The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-24 00:00:00

THE CATHEDRAL FESTIVAL AT
COLOGNE.
COLOGNE, AUGUST 14.—Six hundred years have
elapsed to-day since the foundation stone of the cathe-
dral of Cologne was laid in the presence of emperors,
electors, dukes, bishops, princes, and barons. The
wealth of the empire of Charlemagne was almost
at the command of its founders ; the genius of
the architect and the skill of the workmen
have never been excelled, rarely equalled ; the
heart and faith of half Europe were in the
task ; and yet on this 14th of August, 1848, the
cathedral stands half finished, the ancient part of the
edifice crumbling in decay visible to the most careless
eye, beside the additions finished within the last few
hours, presenting a most melancholy contrast, one
of the sternest proofs of the impotence of human
purpose ever given to the world. The history
of the building is involved with that of the
whole German empire from the 13th century down-
wards, for the works were first arrested by the quar-
rels of electors with emperors, and the prince-
bishops with both, and the conflicts of. the unruly
burghers with all three. The funds that should
have raised the temple of peace were seized by the
strongest to defray the expense of wars ; the Refor-
mation came and dried up many of the sources whence
the revenues were derived, and from that period its
history is nearly a blank ; in 1620 Cologne did not pos-
sess even mechanical skill enough to repair one of the
chapels—the old traditions of the craft had perished.
From the beginning of the 18th century nothing was at-
tempted but the patching of rotten roofs and decaying
walls, with great difficulty even keeping it water tight,
till within the last seven years, when a movement,
partly religious, partly political, commenced, which re-
sulted in the present attempt to complete the gigantic
design, and atone for the poverty and indifference of

The only parts of the cathedral finished when the
works were arrested were the eastern end and choir,
with the side chapels, and half of one of the western
towers. As thousands of tourists, must remember,
these colossal fragments were connected by a mass of
sordid, ignoble buildings, that might have been bar-
racks or stables for any character or dignity they pos-
sessed; the companion tower was also commenced, but
had been raised but little above the foundation. The
impression made by the aspect of the whole structure
was that of magnificence, incompleteness, and decay
combined.
It is to the now triumphant idea of Gorman unity
that most of the success of the present effort to realise
the gorgeous conception of the founders in all its splen-
dour is to be ascribed. That idea was proscribed, and
accordingly it adopted any method by which it could be,
theugh but indirectly, expressed, without the possibility
of the rulers opposine it. The completion of a work of
which all GP:111111y might be proud was a purpose that
gave an eneortunity of united effort when all was
divisiere Iteditsious zeal had much influence doubtless;
but the cathedral literature of the past ten years
(for it his a press of its own) proves plainly that
German nationality was the most active power. The
piety, faith, and earnestness of the old founders of
churches and temples cannot be so plainly traced in
all that has been said and written by the advocates of
the movement as that political " unity" of the empire
which the completed cathedral was to embody and ex-
press. To carry out the work practically, the people
formed committees, unions, and societies all over Ger-
many, with hampers, badges, and insignia, and threw
into the task much of that spirit which with us creates
such bodies is the Odd Fellows, Ancient Druids, and
Foresters. They had cathedral bands of music,
cathedral singing societies, and unions of the trades
employed, ali atf a time-vvhen4everyekind-erfetssoeiation
wax an object of suspicion to the Government. It would
be unjust to assert that the bodies thus organized were
turned to a political purpose ; but they fostered and
kept alive an idea that could find no other mode of ex-
pression so open ; there was a worldly object combined
with the religious one.
The groat impulse was given to the movement by the
present Ktng of Prussia, who on Easter-day, 1842, laid
the first stone of the new works, and " endowed" the
undertaking with 50,000 thalers a year. Since that
time the works have been carried on as rapidly as the
limited funds permitted; and it is understood that they
have now almost failed. Without some general contri-
bution from the people of Germany, prompted by na-
tional enthusiasm, as their forefathers were animated by
religious zeal, the cathedral wtll never be completed;
the exchequers of the Sovereigns at the present period
have nothing to spare.
The portion of the edifice added since 1842 is soon
described. The choir and the tower have been united
on the south, by carrying up the stone work to the
point where the light shafts are to spring from the
plain square buttresses ; the three portals on this
side are nearly completed ; and the nave is so far
finished, that with a temporary- roof it can be used
for Divine worship. It is in this south side that
the stained-glass windows, presented by the King
of Bavaria, are placed. On the north side nearly the
same amount of plain work has been finished; but on
both all the most expensive labour has yet to be
bestowed, in the elaborate carvings and tracery of the
pinnacles and shafts, in which the modern workmen

are to imitate and reproduce the triumphs—of
their ancestors. The old stone-work, dark and
wore to roughness by time, contrasts strongly with
the smooth white imasonry of yesterday; in form, of
course, the ancient plan has been rigidly ad-
hered to; time will harmonise the colour, but
at. present the effect is harsh. The carved work

on the front of the south tower is so decayed that
large patches of grass are actually growing in the
roses and fretted ornaments above the portal; the
tracery looks as if it; would turn to dust with a touch:

when the eye passes from it the fresh solid masonry,
the text that condemns " the new piece on the old gar-
ment" occurs involuntarily to the mind.
The portion of the fete celebrated to-day was not so
brilliant as anticipated. A grand concert was given
at the Casino in the morning by the Gesangverein,
and till late in the afternoon, when a procession was
formed and started from the Nenmarkte to the

