the purpose of observing the motions of the moon and the places of the fixed stars, as means of discovering the longitude at sea. Sir Christopher Wren, for his distinguished abilities as an astronomer, was appointed one of the Commissioners for its execution, and also its Architect. The Rev. John Flamsteed, M.A., F.R.S. etc. author of Historia Cælestis Britannica, 3 vols. folio, London 1725, and other well-known Astronomical Works, was appointed Astronomer-Royal, and the building has been called Flamsteed House ever since.

THE demolition of the Ruins of Old St. Paul's proceeded with system and rapidity, first by battering rams, then with gunpowder, which, with many scientific details of the various designs made and altered by Wren, are detailed in his Memoirs, to which the enquiring reader is referred, as they are too purely technical for the more miscellaneous nature of these pages.

THE first stone of the present Cathedral of St. Paul, was laid on the 21st of June 1675, by the Architect assisted by Thomas Strong his master mason, and the second by Mr. Longlandt. In the course of the preceding year Sir Christopher Wren added to his other avocations the duties of a master, and this year of father of a family, by marrying Faith, daughter of Sir John Coghill, of Bletchington, in Oxfordshire, by whom he had one son, Christopher, who wrote some excellent

* CLUTTERBUCK's History of Hertfordshire, Vol. I., p. 168.

+ STRYPE'S Survey of London, 2 Vols. fo. London 1720., Vol. I.,

P. 185.

works on numismatics, etc., he was member of Parlia ment for Windsor, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and otherwise distinguished.

WREN'S architectural works in the Metropolis and Universities proceeded with regularity and effect. The year 1676, in this respect, is nearly a repetition of its predecessor; the Royal Society was honoured by the first successful experiments of the prism by Newton ; M. Joly, of Dijon, presented a manuscript containing a body of mechanics professing to demonstrate an universal principle, by which the effects of the moving power of engines is explained; it was delivered to Wren and some other mathematical Fellows to read and report on.

IN 1677 the commemorative Doric column, in the City, was finished, as were some of the parochial churches, which will be mentioned with the rest, in a subsequent chapter.

AMONG other interesting experiments made this year by the Royal Society, were several of van Leuwenhoeek's discoveries of very minute insects in water, vinegar and other fluids, in which Wren much assisted, particularly in proving the viviparous birth of eels. He also recommended the island of Bermuda, as a favourable station for observations on barometrical phænomena, on account of the seasons there, being regular and temperate, the island being encompassed by the main ocean, and lying very distant from any land.

Ar the close of the year Lord Brouncker resigned his chair, as President of the Royal Society, after having

held it with satisfaction to the Fellows, and honour to himself, for sixteen years*, that a life holding might not become prescriptive. Sir Joseph Williamson, principal Secretary of State was elected President, and gave a splendid dinner on the occasion, at which Evelyn met, he says, Prince Rupert, Viscount Falconberg, the Earl of Bath, Lord O'Brien, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir John Lowther, Dr. Grew, and other distinguished persons.

IN 1678 the King expressed a wish to commemorate the memory of his unhappy father, and commissioned his Surveyor General to design a mausoleum for that purpose, which was done with Wren's usual alacrity and talent. The House of Commons voted the sum of seventy thousand pounds for that purpose. The Architect made the plans and estimates, which are now among many other of his designs, in the library of Allsouls College, Oxford+, the Parliament voted the money, Dr. Sprat preached on the anniversary of the King's Martyrdom, an eloquent sermon before the House of Commons, thanking them for their liberality, congratulating the country on the event; the House in return voted their thanks to their eloquent and pious chaplain, but—as Wren feelingly recorded it on the unexecuted design-" at (eheu conditionem temporum!) nondum extructum !"

ALTHOUGH this intention was frustrated, yet Le Sour's beautiful equestrian statue of Charles I. was re

* EVELYN's Diary, Dec. 1677.

For a full description of them, see Memoirs of Wren, p. 368, et seq.

erected under the direction of Wren, who designed the pedestal, and entrusted its execution to Evelyn's newly discovered genius, Grinling Gibbons. There are two designs in the All-soul's collection, beautifully drawn by Wren, one as executed, the other larger and more elaborate.

THE new Bishop of London, who had been translated from the see of Oxford, a little before the beginning of his new Cathedral, proved himself a staunch friend of his Architect and brother Commissioner till the completion of the edifice, under one Bishop, and by one Architect. This distinguished Prelate, was Henry Compton, youngest son of Spencer Compton, second Earl of Northampton, who was slain in the battle of Hopton Heath, fighting on the Royal side. Henry Compton was then only ten years old, but received an education suitable to his rank, and entered as a nobleman at Queen's College, Oxford, and afterwards travelled on the Continent. He returned to England after the restoration, and served as Cornet in a cavalry regiment. He subsequently left the service, went to Cambridge, took degrees, received holy orders, was made Master of the Hospital of St. Cross, Winchester, was preferred to the Bishopric of Oxford, and translated to London, which he held with distinguished zeal, ability and piety, till his death in 1713, in the eightyfirst year of his of his age.

Ar the first meeting of the Royal Society in 1678, Wren took the chair as Vice President, and a part in a discussion on the nature and properties of the atmos

phere. At another debate on the same subject, when alluding to the height of the mercury in the barometrical tube, as a standard, Sir Christopher propounded that its height should be used as the universal standard. Hooke related some experiments he had recently made on atmospheric pressure, in the monumental column on Fish Street Hill, assisted by Messrs. Hunt and Crawley. The results were, that he found the quicksilver in the tube to stand higher at the bottom of the column by nearly the third part of an inch, than on the top, and that it gradually ascended as he descended. To this simple experiment is owing the invention of the mountain barometer to ascertain heights above or below a given standard.

On the 30th December 1678, the first Parliament of Charles II. was dissolved, after a duration of more than nineteen years, from which it obtained its distinctive name of "The Long Parliament." Popish plots became frequent in the following year, which gave birth to those of Oates and Bedloe, and the famous meal-tub-plot. Never, says Evelyn, had he seen the Court more brave, and the nation more in apprehension and consternation. The King's indifference towards the Church of England, his encouragement of papists, and the Duke of York's known predilection for their faith, were the causes of that anomalous state of the Kingdom. The Queen was accused of intending to poison the King, many Roman Catholic Peers were sent to the Tower, and the rest of their body excluded by an act of the New Parliament from the Legislature