The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-09-10 00:00:00

IN OF THE NORTH CHAPEL.

On Monday laid, the beautiful chapel of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, called the North Chapel,
having at length attained its destined perfection,
was dedicated to' the service of (kid with a so-
lemnity unexampled in these islands. The cha-
pel itself cot}iists of a nave and aide aisles, with
an altar et the top of each of them, together with
a transept, which brings the chapel into the form of
across. There are spacious and convenient galle-
ries over the side aisles, but noise over the ransept, or
near the altars. The general style of this sacred st rue-
turf ►n Gothic, the windows of the upper story be-
ing highly pointed, and those of the lower mon-,
togetlimeilbthe doors, cousistini; of Stitches, in the
trefoil term, and it is supported by clustereolumus,
painted to represent jasper and porphyry, with gilt
hands. The extreme inside length of the nave ►s
lots feet; its breadth, including the aisles 0! feet;
len►pth of the transept 90 feet ; height of the nave
et feet. The centka, or arched recess for the
altar, is highly ornamented with. columns and rich
ca;atale, !nurse, mouldings, mid the lignre of
the mystical dove; the whole being gilt, silvered,
or painted, to represent lapis lazuli, or other pre-
cious marbles. The altar-piece, which was lately
painted by an eminent Roman Master, represents
the flolv Patroness of the Temple, bearing in her
arms the Infant Sa►your of mankind. The fea-
tures of both aspires indicate at once mildness,
majesty, innocence and saoctity ; ansl there are

- .
atop's. tit various attitudes of devotion, adoring
the Divine Jesus.—The Altar, with its sings fur
supporting thetandlesticks, is fifteen feet long, and
it is dosed by au antiaiesistianr, representing the
blessed Sairranient, with siirrounding angels. But
the eisief ()moment of the sa,rsd Once (being
iingoestionahly the first thing of its kind in Irelini.l4
is the tabernacle upon the altar. • It is. in the
whole, elevcn fat high, and coosi.ts of three
stories. The lowermost story, or body of the taber-
nude, is in the Cornposite order, Itsving the
llivine Latish, surrounded with tor), resting
na the se:ded toltrne, embossed upon its door.
laser id of e •ot. the embkonatical pelican.
bvilitig as ...no!, h its own blood, is e%hibiteil-
in eks reit es. lipod au °rim:treated pier. *a estil

• side, stands on
sane, supporting a chandelier of
four lights, and upon the capitals of the two co-
Wilma no each side of the tabernacle door, ale seem
two other angel* on their knees ; each of wliotii
supports with ouc hand a chandelier siin:lar to that
meatioeed above, and VII Ig the other a paha branch li
interwoven with ears aeon), rine leaves, end grapes.
These, uniting at the top. form a caeopy for the
exposition of the Bleared Sacrament, the back
part of which canopy exhibits tae usual emblem
of the Adorable Trinity. The tabernacle is crown-
ed with a rich and well-proportioned crucifix, and
has candleaticks, altar cards, and a book stand, iu
the same style. and equally rich with itself. The
whole consists of wood, carted and gilt, havaig hem
lately executed at Lisbon by Italian workmen, and
it thOUght cheap at its price of 6001.
A .great many persons of distinction, of different
religious persuasions, besides an immense crowd of
people, a.ssisted at the Solemn ceremony, and due
order was preservejl outside by a detachment of
soldiers and other persons appointed for this pur-
pose. The Prelates, Clergy, and other persons
who officiated in one capacity or another upon the
occasion, may be described in the order iu which
they made the precession round the dispel as part
of the ceremony-of blessing it.
The Verger, in a surplice, led the way. followed
by the Processional Cross-bearer between two Ace-
' lythes with castles : next SO children of the choir
• its surplice*, two and two together. 'then the
Right Reverend Dr. Power, Catholic Bishop of
Waterford, in his pontifical ornaments, and attend-
ed by his Acolyth, in a surplice, holding a lighted
taper; ditto Dr. U Shaughnessy, Catholic Bisi,op
of Killaloe ; ditto Dr. Milner, Bishop of Caste-
bale, Vita Apostolic Eugland ; ditto Dr. Voting;
Bishop of Limerick; ditto Dr. Coppinger, Bishop
ofCloyne ; ditto, Dr. Delany, Bishop of Kildare ;
ditto Dr. Moylan, Bishop of Cork; wearing the
*tole, with his other ornaments, as Bishop of the
Diocese; ditto Dr. Troy, Archbishop of DuWiu ;
neat the Master of the Ceremonies, Rev. Doctor
Walsh, Thuriser, Aeolythes, Mitrc-bearer, Crosier-
bearer, Archpriest. Dean IVleCtirth:•, Archdeacon,
Dr. Murphy, in copes ; then the officiating Dea-
con and Sufeleacos in their tunics and dalmatics;
lastly, Doctor Bray, Catholic Archbishop of Cashel,
Chief Officiatiug Prelate, in cope, pailium. and
mitre, followed -by a full Land of musicians and
singers.
he service itself consisted of the Yeti Creator
Spirits:, the Ave Maris Stella, the Litany and
usual Hymns. Praha*, and Prayers for the lene-
- diction of a Church ; to which succeeded High
Mass, and a part of the 7'e Dern.
After the Gospel in the High Mass, a sermon,
equally distinguished for solidity of argument, ele-
gance of diction, and impressiveness of delivery,
%Vied pronounced by the Right Rev. Doctor *Ca-
thy, Bishop of Antiuoe, and Coadjutor to Doctor
Milian. In this discourse the eloquent preacher
enlarged upon the necessity of social worship, ar-
Ruing the point from mason, scripture, and tradi-
hot' ; the advantages of it to society and the state,
and the peculiar benefit of it, in a religious light,
as practised in the Catholic Church. In the course
of his sermon, he, paid appropriate complimeuts to
Dr. Troy, Dr. filoylan, Dr. Milner, and those li-
beral-mindcd isilividuals of other communions. and
particularly to Messrs. Bearish and Cmuterd,
who had, with equal generosity and kindness, con-
tributed large sums or money towards the erectiuu
and einbelliahment of the Chapel.