AMONG the many Norman buildings which still remain to adorn our Land, and bear testimony to the zeal and munificence of by-gone years, Ely Cathedral occupies a very conspicuous position. We pity the man who can gaze upon so noble a pile without emotion, or enter its sacred precincts without feelings of devotion and delight. The engraving which is given above, represents the west front of the Cathedral. The Isle of Ely was formerly a portion of East Anglia. Soon after the introduction of Christianity into that kingdom, Ethelbert, persuaded by Augustine, founded a Church at Cratendune, now called Cratenden Field, about a mile from the present site. The foundation of the present magnificent structure was laid by Simeon, Abbot of Ely, about the year, 1081. It is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Etheldreda. Its interior dimensions are as follows: viz., whole length from east to west 517 feet, length of transept, from north to south 179 feet 6 inches; height of the vaulting of the choir 70 feet. The height of the great tower is now 215 feet, having been reduced about 60 years ago, by the demolition of an unsightly spire, which crowned its summit. The building is undergoing a thorough repair, and is likely to be completely restored, and redecorated, according to its original plan. It would be impossible to give any thing like a satisfactory description of this magnificent structure in our Magazine. Our readers may pass a happy and not unprofitable day in contemplating its wondrous proportions; meditaing among its solemn recesses, and gorgeous tombs; and joining in those soul-inspiring services which have sanctified it from age to age. For a more lengthy description of this Noble Building, we would refer our readers to the various Illustrated Works, published by Mr. T. A. Hills, Bookseller, Ely, to whom we are indebted for the loan of the above Engraving. ICEBERGS IN THE ATLANTIC. ONE morning, earlier than the usual time of rising, the steward awakened us with the news that icebergs were close at hand. This was charming intelligence, for, so late in the season, they are but rarely met with. We were all soon on deck, and for a worthy object. One was a grand fellow with two great domes, each as large as that of St. Paul's; the lower part was like frosted silver. Where the heat of the sun had melted the surface, and it had frozen again, in its gradual decay it had assumed all sorts of angular and fantastic shapes, reflecting from its green, transparent mass, thousands of prismatic colours, while, below, the gentle swell dallied with its clifflike sides, The action of the waves had worn away a great portion of the base over the water into deep nooks and caves, destroying the balance of the mass. While we were passing, the crisis of this tedious process chanced to arrive; the huge white rock tottered for a moment, then fell into the calm sea with a sound like the roar of a thousand cannon, the spray rose to a great height into the air, and large waves rolled round,spreading their wide circles over the ocean, each ring diminishing till at length they sank to rest. When the spray had fallen again, the glittering domes had vanished, and a long, low island of rough ice and snow lay on the surface of the water. There is something impressive and dismal in the fate of these cold and lonely wanderers of the deep. They break loose by some great effort of nature, from the shores and rivers of the unknown regions of the north, where for centuries, perhaps they have been accumulating, and commence their dreary voyage, which has no end but annihilation. For years they may wander in the Polar Sea, till some strong gale or current bears them past its iron limits; then, by the predominance of winds and waters to the south, they float past the desolate coasts of Newfoundland. Already the summer sun makes sad havoc in their strength, melting their lofty heights, but each night's frost binds up what is left, and still on, on glides the great mass, slowly solemnly. You cannot perceive that it stirs; the greatest storm does not rock it, the keenest eye cannot discover a motion; but moment by moment, day by day, it passes to the south, where it wastes away and vanishes at last. In June and July they are most numerous in these seas, and there is often much danger from their neighbourhood in the dark, moonless nights; but the thermometer, if consulted, will always indicate their approach; it fell eight degrees when we neared the iceberg which I have now described, and the cold was sensibly felt.— 66 England in the New World." OUR LETTER BOX. The Editors do not wish to be considered responsible for all the sentiments To the Editor of the Soham Magazine. Sir, As your periodical is intended for the diffusion of useful information, I beg to suggest through its pages, that, during the present scarcity and high price of flour, it would be well if all your readers would follow the example of the first personage in the Realm, and exercise the greatest economy. There are two very simple ways in which this may be done, first by eating stale bread; and secondly by mixing rice with the flour in making it. The proportions, as given by a Northamptonshire Clergyman, are as follows:-"halfa-pound of rice, boiled in three pints of water, till the whole becomes thick and pulpy add six pounds of flour and yeast for the dough, and it will make as much good, serviceable bread as eight pounds of flour would produce alone." Your obedient Servant, AN ECONOMIST. In Original Poetry, the Name, real or assumed, of the Author, is printed in small Capitals under the title; in Selections it is printed in Italics at the end.] SONG OF THE HAYMAKERS. The noontide is hot, and our foreheads are brown. Our palms are all shining and hard; Right close is our work with the wain and the fork, But there's joy in the sunshine, and