THE CATHEDRAL OF SENLIS. AMONG the many religious edifices that boast the name of Cathedrals, there are few less generally known than that which distinguishes the little town of Senlis, in France. In all probability, one half of our readers never heard of its existence, and will derive their first knowledge of the fact from the pages of this Magazine. It certainly is not a structure remarkable for the beauty of its outward form, or the attractions of its internal architecture; nor is its name linked with any of those pleasing associations which impart so much interest to buildings richer in historic fame. Nevertheless, as our object is to furnish a complete illustration of the ecclesiastical architecture of foreign countries, as well as of our own, it is quite impossible to overlook this modest cathedral, however humble and unpretending its merits; nay, were it even deformed with positive ugliness, still the comprehensive nature of our design would forbid us to pass it over in silence. themselves, confess and lament this paucity of information; and M. de Jolimont, one of the highest modern authorities on the subject, and the one who has been our chief guide in these notices of the French Churches, candidly tells us, that in spite of his most active researches, his account of this structure savours overmuch of this "complete sterility of documents." The institution of the Church of Senlis, is referred to the third century, and is ascribed to a certain "Saint-Rieul," who visited Gaul with the renowned St. Denis, the well-known patron-saint of France, in order to effect the conversion of the pagan inhabitants. His mission was attended with success; the Sylvanectes became Christians, and he became their bishop. We are to suppose, that under the auspices of this prelate, the first cathedral was erected; but, after wading through the usual mass of miraculous legends, we lose every clue to its real history. After being kept, for a long lapse of ages, in utter darkness as to every thing concerning it, we at last find ourSenlis is but a little town, standing to the north-selves on more solid ground, and learn, that at the east of Paris, at a distance of about thirty miles. beginning of the fourteenth century, there existed a According to the ancient division of the French terri- cathedral, which soon afterwards met that too comtory, it formed a part of what was called the Isle of mon fate of the early ecclesiastical buildings, destrueFrance; it is now comprehended within the depart- tion by lightning. On its ruins was raised the ment of the Oise. It is a very ancient place, having present edifice, though by very slow degrees; indeed, existed in the time of the Gauls; and it still bears its appearance indicates the lingering nature of its about it the marks of its antiquity, in the remnants construction, for it exhibits a mixture of the various which may yet be traced, of its old fortifications. styles which prevailed through several centuries. The Romans first called it Augustomagus; but it afterwards obtained the name of Silvanectum, probably, as has been suggested, on account of the forests which then surrounded it, and which have not wholly disappeared at the present day. In the modern history of France, it is not entirely destitute of interest. During the contest between Henry the Fourth and the celebrated League, it sided with the monarch, and furnished him with supplies for the prosecution of the siege of Paris. The modern town, if that can be called modern Which has nothing but what is antiquated about it, presents very few attractions. It is badly built, and most of its streets are both narrow and crooked. A French author, who wrote towards the close of the last century, speaks of it in very unprepossessing language; he says, he never saw any place so near a great capital more dull, sad, and silent. Its character is somewhat altered at the present day, though not to such an extent as to give it a very lively appearance; but the inhabitants are animated by the same spirit of industry which so strongly marks some other towns in this portion of France, and carry on several manufactures to a considerable extent. The water in the river which flows close by, is supposed by them to possess a peculiar quality, that renders it better adapted than any other for the washing of wool; "the fact may be doubtful," says Malte-Brun, "but it must be admitted that many persons are employed in that branch of industry." There are also several establishments for bleaching, which is practised on a large scale; formerly, indeed, Senlis had such a reputation for its excellence in this art, that goods used to be sent thither for bleaching, from all parts of France. It has likewise, cottonmanufactories, besides establishments for the prosecution of other branches of industry; and the stone which is found in the neighbouring quarries, furnishes the material for a considerable trade. The number of inhabitants is between four and five thousand. The Cathedral, of course, forms a very prominent object in this little town. Of its origin and early history we have little to say, for scarcely any thing is known concerning them. The French writers Our readers will see, by a glance at the engraving contained in the preceding page, that the exterior of this cathedral has very little that is splendid or highly-finished in its appearance. The character of its architecture is severe; but there is