Strong abovementioned: The charge of which is ſaid to amount to one million of money, or upwards. The whole building is encom⯑paſſed with ſtrong iron pa⯑liſades, all curiouſly turn'd, [44]about five and twenty hundred in number; which coſt fifteen thouſand pounds.

This magniſicent ſtruc⯑ture, which ſtands upon the higheſt ground in the city, near to the weſt gate, called Ludgate, is the firſt Cathedral in England built according to the rules of architecture. Its walls are of fine Portland ſtone, ruſtic work. Two ranges [45]of pilaſters adorn the out⯑ſide, one above the other; the lower conſiſts of about an hundred and twenty, with their entablatues of the Corinthian order, and the upper of as many of the Compoſite, or Roman order: beſides twenty co⯑lumns at the weſt and four at the eaſt end, and thoſe of the portico's, &c.

The ſpaces between the arches of the windows and [46]the architrave of the lower order, are filled with great variety of curious enrich⯑ments, ſuch as cherubims, feſtoons of flowers, &c. and at the eaſt end is the cipher of W. R. within a garter, on which are the words HONI SOIT QUI MALY PENSE; in Engliſh, Evil be to him that evil thinks: and this within a fine com⯑partment of palm-branch⯑es, and placed under an [47]imperial crown, &c. all finely cut in ſtone.

All the parts of this grand church, both within and without, are built with ſuch proportion and art, that the eye is charmed with the exact order of its pillars, which ſupport the portico's dome, &c. the beauty of their capitals; the rich corniſh where⯑with they are embelliſhed; the number of ſpacious [48]windows, &c. In ſhort, the whole fabrick is full of beauty and harmony; and in bigneſs, ſtrengh of building, figure, and other enrichments in wood, ſtone, iron, &c. equal, if not ſuperior, to any church in Europe.

CHAP. III. Of the length, breadth, heighth, and other di⯑menſions of St. Paul's Church.

ITS lenght within the wall, from eaſt to weſt is five hundred feet.

The breadth of the weſt end is a hundred and ſixty two feet.

The breadth between [50]the north and ſouth porti⯑co's, or doors, within the walls, is two hundred and forty nine feet.

The breadth of the reſt is about a hundred and ſe⯑venteen feet.

The circuit of the walls outwardly is two thouſand two hundred and ninety two feet.

The ground plot that this great church ſtands upon, is two acres, ſixteen [51]perches, twenty three yards and one foot.

Its height within, over the middle iſle, is eighty-eight feet.

To the top of the weſt pediment, under the figure of St. Paul, a hundred and twenty feet.

The height of the two Towers at the weſt front, two hundred and eight feet.

To the gallery of the [52]cupolo, two hundred and eight feet.

To the upper gallery two hundred and ſeventy ſix feet; and from thence to the top of the croſs, ſix⯑ty four feet.

The height of the croſs from the ball, is ten feet; the diameter of the ball is ſix feet; its circumference eighteen feet; and it will contain ninety buſhels; and I have been told, that [53]ſince it has been up, ſix⯑teen men have been drink⯑ing in it at one time; I ſuppoſe, to the good health of all their friends round about St. Paul's.

CHAP. IV. Of the ſtrange conceptions four Indian Kings had of this great building; and how they imagin'd it at firſt to be one grent rock that grew in that place.

SA Ga Yean Qua Raſh Tow, one of the four Indian Kings who were in this country about thirty-two years ago, amongſt [56]other curious remarks which he made whilſt he was in England, left be⯑hind him the following concerning St. Paul's church.

There ſtands, ſays he, on the moſt riſing part of the town a huge houſe, big enough to contain the whole nation of which I am king.

Our good brother, E Tow O Koam, king of the [57]Rivers, is of opinion it was made by the hands of the great God to whom it is conſecrated (meaning St. Paul.)

The kings of Grana⯑jah and of the Six Na⯑tions, believe that it was created with the earth, and produced on the ſame day with the ſun and moon.

But, ſays he, for my own part, and from the beſt information that I can [58]get of this matter, I am apt to think that this vaſt temple was faſhioned into the ſhape it now bears by ſeveral tools and inſtru⯑ments, of which they have a wonderful variety in this country.

I imagine it was at firſt only an huge miſ-ſhapen rock that grew upon the top of the hill; which the natives of the country, after having cut it into a [59]kind of regular figure, bor⯑ed and hollowed with in⯑credible pains and induſ⯑try; till they had wrought in it all thoſe beautiful vaults and caverns into which it is divided at this day.

