434
NOTES AND QUERIES. tii s. x. NOV. 2s,
They may, however, have their defenders.
If so, as Mr. Pecksniff remarked on an his-
torical occasion, " an eligible opportunity
now offers." J. WILLCOCK.
Lerwick.
THE HEIGHT OF ST. PAUL'S (11 S. x. 388). I believe the most recent work on St. Paul's is Archdeacon Sinclair's ' Memorials of St. Paul's Cathedral,' published in 1909. On p. 237 he states that the " total height from pavement to top of cross " is 365 feet. From the author's close connexion with St. Paul's the statement is probably correct. The Cathedral axithorities may be able to say whether there is any " architectural autho- rity." URLLAD.
Fergusson in his ' History of the Modern Styles of Architecture ' gives 360 feet as the height of St. Paul's from the floor-line to the top of the cross. In November, 1907, a paper on ' The Present Condition of St. Paul's Cathedral ' was read before the Royal Institute of British Architects by Mr. Mervyn Macartney, Surveyor of the Fabric. This was subsequently published an the Journal of the R.I.B.A. (vol. xv., 3rd Series), and among the numerous illustra- tions is a section through the transepts and dome. The scale of this is rather small, but, as far as one can make out, the height to the top of the cross agrees with Fergus - son's figures ; at any rate, it is not more than 360 feet. BENJ. WALKER.
Langstone, Erdington.
According to the " Handbooks to the Cathedrals of England " (John Murray, London, 1879), " the height of the cathedral on the sovith side to the top of the cross is .365 feet " : see section xl. p. 70 of ' St. Paul's ' in that series of handbooks. It is stated that this and the following six sections are taken from Mr. William Longman's descrip- tion of the cathedral. T. F. D.
' Our National Cathedrals,' vol. iii. p. 15 (Ward & Lock, 1889), says, "The entire height from the ground to the top of the cross is 365 feet." Birch's ' London Churches of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries ' gives a scale drawing of St. Paul's, -nd by this the measurement is exactly 365 feet from the ground to the top of the cross. Canon Newbolt in Purey -Gust's ' Our English Minsters,' at p. 61, says, speaking of the visitor, " He may go higher still to the golden gallery and the ball, from which he anust descend to the floor by 365 steps."
Gwilt in his ' Encyclopaedia ' says the " total |
height from the pavement outside to the top
of the cross is 404 feet, but usually stated :
as 365 feet, My copy of 'The Encyclo-j
psedia Britannica ' (1911), vol. xxiv. p. 36,
says, " The cross at the top of the lantern
above the dome is 363 feet above the ground."
This is contrary to your correspondent's
statement as contained in his copy of the
same book.
ARCHIBALD SPARKE, F.R.S.L. Bolton.
In "Bell's Cathedral Series" (1900) the height to the top of the cross is given as 363 feet. A. R. BAYLEY.
" The total height to the top of the cross fron the pavement outside is 404 feet, but usually stated as 365 feet." Gwilt's " Encyclopedia of Architec- ture. New Edition. Edited by Wyatt Papworth New Impression, 1912," p. 213.
W.M. H. PEET.
In the figures given at the above reference no mistake has been made by either of the authorities named. Both are approximately correct ; but the explanation of this appa- rent paradox shows how desirable it is in dealing with measurements to mention the points from which they are calculated. Thl late Mr. Timbs in his ' Curiosities of London states the height to the top of the cross o St. Paul's as being 404 feet from the floor a the crypt, and 360 feet from the pavemenl of the" nave. In the St. Paul's volume a " Bell's Cathedral Series " the Rev. Arthur Dimock states the latter measurement as 363 feet, and Archdeacon Sinclair in his ' Memorials' puts it at 365 feec, which seem near enough for ordinary purposes.
ALAN STEWART.
POETS' GALLERY, FLEET STREET (11 S. x 389). The Poets' Gallery was the name apparently given to, and certainly used by 1'homas Macklin, the publisher, for 1 premises at No. 39, Fleet Street, Hi splendid edition of the Bible was issued from here between 1791 and 1800. From May, 1808, the premises were occupied by Robert Saunders, book auctioneer, who retained the name of the Poets' Gallery. Subsequently joined by Edmund Hodgson, he carried "on business here until Lady Day, 1829, when the premises were acquired by Messrs. Hoare the bankers. Between 1808 and 1829 sales were held regularly, and the file of catalogues is still in the pos> of the present members of the firm of Hodgson & Co. J. E. HODGSON.
115, Chancery Lane, W.C.
