Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-11-05

Of the organ, which il appears has 1900
pipes. One can Judge then what glori-
Gus Musical Festivals there are at times,
within the walls Of the Cathedral, with
600 vocal and Instrumental performers as
there have been-all at once and what
a crash OF choruses this must make-and
melodious long drawn notes Of softness
through such space! Our guide took
US into many other parts of the Cathedral,
ameng the mOnuments-intoth the crypt
and showed us the wonderful reflection
of the stained windows over its entrance, I
but l will not weary you with particu-
lars after have spoken Of the Nestry.
There, in this antique room, he showed
us a silver Crosier that the queen Dowa-
ger Of Charles II. brought from Portu-
gal-then large ivory vessel called VI
phus's horn, drinking horn belonging
to this prince, by drinking wine from
which before the altar of God, he enfe-
offed this church with all his lands and
revenues--by which relic the church
holds valuable lands to this day. Then
he set forth a wooden head found in the
grave Of an Archbishop--silver chalices
also found in Archbishops' graves; can
opy Of state carved over the head Of
James |. when he visited York, but
which was most interesting-an antique
chair that used to stand within the rails
of the altar, in which several Of the Sax
on kings were crowned, and in which
Richard III. and James /. were also
crowned--a chair that bears about it all
the marks Of time, for were il not fas-
tened together by bars Of iron, it would
have tumbled to pieces long ago.
After this display Of antique relics, we
dismissed our grandiloquent guide, and
ascending 273 steps came to the summit
of what is called Lantern Tower, on.
which in 1866 turret Of wood was G.,
.rected to serve as beacon to alarm the
country if the Holanders or French
should attempt landing. The turret is
gone now-nnd hence we had the whole
range Of the summit-a view Of the,
grand pilo under our feet, the red tiles
of the dwellings, Of York and a pros
pect as far as the eye could reach over
plain Of highly cultivated country seats
in the distance on the long stretch of the
Ouse and the Fosse. And then what Il
rush Of History in ones mind, for over
this now fertile plain, Eriton, Scot, Ro-
man, Saxon, and Norman have here
shed rivers of blood. Upon almost ev-
cry spot some man has bit the ground in
death. But now sweet peace reigns,
over this former scene of desolation.-
All is as a garden. No hostile Scot
threatens to plunder the crops luxuriant-
ly growing. The cattle Craze in peace.
Man wanders abroad fearless and un-
awed, with no war armor on, no spear
nor arrow in his hand. Such are the
fruits Of religious civilization!
l left the Cathedral to look at other
things in the city of York but all is
tame after such sight. l ided about
the ruins Of St. Mays Abbey, fabric
founded by William Rufus. 1 moved
along the walls and walks about it. ]
peeped into the windows of the old
churches, Of which York is ll,-and
the old, the narrow, and antique fash
Toned lanes Of the city; but as this was.
the first cathedral | was ever in, | could
think Of but little else. AT eleven o.
clock at night, in company with my friend
IN the then yet luminous twilight, (mark
what contrast in time with ours,) we
took survey again Of its outward pro-
portions, for misty light looms up the
more, even such prodigious pile. We
met the watchman Of the cathedral, with
a lantern in his hand, (for a watch has
been kept ever since the incendiarism of
l829)-just entering The door upon his
round. We solicited permission to en-.
ter, and he gave it. The dark lantern
was kept closed, and the least whisper
OF ours could be heard all along the arch
es My soitest footsteps seemed like
heavy trampings of some huge beast
l clung to my friend, if not in terror, at
least in awe. There was a shivering of
horror in the whole frame. We went
among the tombs and monuments once
more. A little misty twilight entered
the stained window. My fancy was
wrought up. thought saw the feudal
lords spring to life, with all their armor
on. The mitred Bishop, with the cros-
Ter, seemed to stand before me as did his
statue. The scul ptured images were
ghosts. The stony angels seemed to
stretch their wings and blow their trum-
pets with real life. l never before felt
such a terrible illusion, such an awful
sense Of loneliness. l would not take
the watchman's Office for cathedral,
and yet have no fear of grave yards
nor ghosts-but | fear the antiquity there
is here-I dread these hdeous forms Of
sculptured stone. could not forget the
thousand superstitions Of the days in
which they lived, and which half be-
lieve, philosophy in spite. went home