L . X- , "I M ! Li. mm M V ^ x x ^ x . X*. NT- X ;v ^3!*' X*X* : \X > N> X s - X^ X SS \v- \x - *. v- “ »•. » ,-w V /* - W \ y\ ‘ . \ - ✓ 4.\ k X V V * • ; ; 1 V. : k > > /■ '/, / • , -.ffi / / /X ^ ^ : T X'-'. . ' ' : ■ - ::- i - - c o 4 , 's, '/. •> ^ 4 > " ' 'V ' *" ' _ ■ ^ s--' ~ 1 « , O' y <■ X , X / ' ’ ^ ^ / " V . v"" 4 * 44 ' 4 v v v ✓ v v v • x^-xv * * ' - * ' ' - V - -O' This is a reproduction of a book from the McGill University Library collection. Title: Memoirs of the life and works of Sir Christopher Wren : with a brief view of the progress of architecture in England, from the beginning of the reign of Charles the First to the end of the seventeenth century, and an appendix of authentic documents Author: Elmes, James, 1782-1862 Publisher, year: London : Priestley and Weale, 1823 The pages were digitized as they were. The original book may have contained pages with poor print. Marks, notations, and other marginalia present in the original volume may also appear. For wider or heavier books, a slight curvature to the text on the inside of pages may be noticeable. ISBN of reproduction: 978-1-926810-67-6 This reproduction is intended for personal use only, and may not be reproduced, re-published, or re-distributed commercially. For further information on permission regarding the use of this reproduction contact McGill University Library. McGill University Library www.mcgill.ca/library V 4 ;“bi' 11 jK’V* fit/ / <4j ivs'.t--- - -*v > yc 3 PpHpTOMM ly; ^LPjjL^wE liSltdi &mp ui X AV • wV' 4\ yyi »-?*, ^ffiSSSSK ».l^ *jV j^r* l 1 1 tfLffm Vv WU mAl ^ A *sS wrjJ rIBw* ' i rjl«\ v a iU^k'i 7*7;^ xQjrcjW )» i : jloii. ; l'uhlish eoL lv/ IVie.-deyjv V/eale. High. Street. Jfloonu-*'..: j y. lS-jo- friHteJ iy M q,„cn 3c C c , MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND WORKS OF SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN, WITH A BRIEF VIEW OF THE 39 rogtr 03 of architecture tn fEnsIanti, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES THE FIRST TO THE END OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY; AND AN APPENDIX OF AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS. BY JAMES ELMES, M.R.I.A. ARCHITECT, AUTHOR OF HINTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRISONS; TREATISE ON DILAPIDATIONS; LECTURES ON ARCHITECTURE, &C. “ Certissime Cbnstat, ut praecociores neminem unquam praetulisse spes, ita nec maturiores quemquam fructus protulisse: prodigium olim pueri, nunc miraculum viri, imo dsmonium hominis, suffecerit nominasse ingeniosissimum et optimum Christopherum Wrennum.” Dr. Barrow’s Oration at Gresham College, 1662 . LONDON : PRIESTLEY AND WEALE, HIGH-STREET, BLOOMSBURY. 1823 . LONDON : HUNTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFR1ARS. TO SIR HUMPHRY DAVY, BART. PRESIDENT, TO THE VICE-PRESIDENTS, COUNCIL, AND FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY : THE FOLLOWING MEMOIRS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN ; THE ORNAMENT AND PRIDE OF ENGLISH SCIENCE AND ART, THE ASSOCIATE OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS BAND OF PHILOSOPHERS, WHOSE DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS DO HONOUR TO OUR NATION, AND WHOSE UNION FORMED -THAT SOCIETY, OF WHICH HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND EARLIEST PRESIDENTS, AND WHOSE MEMBERS WERE THE PATRONS, FOSTERERS, AND PROMULGATORS OF THE NEWTONIAN PHILOSOPHY, AND OF ITS IMMORTAL AUTHOR, ARE, WITH THEIR OBLIGING PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED AND DEDICATED, BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, JAMES ELMES. London , February 25, 1823, PREFACE. The following Memoirs, illustrative of the life and works of our greatest architect, were began by me nearly fourteen years ago, as introductory to a large work which I proposed to publish on the Cathedral of St. Paul, his greatest architectural performance. This being abandoned, and my drawings being en- graved for another publication*, I then intended to reprint the Parentalia, with the new matter which I had collected as an appendix ; but subsequent and important additions, and an attentive perusal of that part of Parentalia which relates to Sir Christopher Wren, induced me to attempt an enlarged and entirely new life. This was to have been published more briefly last * Mr. Britton’s Fine Arts of the English School. b VI PREFACE. spring ; but the press had hardly been set to work, when some new and most important documents pre- sented themselves to me, which, with a journey to Ireland, on professional purposes, where I met with other important documents, alluded to in the body of the work, induced the delay, the enlargement, and, I trust, also the improvement of the work. The various hitherto unpublished original papers which I have obtained and printed, are valuable additions to the Life of this great man ; who expe- rienced the ingratitude of cotemporaries, and the apathy of successors, in a more extraordinary degree than perhaps ever befel a man of equal talents, of equal public utility, and of equal celebrity. With Pope, Addison, Swift, Atterbury, Arbuthnot, and Gay, for witnesses of his full-blown fame, not a solitary distich could either afford him at his unnoticed death ; though the German Kneller has been more immortalized by the pen of Pope than by his own pencil. But the man from whose comprehensive mind arose the majestic cathedral of St. Paul, and the fifty PREFACE. Vll parochial churches of London — the royal and mag- nificent hospital of Greenwich— the no less appropriate and useful one at Chelsea — the most splendid ornaments of our metropolis— the most useful structures of our two universities, — he, who was at once our greatest architect, mathematician, and philosopher; the most learned man of his day, who may be most justly named the British Archimedes, was old, was the victim of political intrigue, and had no longer the countenance of royalty, which had smiled upon him for nearly three quarters of a century. He and native talent were out of fashion ; and when ingratitude and the injustice of intriguing foreigners robbed him of his rights, his honours, and his well-earned rewards, the *• wits, the poets of the day, suffered this unequalled