As ſoon as this rock was thus curiouſly ſcooped to their liking, then a prodi⯑gious number of hands muſt have been employ'd in chipping the outſide of [60]it, and ſmoothing the ſur⯑face; which is in ſeveral places hewn out into pil⯑lars, that ſtand like the trunks of ſo many trees, bound about the top with garlands of leaves.

It is probable, ſays this Indian monarch, that when this great work was begun, which muſt have been many hundred years ago, there was ſome reli⯑gion among this people; [61]for they give it the name of a Temple, and have a tradition that it was de⯑ſigned for men to pay their devotions in.

And indeed, there are ſeveral reaſons which make us think that the natives of this country had formerly among them ſome ſort of worſhip; for they ſet apart every ſe⯑venth day as ſacred. But upon my going into one [62]of thoſe holy houſes on that day, I could not ob⯑ſerve any circumſtance of devotion in their behavi⯑our: There was indeed a man in black who, mount⯑ed above the reſt, ſeemed to utter ſomething with great vehemence; but as for thoſe underneath him, inſtead of paying their worſhip to the Deity of the place, they were moſt of them bowing and cur⯑tefying [63]to one another; and a great number of them fall aſleep.

Whether theſe were the real thoughts of thoſe roy⯑al ſtrangers, I will not take upon me to anſwer. But what wonder is it that ſuch ſavage kings, whoſe dwellings are in huts and thickets, ſhould form ſuch wild notions of this prodigious ſtructure, [64]when we ourſelves, who ſee it daily, are filled with aſtoniſhment at the magni⯑tude and grandeur of this glorious building; and how ſuch a work could be performed by mortal hands!

WE ſhall now proceed to examine the particular curioſities of this church.

CHAP. V. Of the fine ſtatue of the late Queen ANNE.

BEfore the weſt front of this grand Cathedral, is a ſpacious yard; in which, upon a lofty pe⯑deſtal, ſtands the effigy of the late queen Anne; with four ſupporters, repreſent⯑ing thoſe dominions in her title.

[67]She has her crown upon her head; the ſcepter in her right hand, and the globe in her left: her dreſs is very rich, and the work⯑manſhip of it exceeding curious.

On her right hand is Britannia; who appears with a very lovely and chearful countenance: ſhe has a crown of laurel upon her head; a ſpear in her right hand, and her left [68]reaching to the royal arms in the front of the pede⯑ſtal.

On her left hand is France: ſhe ſeems much dejected, very thoughtful, and in a languiſhing ſtate. Her right hand reſts upon a truncheon, and her left holds a crown, which lies down in her lap. She is clothed with a very rich robe, adorned with flower de lis; and upon her head [69]ſhe has a warrior's cap, or helmet.

Behind the queen is Ireland, with her harp in her lap: her looks are amiable and pleaſant.

The fourth is America, in the habit of her coun⯑try; her body being al⯑moſt naked: ſhe has upon her head a crown of cu⯑rious feather, a bow in her left hand, and a qui⯑ver of arrows on her back: [70]ſhe has the head of an Eu⯑ropean under her foot, with an arrow ſticking in it; ſuppoſed to have been juſt ſhot from her bow. There is likewiſe an allegator creeping from beneath her feet; being an animal very common in ſome parts of America, and which lives both on the land and in the water.

The queen's, and all the other figures, are of [71]fine Italian, ſtatuary mar⯑ble; the pedeſtal of vein⯑ed marble.

The former were all cut out of one ſolid, rough block of marble, which was taken by one of our Engliſh ſhips, during the late war, in its paſſage from Leghorn to France; and was deſigned for the effigy of Lewis the fourteenth, on horſeback.

The carver was the late [72]ingenious Mr. Francis Bird.

The foot of the pedeſtal is encircled with three marble ſteps; and the whole encompaſſed with beautiful, ſtrong, iron pa⯑liſades.

This royal ſtatue, on account of its grand ſup⯑porters, fines pedeſtal, and curious workmanſhip, is eſteemed ſuperior to all others in Europe.

CHAP. VI. Of the weſt front of St. Paul's.

MY young readers hav⯑ing ſatisfy'd their cu⯑rioſities in examining the queen's ſtatue, &c. from thence they have a full view of this grand church, whrer they may behold the beauty and majeſty of the whole, and the juſt [74]ſymmetry of all its parts.

Obſerve firſt, the twelve large pillars which ſupport the portico, each four feet thick, and eight and forty in height, of the Corin⯑thian order.