something pleasing in its simplicity, and in the contrast which it offers to its more gorgeous brethren. Some of the French writers are much disposed to find fault with it; they see little in it to admire, and speak of its style as being in the worst taste. The traveller whom we noticed before, as being displeased with the town of Senlis, seems fairly in a passion with its cathedral; he calls it a mean building, and one of the ugliest gothics that he ever met with. The tower, he says, is lofty, but wanting in delicacy; the portals are in the very worst taste ;—and the nave is so short as to form scarcely a third of the church;-in short, it is labour and stone thrown away. Others of his nation view things with a different eye. M. de Jolimont is one of them; and he says that if the Cathedral of Senlis be of less general importance,—if it be less sumptuous in its appearance, and built in a style less uniform and regular than other buildings of its kind,—still it presents much richness in detail, and many things highly curious and interesting in its different parts. The principal front is represented in our view. It is rather narrow, but perfectly regular in every thing excepting the towers; these were necessarily dissimilar, for Senlis was a suffragan bishopric, and was not entitled to that "uniformity of towers," which was confined to the cathedrals of metropolitan sees, to abbey churches, and to those attached to colleges of royal foundation. The portals are, as usual, three in number, and decorated with the customary profusion of statues and bas-reliefs; there are three little rose windows, but, contrary to the usual practice, these are placed at what is called the last stage of the edifice. But the chief feature of the building is the southern of the two towers-which is remarkable for it loftiness, and the elegant lightness of its architecture. It is about 220 feet high, and as it surpasses in elevation all the neighbouring hills, it is visible from a great distance. Like the rest of this front, it is faulty from its narrowness; which, besides being a drawback on its beauty, seriously obstructs its utility; the bells have not room to swing, and on more than one occasion have been broken by coming in contact with the wall. The interior of this Cathedral is of the same character with its outward form-simple and severeexhibiting an absence of ornaments, almost even to nakedness. It is somewhat remarkable for the size and number of those side-chapels which are common in the French cathedrals, but rather a rarity in those of our own country. The choir is somewhat disfigured by bad pictures, which are little in harmony with the general style of the building. THERE is one tribe of caterpillar called Surveyors, or Geometers, which walk by first fixing the fore-feet, and then doubling the body into a vertical arch; this action brings up the hind part of the caterpillar, which is furnished with prolegs, close to the head. The hind extremity, being then fixed by means of the prolegs situated at that part, the body is again extended into a straight line; and this process being repeated, the caterpillar advances by a succession of paces, as if it were measuring the distance, by converting its body into a pair of compasses. At the same time that they employ this process, they further provide for their security, by spinning a thread, which they fasten to different points of the ground, as they go along. Many other species of caterpillar practise the same art of spinning fine silken threads, which especially assist them in their progression over smooth surfaces, and also in descending from a height through the air. The caterpillar of the cabbage-butterfly, is thus enabled to climb up and down a pane of glass, for which purpose it fixes the threads that it spins in a zigzag line, forming so many steps of a rope-ladder. The material of which these threads are made, is a glutinous secretion, which, on being deposited on glass, adheres firmly to it, and very soon acquires consistence and hardness by the action of the air. Other caterpillars, which feed on trees, and have often occasion to descend from one branch to another, send out a rope made with the same material, which they can prolong indefinitely; and thus either suspend themselves at pleasure in the air, or let themselves down to the ground. They continue, while walking, to spin a thread as they advance, so that they can always easily retrace their steps by gathering up the clue they have left, and reascend to the height from which they had allowed themselves to drop. O. N. [DR. ROGET's Bridgewater Treatise.] THE GLOBE VOLVOX.