man to sink into the silent grave unnoticed but by his beloved son, Christopher, who erected the small mural monument in the crypt of St. Paul's, and began his work * illustrative of his honoured ancestors. This * Parentalia $ or, Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens. Folio. London, 1750. b 2 Vlll PREFACE. work was not completed till nearly thirty years after the great architect’s death, when it was published by Stephen Wren, his grandson, who liberally sent a number of copies to the two universities, for distri- bution among thosfe who honoured his name. The following letters, transcribed from the originals in the possession of his daughter, Miss Wren, whose attention and services I have had several occasions to record, accompanied the parcels of books. They are neither of them directed ; but the first is evidently to some friend at Oxford, and the second to another at Cambridge. The book is now scarce, and at a high price ; but no part of it which relates to Sir Christopher is omitted in the present work. The letters, with the presentation copies, are as follow : — “ Great Russell-street, April 1, 1751. “ Sir, “ My grandfather, Sir Christopher Wren, was so well known, and his memory is so much esteemed at PREFACE. IX Oxford, that the history of his life and works will not, 1 am convinced, be thought a disagreeable present. I have, therefore, sent thirty books by the waggon, and as I had the honour of being educated under the judi- cious Dr. Newton, have fixed upon that most worthy friend of mine to present every college and hall in the university with one of them. Desiring he would also do me the favour to accept of the remaining copies, and distribute them among those he thinks most worthy. I shall make a tour into the country in a day or two, when 1 hope to have the pleasure of seeing you ; but if the holidays prevent my having that plea- sure, you will please to favour me with a line to let me know what reception the books met with. von. Vol. II. col. 120. f Afterwards Sir John Denham. + Birch’s History of the Royal Society, Vol. I. p. 4. 70 THE LIFE OF 1660 , Their first order was, that Mr. Wren* be desired to prepare, against the next meeting, for the pendulum experiment: and, among others, that he, with Dr. Petty, be desired to consider the philosophy of shipping, and to bring in their thoughts about it to the society. On the 12th of December, the seeking a proper place for the weekly meeting of the society was referred to him, his cousin, Mr. Matthew Wren, Lord Brouncker, Sir Robert Moray, Sir Paul Neile, and Dr. Goddard. They fixed on Gresham College till further notice. In several places it is referred to Mr. Christopher Wren, Lord Brouncker, and others, concerning the barometer, which is called “ the quicksilver experiment.” At the first institution of the Royal Society, its principal mem- bers were chiefly of the class called gentlemen , yet it admitted very many of particular professions. During the late presidency!, a sort of aristocratic feeling arose in the society, and certain pro- fessions and trades, and even mercantile pursuits, were proscribed as unworthy of its honours. It is, however, to be hoped, that, under its present government, a return to its original destination may be effected, and its utility be increased with its comprehensiveness. In its origin, says Bishop Sprat, they embraced every assistance that was useful to them, and, “ which is the more remarkable, inas- much that they diligently search out, and join to them, all extra- ordinary men, though but of ordinary trades J.” The royal founder himself set the society an example, in this * Birch’s History of the Royal Society, Vol. I. p. 4. t That of Sir Joseph Banks. f Hist. Roy. Soc. p. 67. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 71 way, that ought to preside at all their meetings, and govern the direction of many of their members in their nomination of pro- posed fellows. At one of their earliest meetings, Dr. Whistler brought in a book, called “ Natural and Political Observations upon the Bills of Mortality, by John Graunt, Citizen of London y” and the doctor read the dedication to Sir Robert Moray, the pre- sident, by the author, who sent fifty copies of the book to be distributed among the members of the society; for which the thanks of the society were ordered to be presented to him, and he was proposed a candidate *. Dr. Sprat adds, “ that it was on the recommendation of the king himself, and so far from its being a prejudice to him, that he was a shopkeeper of London ; that his majesty gave this particular charge to his society, that if they found any more such tradesmen , they should be sure to admit them all , without any more ado. From hence,” says the bishop, who well knew the king’s inclinations, “ may be concluded, what is their inclination towards the manual arts ; by the careful regard which their founder and patron has engaged them to have for all sorts of mechanic-artists.” Among other works of Wren, in this year, is a method for the construction of solar eclipses, which was discovered by him about this time, and considered so excellent, that it was published by Flamstead, the astronomer royal, in his doctrine of the sphere, and was followed for many years as the most concise and plain -f*. He also commenced a series of papers on the longitude, which his * Birch’s History of Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 75. t Sir Jonas Moore’s System of the Mathematics, 4to. Lond. 1681. n THE LIFE OF 1660 . son in the Parentalia asserts is a subject that occupied his thoughts very early in life, and was always kept in view by him afterwards. They are arranged in the manner of an introduction and dis- course. The introduction, which, excepting the last paragraph, appears, says the compiler of Parentalia, to have been written about the year 1660, contains accounts of the various ways made use of by the ancients, and those of later times, for finding the longitude. Some parts of the discourse that follows it were written in the year 1612; others so late as 1720: and the whole consists of various methods, proposed by Mr. Wren for that purpose, with diagrams of several instruments proper for the requisite opera- tions. The same author says they were engraved on copper plates, and that they were in the possession of Mr. Christopher Wren, his son In a former part of this work -f*, I have alluded to the memo- rable service rendered by Sir Christopher and his excellent father to the knights of the most noble order of the Garter, by redeem- ing and preserving from destruction their invaluable records, called, from their binding, the Black, Blue, and Red Books ; with other books, papers, and documents of the institution. This service, can never be too much acknowledged, and should alone, without so many other causes of gratitude, endear the name of Wren to the whole of the world of honour. These important records remained during the whole of the period from their redemption by Dean Wren, till the 11th of August, 1660, in the custody of himself and his son, when they * Parentalia, page 247. t Page 9. