Day in the Life

Dec 9, 1840

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December 09, 1840 ~ Wednesday

Dec 9^th We had a long pleasant days walk this
day Elders Young Kimball & myself started from
No 40 Ironmonger Row St Lukes London in the
morning & walked to St Pauls Church & not withs-
tanding I had been over most parts of it before
yet on this occasion we went together through evry
part we first visited the body of the cathdral
see Aug 24^th I gave a description of this
cathedral, but in some respects it was incorrect
being wrongly informed upon the subject. I
make A few extracts from A printed descrip-
tion of the church, which I purchased while
passing through.

[FIGURE] St. Peter's at Rome
was 145 years in building under twelve s
successive architects. But this building
was completed in forty years under the superin-
tendance of one architect, Sir Christopher Wren
under the direction of one principal mason, Mr
Strong &c.

The whole expens of erect-
ing this edifice amounted £1,564,874 14 ^S^ 6 ^[P]^
in addition to which the stone and iron encloursure
(which was cast at Lamberhurst, Kent) which
surrounds the building, cost £11,202 0 ^s^ 6 ^p^
total £1,576,076 15s about $5,880,380 ^5[,]486,361^
This sum was raised by a small tax on coal
imported into London.

In the South west transept
is a noble staircase, by which the ascent is made to
the top. The number of steps, from the floor to
the whispering Gallery is 280; including those
to the golden gallery, 534; & to the ball, the whole
number is 616.

A communication from this staircase
leads the visitor, first to the Library, whare many
most rare & valuable works are preserved.

The flooring is remarkable, being most artfully
inlaid, without nail or peg it contains 2376 Peaces,
like the fraiming of a billard table. In this room is
a [FIGURES] painting of Bishop Compton under whom this
cathedral was built.

The next is a vary curious ceome-
trical staircase, being the first ever made in England
it has ninety steps, all supported by the bottom step.

[FIGURES] The great Bell is in a turret above
and the weight is 11,474 lbs; the clapper weighs 180
lbs the diameter of the belelss is ten feet, & the thick-
ness ten inches. The hour of the clock strickes upon
this bell, & the quarters strikes on two smaller
ones beneath.

	feet	inch
The length of the minute hand is	9	8
~~Adnd~~ The weight . . . 75 lbs
The length of the hour hand	5	9
The weight . . . 44 lbs
The circumference of the clock's face	57	0
The length of the hour figures	2	2 1/2

The next is the whispering Gallery, where soun-
ds are increased to an amazing degree: the shutting
of the door, ^seems^ is as loud as thunder at a distance,
the least whisper is herardd round the whole circumf-
erence: and a person speaking against the wall,
appears to be Present to another on the other side of
the gallery though the distance between them is not
less than 140 feet

DIMENSIONS	Feet
The dimentions of St Pauls Cathedral from east to west within the walls are	510
from North to South within the walls	280
the breadth of the west enterrance, within	100
the breadth of the west entrance without	180
To the top of cupola and base of lanthorn	330
The roof within	110
Height from the ground to the top of the cross	404
The circumference of the dome	420
The diameter of the Ball	6
From the bottom of of the ball to the top of the cross	30
Hight of Pillars in front of Porticos	40

The weight of the ball is 5600 lbs
The weight of the cross 3360 lbs

The extent of the ground whareon St. Pauls' stands
is two acres, sixteen perches, twenty three yards
and one foot.

The stone Lanthorn which takes its rise from
the top of the brick cone or inner dome, is
reputed to be of the enormous weight of
seven hundred tons! from the whispering
Gallery, the beautiful marble flooring of the
church may be seen to great advantage, consisting
of many thousand pieces laid chequerwise,
like a draft bord black & white squares altern
ately; the centre of which represents a marin-
er's compass, (the thirty two cardinal Points)
being laid in white & red marble. In the centre
is a brass Plate beneath, which in a splended tomb,
repose the remains of the Immortal Nuelson, the
coffins of Lords Col-lingwood and Northesk lie
on each side of him; and Lady Nelson and other
members of the family, are also buried near him

The first public monument erected in this cathedral
was to the memory of John Howard in 1796 by Bacon.
The following monuments have been erected since
tha[t] period: To Lord Nelson by Flaxman,
& over it one to Captain Duff: to Marquis Corn-
wallis, by Rossi & over it one to Captain John
Cooke, of the Bellerophon; to Major General Dunda[s]
by Bacon ^Jun. & over it one to Generals Mackienzie
and Langworth; to Captain Westcott by Banks,
and over it one to Generals Crawford and Mackin-
non's to Capt Burgess, by Banks and above it one
to Captain Hardinge, by Manning; to Captain
Faulkner by Rossi, and above it one to Capt Miller.