Second, the eight ebove, which ſupport the pedi⯑ment, of the Compoſite, or Roman order; each three feet and a half thick, and about thirty four feet in height.

[75]See in the large trian⯑gular pediment a lively re⯑preſentation of St. Paul's converſion in his journey to Damaſcus, carved in relievo, by the ingenious hand of the late Mr. Bird; the hiſtory of which my young readers will ſee hereaſter.

Over the pitch or too of this pediment, is the figure of St. Paul wi [...] [...] ſword in his hand, [...] [76]his right hand is St. Peter with a cock; and on his left, St. James.

In the front of the two loſty and beautiful towers, are the four Evangeliſts: In the north, St. Matthew with an angel, and St. Mark with a lion. In the ſouth, St. Luke with an ox, and St. John with an eagle.

Theſe two towers are each adorn'd with circular ranger of columns, of the [77]Corinthian order, with domes on the upper part, and on the top of each a gilded pine apple.

In the ſouth tower is the famours large clock, the bell of which weighs four ton and four hundred and four pounds; and its ſound may be heard at five or ſix miles diſtance. The work of this clock is large and curious: it is kept in ex⯑cellent good order, and ge⯑nerally [78]nerally carries the hour of the day very exectly; a skilful perſon being ap⯑pointed to look after it for that purpoſe.

Obſerve likewife the fine carvings, and other rich embelliſhments, over the whole front of this noble ſtructure.

And laſtly, you aſcend to the great door by twen⯑ty four ſpacious ſtone ſteps; the firſt ten of which [79]extend in width above for⯑ty yards each, and the other fourteen full thirty ſix yards.

The door caſe is white marble: and over the en⯑trance is cut in relievo the hiſtory of St. Paul preach⯑ing to the Bereans. It conſiſts of a group of nine ſigures beſides that of St. Paul, with books, &c. Theſe Bereans were a ſort of people ingenous and [80]mild, and who ſpent great part of their time in read⯑ing the Scriptures, obſerv⯑ing whether what Paul taught was agreeable with what the Scriptures ſay of the Meſſias: and many of whom, from his preach⯑ing, chearfully embraced the faith. Acts xvii. 11.

Under the arch on the right hand, in a pannel, is St. Paul's impriſonment; and on the left hand in the [81]pannel, his preaching to the Athenians, with ſome other ſcripture ſtories, all neatly carved in ſtone, by the ſame hand as the con⯑verſion.

My young readers will find the hiſtory of St. Paul's impriſonment in the ſix⯑teenth chapter of the Acts, and his preaching to the Athenians in the ſeven⯑teenth chapter, both beau⯑tifully related.

CHAP. VII. Of the north portico of St. Paul's.

THE aſcent to the north portico is by twelve circular ſteps of black marble: The dome of the portico is ſupport⯑ed and adorn'd with ſix very ſpacious columns of the Corinthian order. A⯑bove the door-caſe is a [83]large urn, with feſtoons, &c. over this is a large pediment, where are the royal arms with the rega⯑lia, ſupported by two an⯑gels, with each a palm⯑branch in their hands; un⯑der whoſe feet appear the figures of the lion and uni⯑corn; and over the pedi⯑ment; on the top of this north front, are the effigies of five Apoſtles, carved in ſtone.

CHAP. VIII. Of the ſouth portico of St. Paul's.

YOU aſcend to the ſouth portico by twen⯑ty five ſteps, the ground on this ſide of the church being lower than that on the norſh: The portico is ſupported with ſix grand loſty columns, like thoſe of the weſt an north fronts; [85]and is in moſt other re⯑ſpects like the latter.

In the pediment over it is the figure of a phoenix, with her wings expanded, ariſing out of the flames; which emblem ſignifies, a new church ariſing out of the old one; under which is the word RESURGAM; that is, I ſhall riſe again.

[87]On the top of the pedi⯑ment is the effigy of St. Andrew, and thoſe of two other ſaints on each hand of him.

Theſe five figures, with thoſe on the north and weſt fronts, repreſent the four Evangeliſts, and the reſt of the Apoſtles. They bear in their hands the ſe⯑veral inſtruments whereby they ſuffer'd death; or ſuch remarkable enſigns as [88]allude to ſome important incident of their lives.

Theſe images are each about eleven feet high, and their pedeſtals about four feet: they were all carv'd by the late Mr. Bird, be⯑fore mention'd, and are reckon'd to be well done.

CHAP. IX. Of what is remarkable in going up the cupola, ar top of St. Paul's.

