See, of whom the pious Ridley was burnt at Oxford, with Bishop Latimer, in the reign of Queen Mary; and Francis Atterbury was exiled by an Act of the Legislature, in 1723, for a treasonable correspondence. The present Bishop is Dr. Thomas Dampier, who was promoted on the translation of the learned Bishop Horsley to St. Asaph, in the year 1802.

The CATHEDRAL at Rochester stands at a little distance to the south of the High Street, and east from the Castle, the walls of the precincts running parallel with the Castle ditch, It is built in the form of a double cross; and consists of a nave and aisles, two transepts, and a choir, with a low tower, and spire, rising from the intersection of the nave and west transept. This edifice exhibits specimens of the architecture of at least four distinct eras. The nave, and west front, with the exception of the parts hereafter mentioned, were the work of the Norman, Gundulph; together with the massive bell-tower, which stands between the transepts on the north side, and still bears his name. The north side of the west transept was built by the Monks, Richard de Eastgate, and Thomas de Mepeham, subsequent to the fire in 1179; and the south side, by the Monk Richard de Waledene, about the commencement of the following century. The choir, and upper transept, were erected in the reigns of King John, and Henry the Third, by the sacrist, William de Hoo, with the produce of the oblations made at the shrine of St. William.

On approaching the west entrance of this interesting pile, the beholder cannot but be struck with the magnificence of design, and richness of decoration, which, notwithstanding the ravages of time, and the innovations of modern architects, are still observable throughout. The principal door-way opens in the centre, under a beautifully recessed semicircular arch, consisting of a variety of mouldings, supported by three entire columns, and a semi-column on each side. The capitals are composed of wreathed foliage, from which proceed the heads of birds, and other animals. One of them, however, as well as several other capitals on this front, is more regular in its construction; and only differs from those of the Corinthian Order, in the forms of the leaves which surround,

it. The bodies of two of these pillars are wrought into wholelength statues of Henry the First, (as is supposed,) and his Queen Matilda the former sustains a sceptre in his right hand, and in his left, a book: the latter holds a scroll, probably emblematical of the grants made to the Priory by these Sovereigns; but the countenances of both are defaced. All the mouldings of the arch are decorated by sculptures; the principal of them representing twisted branches, and curled leaves, with a variety of small animals, and human heads, in rich open-work. The transom, which rests upon the imposts of the arch, is composed of eight stones, ingeniously dove-tailed together, the outer faces of which are sculptured with the figures of the Apostles. In the space above is a representation of the Saviour, seated; with a book, open, in one hand, and the other raised, as in the act of benediction: and on each side is an angel inclining towards him, together with the symbols of the Evangelists.

From the other remains of the ancient parts of this front, it appears to have consisted of four ranges of small arches, some of which are intersected; having richly-ornamented mouldings, and exhibiting a vast variety in the designs of the capitals, and flutings of the pillars, scarcely any two being similar. Many of the recesses beneath the arches, as well as the spaces between the different ranges, are decorated with net-work, and other ornaments, as flowers, &c. and the bases of the lower range of pillars are wrought into heads of animals, projecting, and looking towards each other. It seems also, from various representations taken in the beginning of the past century, that this front had originally four octagonal towers, which rose above the roof to the height of two stories of small arches, and terminated in pyramids: only one of these is now standing; that nearest to the centre, on the north side, was probably re-built in a different form, at the same time when a considerable portion of the middle of this front was removed to make room for the spacious pointed arched window which now occupies it, and which consists of sixteen larger lights, and nume rous smaller ones in the ramifications of the arch above. The two

other octagonal towers, which occupied the extremities to the

north

worth and south, have been removed within the last forty years: the northern tower was pulled down to the foundation, and re-built in a style intended to bear some resemblance to the original, yet the similitude is but slight. A whole-length statue, however, of Gun, dulph, the founder, standing on a shrine, in pontificalibus, with his crozier across his breast, was carefully preserved, and fixed up in front of the new tower, where it now remains. His mitre has been since broken off; and his right hand, which is stated to have. held a representation of a Church, is also destroyed.

After viewing the west front, the whole remaining exterior part of the Cathedral must be considered as extremely plain, if not altogether destitute of ornament. The ends of the west transept, and the Chapels of St. Mary and St. Edward, are supported by graduated buttresses; this is not the case with the choir, the ponderous roof of which has been suffered to depend entirely on the thickness of its walls, aided by a collateral support from the seve ral towers of its transept, and east end.

From the west door is a descent of several steps to the nave, the greater part of which preserves its original character. The first five columns on each side, and half of the sixth, are in the massive Norman style, supporting semicircular arches, decorated with zig-zag mouldings, and having plain fluted capitals. The columns are dissimilar, not any two in the same range being exactly alike; though the opposite columns in the respective ranges uni formly correspond. Above the arches, sustained on these columns, is a second story of arches, corresponding both in size and ornament. The space beneath each of the latter, however, is filled up by two smaller arches, having zig-zag mouldings, support. ed on three short, thick columns, with fluted capitals. On the face of the wall, between the smaller and upper arches, is displayed a great variety of curious net-works, with central crosses, quatrefoils, trefoils, wreaths, and other ornaments. Beneath these arches is a triforium, or gallery, which communicates with the circular staircases in the angles of the west front. Above are two tiers of windows, each divided into three lights, under flat pointed arches.

The