The first oval is composed of stones of a very large size, rising gradually in height from east to west; the second one being formed by stones not more than six feet in height. Outside of these circles are several stones of large size, scattered at intervals; one of which is of the immense circumference of twenty-four feet. The entire number of stones has been variously estimated at from 129 to 140. The various conjec

tures made relative to this famous temple would fill a respectable sized volume, some of which are absurd enough; Inigo Jones, for instance, who ought to have known better, would have it that it was the remains of a Roman Temple of the Tuscan order; and another writer, who has only lately given his hypothesis to the world, tells us that, with other stones and ancient tumuli in the neighbourhood, it represents the Solar System.

THE CATHEDRAL.

The Cathedral of Chichester is one among the many churches in this district built during the transition from the Norman to the early English style of architecture. Although not large, it has several points of interest, and some features which are not to be found in any other in the kingdom. It is built in the form of a double cross, and at the present time its appearance is more picturesque than complete. The entire length from east to west is 411 feet, and its breadth at the transepts 131 feet; whilst the tower and spire rise to a height of 271 feet. The spire was built at the same time as that of Salisbury, and is very nearly a counterpart of it, both in height, form, and decoration. The west face of the Cathedral presents a very singular appearance. It was originally constructed with a gable between two towers, capped with pinnacles, the northwestern of which was destroyed during the civil wars. The irregularity caused by this mutilation seems further increased by the presence of a bell-tower, situated wholly distinct from the church, close to its crippled corner. This addition of a campanile is unique, we believe, for the time in England. The style of the Cathedral in the exterior is early English, with AngloNorman windows here and there, testifying to the ancient style in which some portions of it were built. (Cut, No. 7.)

The see was originally situated at Selsey, from which place it was removed by order of the Conqueror in 1072. It is believed that a monastery occupied the site of the Cathedral at the time of the transfer of the see; and this belief receives some corroboration from the presence of a Saxon arch in the north transept. Be that as it might, however, the first Cathedral was founded in 1108. This building was speedily destroyed by fire, and a second structure arose upon its ruins, built by Bishop Ralph, in the Norman style, in 1123. This structure was also destined to suffer mutilation by fire in 1187, but in a few years it was almost rebuilt by Bishop Seffrid, who adopted the pointed style, which came in about this period, in his restorations, which accounts for the mixture we find in some portions of this edifice.

Directly we enter the nave we become aware of an architectural arrangement which is, we believe peculiar

to this Cathedral-there are extra side aisles on either hand. These are additions to the original fabric, made in the time of Henry III., for the purpose of affording room for side chapels, in which this building was at one time very rich. The arches which form the nave are eight in number on either side. The shafts are flanked with half-columns, and crowned with cushion capitals, the effect of which is simple and solemn it the extreme; beyond these the pillars of the double aisles, touched with light and shade, have an admirable effect, and give a feeling of space to this portion of the building which is peculiar to it.

The windows in the west end have lately been filled with very rich stained glass, representing passages from Scripture admirably executed. The stained glass windows, indeed, throughout this cathedral, nearly all of which have been introduced of late years, are excellent in design and colour. There is this peculiarity also about them-the greater portions are the gifts of individuals, and erected as testimonies of Divine "mercies," or as monuments to the memory of relatives. We nowhere remember, indeed, to have seen the offerings of individuals contribute to such an extent in the decoration of any fabric, as they do in this Cathedral.

There are several very beautiful monuments in the side aisle from the hand of the great Flaxman; the most beautiful of which is that to the memory of William Collins, the poet, a native of this city. He is represented in relief, reading the New Testament, the "best book," as he termed it, whilst his own Ode to the Passions,' lies neglected at his feet; and there is an epitaph below, said to be the joint production of Hayley and Sargeant.

In these aisles there are tombs to members of the Arundel family, and many stones containing the matrices of monumental brasses. In Roman Catholic times this kind of tomb must have been very common here, for we find no less than fifty yet remaining, but despoiled of their metal-work. Passing into the south transept, the visitor stops for a moment to admire the proportions of the beautiful window lately restored here. He is not a little astonished also to see the east and west walls covered with oil paintings, the greater portion of which were the work of Theodore Bernardi, and were the gift of Bishop Shur

borne, who was a munificent benefactor to this church in the early part of the sixteenth century. The most prominent of these are two historical pictures commemorating two events connected with the history of this church. The first represents the foundation of the see at Selsey in 680. St. Wilfrid and his monks are ranged on one side of the picture, and Ceadwalla, the King of the West Saxons, on the other; and the meaning of this interview is made known to the spectator by the very primitive method of putting books into the hands of the saint and the king. That of the former bearing this inscription: "Give to the servants of God a place of habitation for the sake of God," whilst the latter gives this brief answer, "Be it as thou desirest." The second picture represents Bishop Shurborne petitioning Henry VIII. for a confirmation of the charter granted by Ceadwalla, the action of the picture being represented in the same manner. These pictures are respectably drawn and coloured, and afford curious examples of ancient cos

tume.

Below these pictures is a series of portraits of the Bishops, from St. Wilfrid to George Fox, the last prelate of the Catholic faith. These portraits all wear a remarkable family likeness, as do the portraits of the Kings by the same hand on the opposite wall. These have been continued to a very recent date by other painters. In this transept is the shrine of St. Richard, a prelate who died in 1253, and at whose tomb it.is stated many miracles were wrought. It was in the olden times a great resort of pilgrims, and a very considerable source of income to the church. It would appear that King Edward I. paid a visit to this tomb in 1297, from the following extract from his wardrobe account, still preserved: "May 26th. To Walter Lovel, the harper of Chichester, whom the king found playing the harp before the tomb of St. Richard, in the Cathedral, six shillings and eight pence.'