HAving examin'd what is moſt curious on the outſide of St. Paul's, I ſhal next endeavour to aſ⯑cend the cupola; and in my journey to the top of it, take notice of what I meet with moſt worthy of [90]my young readers atten⯑tion.

To go up St. Paul's, you muſt enter a door at the ſouth ſide, which ſtands open all the day long for that purpoſe.

After you have aſcended a few ſteps, you come to a door which will not open till each perſon pays Two⯑pence.

The whole number of ſteps to the upper gallery [91]is five hundred and thirty four; of which the firſt two hundred and ſixty are ſo exceeding eaſy, that a child might go up them; they being but about four or five inches deep.

The other two hundred and ſeventy four ſteps are pretty ſteep, and in many places, from the large ſtone gallery to the upper galle⯑ry, very dark; ſo that one perſon can ſcarce diſcern another.

[92]In this place we have a glimmering ſight of ſuch prodigious works in iron, ſtone, and timber, which hold together the dome, cupola, &c. that it is im⯑poſſible to convey an idea of it to my readers: And though theſe amaſing works are very curious to ſee, yet my young maſters and miſſes muſt not by any means venture them⯑ſelves here without a guide.

[93]The iron gallery on the top of the cupola, is the higheſt any one is ſuffer'd to go; above that are the lantern, ball and croſs; to the top of which, from the gallery juſt mention'd, is ſixty four feet; and the paſſage thither by ladders, very difficult and danger⯑ous to aſcend.

From this gallery, in fine clear weather, we may agreeably obſerve the vaſt [94]extent of this great city and ſuburbs; the great number of churches, ſtee⯑ples, publick buildings and houſes that preſent them⯑ſelves, which way ſoever we turn our eyes; as alſo the ſhips in the river, that look like a huge foreſt, and the veſſels, boats, &c. ſpread allover the Thames. Here likewiſe we have a delightful proſpect of the country, for many miles round about.

CHAP. X. Of the whiſpering-gallery, and fine paintings with⯑in the cupola.

IN your return from the top of St. Paul's, you will be ask'd to ſee the whiſpering-gallery, which will coſt Two-pence each perſon.

This gallery is a very great curioſity: 'Tis a [96]large circle, which runs round the bottom of the inſide of the dome, of about an hundred and for⯑ty three feet in diameter, or croſs the wideſt part: 'tis rail'd in with iron of very fine workmanſhip, gilt with gold. The walls all around are painted and gilded with great beauty: but the greateſt curioſity of all is the whiſpering-place; where, leaning your [97]head againſt the wall, you may eaſily hear all that is ſaid, though it be ever ſo low, and at the moſt diſ⯑tant place from you in the gallery: which affords great matter of ſurprize and innocent diverſion to all young perſons who come to amuſe themſelves with this curioſity.

Here you have the beſt view of the eight pieces of hiſtory on the inſide of the [98]dome, painted by the late Sir James Thornhill, with inimitable art and beauty.

The firſt repreſents the converſion of St. Paul. Acts ix. 4.

The ſecond, Elymas the ſorcerer ſtruck with blindneſs. Acts xiii 2.

Third, the prieſt of Jupiter, offering ſacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. Acts xiv. 15.

Fourth, the jaylor con⯑verted. Acts xvi. 30.

[99]Fifth, Paul preaching at Athens. Acts xvii. 1 [...].

Sixth, the conjuring books burnt. Acts xix. 19.

Seventh, King Agrippa almoſt perſuaded to be a Chriſtian. Acts xxvi. 28.

Eighth, St. Paul's ſhip⯑wreck on the iſland of Me⯑lita. Acts xxviii. 6.

CHAP. XI. Of the converſion of St. Paul.

ST. PAUL, before his converſion, having been principally concern'd in the death of St. Ste⯑phen, and his bloody mind not ſatisfied with this cru⯑elty, threatens nothing leſs than priſons and death to the Chriſtians wherever [102]he found them. And to qualify himſelf the better for the execution of this bloody purpoſe, he goes to the high prieſt to enlarge his commiſſion: and hav⯑ing obtain'd power to ſeiſe all Chriſtians, and ſend them bound to Jeruſalem to be try'd, he immediate⯑ly ſets out for Damaſcus to put it in practice: but whilſt he was on the road, entertaining himſelf with [103]the bloody proſpect, God, in mercy to him, and thoſe he went to perſecute, takes him off from his wicked deſign: a bright ſhining cloud incompaſſed him, which ſtruck him with great terror, as at the pre⯑ſence of God, and threw him proſtrate on the ground, where as he lay he heard a voice out of it, ſaying unto him. Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou [104]me? This increas'd his amazement: and being deſirous to know the meaning of this viſion, he asks, Who art thou, Lord! The voice reply'd, I am JESUS, whom thou preſe⯑cuteſt: It is in vain for thee to reſiſt the decrees of providence, therefore be no longer diſobedient, but hearken to the com⯑mands that ſhall be given thee. At this Saul, full [105]of fear and trembling, cri⯑ed out, 'Lord, inſtruct me what thou wouldſt have me to do:' The voice returned, 'Go to Damaſcus, and there thou ſhalt know my will.

