subjects, one whom a noble historian describes as,-"The worthiest gentleman, the best master, the best friend, the best husband, the best father, and the best Christian of the age in which he lived."

It was his misfortune to be imbued with high notions of the right of kings, and his inflexible nature prompted him to retain whatever he conceived to be his prerogative; his ministers were unyielding as himself, and the people being too mighty to be restrained, laid violent hands on their hapless sovereign.

On the ground where I now stand, were the implements of execution erected, for it was resolved, by choosing the ground before his own palace, to mark more forcibly the triumph of popular power over the sovereign. The last scene was full of interest. Surrounded on all sides by soldiers, the king, when he came on the scaffold, could only address a few persons about him. He justified his own innocence in the late wars, and observed that he had only acted on the defensive, not having levied troops until parliament had enlisted its forces. He mildly forgave all his enemies, and concluded by recommending all to return to their obedience, and be faithful to his son and successor.

The right of the subjects to judge and punish their sovereign was then a question which was very seriously discussed; and the greater number look

ing chiefly to the usurpation and character of the self-constituted judges, and the merit of the monarch who suffered, condemned their proceedings; others differed on the general question, and were inclined to approve.

"Government," says Hume, "is instituted in order to restrain the fury and injustice of the people; and being founded on opinion, not on force, it is dangerous to weaken the reverence which the multitude owe to authority, and to instruct them beforehand that the case can ever happen when they may be freed from their duty of allegiance."

It appears to me, however, that the knowledge of such examples as those of Charles I. and other sovereigns, cannot fail to have a beneficial effect in checking arbitrary movements of kings, and teaching them by the best instruction-demonstration, that there are times when the popular power is too great for control, and the majesty of the people, whence all power emanates, is superior to that of the king.

CHAPTER VII.

St. Paul's Cathedral.-Monuments. - Sir Christopher Wren. -Howard the philanthropist. - Immortality difficult.Opening of parliament.-The king's state coach.—Literature in London.-Disappointments.-Conflicts of genius with poverty.

February 3rd.

WENT to-day to see St. Paul's Cathedral. This stupendous monument of architectural skill, is esteemed only second to St. Peter's, at Rome. It is supposed to occupy the site of an ancient temple, erected by the Romans in honour of Diana. Subsequently a Christian church was built here, when Sebert, King of Essex, became a convert to the Cross in 600, and the cathedral of the diocese has been continued here ever since. The ancient cathedral was the work of many ages, till it became one of the most extensive buildings in the country; the centre was a tower, crowned with a spire, said to have been raised to the height of 520 feet. This tower was burnt with the church in 1561; the latter was soon rebuilt, but in the time of James I.

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ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.

stood so much in need of repairs, as to require an outlay of 100,000l. The direction of this work in the following reign was entrusted to the celebrated Inigo Jones; he added a portico of the Corinthian order to the west front, which, beautiful as it was, contrasted grotesquely with the pointed English style, in which the edifice was built.During the civil war it was converted into a barrack for cavalry. On the restoration of Charles II. the repairs were continued, but, after large sums had been expended, the entire structure was destroyed in the great fire, 1666; so it was immediately resolved to build a new cathedral. A commission was issued under the great seal, dated November 12, 1673, Sir Christopher Wren being the architect appointed. The first stone was laid 21st of June, 1675, and on the 2nd of December, 1697, it was opened for divine service.

The total expense of the building amounted to 736,7521. 2s. 3d.

In the construction, the architect was forced to observe the general shape of the Cross; by means of an additional transept, he has given due breadth to the west end, or principal front; the east end terminates in a projecting semicircle. The front on the west presents a grand portico of the Corinthian, and composite orders, surmounted by a spacious pediment with a lofty tower, or steeple of great elegance and richness, on each side.-In the tympanum is the conversion of St. Paul in basso

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.

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relievo; on the apex a colossal statue of St. Paul; and on either hand, at different distances along the summit of this front, are similar statues of St. Peter, St. James, and the four evangelists. The dome, or cupola, forms the most prominent feature in the whole edifice. A plain circular basement rises from the roof to the height of twenty feet; above that is a Corinthian colonnade of thirty-two columns. These being of a large proportion, and placed at regular intervals, are crowned with a complete entablature, which, continuing without a single break, forms an entire circle, and thus connects all the parts into one grand whole. The entablature of the peristyle, supports a handsome gallery surrounded with a balustrade. Round an aperture on the summit of the dome is another gallery, from the centre of which ascends an elegant lantern, surrounded with Corinthian columns, and surmounted by a richly gilded ball and cross.

On entering the building the vastness of design awes the beholder. He feels himself a mere atom, amidst almost boundless space; the loftiness of the vaulting, and the long range of columns which burst on his view, cause him to shrink within himself; but when he recollects how the mind of one man conceived, and executed, that noble pile, he swells with pride, and in a better mood, turns to survey the monuments of those illustrious men, whose valour or virtues have placed their "statues upon glory's niche."