Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-12-09

which the peers do homage When the crowns
are put on, the peers and peeresses put on
their coronets and signal is given from the
top of the Abbey for the tower guns to fire at
the same instant. To take an advantageous
view OF the inside, you must go to the west
door, between the towers; and the whole body
of the church opens itself at once to your eye,
which cannot but fill the mind of every be-
holder with the awful solemnity of the place,
caused by the loftiness of the roo, and the
happy disposition of the lights and of that no.
BILE range of pillars, by which the whole build
ing is supported. The pillars terminate to-
wards the east by a sweep, thereby enclosing the
Chapel of Edward the Confessor in kind of
semicircle, and excluding all the rest. On the
arches of the pillars are galleries of double
columns, fifteen feet wide, covering the side
aisles and lightened by middle range of win
dows, over which there is an upper range Of
larger windows: by these and the under range,
with the four capital windows, the whole fabric
is so admirably lighted, that the spectator is
never incommoded by darkness, nor dazzled
with glare Among the most interesting relics
Of the, antiquity Of this venerable place. is the
ancient monument to Sebert, King of the East
Saxons,s which we noticed on the left of the
gate of she entrance to the Chapels. King
Sebert first built church nearly on this site,
and died In the early part of the seventh CEN
tury. So as far as We reliably know anything
about the founding of the Abbey, the date of
King Sebertis the earliest known and he was the
first monarch buried there. while George Ii
was the last King inferred in Westminster. In
all there have been thirteen English sovereigns
whose remains repose within these famous
walls (and fourteen queens that is. once reign
ing soveIelgns, or he consorts OF kings) en-
bracing period of more than twelve hundred
years. Another relic (among the great num-
Der that surround ns) that particularly attract
ed our attention was the Coronation Chair it
was quite plain and strong, with high back
and, apart from its history, would not impress
you as being anything more than chair of the
olden tine, made firm and secure Of course
it is very ancient, and was so constructed as
to enclose the stone (which is reported to be
Jacobs Piar), brought with the regaha from
Scotland, by Edward |, aud offered to ST.
Edwards shrine in the year 1897, latter he had
overcome John Baliol. King OF Scots, in sew
eraI battlesl. In this chair all the reigning
sovereigns have been crowned since Edward |.
A place so full of interest, teeming as it does
with volu mes of its great associations through
twelve long centuries of the past cannot fail to
lastngly impress each and every mind with all
the gran5eur of its silent but entombed great
ness, while it calls up reflections that are
mournful and sad, yet, it also makes the heart
beat warmer and quicker with the most con-
scious feelings of human pride to know that
earthly glory and earthly fame are something
more than empty names And the mind
that receives no impressions, that treasures up
no pure, no exalted thoughts the heart that
isca!lous that is closed to all these Surroundings,
must surely be at war with all the best of hu-
man proinptings, and whose churlish soul is
only fit for 'stratagens and spoils. [ would
counsel milestone for his neck, and his quiet
home should be the bottom of the sea.
We walked into Old Westminster once on
bright Sabbath moroing to hear the Bishop of
London preach, and while this gifted divine
hedfcrth in a very learned, able and eloquent
manner, [ did not remember after the service
was over anything in regard to his sermon more
than the text. aud you will excuse me when [
tell you that it was not through Indifference to
his suhject, or any non-lntention to appre-
ciate and TO be benz fitted by the holy counsel
of the & cd man !; but, dear reader, was seat
ed Ia the Poets Coraef, and my thoughts
would roa 70 from 90 famous name 10 another,
and | would think over the genius Of tho>e
brilliant minds tha are DO longer numbered
with the lross of earth. Here their country,
not forgattul of their greatness while living,
and the rich legacies they have left to the
world have endeavored to preserve In brass,
marble aad stone their memories to all time.
Tlere IS no fear that their names and works
will ever die so long as the English language is
known among the nations of the earth they
will live on when old Westminster has passed
away, and even till
sThe cloud-capped towers the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples the great globe itself,
7 Yea, al which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like the baseless fabric CT vision,
Leave not a wreck behind"
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