ST. PAUL'S, a cathedral in London, England, situated on Ludgate Hill, an elevation on the N. bank of the Thames. The site of the present building was orig inally occupied by a church erected by Ethelbert, King of Kent, in 610. This was destroyed by fire in 1087, and another edifice, Old St. Paul's, was shortly after ward commenced. The structure was in the Gothic style, in the form of a Latin cross, 690 feet long, 130 feet broad, with a lead-covered wooden spire rising to the height of 520 feet. The middle aisle was termed Paul's walk, from its being fre quented by idlers as well as money lend ers and general dealers. Old St. Paul's was much damaged by a fire in 1139, by lightning in 1444, again by fire in 1561, and was utterly destroyed by the great fire in 1666. The ruins remained for about eight years, when the rebuilding was taken in hand by the government of Charles II. (1675-1710). The whole build ing was completed at a total cost of $7, 556,010 by Sir Christopher Wren. It is of Portland stone, in the form of a cross. Its length is 510 feet; the width from N. to S. portion 282 feet; the general height is 100 feet. The whole is surmounted by a great dome raised on eight arches. Above the dome is a lantern or gallery terminated above by a ball and gilded cross, 363 feet from the pavement be neath. The elevated portico forming the grand entrance consists of 12 Corinthian columns, with an upper series of eight pillars of the Composite order, support ing a pediment; the front being flanked by two bell-towers 120 feet in height. The
entablature represents in relief the con version of St. Paul, a work of Francis Bird. On the S. front, which corresponds with the N., is a phoenix rising from the flames, with the motto, "Resurgam" (I shall rise again). The pavement of the interior is composed of slabs of black and white marble. The crypt under the nave contains the burying-places of many il lustrious personages, and some interest ing relics of old St. Paul's. Among the numerous monuments and statues to the illustrious dead may be noted those of John Howard and Dr. Johnson, by Bacon; statues of Nelson, Earl Howe, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, by Flaxman; Bishop Heber, by Chantrey; and monuments to Lord Rodney, Lord Heathfield, Admiral Collingwood, General Abercrombie, etc., by Rossi, Westmacott, and others. The monument to the Duke of Wellington, by Alfred Stevens, is accounted the finest work of its kind in England. It consists of a rich marble sarcophagus and canopy elaborately ornamented with bronze sculp tures. It is 30 feet in height and cost upward of $150,000.