American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-07-26
nry Wilson, NO. 400, Market Street.
' olune w.

II nave not been so much gratiHed at any thing
have seen since have been in london as was
this day at an exhibition at St. Paul's Church. On
Thursday next is the anniversary meeting of The
charity children belonging 70 the various schools in
and about London. Today the chdten all appear
ed Tor rehearsal really wish you could have been
here Temporary seats were erected under the
dome OF This great building, running from the Doos
to the height OF about twenty five feet, around the
whole area, representing a great amphltheatre.
These seats were divided by iron ratings or rods
running from the floor TO the highest benches so as
10 give to each school certain space. The chll-
dren were marched 10 line into the church, and TO
the place allotted TO them; the boys occupying ten
or fifteen benches from the top, and the girls Their
mainder oil the benches Immediately below them.
10 this way were seated about eight Thousand hdren
he children OF each school differently DIRE sset:
some OF the boys were dressed wholly in red, others
IN blue, light blue, brown, grey, and dun color. The
girls were also dressed various coloured garments
for trocks but all Of them white aprons white
handkerchltts around their necks and heir>bo.
SONS, and white caps with BORDERS but every school
was distinguished by different colored ,ibbon
around their caps. The whole Of the children wore
brass badges OF five or six inches in circumference.
The whisperngs of these children and OF the spec
alors with the noise OF footsteps, caused constant
roar in this wonderful building, which tesemhed
the roar ct thousand waterfalls and struck me
full and unobstructed view OF this most spierdiss
scene made my way up to what is called the wills.
pering gallery which is about 100 teet above the
children, and which runs around the dome, wills
iron ratings, over which person can look ppuf
the scene below. have no language TO describe
the scene | looked down upon. The distance was
too great TO distinguish the faces Of the chldten.
The various schools OF females were distinctly ma k
ed and can only compare hem and their move
ments to rich beds of tups tanned by gentle breeze
Sometimes, when no motion was perez ptible the
children OF one school would resemble an immense
bed spread, elegantly ornamented with various coors
which their gowns, their white aprons The color of
the ribbon on their caps, and III r iaces, would
form. Looking in another direction, the children
appeared like 80 many hundred rolls Of cotton which
had been carded and stood up in rows, each rolk
having an ornament on the top, and wbeneve, the
whole OF them rose up, the motion appeared as
though the wind had gently Bonded their heads,
and when they sat down. ii their heads had a6a ain
become rightsd
| The appearance Of the m lie children also had o
most singular effect. Sitting close together, at the
distance looked upon them, each school appeared
to be one solid mass, and varying from each other
in their dress, each could be distinctly seen, They
appeared 10 me like large squares OF most elegane
floor cloth their dresses, their white neck ciothsp
worn with so much regularity, their faces and heads
forming the various colors. The whole appeal
of tsse children truly deceptive TO the eye yet
most beautiful. But when they all sung toge;hers
aud with such precision TO time that not discor
dant misplaced note was heard accompanied by
The great organ, who h is almost Immediately under
The dome, how can convey t you The effect Of
eight thousand voices aud the sounds OF the organs
all ascending The great dome, upon my ears Il was
deaiening, yet sweet and so inll OF melody, and
distinct witha that every word of the psalms was
| heard. The vast concavc seemed reauy 10 burst
,x,th tha xpbir he uk Y
Stood and assembled to its top, which is nearly four
hundred feet above those from whom the music
proceeded Truly, such scene as this never ex-
pected to witness but il my good fortune TO be
present. and never, can it be effacad from my
memory.
| Ii was considerable time after I reached The
gallery. ere could look over the railing upon the
scene below, such appeared the distance, and SO
larmed were my fears lest by dapida,ion the rail-
ing might give way, and send me down upon the
mass beneath. These fears, however, gradually
subsidized. as saw Others and females, standing i'm
crowds against the ratings, but particularly
as my feelings were moved and soon Interested with
the heavenly sounds arising as though it We're al
most to the very skies, from eight thousand living
Voices returning thanks to God for those great char
lilies which they receiving through his infinite
goodness and mercy. remained until the whole
| ceremony was finished. On Thursday it will be
repeated when the royal family, and The nobility of
England, will probably be present.
FL addition 10 the children, there were from a IN
600 persons present These occupied beaches
placed Immediately under the dome. on the floor,
in the centre of the children, and which run along
one of the great halls, or passages, the back seats
being elevated, giving the spectators full view of
the whole. In the centre OF lhese benches is pull
pit, but not elevated, where the service is perform
ed One person directs the whole of the singnge
He uses something in his hand like rule, which
he elesates and keeps time with The movement
of this is seen by the organist, in a mirror the
izLI IL.