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 73 were delivered to the new registrar of the order, Dr. Brune Ryves, his father’s successor in the deanery of Windsor, as appears from the following receipt # in the possession of the family. “ I do acknowledge, that I have received of Mr. Christopher Wren, the son of Mr. Dean Wren, a box, in which are the three register books, and other note-books, all relating to the most noble order of the Garter ; in testimony whereof, I have here- unto set my hand, this 11th day of August, in the year 1660. (Signed) “ Brune Ryves’” They had not, however, the like success in their endeavours to preserve the George and Garter of the great Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden ; which contained four hundred and ninety-eight diamonds, and were returned after his death by a solemn em- bassy, in pursuance of the statutes of the order. By the king’s (Charles I.) command, they were committed to the custody of the dean and chapter of Windsor, to be laid up in their treasury for a perpetual memorial of that renowned king, who died in the field of battle, wearing some of those jewels, to the great honour of the order, and as a true martial prince and companion thereoff .” Dean Wren, to prevent the irretrievable loss of such valuable re- membrances, by the plunder of the regicides in 1642, took the extraordinary care, with hazard of his life, to bury them under the floor of the treasury ; and deposited a sealed note in the care of a responsible friend, intimating where they might be found in the event of his decease. * Ex autograph. Parentalia, p. 136. t Ashmole’s Order of the Garter, pp. 203 and 641. L 7 4 THE LIFE OF 1661 . In this place they remained in security till about the middle of March* * * § , 1645, when, being discovered by Cornelius Holland, a regicide, and taken thence by Colonel Ven, then governor of Windsor Castle, who delivered them to Colonel Whitchcott, the person who succeeded him in the government, and who would not suffer the common prayer service to be used at the interment of Charles I., they were at length taken away by John Hunt, trea- surer to the trustees appointed by the Long Parliament for the sale of his majesty’s property, and sold by them to Thomas Beauchamp, then clerk. Wren lost this year his early friend and mathematical in- structor^, William OughtredJ, the most celebrated mathema- tician of his day, and author of the Clavis Mathematicae, which Wren translated into Latin §. Among other illustrious pupils of this useful man and eminent mathematician, were Seth Ward, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury, * Ashmole’s Order of the Garter, pp. 204 and 641. f Aubrey’s Lives of Eminent Men, Vol. II. p. 472. t This eminent mathematician was born at Eton in 1574. He was edu- cated as a scholar upon the foundation of that school ; was elected thence in 1592 to King’s College, Cambridge ; of which, after the regular time of probation, he was admitted perpetual fellow. In 1596 he took his bache- lor’s degree ; and in 1599 proceeded M. A. After receiving orders, he was, in Feb. 1605, instituted to the vicarage of Shalford in Surrey, which he resigned on being presented, in 1610, to the rectory of Albury, near Guil- ford, whither he repaired, and continued his mathematical pursuits as he had done at college, without neglecting the ministerial duties of his office. After passing a long and useful life, he died at his rectory, June 30, 1660, aged 86, and lies buried in the chancel of Albury church. § See page 22 of this work. PA11T II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 75 Sir Jonas Moore, Sir Charles Scarborough, Mr. Henshaw, and Sir Christopher Wren Aubrey, his contemporary, describes him as a little man, with black hair, black eyes, and a great deal of spirit. His wit was always working, and he would draw lines and diagrams in the dust. His eldest son, Robert, told Aubrey that his father used to lie in bed till twelve o’clock, ever since he could remember ; that he studied late at night, had his tinder-box by him, and on the top of his bedstaff had his ink-horn fixed. He was so cele- brated abroad for his learning, that several great mathemati- cians came over to England to be acquainted with him. He believed in astrology, and, according to Aubrey, was very lucky t in giving his judgments in nativities. He was a great lover and practiser of chemistry, and told Mr. Evelyn, but a year before he died, that if he were but five years younger, he doubted not but he should discover the composition of the philosopher’s stone. This gentleman mentions him in his Diary more than once, and gives the following interesting account of his venerable friend: — “ Came that renowned mathema- tician Mr. Oughtred, rector of Albury, to see me, I sending my coach to bring him to Wotton, being now very aged. Amongst other discourse he told me he thought water to be the philosopher’s first matter, and that he was well persuaded of the possibility of their elixir; he believed the sun to be a material fire, the moon a continent, as appears by the late selenographers ; he had strong apprehensions of some extraordinary event to happen j* Ibid. p. 473. L 2 * Aubrey’s Lives, Vol. II. p. 471. 