-This extraordinary animalcule is of a globular form, and usually of a light-green colour, sometimes of an orange-brown. The envelope is composed of a diaphanous membrane, beneath the surface of which, are disposed at equal distances, small spherical bodies of a green colour. The proximity of these tubercles is greater, the younger the specimen; and as these tubercles contain the colouring matter of the animalcule, the young always appear more coloured than the old ones, as the transparent spaces between the pustules are augmented in the latter, and spread over a greater surface. Within the parent are often seen a number of from six to forty smaller ones, and even within these, when about to be excluded, another generation may be observed. The young within the parent,and this forms the most striking character of this species, may be observed at first attached to the inside of the membranous covering, but long before their birth revolving freely in the parent, and others again with them. At length the parent globe bursts, and the young are slowly evolved; when this is completed, the parent, like the fabular phoenix, dies, and its body separates into numberless parts. This animalcule moves in all directions, forwards, backwards, up and down, rolling over and over like a bowl, spinning horizontally like a top, or gliding along smoothly without turning itself. Its diameter, when full grown, is about one-thirtieth of an inch, and is, therefore, easily perceived by unassisted vision. It is found most abundant during spring and summer, in ponds and stagnant water.PRITCHARD. THE SCILLY ISLANDS. ABOUT nine leagues west by south from the Land's End, Cornwall, from which they are clearly visible, lie the Scilly Islands. This wild and romantic cluster of rocks, many of which, on a distant view, appear like old castles and churches rising out of the sea,although scarcely known, except, perhaps, by name, to most persons in this country, possesses very considerable claims on our attention. These Islands were known to the ancients. By the Greeks they were called Hesperides and Cassiterides, or the Tin Islands, probably from their contiguity to Cornwall (where the Phoenicians traded), for not a vestige of any ancient mine can now be discovered upon them. It is evident, however, that they have undergone great changes since the period referred to, as Strabo speaks of the islands as not exceeding ten in number, whilst now there are upwards of one hundred and forty, only six of which, however, (for the greater portion are mere rocks,) are inhabited. These are,― St. Mary's, which contains twelve hundred inhabitants; St. Agnes, three hundred; St. Martin's, six hundred; Trescow, three hundred and fifty; Bryer*, two hundred; and Sampson, one hundred and fifty †; making an aggregate of about two thousand eight hundred inhabitants, which are rapidly increasing, the births greatly exceeding the burials; indeed, so healthy is the climate, and so robust are the people, that it is a common saying amongst the Scillonians, "that for one man who dies a natural death, nine are drowned." Cases of deformity are unknown. ST. MARY'S is the largest of the Scilly Islands, being about nine miles and a half in circumference, and containing, as we have seen, nearly as large a population as the rest of the group. It possesses an excellent harbour and pier; and carries on some trade, vessels to the value of £20,000 belonging to it; indeed, twelve fine schooners were at one period launched in the space of six months. The hills are rocky, rising in some places to a great height, and are enriched with mineral ores. The valleys are generally fertile; although there is some marshy ground: the island contains three towns, has a custom-house, a garrison, and druidical remains abound in several places. It seems not improbable, that St. Mary's will, at no great distance of time, be divided by the sea. ST. AGNES, which forms the subject of the accompanying engraving, being the most elevated of the Islands, and lying directly exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, has been chosen for the erection of a very high and strong granite light-house, which stands nearly in the centre, in the latitude forty degrees, fifty-three minutes, thirty seconds, north. This structure, which was built in 1680, has been rendered admirably adapted for the purpose for which it is designed. The machinery is now so contrived, that its light progressively sweeps the whole horizon at intervals of three minutes'; and by its regular intermission and increase, is readily distinguished from every other on the western coast. There is also an obelisk on the island of Trescow, which is almost as valuable a sea-mark in the day-time, as the lighthouse is at night. The inhabitants of St. Agnes, and the most western of the islands, derive their chief source of support in winter from piloting ships; whilst in summer they cruise about the channel for the purpose of disposing LIGHT-HOUSE ON ST. AGNES, ONE OF THE SCILLY ISLANDS. of fish, eggs, vegetables, &c., to homeward-bound vessels. There are five boats at St. Agnes, employed in this way, each sloop-rigged, of a burden of twenty-two tons, and navigated by seven or eight men, who are joint-proprietors in the venture, and respectively share the produce of their industry on shore. They sometimes run on these excursions thirty leagues to the westward, and in case of the homeward-bound being detained by contrary winds, make their terms accordingly-the market being here regulated by the winds alone. One important good, however, results from the summer-cruises of the Scillonians, for they are thus enabled to give information of their situation to those vessels which have been driven out of their reckoning from stress of weather and other causes: this information, we are told, has saved many hundred ships, and almost numberless lives, which would otherwise have been lost on the rocks of Scilly. On this ground alone, the Scillonians have a strong claim on the generosity, not only of the British merchant and ship-owner, but on the Government itself. And this leads us to advert to an interesting passage in the history of these wild and cheerless rocks. "In 1819, from a combination of unfortunate