The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-19

. 3
believed to dispense storms and pesti-
lence, drive away devils and extinguish
fires.
The largest bell in the world is the
as it is called, or . Emperor of Bells"
was cast in 1874 during the reign of the
Empress Anne. It's weight is computed
to be 443, 772 pounds. Its cost is esti-
mated to have been over $500 900. Add
ed to this we are told that the mobiles
cast in over a million dollars worth of
plate, precious stones, etc. 1t is orna-
mented on the sides 1t was originally
suspended from beams. These beams
being destroyed by fire in the year 1887
the bell fell to the ground and broke.
In 1881 the Emperor Nicholas had it raised
and placed upon low circular wall in
the kremlin. The opening in its side
being large enough to admit two men
standing abreast. it has been consecrated
as a chapel, and is guarded day and
night lest particle of its precious metal
| should ne carried away.
In the tower of Ivan Neliki is the bell
| presented by the Emperor Boris Godu-
nof to the Cathedral of Moscow. This
bell weighs 127. 1876 pounds. and it is said
that when it is rung, which is three times
year, sit produces tremulous effect
throughout the city, and a noise like the
roaring of distant thunder
The Great Bell of China" in Pekin,
weighs 10000 pounds. 1t is fourteen
| feet high and twelve feet in diameter.
| There are said to be seven bells in Pekin
weighing 100, 600 pounds each. At Nan
kin there is one weighing 80, 900 pounds.
The Chinese bells are generally beauti-
fully ornamented, but their tones are not
as rich as those of other countries. In
fact, it is not an unusual sight in China
to see immense bells lying upon the
ground, their weight having been too
great for the beams from which they
were suspended. In Vienna bell was
cast in the year III, weighing 3j.400
pounds. In Rouen there is one weigh
ing $4,000 pounds. The largest bell in
England at Westminster, weighs about
30. 600 pounds.
The famous bell at Erfurt, in Germany,
which is baptized Suzanne, weighs 81
800 pounds. and is over twenty four feet
in circumference; its clapper weighs 100
pounds. 1t is said to be of the finest bell
metal, having the largest proportion of
silver in it. The largest bell in America
is that Of Notre Dame Cathedral in Mon
treal, which weighs about 2j, 900 pounds.
The one in the Cathedral of Notre Dame
in Paris weighs the same. St. Peters,
Rome, weighs 1850 pounds. Great
Tom. of Great Church, Oxford, weighs
1900 pounds. The Jacquellne bell of
Paris weighed $1,000 pounds. Great
Tom, of Lincoln. weighs 1854 pounds,
and st. Paul's. London, S400 pounds.
Let other countries talk of their great
bells, if they will. The American has
one bell. small though it may be- COM
pared with others, which is far more pre-
cious than if it We're studded with pre-
cious stones-the old Liberty Bell.
On Nov. l, 1751, Robert Charles, who
was then in London. was commissioned
to procure a good bell, weighing about
1000 pounds. and costing about 600
sterling. It was to be cast by the best
workmen, to be examined before it was
shipped, and to contain. sin well shaped
letters round it: BY order of the As
sembly of the Province of Pennsylvania,
for the State House in the city of Phila-
delphia. 1852 and underneath: PRO
claim Liberty throughout all the land to
all the inhabitants thereof.-Lev. XIV,
TO-"
The bell arrived in August, 1852 III
apparently good order but notwthstand-
ing all instructions we are told that 1.-the
superintendent had the modification to
hear that it was cracked by stroke of
the clapper without any other violence
as it was hung up to try the sound
An effort was made to send it back, but
Speaker Norris who was chairman of
the committee empowered to obtain the
new bell for the State House, writes
March 10. 1928: 1.-TWO ingenious work
men undertook to cast it here, and am
now informed they have this day opened
the mould and have got Il good bell,
which | confess pleases me very much
that we should first venture upon and
succeed in the greatest bell cast, for
aught know, in English America
We find by the following bill that this
bell was hung in 1753
PHILADELPHIA, April II, 175}.
THE Province,
To EDMUND WOOLEY, DIR.
For sundrys advanced for raising the Bell
Frame and putting mp the Bell.
\ peck Potatoes, 2S. Sd: II Id.
Beef at -. IS. Sd; Gammons,
So lii. at 6d.-10S. ............. 81 !
Mustard, Pepper, Salt, Butter. .
\ Cheese, Il ID. at 6d.-Gs. Cd:
Beef, 50 10. at 4d.-10S.; Il Peck
PotaroeS, -. Observation-Disclosures. 10
800 Lines, AS; > gallons rum, of
John Jones' lis. ............ 8 0
SO Loaves of Bread, of Lacey, we
Baker. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. O 9 o
Cooking and Wood, S.; Earthen-
ware and Candles, 13S. al. ..... 0 IL 1
\ barrel of Beer, of \. Morris. is U
60 - 10
Errors excepted. ED. WoOLEY.
1t was found. however, that the bell
contained too much copper, which was so
ridiculed by the townspeoplc that Pass