7 6 THE LIFE OF 1661 . the following year, from the calculation of coincidence with the deluvian period ; and added that it might possibly be to convert the Jews by our Saviour’s visible appearance, or to judge the world ; and therefore his word was parate in occursum . He said original sin was not met with in the Greek fathers, yet he believed the thing; this was from some discourse on Dr. Taylor’s late book which I lent him # .” Ralph Greatrex, or Greatorix, his friend, a celebrated ma- thematical instrument maker, says, that Oughtred died for very joy at the restoration of Charles II., which was only a few days before his death. “ Are ye sure he is restored ? then give me a glass of wine to drink his sacred majesty’s health ! His spirits were then quite upon the wing, and they fled away t- ” Wren and the philosophic club, as John Evelyn calls their society, in his interesting Diary, daily increased in public favour. Their new year began with admitting Messrs. Evelyn, Boyle, Oldenburg, Rawlins, Ashmole, Henshaw, and Sir John Denham, as fellows p Jan. 6, 1661. “ I was now chosen§ and nominated by his majesty for one of the council, by suffrage of the rest of the members, a fellow of the philosophic society, now meeting at Gresham College, where was an assembly of divers learned gen- tlemen. This being the first meeting since the king’s return ; but it had been begun some years before at Oxford, and was con- tinued with interruption here during the rebellion.” “ 16. I went to the philosophic club, where was examined * Evelyn’s Diary, Aug. 28, 1655, Vol. I. p. 295. t Aubrey’s Lives, Vol. II. p. 476. t Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 8. § Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 329. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 77 the Torricellian experiment. I presented my circle of the me- chanical trades, and had recommended to me the publishing of what I had written of chalcography On the 6th of March following, Sir Robert Moray f was chosen president; but as the society was not incorporated till some time afterwards, when Lord Brouncker was named president in their charter, he is mostly spoken of as the first president of the Royal Society. The 10th of April, Mr. Wren was appointed of committee with Lord Brouncker, Sir Robert Moray, Sir Paul Neile, Dr. Wallis, and Dr. Goddard, to consider all sorts of tools and instruments for making glasses proper for perspectives, for the use of the society, and to meet together on Fridays for that purpose % ; and, on the same day, his friend, Sir Robert Moray, was again chosen president for another month. Thus it may be perceived that the industry of the indefatigable Wren knew no bounds; for while he was occupied for the philosophic society in forwarding improvements in every branch of science, he was pursuing his studies at Oxford for his degrees with equal per- severance. The whole of Wren’s discoveries, works, and inventions will, perhaps, never be recovered. His carelessness of present fame, his modesty, and his merits were alike transcendant, and he printed nothing himself. He complained sharply that Olden- burg neglected to enter his papers, and often sent his inventions and papers abroad, where they were claimed by others §. As an * Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 829. X Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 17. See Appendix, No. 11, for the first list of this illustrious body. X Ibid. p. 20. § Parentalia, p. 247* 78 THE LIFE OF 16*61. example, this very Doctor Wallis, who is associated with him on this last-mentioned committee, and stands justly celebrated as a philosopher, a mathematician, and a divine; whose works are honoured in being published by the curators of the university press ; whose celebrated controversy with Hobbes, of Malmes- bury, and animated reply to his *, procured him an exten- sive and lasting reputation, is not entirely clear from the foul charge of appropriating the discoveries of Wren, and other emi- nent careless ones, to his own careful self. “ Tis certain,” writes Aubrey in the life-time of them both, “ that he is a person of real worth, and may stand with much glory on his own basis, and need not be beholden to any man for fame, of which he is so ex- tremely greedy, that he steals feathers from others to adorn his own cap. For example, he lies at watch for Sir Christopher Wren’s discourse, Mr. Robert Hooke, Dr. William Holder, &c. ; puts down their notions in his note-book, and then prints it without owning the authors. But, though he does an injury to the inventors, he does good to learning, in publishing such curious notions, which the author, especially Sir Christopher Wren, might never have leisure to write himself f.” Is it not, then, fair to conclude, that Wallis’s demonstration of the equating of a straight line to a parabola, published in 1659, and his work, called De Cycloide et Corporibus inde Genitis, Sc c. See., and other subjects, on which we know Wren employed his capacious and versatile invention, have been thus borrowed from the well-plumed cap of his illustrious friend. * Martin’s Biog. Phil. p. 276. t Aubrey’s Lives of Eminent Men, Vol. II. p. 570. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 79 In the May of this year, Wren was pursuing his studies at Oxford; and his absence was much felt at the new society. Among their earliest records we find that, on the 8th of May, 1660, “ it was proposed, that the society write to Mr. Wren, and charge him in the king’s name to make a globe of the moon ; and likewise to continue the description of several insects as he had begun The king’s commands were communicated to Mr. Wren, at All Souls College, Oxford, under letters from Mr. Powle ; a joint one from Sir Robert Moray and Sir Paul Neile, and a separate one from his friend Sir Robert Moray. That from Mr. Powle is as follows : To f Dr.+ Wren, at All Souls College , in Oxford. “ Sir, “lam commanded by the Royal Society § to acquaint you, that his majesty expects you should prosecute your design of making the representation of the lunar globe in solido; and that you should proceed in drawing the shapes of little animals as they appear in * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 21. j* * * § Ex autograph. Paren. p. 210. t There appears some discrepancy between these dates and his taking his doctor’s degree, which, as will be seen, was not till some months after- wards. § Nor was yet installed as the Royal Society by charter or incorporation, although by courtesy they were so called. 