and Sermons. The former show much critical learning, extensive knowledge of languages, both ancient and modern, and familiarity, far beyond common attainment, with the literature of Europe. The review of Mr. Mathias's Componimenti Lirici, will be very useful as a guide to those who would make themselves acquainted with the best productions of the Italian poets; that of Mitford's Harmony of Language, shows how much attention Mr. Herbert has paid to the grammmatical structure of languages, and evinces his power of discrimination in points often difficult to discuss, especially as regards the laws of accent, both in modern and ancient languages; a point most important indeed to the true knowledge of the structure of versification, and at the same time much neglected and widely misunderstood.* The notes on the Horatian metres, will show to those studious of such interesting inquiries, more than any previous work, the great delicacy and exactness of the laws which governed them; while the review of Mr. Gifford's Massinger, as respects the writer's system of versification, cannot be read without profit. The Sermons at the conclusion of the volume are for the most part on what may be called occasional subjects; they are written elegantly, impressively; and on disputed points, as in the one before the Bishop of Chester, temperately, and with due allowance for difference of opinion, as a churchman equally pious and conscientious, though taking particular doctrines or duties under different points of view, and drawing conclusions and inferences from them more widely apart than can be looked on by some without disquiet and alarm. RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARY REDCLIFFE, BRISTOL. (With Exterior and Interior Views.) IT affords us much pleasure to lay before our readers some authentic particulars relative to the works proposed to restore this noble specimen of ecclesiastical building to its pristine grandeur; derived from the joint Report of Messrs. Britton and Hosking, the one well known for his antiquarian disquisitions and his love for all that concerns the Christian architecture of Great Britain; and the other for his thorough knowledge of construction and architecture. These gentlemen, having carefully and fully surveyed the fabric, commenced by drawing the attention of the parish authorities to the injuries it has sustained, from the long-continued access of damp and moisture, both in the superstructure and foundation walls-produced, as to the former, by the insufficient means for carrying off the rain and snow-and, as to the latter, by the want of drainage; both which deficiencies they principally ascribe to the original arrangement for the discharge of water from the roofs, and want of drainage round the fabric. To the former of these defects they attribute, in a great degree, the injury to, if not destruction of, the external faces of the masons' work upon the walls and buttresses. They describe the roof covering as, throughout, in a very defective state, though heavy expence is annually If we remember correctly, there is a note by Joseph Scaliger on Ausonius on this subject, showing that it had not escaped the attention of that singularly-learned scholar; but the subject is only treated on in passing. See p. 133. In the passage, undoubtedly corrupt, Mr. Gifford's additional line is quite inadmissible, and Mr. Herbert's change of "all" into "without" too violent; we would prefer reading "gone all," or some equivalent word. incurred in repairing it; and they suggest its entire re-arrangement and re-construction. They have also ascertained, and have very accurately described, an original defect existing in the great tower, evinced in a bulging outwards of the external faces of that part of the structure, and produced by an inequality of strength and resisting power between the finely-wrought and closely-jointed masonry of the faces, and the rubble backing which constistutes the main bulk of the walls; and they state that, with the exception of the tower and the flank wall and buttresses of the south aisle of the chancel, all the walls and foundations, throughout, appear to be perfectly sound and but little injured. They attribute the settlement outwards of the flank wall first noticed to the want of proper drainage before alluded to, and to the too near approach of graves to the foundations of the wall in question, which are not, in that part of the fabric, more than four or five feet in depth; and they state that, by an attempt formerly made to prevent the flank from going further, or to hold it up, mischief has been occasioned to the pillars which stand between it and the chancel, and, through those pillars, to the clerestory resting upon them. The solid structure of the tower is generally sound and trustworthy, though its exterior surface has almost wholly perished. The truncated spire is generally sound, though the surface of the stone upon the exterior is rapidly disintegrating. In proceeding to advise as to the solid and substantial repair of the fabric, the surveyors state that so intimate a connexion exists between the parts of such a building, as to render what may appear to be merely ornamental in most cases essential to the stability of the structure, and that they therefore feel themselves compelled to report on these two heads together; but dividing the subject into two parts, viz : First, the Tower and Spire; and second, the Church with the Lady Chapel, the Porches, and other accessories. "The Tower and Spire.