circumstances," remarks Dr. Paris, in his admirable work on the Land's End district*, "the inhabitants were reduced to such extreme distress, that it became necessary to appeal to the generosity of the public in their behalf; and notwithstanding the difficulties of the times, the sum of 9000l. was collected for their relief. In this great work of charity, it is but an act of justice to state, that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, by their purse, as well as by their writings, performed a very essential service. The funds thus obtained, were in part appropriated to the relief of the immediate and pressing distress under which they laboured, whilst the remainder was very judiciously applied towards the promotion of such permanent advantages, as might prevent the chance of its recurrence. A fish-cellar To which, and to the communications of a correspondent, we have to confess our obligations in the present paper. was accordingly provided in the island of Trescow, for the purpose of storing and curing fish; boats adapted for the mackerel and pilchard fisheries were purchased, and others were repaired; nets and various kinds of tackling were at the same time liberally supplied." The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has for many years had a Mission established in these islands; but it has long been felt that the Religious instruction of these islands, which as a part of the Duchy of Cornwall, yield a revenue to the Crown, ought not to be left dependent upon the bounty of any Society whatever. Memorials have therefore been presented, on several occasions, to His Majesty's Government, earnestly requesting that some public provision may be made for the spiritual wants of the islanders; and it was hoped that, as the obstacles which formerly existed were removed on the expiration of the lease, the prayer of the memorial would have been complied with; but the islands still remain in the same state. In the winterseason, it frequently happens, that the Rev. George Woodley, one of the two missionaries sent by the Society, and resident minister at St. Mary's, is prevented from passing over to the islands alluded to, in consequence of the boisterous state of the weather for many weeks together, during which period the people are left wholly destitute of spiritual instruction. At such periods, in St. Agnes, the church-service is read by the infirm and aged schoolmaster, who is described as being nearly deaf and blind. Our correspondent feelingly alludes to the state of the poor people, who are thus deprived of "the one thing needful;" and we trust that the present allusion to the circumstance may awaken the desired spirit. A wide field then still remains for philanthropic and Christian exertion, by providing requisite means for the spiritual instruction of the members of the Church, and by enabling the Scillonians to avail themselves of the advantages of their locality, as for want of proper boats they are unable to extend their fisheries. There are four Wesleyan chapels in the islands. The land is divided in small portions, upon the principle that as great a number of persons as possible may be benefited. Some do not possess more than a single acre; others have two or three acres ; but none cultivate more than four. The lands are all held of the Lord Proprietor for a term of twentyone years. The soil is good, and produces excellent potatoes, and grain of all sorts, except wheat, which, although anciently grown in large quantities, has not for many years been found to thrive; barley bread, therefore, is in general use. Two uninhabited islands, called Gew and Annet, situated about three-quarters of a mile from the north-western extremity of St. Agnes, besides supplying the other islands with fern and turf for fuel, are extensively used for grazing sheep, almost every family possessing some. These animals are chiefly kept for their wool, with which the women make the clothing for themselves and families. The sheep are very small, and in bad condition, having little else than the Alga, locally called hare-weed, to subsist upon; the latter constitutes the only manure used. The effects of this weed in fertilizing the land are surprising, for, although fallows are unknown, it rarely fails to produce abundant crops. Large quantities of this weed are burned into kelp during the summer; in winter it forms almost the entire sustenance of horses, cows, and other live-stock; for, as no land is left in grass, the cattle may be said to be thrown upon their own resources. Rabbits, wildfowl, and sea-birds, abound upon the islands, and a great quantity and variety of fish are taken off their shore; a portion of which are salted for winter consumption, when they form, indeed, the chief food of the people. We have thus seen, that the Scillonians combine by turns, the three occupations of farmers, fishermen, and pilots; the latter pursuit is, however, the most lucrative. In the stormy weather, which so frequently prevails on our western coast, and especially off the almost desolate and dangerous rocks of Scilly, they have frequently been honourably distinguished for their exertions in the preservation of the many vessels that have been wrecked on their shores during the winter. The commotion of the elements, during a storm in the Scilly Isles, is certainly most awful. CARRINGTON, one of the least known, though among the best of modern poets, thus beautifully alludes to the apof the rocky isles on our western coast, in storm or calm : pearance Other sounds Save those of shrieking winds, and battling cliffs, An aspect wild and dreary.