80 THE LIFE OF 1661. the microscope ; and that he doth expect an accouut of this from you shortly. “ I am, Sir, &c. “ Hen. Powle.” That from Sir Robert Moray, then president, and Sir Paul Neile, is no less flattering, and begins : To Dr. Wren, Samlian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. “ Much honoured friend, “ The king hath commanded us to lay a double charge upon you, in his name, to perfect a design, wherein he is told you have already made some progress, to make a globe representing accu- rately the figure of the moon, as the best tubes represent it : and to delineate, by the help of the microscope, the figures of all in- sects, and small living creatures you can light upon, as you have done those you presented to his majesty. If it were needful to add any further excitement to your industry, we should tell you how much our whole society is rejoiced, that his majesty has a just esteem of your parts, and honours you with his commands, which we are confident will prevail with you, and therefore we reserve all other motives for other things, only we expect you will signify to us your readiness to comply with his majesty's pleasure ; and you may be sure we will improve it as much to PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 81 your honour and advantage as is possible for, much honoured friend, “ Your most affectionate humble servants, “ R. Moray, P. Neile. “ Whitehall, May 17, 1661.” The other letter on this topic is from Sir Robert Moray, his active, warm, and sincere friend. To Dr. Wren, &c. “ My worthy friend, “ Since my last I told the king you had finished your lunar globe, and desired to know what are his further commands ; and he commanded me to let you know, he would have you bring it hither to him. I have also to tell you, that in compliance with your desire to be eased of the further task of drawing the figures of small insects by the help of the microscope, we have moved his majesty to lay his commands on another, one Yander Diver ; and we have also persuaded Mr. Hooke to undertake the same thing. This is all the trouble you shall now have from, my worthy friend, “ Your real humble servant, “ R. Moray # . “ Whitehall, August 13, 1661.” # This excellent person, as Evelyn, who knew him well, justly calls him, and admirable philosopher, was, with Wren, one of the first founders of the Royal Society. He was well versed in natural philosophy, and was uni- M 82 THE LIFE OF 1661. In pursuance with the king’s commands, and by directions of the Royal Society, the globe of the moon was accurately finished and presented to his majesty at Whitehall, who received it with peculiar satisfaction, and ordered it to be placed among the most valuable curiosities of his cabinet. Bishop Sprat, the elegant historian of the Royal Society, describes it as “ representing not only the spots and various degrees of whiteness upon the surface, but the hills, eminences, and cavities moulded in solid work. The globe, thus fashioned into a true model of the moon, as you turn it to the light re- versally beloved and esteemed. He was the first president of the society afterwards called Royal, and continued, with only one’monthly intermission, of Dr. Wilkins, till its incorporation by royal charter. Sir Robert was ge- nerally the organ of communication between the king and the society, and was a privy counsellor and prime minister for Scotland. As I have shown, he was the first bearer of the royal message to the society ; so was he, according to Bishop Burnet, the life and soul of that body. He was as assiduous as his friend Wren in promoting its valuable purposes ; and their names are to be met with in almost every page of Dr. Birch’s very circumstantial history of the society. He was universally beloved and esteemed; and “ of so great piety,” says Burnet, “ that in the midst of armies and courts, he spent many hours a day in devotion. He had an equality in him that nothing could alter ; and was in practice a stoic. He had a superiority of genius and comprehension to most men, and a most diffused love to all mankind, delighting on every occasion of doing good.” A character so parallel in all points with that of Wren, naturally produced a most friendly and inviolable attachment to each other. He died suddenly at his pavilion at Whitehall ; and being particularly in the king’s favour, was, at his ma- jesty’s own charge, buried in Westminster Abbey, near the remains of Sir William Davenant. — Burnet. Parentalia. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 83 presents all the monthly phases, with the variety of appearances that happen from the shadows of the mountains and the valleys*.” The globe was fixed on a handsome turned pedestal of lignum vitae, with a scale of miles, and the following inscription engraved upon it : — CAROLO SECVNDO M. BR. FR. ET HIB. R. CVIVS AMPLITVDINI QVIA VNVS NON SVFFICIT NOWM HVNC ORBEM SELENESPHAERIO EXPRESSVM D. D. D. CHR. WREN+. Professor Ward relates, in his Lives of the Gresham Pro- fessors that both this curious piece of art, and the letters signifying the king’s commands for making it, were, at the time of his writing (about 1640), in the possession of his son, Chris- topher Wren, Esq. The lunar globe met with much abuse in a Voyage to Eng- * Sprat’s History of the Royal Society, p. 315. Lond. I 667 . t The family manuscript in the Lansdown Collection gives a different date from this, namely, 1663 ; but I have followed the other authorities as more probable. 