mirth in the lark, Our spirits are light, though our skins may be dark, We dwell in the meadows, we toil on the sod, Far away from the city's dull gloom; And more jolly are we, though in rags we may be, Then a song and a cheer for the bonnie green stack For the pitchers, and rakers, and merry haymakers, Come forth, gentle ladies-come forth, dainty sirs, Your garments will gather no stain from the burs, Our carpet's more soft for your delicate feet And the air of our balm-swarth is surely as sweet As the perfume of Araby's shore, Come forth, noble masters, come forth to the field, Where the wind-rows are spread for the butterfly's bed, Then a song and a cheer for the bonnie green stack, For the pitchers, and rakers, and merry haymakers, "Hold fast!" cries the waggoner, loudly and quick, While the cunning old team-horses manage to pick The tawny-faced children come round us to play, Till the tiniest one, all outspent with the fun, Old age sitteth down on the haycock's fair crown, And wishes his life, like the grass at his feet, May be pure at its "passing away." Then a song and a cheer for the bonnie green stack For the pitchers, and rakers, and merry haymakers Eliza Cook. THE SWALLOW. I am fond of the swallow-I learn from her flight, 'Tis rarely if ever she settles below, But when for her young she is building a nest; Let us fly the dark winter, and follow the road, That leads to the day-spring appearing above. Madame Guion. THE VIOLET. * There is a modest simple flower Melting like rainbow tints away. value less the gaudier rose, Luxurant in the gay parterre; Yes, give to me the flower that blows, I've seen the Violet chang'd with dew, OUR CHILDREN'S PAGE. FACTS WORTH REMEMBERING A league is 3 miles or the 20th of a degree. From full moon to full moon is 29 days 12 hours. The Steam Engine was invented by the Marquis of Worcester in the reign of Charles 2nd. The first idea of Steam Navigation was set forth in a patent obtained in 1736, by Jonathan Hulls, for a machine for carrying vessels against wind and tide, or in a calm. MISCELLANY AND DESIRE is the life of prayer; and if you indeed desire what you pray for, you will also labour for what you desire; and if you find it otherwise with yourselves, your coming to church is but like the Pharisees going up to the temple to pray. If your heart be not present, neither will God; and then there is a sound of men and women between a pair of dead walls, from whence, because neither God nor your souls are present, you must needs go home without a blessing. Bishop Taylor. By the unhappy excess of irregular pleasures in youth, how many amiable dispositions are corrupted or destroyed! How many rising capacities and powers are suppressed! How many flattering hopes of parents and friends are totally extinguished. Who but must drop a tear over human nature when he beholds that morning, which arose so bright, over-cast with such untimely darkness; that good humour, which once captivated all hearts, that vivacity which sparkled in every company, those abilities which were fitted for adorning the highest stations, all sacrificed at the shrine of low sensuality; and one who was formed for running the fair career of life in the midst of public esteem, cut off by his vices at the the beginning of his course; or sunk for the whole of it into insignificancy and contempt! These O sinful pleasure, are thy trophies! It is thus that co-operating with the foe of God and man, thou degradedest human honour, and blastest the opening prospects of human felicity. Blair. LET it be impressed upon your minds (says Junius) let it be instilled into your children, that the liberty of the Press is the palladium of all civil, political and religious rights of Englishmen. ERATOSTRATUS set fire to the temple of Diana, at Ephesus, on the night of Alexander's nativity, 356 years before the Christian era. He confessed on the rack, that the sole motive which had prompted him to destroy so magnificent an edifice, was the desire of transmitting his name to posterity. EXTRACTS. A deep crevice in a rock, filled by a shower, is frequently the cause of the rock being torn asunder. ENCKE'S Comet has probably no more solidity or coherence than a cloud of dust, or a wreath of smoke, and consequently would lose its velocity very easily in a resisting medium. From the time of its first discovery to the present, the time of its revolution has diminished by about two days, and it is ten days in advance of the place which it would have reached if it had met with no resistance. It was first seen by Mechain and Messier in 1787. Again by Miss Herschel in 1795. In 1805 it was again seen as well as in 1819. This comet, according to observations already made, would require 23,000 years to reduce its velocity to one-half its present value. OAK NECESSARY TO BUILD ONE SHIP By the report of the Commissioners of Land Revenue, it appears that a 74 gun ship contains about 2,000 tons, which at the rate of a load and a half a ton, would give 3,000 loads of timber, and would require 2,000 trees of 75 years' growth. It has also been calculated that, as not more than 40 oaks, containing a load and a half of timber in each, can stand upon one acre, fifty acres are required to produce the oaks necessary for every 74 gun ship. Railway Magazine. As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration, and every day brings its task, which if neglected is doubled on the morrow. But he that has already trifled away those months and years in which he should have laboured, must remember that he has now only a part of that of which the whole is a little, and that since the few moments remaining are to be considered as the last trusts of heaven, not one is to be lost. Dr. Johnson. THE little bird called the Stormy Petrel lives chiefly on the waves in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean. |