In the south transept are the monuments of
Earl Howe, by Flaxman; Sir Ralph Abrecrcrombie
and Lord Collingwood, by Westmacott; Sir
John Moore, and Sir Isaac Brock, by Bacon, Jun.
Sir William Hoste, by Campbell; Major General Gillespi[e]
by Chantry; and Dr Badington, by Bhenes. In the
north transept are the monuments of Captains Moss[e]
and Riou by Rossi; Lord Rodney, by the same;
Major General Hay by Hopper. General Picton,
Ponsonby, and Bowses, by Chantry; Le Marchant
by J. Smith; General Ross, and Sir W Myers,
by Kendrick; Colonel Cadogan, and General Houghie
by Chantry; Samuel Johnson, by Bacon; Sir Joshua
Raynolds by Flaxman; and Sir W Jones, By Bacon.

Those last erected are to the memory of Dr. Middleton
first protestant Bishop of India, by Lough and Dr.
Heber, Bishop of Calcutta, by Chantry.

In the crypt of the cathedral
are many tombs to the memory of eminent men;
among them, Robert Milne, the architect of Black-
friars Bridge; John Rennie, the designer and con-
tractor of waterloo and Southwark Bridges, Plymo-
uth Breakwater, and Sheerness Docks: a plain tomb
shows the spot whare Sir Christopher Wren is buried
with ownly the name age and date of his death; the
cathedral being considerd monument enough to hand
his name down to Posterity.

In a recess under the east window
are the ownly few remains of the old church to be
seen that escaped the great fire of London in which
the old cathedral was destroyed. A figure of Dr.
Donne in his shroud. Sir Nicholas Wootteon, and
his sister Lady Jane Wootten, Lady in waiting
to Queen Mary.

In the e[a]st end of the
crypt lies the remains of Sir Thomas Lawrence,
John Opie, James Barry, G. Dawes, Benjamin
West, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Henry Fuseli, and
G. Dance, Presidents, &c. of the Royal Academy, &c &c

The following was upon the stone of the vault
of Benjamim West

Here lies the remains of Benjamin West Esq.
President of the Royal Academy of Paintings
sculptures & Architecture He was born at Spring-
field, Chester County Pennsylvania North Ameri-
ca 10^th Oct 17639. Died at London March 11^th"

Mr West was one of the first Artist of his day
much of his painting is in the National Gallery
& other parts of London.

Having given lengthy
extracts Iconcerning the cathedral, I will procede
with an account of our travels, from the first
enterance we visited the whispering, gallery golden
gallery from thence to the Ball. we all three sat in
the Ball together 400 feet from the ground. we desen
ded, visited the Library the Bell the clock & final-
ly evry part of the building whare any visitors go &
some places whare visters do not go & last of all

We visited evry part of the crypt among all the
tombs. It cost us 4/[6] each to visit evry part of this
cathedral. We Next went on to the top of the
London Monument we walked up & down 345
marble steps in visiting this monument, which was
202 feet high, we then crossed London Bridge, walked
to the Southwark Bridge which is all cast Iron, forty
five rods in length we walked undere it & viewed it
& then crossed it. We then Dined togethe[r]
in the citiy took a calb & rode to the British Museum
& walked through every appartment of it, which
coverd about 5 acres of Ground, we then took a
calb & returned to our room in Ironmonger Row
vary weary & spent the night, Having travled 12
miles, & walked up & down 1200 steps which
made us feel sumwhat sore, however we enjoy
ed a good nights rest 12 m[iles]

[FIGURE] 9. Franceis Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon
AD 1555. This is a suit of plate armour, richly
gilt, its wearer is resting the blade of his drawn
sword on his left arm.

10. Robert Dudley Earl of Eeicester [Leicester] AD 1560.
[FIGURES] He holds a sword in his right hand with which
he is pointing.

11. Sir Henry Lea mMaster of the Armoury. A.D. 1570
He holds in his right hand a battle-axe the head of
which rests upon his shouldier. [FIGURES] He was champion
to Queen Elizabeth. [FIGURE]

12. Robert Devereux Earl of Essex. AD. 1585.
This is a fine suit of armour inlaid with gold
the cantle of the saddle is vary beautifully engraved
and gilt, in his right hand he holds a short sword
of curious workmanship.