1663. Selenographia vera, i. e. globus hunc in solido, opere geometric^, formatus (hunc orbem selenosphaerio expressum), serenis- simo Regi Carolo II. cujus amplitudini quia unus non sufficit, D. D. D. I. Apud nos. — Wren , MS . J Page 100. M 2 84 THE LIFE OF 1661. land, then just published, by one Mons. de Sorbiere, the Pilet of his day; a schemer, says Evelyn, who had “ passed through a thousand shapes to ingratiate himself in the world; after having been an Aristarchus, physician (or rather mountebank), philosopher, critic, and politician # .” Bishop Sprat, for the honour of his country and his friend, answered the slanderer: and, in speaking of Wren’s lunar globe, asks, “ in which is Mons. de Sorbiere more ridiculous, his history or his policy? His history, in speaking so many false reproaches aloud ; his policy, in whispering such trifles with so much caution ? I beseech you, sir f, let us allow him the reputation of this new invention entire; though he did not think fit to name the famous author of the lunar globe, which he saw in the king’s closet J.” The good bishop might have left this “ Mons. de Sorbiere, Historio- graphe du Roi,” to his countrymen, who knew him too well to be duped by his falsehoods : — “ I would not,” says Voltaire, “ imi- tate the late Mons. de Sorbiere, who, having stayed three months in England, without knowing any thing of its manners or its lan- guage, thought fit to publish a relation, which proved but a dull scurrilous satire upon a nation he knew nothing of.” Among other impositions in which he was detected, was a correspond- ence with Hobbes of Malmesbury, who used to write to Sorbiere on philosophical subjects ; and those letters being sent by him to Gassendi, seemed so worthy of notice to that great man, that he * Evelyn’s Memoirs. London, 4to. 1819. Vol. II. p. 138. - The bishop’s observations on Mons. de Sorbiere’s Voyage into Eng- land were dedicated to Sir Christopher Wren. t Edit. 1708. p. 148. The first edition was published in 1665. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 85 set himself to write proper answers to them. Gassendi's answers were sent by Sorbiere to Hobbes, who thought himself happy in the correspondence of so profound a philosopher : but, at length, the artifice being discovered, Sorbiere was disgraced*. Among his works are many plagiarisms from the English philosophers of this period, such as “ Discours sur la Comete, 1665 “ Discours sur la Transfusion de Sang d’un Animal dans le Corps d’un Homme,’' &c. This Protean sycophant and arch manoeuvres like most of his class, outmanoeuvred himself, and in most instances obtained more praise than profit for his flatteries and his falsehoods. For his abuse of England, his own government then on good terms with ours, banished him by a lettre de cachet, to Nantes f ; and he was deprived of his title of Historiographe du Roi by the king himself. Pope Clement IX., whom he flattered from his hat to his tiara, rewarded him with some little honours ; but not with much regard to his purse, which occasioned him to bemoan to the pope — “ Most holy father, you give ruffles to a man who is without a shirt.” About this time Wren added to the many inventions which he presented to the society, one for the more correct delineation of op- tical lines +, which was ordered to be printed in their transactions. Although, as appears by the letters of Sir Robert Moray and others, he was addressed early in the year as Dr. Wren, yet it * Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary ; Aikin’s do. &e. j* Moreri. + 1660, vel ante ab ipso. Descriptio Machine inventae ad delineandas lineas exteriores cujuscunque rei, opticiprojectiones. — Phil . Tram. No. 45, p. 898. cum fig . — Wren , MS . 86 THE LIFE OF 1661. was not till September 12 of this year that he took his degree of Doctor of Civil Law * at Oxford, being then in the twenty- ninth year of his age. About the same time he was honoured by admission to the same degree from the university of Cambridge f, whither his growing reputation had reached. On the 18th of the same month J the petition to the king was read, for his majesty's royal grant, authorizing the Philo- sophical Society to meet as a corporation with various privileges. Among other eminent accomplishments m which Dr. Wren excelled, he had acquired so considerable a skill in architecture, that he was sent for the same year from Oxford by the king, who had gained much knowledge and taste in art by his long residence abroad, to assist Sir John Denham, who held the situation of surveyor-general of his majesty's works. The king’s good sense in this appointment is apparent. Sir John Denham, who is better known as the elegant author of Cow- per’s Hill than for any notoriety as an architect, was appointed by Charles I. to this situation in reversion, as a remuneration for his loyalty, during the life of Inigo Jones, and succeeded to it on his death. It would have been ungrateful in Charles II. to have discharged Denham, and unsafe to have entrusted him in any great works. The king had proposed to himself the re- paration of St. Paul’s, the reinstatement of Windsor Castle, the building a new palace at Greenwich, and other important works. * Sept. 12, 1661. Ad gradum doctoralem in jure civili promotas Oxonice. — Fasti Oxon , p. 820. — Wren , MS. t Ad eundum gradum Cant,abrigice. — Wren , MS. J Evelyn’s Diary, Yol. I. p. 339. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 87 His knowledge of all the men of skill in his kingdom, from his intimacy with “ the club,” led him to select Wren for this very important task, and he was appointed Denham’s coadjutor. Of Denham’s skill, or rather want of skill, Evelyn gives us a lively instance from his Diary: — “ Oct. 19, 1661, I went to London to visit my lord of Bristol, having first been with Sir John Denham, his majesty’s surveyor, to consult with him about the placing of his palace at Greenwich, which I would have had built between the river and the queen’s house, so as a large square cut should have let in the Thames like a bay; but Sir John was for setting it on piles at the very brink of the water, which I did not assent to, and so come away, knowing Sir John to be a better poet than architect, though he had Mr. Webb (Inigo Jones’s * man) to assist him f .” May we not without much stretch of imagination conjecture, that, from Evelyn’s unconstrained freedom and intimacy with the kingj, Sir Robert Moray’s well-known friendship to Wren, and his majesty’s own insight into character, have led to his ap- pointment, on which so much of his own good fortune, and of the character of the country for its architecture, at that moment depended. The increase of his employments, and the accumulation of his honours, did not prevent his attentions to the philosophic * He was son-in-law to that great artist. t Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 341. + They are apparent every where. The 24th of the following month he records, “ his majesty fell into discourse with me concerning bees.” — Ibid. p. 342. 