-This singularly beautiful composition is altogether distinct in style and date from the Church, which has been added to it, and deserves, as it requires, to be considered, not as a merely provincial edifice, and far less as a simple parish steeple, but as a national monument, and in the first rank of the many noble structures of the kind in existence in this country. In magnitude it is exceeded by few; in destined altitude, the larger cathedrals alone would excel it; and in chaste simplicity of design, combined with elaborately beautiful, but subdued and appropriate, decoration, Redcliffe tower is surpassed by none; whilst it is pre-eminent in its position, on a lofty bank of the Avon, within the commercial capital of the west of England. We have already intimated, that the solid structure of the tower is sound and trustworthy, and that it is capable of being easily made to bear all that it was ever intended to carry. The structural arrangement of the tower itself, and of the existing portion of the spire, give the completest evidence that the original design contemplated as it provided for a spire of the form and proportion exhibited in the accompanying It would apengraving of the church. pear, however, that when the church was built the idea of completing the spire was abandoned, as the south-western buttresses of the tower were reduced in pro jection, and otherwise altered to compose with the west front of the church-and the south-eastern angle was altered, throughout, to extend the nave of the church uninterruptedly to its western front. The tact and skill with which the outer, or south-western angle of the tower was altered, and the fine taste with which the turret pier, in front of the church, which composes with the reduced buttress of the tower, is arranged, to connect the parts of the composition, are most admirable; but not so the arrangement at the other angle-where a low, heavy arch, and an unmeaning blank, upon a heavier pier, obtrude themselves immediately within the church doorcontrasting, most disadvantageously too, with the composition of the arches of the aisle, and with the clerestory on the other side of the entrance." "It may be remarked here, that, at the time Redcliffe church was built, the taste which produced the original design of the magnificent superstructure to the tower no longer existed; spires were not built to Gloucester cathedral nor to Bath Abbey church, in the 15th century-as they had been at Salisbury, Norwich, and Lichfield, in the 13th and 14th centuries; comparatively small spires, on lofty towers, as at Louth and Newcastle-or lanterns, as at Boston, indicate the prevailing taste, in that respect, when this church was built, and the abutments of the spire of the original design were altered or removed. In this manner the incomplete or demolished spire was left, and the original composition was shorn of its fair proportions." The architects then proceed to the necessity of restoring the perished surfaces of the tower, and its immediate accessories, adapting it to receive a perfect spire, and of carrying on, to completion, that beautiful feature of a masterwork of architectural composition, which, in its truncated state, is but an unpicturesque deformity. "Thus the original design may be both restored and completed, and Bristol possess a noble national monument, that will add to the beauty of her locality and to her pre-eminence amongst English cities. The existing portion of the spire is, fortunately, quite enough to give the means of developing the original design, whilst it affords demonstrative evidence that a complete spire was contemplated by the original designer. If lines be drawn from points within the footings of the buttresses of the tower, through the base of the spire, on the summit of the tower, they will follow the sides of the spire, as far as it now exists, and meet at such a height as similar compositions of equal date would justify by analogy. The decorations of the spire, as it exists, are of singular beauty and propriety; the ribs are exquisitely moulded, and the characteristic enrichment of the vertical and pointed mouldings of the tower below, is carried with great good taste and beautiful effect up into the spire, so that nothing has to be imagined in that respect." For reasons detailed in the Report, Messrs. Britton and Hosking recommend that attention should be first directed to the restoration of the tower and spire; and that the former should, under present circumstances, not be deferred any longer, if it be desired to preserve this beautiful monument from utter destruction. Speaking of the church, after the recommendations before alluded to, as to what are termed the hydraulic arrangements, and the proposed reconstruction of the roofs-Messrs. Britton and Hosking suggest a new gateway at the north-west corner of the church enclosure, and other arrange ments consequent upon the recent alterations under the Bristol Improvement Act, and for giving more effect thereby to the beautiful edifice under consideration; and, after various valuable suggestions for the substantial repair of the fabric, they refer to their drawings, as showing with sufficient clearness the restorations they propose on the exterior of the building, derived mostly from existing authority within the building itself. As to the Interior of the church, their suggestions refer to matters of which they describe the restoration for the most part as easy. The most important change is that at the east end, involving the removal of Hogarth's pictures, and other inappropriate attachments, and the reinstatement of the east and clerestory windows; and they hope to find that reparations only will be wanted to the screen, between the chancel and