ritual arrangements comprise a railed sanctuary, a chancel benched stallwise, a reading-desk, with westward bible-desk at the north-east end of the nave, and a pulpit on the opposite side of the chancel arch. The font stands at the westward angle of the junction of the main alley, and of that from the north porch.

NOTICES AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"My dear Editor,-I have obtained permission from my esteemed friend, the writer of the following letter, to send it to the Ecclesiologist for insertion. Yours faithfully, A. J. B. HOPE."

"Connaught Place.

Precincts, Canterbury, Feb. 20, 1850. My dear Mr. Hope,-I lighted by chance, a day or two ago, in looking into the last Number of the Ecclesiologist, on a passage, in the 'Notices and Answers to Correspondents,' animadverting on a rule, or supposed rule, of our Cathedral which puts an obstacle in the way of artists and artistic students. I do not know who is the Editor, nor do I wish to trouble him officially with a formal communication; but as there is no one who is more closely identified, in my mind, with the cause of Ecclesiology than yourself, and no one who would care more kindly for the good fame of Canterbury, I am anxious you should know that we have no such rule as the correspondent of the Ecclesiologist has been led to suppose, and that the refusal, which, it appears, he recently met with, must have been one of those 'accidents' which will happen (as they say) in the best regulated families.' For I really hope ours is not an ill-regulated one in the main; and indeed the Editor does us the justice to believe that we should not be disposed to exercise an illiberal exclusion.' In the recent instance complained of there must have been, I think, some misunderstanding, as the Editor is inclined to think there was in a former case; or if it was owing to the absence of the officer, whom the Dean had put in charge in this matter, I will do my best that it shall be obviated another time. Since I have been constantly resident, and in office as Treasurer, (i.e. for the last year or more,) the Dean has given orders that all applications of this kind be referred to me, as specially in charge of the fabric; and I have in no instance given a refusal, having only first satisfied myself, by the card or the appearance of the applicant, that he was a respectable person, and was applying for a bona fide object. I could give proof to any one visiting the Cathedral that some vigilance is really necessary; the only rule which I have laid down, or rather maintained, is one which the Editor of the Ecclesiologist would approve of, viz., that no one can be allowed to draw during the time of Divine Service.

We have received a very large mass of correspondence on the subject of our article on funerals, corroborating with scarcely an exception our statements. We have also had many inquiries on various points connected with the subject. We have been engaged in rather extensive inquiries as to biers, coffins, and similarly practical points; and we prefer waiting for a little further information before answering, in another paper, the questions we have received. In the meantime, we should be obliged by an answer to any of the following inquiries :

1. The name and circumstances of any parish where the bier is universally used.

2. Whether it is carried on the shoulders or underhanded.

3. If the latter, whether with or without straps.

4. Whether more than one bier is employed.

5. The weight of the bier.

6. Instances of gabled coffins.

7. Instances of hearses to the bier,-and how made.

We must, however, inform R. V. that he has mistaken our meaning. We never, for a moment, recommended a cruciform coffin, but merely a double gabled lid: such as the coping of the tomb given, Pl. 15 of the 1st Volume of the Instrumenta Ecclesiastica.

We are glad to learn that an architectural history of Westminster Abbey is about to be undertaken by Mr. Scott and the Rev. Mr. Cope. Those who have had the pleasure of examining the building with the first of these gentlemen, and of observing the patient attention he has bestowed on it, in detecting those little varieties of building which denote different epochs and imitation work, will feel confident that the architectural part of the work will be safe in his hands. That the documentary portion of the investigation, the fixing the different dates, from the materials to be found in the MSS. of the Dean and Chapter, may be with the fullest reliance entrusted to Mr. Cope, will be clear also to any one who, like ourselves, has had the pleasure of visiting him in the Chapter library.

These gentlemen, however, are undertaking a task of great importance and difficulty. Westminster Abbey is a sort of epoch in Architecture, and its style opens questions that cannot be solved, without reference to other buildings on the continent as well as in this country.

Happily we are no longer content with a gu de book to the tombs, or even with patient measurements and plans of the building; the progress of the age both in architecture and archæology, requires that the historians should put forth their utmost powers, to give a monography worthy of our greatest abbey, and of the most imposing and magnificent, if not the most complete, specimen of the Pointed architecture of this country. We hope that they will not confine their attention to the church, but will give what information they may be able to afford of the position and use of the different buildings of the monastery, and especially of the Chapter House, not overlooking the exquisite remains of medieval painting, which still lurk behind the dusty bookcases of that dishonoured building.