88 THE LIFE OF 1661. club. In September we find it registered, that he be desired to deliver a copy of his observations and hypothesis of Saturn to the amanuensis, to be transmitted by Sir Kenelm Digby to Mons. Frenicle and on November 2 7 following, another copy of the same paper was ordered to be transcribed and sent to the cele- brated Mons. Huygens f. As a specimen of the usual occupations of the new society, on October 9, of this year, a very interesting meeting was held at their rooms, and many subjects of great interest were canvassed. Dr. Hensbaw presented to the society a living cameleon, from Mr. Clayton. Mr. Povey proposed to the society to procure a correspondence in Africa. Mr. Croune, Dr. Pope, and Mr. Rooke were appointed a committee to view the propositions for inquiries into foreign parts. Dr. Ent brought in his reason of the causes of heat in summer, and of cold in winter, which was read by Lord Rrouncker, and ordered to be registered in a book of theories, which was directed to be provided. Mr. Clayton was admitted a member. Lord Viscount Brouncker read a letter from Dr. Christopher Wren to Sir Paul Neile, concerning his hypothesis of Saturn, which letter was ordered to be entered in the letter book J of the society. * It was written from Oxford, and dated October 1, 1661, as follows: “ Honoured Sir, “You know of what prevalency your commands alone are with me, although they had not been seconded by the votes of the best * Birch’s History of the Society, Vol. I. p. 43. t Ibid. p. 66. t Vol. I. p. 16. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 89 society in Europe ; to disobey which would not be rudeness alone, but Gotbicism and enmity to the progress of learning. Yet if it were not my resolution, that I ought to suffer any thing rather than be deficient to so much duty, you should not have obtained of me to expose myself so many ways, as I must of necessity do in this little trifle, the hypothesis of Saturn. For had it been so fortunate as to come into your hands, while it could have told you any news, it might possibly have been as well received as the first messenger of a victory is wont to be, though he brings but an imperfect story. But when Hugemus hath outrid me, who staid to bring a fuller relation, to give you a stale account will undoubtedly be as pleasant a thing to you, as unseasonable well- meanings are wont to be, hut cannot give you any serious satis- faction. I must confess, I have often had the pusillanimity rather to neglect that right I might in justice have vindicated, than by challenging it too late, incur the jealousy of being a plagiary : and since you it is that will not suffer me to continue in this peaceable humour, I shall not need to fear that you will entertain any such suspicion, especially since this kind of Saturn was long before hatched by your influence at White-Waltham, upon the observation of December, 1657, when first we had an appre- hension, that the arms of Saturn kept their length, which pro- duced this hypothesis, made first in two pasteboards ; not to say any thing of our attempts in wax, in January, 1655. The hy- pothesis made more durable in metal, was exposed on the top of that obelisk, which was erected at Gresham College, in May, 1658 (if I mistake, be pleased to rectify me), to raise the thirty- five feet telescope of your donation. At the same time I was put N 90 THE LIFE OF 1661. upon writing on this subject, for which I supposed I had tolerable observations and materials at hand. But first, I was enjoined to give that short and general account of it, which about that time I drew up in this sheet. But when, in a short while after, the hypothesis of Hugenius was sent over in writing, I confess I was so fond of the neatness of it, and the natural simplicity of the contrivance agreeing so well with the physical cause of the heavenly bodies, that I loved the invention beyond my own. And though this be so much an equipollent with that of Hugenius , that I suppose future observations will never be able to determine which is the truest, yet I would not proceed with my design, nor ex- pose so much as this sheet any farther than to the eye of my bosom friend, to whom even my errors lie always open. Neither had I now been persuaded to it, but that I could not endure a regress in a real learning, having always had a zeal for the progress of it : and to see ingenious men neglecting what was determined before, to do worse on the same subject, because they would do other- wise, was always wont to make me passionate ; and, therefore, I could not, with charity, suffer a person (whose great wit unusefully tried would be a loss to the world), to trouble himself with this less considerable hypothesis ; which, if he had known not to be new, he had certainly despised. And yet this is very well advised of him, that we should not so build upon Hugenius ' s hypothesis, as to neglect the observations about the full phasis ; which, till they are obtained, little more can be determined in this thing, than what Hugenius hath done. And, therefore, though I might have sug- gested some new hypotheses, yet, considering they would be as yet but mere conjectures, I have let alone those thoughts. And if it PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 91 be suspected, that any thing said in this superficial draught of Saturn be of this sort, that is, contrived since the seeing of Huge - muss, I have a double appeal to make; one to my honoured friend Mr. Rooke , who at first saw the only copy ; and another to the style, which speaks I had not yet used the industry to refine it, above what might have proceeded from my childish pen, having not then been so sufficiently convinced of the necessity of words as well as things : neither would I change it now, that I might be conscious to myself of sincerity, but where too much obscurity in the expression only forced