The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-01 00:00:00

Harrison Ainsworth's New story.

" THE HOUSE WITH THE SEVEN CIIDINEYS."
Another instalment of Harrison Ainsworth'
new historical romance—commemorative (under
the whimsical title of " The House with the Seven
Chimneys") of the adventurous journey to .adrid •
(in quest of a wife) undertaken by Charles the First
when Prince of Wales--lends a more than usual
charm to this month's number of Bentley's Miscellany.
And it does so for the simple reason that it shows that
one of the most popular of our romance writers--
famous years ago as the author of " Rookwood" and
" Jack Shepherd," of " Windsor Castle" and •
The Tower of London," of " Old St. Paul's"
and " The Miser's Daughter"—is still eaPahl°'
whenever he so pleases, of writing at his very best.
There are several among the singularly picturesque
scenes and incidents recounted by him in the chap-
ters of his new tale, but just now publishing, that
enable us confidently to assert, in regard to his lite"
rary capabilities, what we have thus but a moment
since been asserting. And we would merely direct
the attention of any one who might feel dis-
posed to question the accuracy of our statement, t°
examine cursorily—in proof that it is so—to the cell
instalment we are now alluding to as notably ador
ing the current number of Bentley's •
Proof positive, however, we may here at once giTe
by a casually selected quotation or two from the
pages of the magazine. Charles and Buckinghala,
(the two Smiths !) have arrived in Chapter vc•
Burgos, where, after nightfall, they loiter into the
glorious old Cathedral.
"Prepared as they were for a wondrous spectacle, tile
grand coup d'ceil offered by the interior of the cathedral
mudfar
surpassed any expectations they had formed of it,
f
struck them with reverential awe. Emerging from oos °t
the aisles into the mighty nave, they stood still for a suer
time to contemplate the sublime picture. A large Vrt„i°ll
I',l
of the fans was plunged in gloom, but this obscurity aslui,„,
e'
to the effect of such parts as could be distinguished. ."
twinkling tapers attached to the long line of pillars:,°:
either side, though only serving to make darkness Vin,
in the aisles, cast sufficient light on the nave to dim
the numerous figures kneeling on the pavement. Tu",ei,,
devotees were for the most part women, who, even The
their prayers, never ceased to agitate their fans.
All, without exception, wore mantillas, and were attird. in
black. Scattered amongst them were a few men in On°
and picturesque costumes.
" The grand altar at which the priests were officlaiiahs
was a blaze of light, and the splendour of this pot
The
scene was heightened by the surrounding gloom'
prince and Buckingham might have regretted that so ion
architectural beauties—so many exquisite sculptures a!'(e-e
paintings—were hidden from their view • that the 0011
of the gorgeous painted windows were not' called f°l4,,l'i,';
external light, and the charming perspectives fornleu
the triple rows of pillars in the aisles were only inWsrfecf •ts
revealed; but, such as it was, the picture was perfect °-,14
kind, and delighted them as much as if every detail
been fully revealed.
"Moving slowly down the nave, ever and anon gl„,ciiiiig
between the pillars of the aisles at some lovely but el"tii.
seen chapel, or pausing to gaze at a painting or statney, ;-
attracted their attention, the prince and his conillanle;:e. t
proached the choir, where the light afforded by the,
altar candles was sufficiently strong to enable them orb
cern the marvellous workmanship of the stalls, the 6130
retablo, with its spiral pillars and consummately bt the
statues, and overhead the glorious dome, storied no 11.
arms of kings and archbishops—a dome which of
pronounced to be so beautiful, ' that it seemed the scre.
angels rather than the production of men.' s Vac-
" Having examined all these marvels, so far as thea
ticable under the circumstances—the sacred rites weireplclft
being performed at the high altar—the Princesou
nd
ingham glided noiselessly away, and proceeded to th. b*its,3lf
Gothic chapel, called the Capilla del Condestable----ln
screen
a church—where they beheld a marvellous altar
10og
and several tombs of extraordinary beauty--chief„ad
de
the latter being the tomb of Don Pedro Herlas.,7„c i."
Velasco, constable of Castillo, and founder of the,"
fter
Upon the following morning, the travelrsCoa
an enthralling adventure (leading to a dile ;e3tie
what not), return to the same wondrously real two
edifice, of which our author writes thereupon
eloquently : were Del
" The full beauties of the superb Gothic fane ir
Nag
revealed to them—the tall twin spires cleaving tiie thetowards heaven, the three exquisitely carved portals u
grand entrance, the triple-shafted aisles, the Majestic
jus'iw
the vaulted roof, the numerous chapels with their
with
ments, statues, and paintings, the magnificent choir ,„0
its splendidly gilt gates, beautiful stalls, and glorsliructo
canopy—all these, and a thousand beauties morer, tir
displayed to their ravished gaze. .To complete thei 14,6
faction, the grand notes of the organ were heard
along the roof, while sweet voices arose from the chef
"As on the previous evening, the paversout pre'
mighty nave was peopled with female devotees, 41,ttire,
ducing a singular and striking effect, from theirhlan%aaer
their fans and mantillas ; and many of them—the Y.: ac'ocl
at least—boasting magnificent eyes, jet-black ince s'o9
charming features. In the chapels also there we% clot,
worshippers ; and though the hour was so earlY,
dral might be said to be thronged. Ahe n°lci
t'
u
"As Graham passed the chapel of Santa us„eived
not help casting a glance into it, and then the pro
beautiful creature he had seen there one of the
night. She was kneeling before the pul/o d.:
Virgin, and not far from her stood the yontF, di
Cea, so engrossed by the contemplation of
than
that he had eyes for no other object. , Luo,•-
" Charles remained within the cathedral for tbo
an hour, chiefly employing himself in detaning.° jo thei
marvellous paintings which he had been ulla'bie to
.
on tbe previous evening, and then, deeply deP kais
necessity of departure, he bade adieu to the gl:rim oh°
in which he would willingly have tarried darinf lie ertv.
of the day, and returned with his companions `43 tS
dor, where breakfast awaited them." al°
Having given which mere taste of our renjog
manner, as one of the most picturesque a131.,i, refer
lug narrators, we may content ourselves wl'' f gr.
ring the reader to the current instalraell
lay
of
10,5
Ainsworth's new historical romance, as it
voile)
be found in full in the March number of A'
Miscellany.