— But in the wint'ry storm, when all that sea- It has been computed that not more than six days of perfect calm occur in these islands, in the course of a year; and that the wind blows from between S. W. and N. W., for more than half that period. The climate is exceedingly mild and equable; and frost and snow are almost unknown. With little exception, the whole of the islands consist of granite, which, however, varies in its formation, and is of the most valuable description. Several beds of Porphyry are to be found at St. Mary's; and at the Lizard Point, in the island of Trescow, a variety of granite occurs, in which the felspar is of a remarkably pure white: this might, Dr. Paris conceives, be advantageously employed in the manufacture of Porcelain. The property of the islands is at present vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, to which it reverted in 1831, after having been for about two centuries and a half under the sway of the Godolphins and Osbornes, Dukes of Leeds. The civil government of the islands is chiefly managed by twelve of the principal inhabitants, who constitute what is termed a Court of Twelve, in which a military officer presides. This court is held monthly at Church Town, St. Mary's; it has jurisdiction in civil suits and minor causes; but persons to be prosecuted for felonies, and other criminal offences, must be sent for trial to the Cornwall Assizes at Launceston; the sheriff of that county, however, has, singularly enough, no jurisdiction in the islands. "The intensity of the attachment of the Scillonian to his native rock," remarks the ingenious writer we have already quoted, "forms a striking contrast with the feelings of the roving inhabitant of an alluvial country, where every object, it might be presumed, was calculated to excite and sustain the strongest attachment; but the principle is wise and universal; the plant is easily loosened from a generous soil, but with what difficulty is the lichen torn from its rock!" ONE of the most obvious effects produced by the entrance of heat into certain bodies, is an increase of their bulk. This is termed expansion. The rate of expansibility in solid and liquid bodies is very irregular; each substance possessing this property in a degree peculiar to itself, but dependent on certain conditions in its structure and general character. Aëriform bodies expand uniformly; that is, whatever may be the character or quality of the vapour, submitted to the action of heat, if all other circumstances are favourable, equal quantities of heat will produce equal degrees of expansion. gas, or Aëriform bodies The change of dimensions in solid bodies, under the influence of heat, is comparatively small. In liquids it is sufficiently apparent to be detected. without the aid of instruments. expand in a greater degree than either of the former. Their enlargement is, therefore, still more distinctly ascertained from observation only. Of solid bodies, we have already mentioned metals, as being the best conductors of heat; they also expand the most readily. The following table exhibits the order in which the most commonly known metals, in their solid state, expand. The figures denote the average rate of expansion possessed by each metal in passing from the temperature at which water freezes (32°) to that at which it boils (212°.) Zinc expands, on being heated, 4th of its volume. from 32° to 212° Lead Ditto (cast) Platinum Hence it appears that a mass of zinc equal to 113 cubic inches, at the temperature of melting ice, will become, on being heated to the temperature of boiling water, equal to 114 cubic inches. On comparing this result with what would occur, under similar circumstances, with platinum, we perceive that the expansibility of zinc is nearly three times greater than that of the last-mentioned metal. It would require 336 cubic inches of platinum, to produce an expansion of volume equal to one inch. To ascertain the linear expansion, that is, in the direction of its length, of the respective metals, we have only to multiply by 3, the figures below each line of the fraction, termed the denominator. Thus we find by the table, that cast iron expands th (one three hundredth) of its volume between the temperatures 32° and 212°. If we multiply 300 by 3 we have 900. It follows, therefore, that a bar of cast iron whose length at 32°, is 900 inches, will, at 212°, be equal to 901 inches. 300 A knowledge of the rate of expansibility possessed by different substances, is highly important to architects, surveyors, and general artificers. In adapting iron beams, or roofs, or gutters, to extensive buildings, if the effects produced upon the metal by changes of temperature were disregarded, the walls, and other parts of the buildings, would be subject to frequent disturbance, if they were not entirely thrown down. In the construction of iron bridges, and in laying down mains for conveying water or gas, it is also necessary to make suitable provisions for the difference of dimensions, incident to variations of temperature. Clocks, and watches, and astronomical and mathematical instruments, are all liable to occasional inaccuracies, from the cause already noticed, and hence some exceedingly beautiful contrivances are resorted