cathedral, there was nothing to occupy the
citizens who have made up their minds to a three
days' holiday. The streets on the line of route
were splendidly decorated ; enormous banners
waved from every window, from which also de-
pended at -intervars tapestry of brilliant colours;
some decorations made of flowers and evergeens, in
thi form of Gothic windows, were actually works of
art. It was four o'ctock before the procession reached
the cathedral ; it was composed of the Burgher
Guard, the chorus of the boys' schools, the orphan
children, the masons and carpenters of the works,
with their flags, ali the building committees, with
their badges, the Archbishop, several Bishops, and
the clergy. They wore their full canonicals, and
with their attendants formed the only brilliant part
of the spectacle. As soon as those who were ad-

mitted within the cathedral were placed, the choir
chanted Lcetatus. scan (the 121st Psalm), on the con-
clusion of which the master of the works, with a
short address, went through the form of delivering the
new portion of the edifice to the Archbishop. It will be
consecrated to-morrow. The 83d Psalm (Quam delecta
tabernacula tua) was then chanted, and the Archbishop
dismissed the congregation with his blessing.
The King of Prussia arrived by the railway at the
Deutz station, between seven and eight in the evening.
He was received by the Burgher Guard with hearty
Cheering ; he crossed the Rhine in a small steamer, and
proceeded immediately to the apartments prepared for
him. He to be serenaded during the night, and a
torchlight precession is to be formed in his honour.

The most characteristic event of the day was an acci-
dental one. Shortly before the arrival of the King a
band of peasants going on the annual pilgrimage to the
chapel at Cafen entered the city by the bridge of
boats. It was composed of very old men and
. . .

women in their p;ovincial costume, dusty and
footsore with their day's march. They walked in
two long lines, the women first, with folded hands,
chanting the Avc Maria; a priest in full robes followed,
breviary in hand and the crucifix borne behind
him. Then came the men, aged, bald, and wrin-
kled, stooping under the weight of years and toil;
many of them were the very types of the peasant
in the etchings of Holbein's " Dance of Death;"
most of them repeated aloud a prayer as they walked
along. Several covered carts closed the procession,
carrying the baggage and a few children, half-
delighted, half-scared by the great floating banners,
and the noise and rush of the great city. They will
rest for the night outside the walls, and resume
their march to-morrow, having still three days' jour-
ney before them. It was a fragment of the life of the
middle ages brought suddenly on the scene ; and it was

almost tiro only event of the day that left an impression
of earnestness or depth of feeling.

A WOMAN STONED TO DEATH !—When Smith
(the fellow convicted of the outrage upon Mr. Hadow)
stated, on his apprehension that he had killed ono person
already on that day, no one for a moment could suppose
that there was any foundation for the assertion. There is
now no moral doubt of its correctness. He had literally
stoned a poor woman to death ! The woman's name
was Ellen Lawrence, residing at Collingbourne, a few
miles from the residence of the Rev. Mr. Hadow. She
'bad been taking some dinner to a labourer at work in
a field, and was on her return home when she was
brutally murdered, in the way stated, in the
public road.
~ho was discovered by a gentle-
man passing the road in a gig, who immediately gave
jinformation to some reapers—observing, "There she lies
ust as I found her, I have not touched her !" and then
went on, saying that he was going to Weyhill. The poor
woman was breathing at the time, but she died shortly
afterward?. She presented a most frightful spectacle. Her
head had been " battered" with large stones, apparently
thrown with force enough to kill a horse. An inquest
was held on the body on.
theseMond and adjourned to this
day. It is to be hoped, for nds of justice, that the
gentleman who first discovered her will attend and give
evidence. Whether there will be sufficient legal evi-
dence to convict Smith of the murder is uncertain. At
present there is only his own confession.—Devizes
Gazette.

It is fully anticipated that the works of th
Level Bridge will be so far completed by the end 111 Q
--
the present month that railway by
ewe'nild beof.
enabled to cross and. re-cross the Tyne with th
most perfect regularity and safety. The
arches
ever the Manors, leading from the janction of thee
North Shields Railway to Pilgrim-street, have, during
the present week, been tested by several engines
and carriages having passed along that portion of the line
The whole of the works are of that strong and substan-
tial character which is calculated to ensure the safety of
the public, and to reflect the highest credit on the con-
tractors, and it may be stated that the bridge and via-
ducts will be completed in all their parts in about twelve
months from this time.—Newcastle Journal.

GAS-LIGET AND COKE CO:

,ANIES.

Dividend Amount
Name of Company, per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
---
X. s. d. A. s. d.
British •• •..•.• • • • • 11. 40 0 0 18 0 0 16
Ditto Provincial.... 11. Bs. 20 0 0 19 0 0 23
Bristol ........ ••• • • • 01. per cent. 20 0 0
Brighton
City of London .....• 101. 100 0 0 100 0 0 250
Continental Consolidat. 925. pr share 50 0 0 39 5 0
Ditto, New ...... • • 851. pr share 150 0 0 37 10 0
Equitable— ...... •• 455. pr share 50 0 0 50 0 0 36
Imperial ... ... ••• • • • 61. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 69
independent ....... • • 61. per cent. 40 0 0 40 0 0 64
L0nd0n.................... ........ .. •. 50 0 0 SO 0 0
Ditto
50 0 0 50 0
Phcernix . ...... • • .... 51. per cent. 50 0 0 46 0 0 31
Ratcliff ..... ...... • • 51. and bns. 100 0 0 90 0 0 7S
United General —•• • • 4%1. pr cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 15
Westmiaster Chartered Si, 50 0 0 55
Ditto, New .•.. • • . . 12s. 50 0 0 10 0 0 , lON