Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-03-03
NOTES BY THE WAY.


Special Correspondence Of the Standard.
LONDON, ENGLAND.
| Nearly opposite the Houses of
Parliament stands
WESTMINSTER ABBEY,
which was one of the first, as it was
likewise one of the most interesting,
objests that attracted my attention.
This abbey was founded very early.
in the seventh century, by Seabert,
King of the East Saxons. Having
been destroyed, it was rebuilt by
King Edgar, about 800 years after
wards. It was againr ebuilt and en-
larged by Edward the Confessor,
and was again enlarged during sue
cessive reigns. The most important
addition was the Chapel of Henry
VII. which was made early in the
10th century, and was so highly es-
teemed that until the time of Charles
I. it was reserved as a place of
sepulture for royalty alone. Exte-
riorly the building measures as fol-
lows: Length $50 feet, width at
transept 2O3 feet, and height of
west tower 22C feet.
Westminster Abbey consists of
1, Poets Corner, South transept;
2, the Nave; 3, st. Benedict Chapel;
4, st. Edwards Chapel; 5, St. Mich
OILS Chapel; 6, st. Paul's Chapel;
u, st. Erasmurs Chapel; s, Chapel
of Henry VII; 8, Chapel ofEdward
the Confessor; 10, The Choir; II,
Cloisters; IL, Ambulatory; 10, Chap
ter House;
Entering by one of the principal
portals, directly into the North trans
ept, at the eastern end of the build
ing. the effect produced is at once
very striking. Monuments of the
most imposing character, in memory
Of the mighty dead, are displayed
in great profusion all around you.
Following the course marked out in
the small guide-book which I had
purchased at the door, I at once
directed my course across the tran
sept to the
POETS CORNER.
This occupies about half the South
transept, and contains the busts and
monuments of such men as: John
son, Butler, Milton, Gray, Chaucer,
Dryden, Campbell, Shakespeare, Ad-
Olson, Goldsmith, &C., &c. Ipaused
for a moment at the grave of Chas.
Dickens. 1t is situated at the foot
of Handell's coffin, aud at the head
of that of Sheridan's.
While here we were notified that
the guide was in readiness to con-
duct us through the chapels. They
are all situated in the eastern part
of the abby, each one opening into
the ambulatory, and all surrounded
by tombs and monuments, both
ancient And modern. As we were
admitted into the ambulatory by q
small gate on the right, our atten-
was first directed to the
CHAPEL OF ST. BENEDICT.
No one is allowed to enter this
chapel, but it is easily seen from
Poets corner. Heraare the tombs
of John Spotswood, archbishop of
of st. Andrews, and Dean Vincent
as also some others of equal noto-
riety.
Following our guide, we enter the
CHAPEL OF ST. EDMUND.
Here is the tomb of Walter de VAL
ence, Earl of Pembroke, who was
assassinatee in the year 1896. This
is one of the oldest monuments in
the abbey. Here also I observed the
tomb Of Lord John Russell.
| CHAPEL OF ST. NICHOLAS.
This chapel contains the tombs of
eighteen individuals of high rank,
whose remains are buried here.
Among them I observed the names
Of the Dutches of Northumberland,
Lady Jane Clifford, and Sir Hum
phry Stanly.
Passing on, we ascend small
fight of stairs into the
CHAPEL bF HENRY VII.
This is the most beautiful of the
whole structure. Here are several
royal tombs.s Those of Henry VII.