to as a means of compensating and preventing what would otherwise occasion very serious errors. To the expansion of bodies when suddenly heated, and to their contraction when heat is suddenly withdrawn from them, we may attribute many of the phenomena which daily present themselves to our notice. Compared with some other substances, glass is a bad conductor of heat. This we may easily prove, by holding a piece of iron-wire, say two inches long, and a piece of glass, the same size and length, in the flame of a lamp. The metal will become too hot for our fingers long before the glass. In fact, by the aid of a blow-pipe, one end of the glass rod may be fused, whilst the other end is retained between the fingers; an experiment that we should be unable to perform with the metal, under similar circumstances. When a small quantity of boiling water is suddenly poured into a thick glass vessel, that part of the vessel immediately in contact with the water, instantly expands, whilst the other parts retain their ordinary dimensions. The result of this unequal expansion, is a fracture, the heated portion of the glass being forcibly torn away from the other portions. A very thin glass vessel, under the same treatment, would not be broken, because heat would be more speedily communicated to both its surfaces, which would expand equally. A plate or a vessel of cast-iron will be fractured in the same way as glass, although it is a good conductor of heat, if one particular part of the plate or vessel be suddenly heated, whilst the other parts remain cold. Similar effects are produced by the abstraction of heat, on vessels constructed of glass, porcelain, or cast iron. In this way it is, that through the ignorance or carelessness of servants, the cast-iron boilers now so commonly attached to kitchen ranges, are fractured. Whenever it is found that by neglect, or accident, the whole of the water has been drawn off or evaporated from an iron boiler, it should be permitted to cool previously to its being re-filled; a simple expedient, that will effectually prevent its being broken and rendered useless. It has been supposed that there exist a few exceptions to the general law of the expansion of solid bodies by heat. On a closer examination, these exceptions will be found to be so only in appearance, not in reality. Among the apparent departures from what seems an immutable principle, we may mention clay; certain kinds of which, when used by themselves, or when mixed with sand, as in the manufacture of bricks and tiles, contract, on the application of heat, up to a very high temperature. This contraction, however, is evidently due to the separation of considerable quantities of moisture, which was previously combined with the clay, and also to an entire change produced by heat in its general character. As a familiar example, we may refer to the porcelain ware in common use; every article of which is made larger than it is designed to be after it has been submitted to the action of the fire. Stone bottles, which are intended to contain certain quantities of liquids, are frequently found too small, notwithstanding the usual allowance had been made for their estimated rate of contraction in the kiln. Wood, and other vegetable substances, which have their bulk diminished by the application of heat, must also be regarded only as apparent exceptions to the ordinary laws of expansibility. Vegetables contain not only a great quantity of moisture, but there reside within them certain volatile resins and oils, which are easily dissipated by heat. Hence ensue changes in their character, as well as changes in their form and size. It is deserving of remark that, in the instances to which we have just alluded, of contraction by heat, the respective substances so acted upon do not resume their original dimensions on being restored to their ordinary temperature. On the contrary, we find them, for the most part, becoming subject to the same law as other solid bodies; additional proofs these, if any were required, that an important change has been wrought in their elementary structure. The expansibility of liquids, is greater than that of solids. By a difference of temperature equal to 180°, alcohol (spirits of winc) expands 4th (one ninth) of its volume. Whale oil, in passing from 60° to 212°, increases nearly th (one twelfth) of its volume. Water heated from 40° to 212°, expands rather more than and (one twenty-second); and mercury, from 32° to 212°, th (one fifty-fifth) of its volume. Among liquid bodies, there is one remarkable exception in favour of water, to the otherwise general law of their expansion by the application of heat and their contraction by its withdrawment. All other liquids, except water, diminish in bulk as they become colder, until they solidify. In a recent number of our magazine*, this singular phenomenon has been fully explained. It is one of those beautiful illustrations of Almighty wisdom, blended with infinite benevolence, which is eminently calculated to teach us that what we are accustomed to denominate the laws of nature, may more appropriately be designated the laws of God. As an example of the expansibility of liquids, we need only refer to what often happens with the common tea kettle, which, if quite filled with cold water, and placed over a fire, will discharge a portion of its contents at the spout or the cover, long before it has arrived at a boiling heat. |