Thoſe who attended Paul on this journey, were ſtruck dumb with fear and amazement, wondring that, they ſhould hear a voice, but [...]e no man ſpeakings therefore taking up Saul, [106]they led him to the city; and by this miraculous viſion he was converted to the Chriſtian ſaith.

This hiſtory is the ſub⯑ject of the firſt piece of painting.

CHAP. XII Elymas the Sorcerer ſtruck blind.

PAul and Mark, as they travelled through the [107]

[108]iſle of Cyprus, came to the city of Paphos, where the temple of Venus was; at which place they met with Elymas a noted for⯑cerer; who being intimate with Sergius Paulue the proconſul, a prudent vir⯑tuous man, and inclinable to receive the faith, did all he could to divert him from the converſation of theſe two Apoſtles. But Paul, in an holy rage, caſt⯑ing [109]his eyes on Elymas, this expreſſed his abhor⯑rence; 'O thou vile Sor⯑cerer, like the Devil, by whom thou workeſt, thou art an enemy to all good⯑neſs; wilt thou perſiſt in ſorcery, in defiance of the faith of Chriſt, which comes armed with a much greater power of miracles, than thoſe to which thou falſly pretendeſt? Thou ſhall ſoon ſee the venge⯑ane [110]of heaven upon thee; for thou that perverſly holdeſt out againſt the light of the goſpel, ſhalt loſe thy ſight, which by the immediate power of God ſhall be taken from thee for ſome time. And immediately he was ſtruck blind, begging the aid of Tome kind hand to lead him: and the proconſul, convinced by this miracle, was converted to the Chri⯑ſtian faith

[111]This is the ſubject of the ſecond piece of painting.

CHAP. XIII The prieſt of Jupiter offer⯑ing ſacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.

When they ſaw it, they concluded this miracle could not be done but by the immediate preſence of the Deity; and therefore running about in great confuſion, they cried out, [114]that the gods had put on human ſhape, and were come down among them.

They look'd on Barna⯑bas as Jupiter, the ſupreme God; and Paul, as Mer⯑cury, the interpreter of the will of the gods, be⯑cauſe he ſpoke more than Barnabas.

But as ſoon as this mi⯑racle came to the ear of the prieſt of Jupiter, he came to Paul and Barna⯑bas, [115]bringing oxen with garlands of flowers; being ſuch victims as they offer⯑ed to the gods they wor⯑ſhiped, intending to offer ſacrifice to the Apoſtles: but they abhorring ſuch idolatry, rent their gar⯑ments; endeavouring by arguments drawn from ſome of the plaineſt in⯑ſtances of nature, ſuch as day, night, ſummer, win⯑ter, &c to convince them, [116]that worſhip was due only to that God who was the author of all thoſe bleſ⯑ſings; yet this diſcourſe, ſo preſſingly urg'd by the Apoſtles, could ſcarce re⯑ſtrain thoſe poor idolaters from ſacrificing to them.

This is the hiſtory of the third piece of painting in the cupola.

CHAP. XIV. The jaylor converted.

This is the hiſtory of the fourth piece of paint⯑ing in the cupola of St. Paul's.

[124] THE SECOND Volume of this Hiſtory, with an Account of the Monu⯑ment added to it, will be ready to deliver to the Subſcribers punctually on Saturday the 20th of June 1741. and all thoſe who intend to have their names inſerted, and deſired to ſend them ſpeedily to T. Bore⯑man in Guildhall, London.

The reader is deſired to excuſe the delay in pub⯑liſhing [125]this Volume, as [...] was occaſion'd by the au⯑thor's illneſs; who takes this opportunity to inform his young readers, that the Hiſtory of Weſtminſter Ab⯑bey is now in hand, and will he got ready for the preſs with al convenient ſpeed: Subſcribers are de⯑ſired to bring or ſend their names as above, and to pay down Six-pence a Set in part at ſubſcribing, it being a large undertaking.