The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-23
ST. PAUL'S-London.

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To be struck with It's length, its width,
and the unbroken holiness of the
dome above, into which the eye as
Cends and penctrates until rcspira-
ton isthickencd and the brain grow $
giddy. aud we seek relief in the coh-
temptation Of objects nearer the sur
face Of The earth and Immediately
around us. the monument, Of the H.
lustrious dead. The eyes OF most
people are SO little accustomed TO
mailing an accurate admeasurcmcnt
Of heights, that The loiiiness Of ST.
Paul's can only be estimated Justly
from below. If We ascend 10 the
Whispering gallery. n height far n
bovc the babltatious Of the people oi
London. the view downwards is o.
empowering. affecting various heads
in various ways-prodncinS vertigo
in some, sickness III others. and an
awful feeling of overthrow -itircneSs
in II few, sort Of propensity 10 drop
through the passive upon the hard
marble below, a thought full Mmad-
ness and horror but when we as
Cend far above this point, and even
tn more than double its elc> alton,
the fearful height does not seem pro-
portionably increased the feeling il
inspired before, seemed scarcely 10
admit Of aggrayation. This whis-
pcring gallery is indeed to many "A
fearful place. The surprising alti-
tudc of dome and tower above the
yawnlng and immense abyss below
the stern marble spread out TO dash
the mortal frame TO instant dust. the
narrowncss Of the circular gallery,
the oycrshadoWing of the supci'in-
cnmbcnt,anlt, the appalling loudness
of every common sound, and the loud
wind heard ever sweeping round the
dome itself, produce AN incredibly
alarming effect on somc individuals.
The young, the aspiring. the new,
to London, can seldom be restrained
from ascending the airy gallery a
boye the dome, and there, IN desert
bling a most limited circulation, the
eye takes in thousand historics.--
London, Will. all its ,ieissitudes, with
all its generations, with all its present
and all the past about il, Is stretched
beneath us, and almost every house
visible. Even from that height the
eye cannot, in directions, oseilcap
the colossus city, and what is seen OF
green fields and hills is seen with
tie indistinctness Of another world.
The wind storms forever round the
cupola, blowing the fair and ad,en-
turous about ("a chartered libcr
tine !") to the greatest advantage (;
whilst the spectator feels almost dis.
posed to lose his confidence in the
secure and eternal pedestal on Which
he stands, and breathicssly enjoys
the sublimity Of apparent danger
without the reality. II is when we
begin to descend from this immense
elevation that VIC feel the fatigue
which 0ycr-cxcitemcnt has caused us
to incur; and that man may be CON
sidercd the rayorite Of fortune who
begins to rctraCe the ncycr-cpding
steps when the organ is pcaling in
the afternoon service +; for, at such a
time, fits Of melody will burst upon
him at unexpected turns, and the
piercing voices Of the fuIl-yoiccd
choir below viii penetrate the intri-
cate recess of the vast structure, aud
vibrations Of harmony will meet him
suddenly in unexpected angles and
sinu0sities of the building. Sweet
sounds will be heard, now near, now
distant, as il borne 10 him by the
soft and litlnl breeze, and every thing
will conspirc to shorten his journey
doWnwards.
OPINIONS gNree celebrated Ladies
on the subject Of .NdtrimOay.
The following are the opinions Of
three ladies Of eminent literary at
tainments, on the subject i Matri-
tnunY