The north transept has long been used as the parish church of Subdeanery, but a new church is now built for that parish, and the transept will speedily be thrown open again as of old.

Before leaving the transept, however, we must not forget a curious apartment over the south porch, which is now used as the Consistory Court. This apartment is reached by a flight of circular stone steps. It is perhaps the most modern addition to the Cathedral, having been built in the time of Henry VI. Here it is said many Lollards were tried, and perhaps tortured. The chair in which the judge sat is still pointed out, and the visitor is strongly reminded of the times of old as the verger throws open a concealed sliding panel, and shows him another apartment, of which the enormous bolt and lock that forms the fastening would indicate that it served the purpose of a prison.

Passing up the south choir aisle, we find on the wall two very curious basso-relievos, which are most certainly of Saxon date. The first represents the Raising of Lazarus from the dead; the other, Mary and Martha before Christ: they were discovered behind the stalls when repairs were being made in 1829, and are supposed

to have been brought from the old cathedral of Selsey in 1072. They are singularly rude and ugly, much reminding one of the men and women children draw upon slates.

Passing into the Presbytery, we find ourselves in the most beautiful part of the Cathedral. Here we find clustered Purbeck marble columns of the most beautiful proportions, and pointed arches inclosed within roundheaded ones, showing that this portion of the Cathedral was built whilst the early English style was beginning to be substituted for the Norman. The ornaments of the Triforium and of the east end are in the most charming taste, and evince the thorough knowledge of beauty of line possessed by the architects of the period. The Presbytery is full of marble tombs of the bishops of the see.

The Lady Chapel is entirely spoilt in its proportions by a partition which cuts off a space from it, called the ante-room. In this ante-room the vaulting of the ceiling is still carved with an arabesque work of scrolls and flowers. The entire vaulting of the church was ornamented in the same manner by Bishop Shurborne, but it was scraped off a few years ago, and this small portion only remains to show what labour our forefathers bestowed upon the decorations of the house of God.

The Lady Chapel itself has long been converted into a library. It contains some very curious relics, which are pointed out to the visitor. These relics were taken out of two ancient tombs, which stood under the choir arches, in 1830, and which contained the bodies of two Bishops, who had slumbered in peace at least 500 years. When these tombs were opened, the mouldering dust was found still enveloped in sumptuous dresses. The pastoral staves, chalices, patens, and rings, belonging to these ancient rulers of the church, were found lying beside them, in an excellent state of preservation. One of the pastoral staves or crooks is made of jet, or some such substance, enriched with gold, and has quite a dandy look about it. The chalices are of exquisite form and workmanship, and of the same pattern as those the more tasteful Puseyites use at the present day. The rings are too precious to be exposed, it appears, and are therefore kept at the deanery. Among these curious. specimens of workmanship, there is a leaden cross, found in the grave of Bishop Godfrey, and inscribed with an absolution, for what sin committed we know not. This inscription is in Latin, and translates thus

"We absolve thee, Bishop Godfrey, in the place of St. Peter, the chief of the apostles, to whom God gave the power of binding and loosing, as far as thy accusation requires, and the right of remission belongeth_to us.

May the Divine Almighty Redeemer, the benign. Forgiver of all thy sins, be thy salvation. Amen.

"The Seventh of the Calends of October, on the Festival of St. Firminus, bishop and martyr, Godfrey, Bishop of Chichester, died; it was then the fifth day of the moon."

The choir is entered, as we return, through the oratory of Bishop Arundel, built in the fifteenth century. The stalls are curiously carved, and are supposed to have been executed in the time of Henry VII. We cannot commend the adornment of the wood work which has lately taken place. The old oak is far preferable to the painting and gilding with which it has been covered. We understand, however, that with the other restorations now going on in the Cathedral, this portion will be restored to its primitive condition.

The cloisters are built in the later style of gothic, and enclose a small space on the south side of the Cathedral, called the Paradise. Some of the windows have been made "comfortable" by the addition of glass. The passage to the church from the houses of the canons in the immediate neighbourhood, is doubtless made less draughty than it was heretofore by this process, but it testifies also to the fact, that there is no disposition to self-mortification among the officiating clergy, whatever liking they might have to other mediæval restorations.

THE CITY.

The city of Chichester does not afford the visitor many points of interest. It is divided, as most old cities are, into four streets, cutting each other at right angles, and called respectively North, South, East,

and West Streets. In the centre of those four great thoroughfares stands the High Cross, built in 1500 by Bishop Storey. There are few market crosses in the kingdom that have a more imposing appearance than this structure, which has been kept in an excellent state of repair. Its vaulting is supported by a central pillar, and by a series of arches octagonal in form, and highly ornamented with coats of arms and other ornaments. (Cut, No. 8.) Chichester was at one time fortified, much of the old wall now remains, and is turned into a walk on the western side, from which a beautiful view of the Cathedral is attainable. Waller took the city in 1642, when the defences of the city were destroyed. Chichester is one of the county towns (Lewes being the other), and contains at the present time a population of about 10,000 persons. Situated in the midst of a great grazing district, which is, however, becoming converted into arable year by year; its markets are always well attended, and on the days on which they are held the town looks a thriving and populous place. On other occasions it seems, like most of the smaller cathedral cities, to fall into a dormant state, not very attractive to those accustomed to live amidst the busy hum of men.

Goodwood House, the splendid seat of the Duke of Richmond, is not very far distant, and forms one of the chief sources of interest to the strangers visiting these parts.