the lady chapel. The latter will want certain alterations, including a new floor. In the restoration of the spire will be involved some alterations, pointed out by them, at the west end of the church, including a new arrangement for the organ; and they express their hope, that as the whole of the lead and glass must be removed from the windows for the restoration of the mullions and tracery, it may, in the principal ones at least, be reinstated with stained glass of an appropriate character, They also propose in detail numerous and important alterations in the re-arrangement of the pews and seats, by which, with an increased seat accommodation, and better command from the pulpit, reading-desk, and altar, a more perfect view of the building may be obtained, whilst all the beautiful pillars shall be in every case insulated, that the eye may range over their lofty and symmetrical forms and proportions, from the base to the summit. It is estimated that the complete reinstatement and restoration of the tower with its pinnacles, and all its decorations, in the manner, and with the stone they contemplate adopting, will cost about 8,2001. The re-construction and completion of the spire, according to the data afforded by the existing portion thereof, and according to the drawing of the west front restored, and making the requisite additions to the buttresses of the tower, and including the scaffolding and machinery necessary, will cost about 3,600l. The hydraulic arrangements, including new roofs, &c. will cost 1,850l. The substantial repair and reinstatement of the church, lady chapel, and porches, nearly 21,400.; the rearrangement and refitting of the interior, 2,600l. The whole presenting a total outlay of 37,650l. which, with a due estimate for contingencies, in works so extensive, and of such comparatively novel character, cannot, in the judgment of the parish authorities, be safely calculated at a sum much less than 40,000l. The general style of architecture and the ornamental details of the church are replete with beauty, and present to the eye of the tasteful and intelligent observer, as viewed from different points, a series of exquisite subjects for study and contemplation. The view from the south-east, as shown in the annexed woodcut, represents the tall and narrow south transept, with its aisles, windows, highly enriched flying and attached buttresses, perforated parapets, and purfled pinnacles; the south porch, of two stories, and a newly designed staircase turret ; the flying buttresses and clerestory windows of the nave, with the bold crocketed pinnacle, which surmounts the stairs at the south-west angle. Above the west end of the northern aisle are seen the upper or belfry story of the noble tower, with its richly adorned panels, boss-enriched mouldings, and perforated parapet; the bold and finely proportioned octagonal pinnacles at the angles of the tower; and rising from among them the graceful spire, crowning and adorning the whole. Of this beautiful and heavenpointing member of a Christian edifice, there are numerous examples both in England and on the Continent, which are now admired as they deserve to be; but, whatever the merits of the spires of Strasburg, Salisbury, Freyburg, Lichfield, Norwich, Louth, or others of less note, Redcliffe spire, in form and detail, as indicated by its existing portion, and as it is susceptible of being rendered, with the tower, its legitimate base, may challenge a comparison with them all. The existing portion of the spire is not more than one-fifth of the whole height, or up to the first enriched band. The second print shows the architectural character and details of the interior of this truly beautiful edifice, divested of pews, seats, and other church furniture. If not equal in sculptured decoration to the gorgeous chapels of Henry the Seventh at Westminster, of Edward the Fourth at Windsor, or of Henry VI. at King's College, Cambridge, it will bear comparison with those justly famed buildings, and will be found to surpass, in this respect, most of the cathedrals and other large churches of our own and of foreign countries. Although in miniature, the engraving displays the finely moulded and shafted piers or pillars, with the arches to the aisles, and the panelled walls above them in the situation of the triforium of the large cathedrals. Over this traceried wall is a series of clerestory windows of large dimensions, and of fine forms and proportions, with mullions and tracery. These, it is reasonably inferred, were originally filled with stained glass, "casting a dim, religious light" over the whole edifice. Connecting, and apparently tying together, the two side walls, is a groin-vaulted ceiling, profusely adorned with intertwining moulded ribs, foliated tracery, and richly sculptured bosses. The parish authorities have made a pressing but just appeal to those blessed with the ability and the desire to aid in such objects, especially to those of their own locality who have been so favoured by providence: in confidence that such appeal will not be made in vain for the restoration of a fabric, which, if not wholly the work of a Bristol Merchant, is to be ascribed principally to one of that class. The amount required is certainly great; but, when we recollect the large sums which have been raised for the restoration of Hereford Cathedral and of York Minster, we cannot doubt that the nobility, gentry, and wealthy commoners of Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, and the neighbouring counties, will evince equal liberality in worthily upholding "The pride of Bristowe and the western land." |