13. James I King of England, AD 1605. This
monarch who it will be remembered was allso
James VI of Scotland, wears a plain suit of
armour. He holds in a perpendicular direction with h[is]
right hand a tilting lance, fourteen feet long, and
two feet three inches in circumference in the thick
part with which it was customary to run at at them

14. Sir Horace Vere, Captain General, A.D. 1606.

15. Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundual, A.D. 1608

16. Henry Prince of Wales, son of James I AD 1612.
This most beautiful suit of armour l is highly

deserving the attention of the curious. It is engra
aved throughout with subjects relating to battles,
sieges, the burning of cities, &c and is richly gilt
The point of his sword rests on his right stirrup;
a mace depends from his saddle bow.

17. George Villiers Duke of Buckingham, 1618.
This [FIGURE] was the unfortunate favorite of Charles
I who was assassinated by Felton. [FIGURES]

18. Charles Prince of Wales after wards Charles
I 1620. This figure represents him when apparen-
tly about twelve years of age. He wears a suit
or [of] ornamental armour.

19. Thomas Wentworth. Earl of Stafford,
AD 1635. The armour of this nobleman desendesd
no lower than his knees. [FIGURES] This celebrated states-
man fell a victim to the rage of a factious parliame-
nt, and Charles I never forgave himself for yieldi-
ng, to their turbulent importunities and signing the war-
rant for his execution, which took place on Tower-hill 1640.

20. Charles I King of England, 1640 The surface
of this suit of armour is entirely gilt. It is vary
curiously wrought and was presented to him by
the city of London when he was Prince of Wales.
[FIGURES] The King holds in his right hand a truncheon and
the chan fron orhead armour of his horse is fiurnished
with a pointed spear between the eyes of the ~~anin~~
animal. This unfortunate monarch was beheaded on
a scaffold erected in front of his own palace at
Whitehall, Jan. 30, 1649.

21.^st James II King of England AD 1685. [FIGURES]
He wears a soword by his side and has a batton in
his hand and the striking contrast which his appe
arance affords when compared with the rest of
the equestrian figures is well worthy of observation

Leaving now the examination of the last mentioned
effigy and turning to the right we enter a small
room, in which is situated one of the outer doors
of the building. On each side is a glass case
containing many vary curious articles and some
beautiful specimens of pistols, carbines muskets
fowling peieces &c of the respective times of Elizab
eth James I, Charles I, and William III, to which
a considerable addition was made in the year 1838
In another case is a Mameluke Saddle
coverd with crimson velvet & embroidered with
gold with curious stirups, A Turkish bridle and

and breast plate for horcse with gilt furniture
all from Grand Cario. Here are also three
swords a helmet, and girdle which belonged
to Tippos Saib.

We next enter the long room we see vario
us figures large as life, wearing the armour
of the various periods in which they lived
Kings Soldiers &c one was for a man 7 feet
high At the extremity of the room is a crusader
upon his barbed horse said to be 700 years old
The walls of the room & the ceiling are ornim-
ented with a great variety of& number of
arms and pieces of armour, ramrods, bayonets
pistols, swords & gunlocks put up in pictures
que forms and devices am[on]g which is a curious rep[re]-
sentation of St George and the Draggon.

Queen Elizabeth's Armoury

This room according to tratdition wars the
Prison of Sir Walter Raleigh. That it has
been used as a prison there can be no doubt
[FIGURES] the great strength of the walls of the white
Tower are here vary conspicuous the eastern
side being 17 feet 6 inches in thickness. In this
room the spectator will observe various spears
that were in use in Europe before fire arms, among
which are the Bill the Glaive, the Gisarme, the
Ranseur the spetum the Partizan the spontoon the
Boar Spear, Halberds, pikes &c &c And a variety
of Battle axes one two handed battle axe & two
two handed swords time of Henry VIII. a hands
om bright Target weighing 42 1/2 lbs and a vast
variety of weapons of war that I have not room
to mention. At the end of the room is a spirite[d]
figure of Queen Elizabeth seated upon a cream
coloured hor[s]e held by a page she is in a dress in
imitation of that worn by her Majesty in process-
ion to St Paul's when she went to that cathedral
in great state to return thanks and praise to
the Almighty for deliverance from Spanish thral-
dom.

In various parts of the
room. Instruments of Torture will be seen
The Thumb Screw. The Collar of Tornment
certainly taken from the Spaniards in 1588.
The Bilboa or yoke. The Cravat—an engine for
locking together the hands feet and neck [FIGURES]

People

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1762–1814

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Dec 9, 1840

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Dec 9, 1840

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