We thank A. H. for his name. We are aware of the building to which he refers, and hope before long to notice it.

Some of our readers

A correspondent forwards the following letter. may perhaps be able to explain the date and letters. "SIR,-I take the liberty of requesting the favour of your assistance to explain an inscription on a tombstone in Romford churchyard, which is as follows:

"A. S. B. September 12, 1721. Here lieth the body of Joseph Bosworth, late citizen and cooper of London, who departed this life 30th day of July, 1730."

་

"I cannot learn the meaning of A. S. B.' with the date annexed. Perhaps it is unreasonable to suppose this expression, which may have some local allusion, to come within your cognizance, but I venture to request your consideration of it."

Specimens of Ancient Cornish Crosses, Fonts, &c. No. I. London: Cleaver. This first part contains an interesting series of twenty-four ancient Crosses, rather rudely drawn, but well enough to give a general idea of them, save only for the unaccountable omission of any kind of scale. They are printed by the anastatic process. Though not highly priced we should doubt such a series succeeding as a speculation-if indeed it be meant as a speculation. Mr. F. C. Hingston is the draughtsman.

A not dissimilar work is the Misereres in Exeter Cathedral-twenty plates of this curious and early woodwork, also printed at Cowell's anastatic press from drawings by the Rev. J. W. Hewett. It is published by Butler, of Shoreham.

We hope soon to communicate to our readers a paper on Crowland Abbey, read before the Cambridge Architectural Society, by Mr. O. W. Davys, of S. John's College.

Mr. E. Richardson is preparing for publication a series of finished etchings of The Monumental Effigies in Elford Church, Staffordshire, to be accompanied by descriptions, &c. These fine monuments have been restored under his able superintendence. We have been favoured with a sight of three plates already finished, and have pleasure in strongly recommending the series (which is to be published by subscription, and for which additional names are much wanted,) to all who are interested in monumental art, or costume, or genealogical investigations. The series will be ready for publication in a few months; and promises to be a worthy successor of Mr. Richardson's "Temple Effigies."

The subscription for filling the east window of Lincoln Minster with stained glass stands in great need of support.

The Rev. E. C. Harington, Chancellor of Exeter, has published a most valuable pamphlet on The Reconsecration, Reconciliation, &c., of Churches, (Rivingtons) which we must notice more at length, if possible, in our next number.

We have received copies of three interesting papers read before the Northamptonshire Architectural Society, on October 9, 1849, viz. :one by the Rev. G. A. Poole, "On some of the peculiarities of the Norfolk Churches;" one by the Rev. T. James, on "Labourers' Cot

tages;" and one by G. G. Scott, Esq., on "The Restoration of S. Peter's, Northampton."

Received G. W.-R. V.-W. E.-" A Constant Reader."-W. L. B. A Review of Worsaae's Primeval Antiquities of Denmark (J. H. Parker) is in type, but is necessarily deferred owing to the length of the Reports of the various Architectural Societies.

For the same reason we are compelled to defer a paper on Open Churches, which we the more regret, as its appearance would have been nearly simultaneous with a remarkable motion in Parliament of Mr. Ewart's, notice of which was given after the article was in type. We quote Mr. Ewart's motion, and hail its object with much satisfaction :House of Commons, March 11, "Mr. Ewart gave notice, that after Easter he should move an address to her Majesty, ast he head of the National Church, praying that she may be graciously pleased to take into consideration the expediency of causing our Cathedrals and Churches to be generally open (so far as is practicable) throughout the day, with a view to encourage the practice of private devotion therein, especially for the benefit of the poorer classes of the community." We heartily wish Mr. Ewart's motion success, saving as these times compel us to do, parliamentary interference with Ecclesiastical matters and trust it will receive effectual support in the House from every well-wisher to the Church, especially from those of our own members who are privileged there to raise a voice in her behalf.

A "Constant Reader" will find what he asks for in one of the editorial articles of the present number.

We cannot refrain from calling our readers' attention to an extremely interesting and valuable exhibition of mediæ val, combined with classical and cinque cento works of art, which is at this moment to be seen at the Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi. Many of the specimens, especially in metal, in which it is most rich, are of an exquisite beauty. We trust that the study of them may be of practical benefit to our artists.

INDE X.

LLL