me in two or three places. For these reasons, I earnestly beg this favour of you (as a friend, I desire it), that you would keep it in your hands, and restore it again ; which, as the case stands, will give me almost as much satisfaction, as if I had found the confidence to have excused myself, when it was enjoined me at the Society ; which I might well have done, considering that divers there had been at the trouble to hear the astronomy reader at Gresham give fuller discourses on the same subject*, which he thought then was publication enough, and might have saved the impertinency of these apologies for that, which he thinks deserves not now so much of his care, otherwise than as a command from them to “ Your obedient humble servant, “ Christopher Wren. “ Oxford, October 1, 1661.” # The original manuscript of a lecture of his read at Gresham College, intituled, De corpore Saturni ejusque phasibus Hypothesis , was in the library N 2 92 THE LIFE OF 1662. After the reading of this scientific and able letter, another was produced and read by Sir Robert Moray, from Mons. Christian Huygens de Zuylichem, dated from the Hague, July 24, 1661, containing observations on the planet Saturn, which was ordered to be entered # in the letter-book of the society. Early in 1662, Dr. Wren is found in full activity at the society. On January 1, they desire him to draw up a scheme for a weathercock, against the next meeting f ; and is requested to prosecute his design of trying, by several round pasteboards, their velocity in falling. At their next meeting, on the 8th, he brought in his scheme for the weathercock, which was examined and discussed ; and on the 15th was appointed, with Messrs. Balle and Rooke, to consider the observations that had been sent to the society by the Earl of Sandwich. On the 22d he ex- hibited an experiment of a vessel, which, being filled with water to a certain height, emptied itself and on the 29th read a paper, concerning the nature and property of the barometer §. At this meeting the Genoese ambassador visited the society, and Mr. Boyle’s air pump was exhibited for his gratification. The leading members of this illustrious society were con- stantly alert in the pursuit of useful experiments ; and it was their constant practice to urge their ablest members to consider of the late William Jones, Esq., F. R. S. ; which library is now in the pos- session of the Right Honourable George, Earl of Macclesfield, president of the Royal Society. * Letter-book of the Royal Society, Vol. I. p. 19. 1662. t Birch’s History of the Royal Society, Vol. I. p. 68, * $ Ibid. p. 74. § Ibid, l'ART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 93 subjects which they conceived to be of the greatest public utility : as, for instance, their register-book of this year, under the date of February 5, says, Sir William Petty # , Dr. Baynes, Mr. Brooke, Mr. Rooke, the Lord Viscount Brouncker, and Mr. Balle, were appointed a committee, to examine a paper concerning music, read by Mr. Brooke ; and Dr. Wren was desired to think of an easy way for an universal measure, different from that of a pen- dulum f. On the 12th, he proposed black lead as a better means than oil for preserving the pivots of the wheels of watches or clocks from grating or wearing outj; and proposed to try a watch in Mr. Boyle’s engine, the air pump, but the results are not communicated §. On March 5 the amanuensis was ordered to attend Dr. Wren, to take directions concerning the experiment of the water in the long tube || ; the parent of the barometer. Such were the pursuits of this society, and such were the opinions of the first philosophers of Europe of their able and illustrious colleague Wren, that one can hardly turn over the leaves of their transactions without finding his name associated with the most important discoveries, and with the greatest men. Among other of Wren’s productions this year, were his Prslectiones Astronomies , published at the Oxford press, which * He was knighted by Charles II., April 11, 1661. t Birch’s Hist, of Royal Society, p. 75 . $ Plumbago, made into an ointment with tallow or lard, according to the weather, is the much puffed anti-attrition of our times. § Birch’s Hist, of Royal Society, Vol. I. p. 7 6. || Ibid. 94 THE LIFE OF 1662. are mentioned among his philosophical works, in the family manuscript so often quoted *. This year Wren sustained a loss in the death of his friend and fellow professor at Gresham College, the celebrated Lawrence Rookef, who died at his apartments at Gresham College, June 27. He was buried by his friend Dr. Seth Ward, whom he left his heir by a nuncupatory will, in the church of St. Martin Outwich, * 1662. Praelectiones Astronomicae Oxoniae lect. de problematibus sphaeribus : de Pascale, De re nautica verum (apud nos). — Wren, MS . •j* Laurence Rooke was born of a good family at Deptford, in Kent, in 1623. He was educated at Eton school, and admitted to King’s College, Cambridge, in 1639. Took his bachelor’s degree b y proxy, on account of illness, February 29, 1643. In 1647 he commenced Master of Arts, and then retired to his estate in Kent. In 1650 he went to Oxford, and settled at Wadham College, for the sake of its society; among which was Dr. Wilkins, Dr. Seth Ward*, Mr. Christopher Wren, and other luminaries of the day. He assisted Boyle in many of his chemical operations and ex- periments. At the death of Mr. Foster, he was chosen professor of astro- nomy at Gresham College, July 23, 1652. On August 7> 1657, he resigned his astronomy professorship, in which he was succeeded, as I have before stated, by Wren, and was elected to the chair of geometry. His share with his friend Wren I have before stated. He was also, with him, one of the earliest members of the Royal Society, and was very zealous and serviceable in promoting that great and useful institution ; but did not live till it re- ceived its establishment by the royal charter. He permitted his heir, Dr. Ward, to receive what was due to him on bond, on conditions only, that the persons bound offered payment willingly ; for, he said, as he never was in law, or had any contention with any man in his life, neither would he after his death. His friend, Bishop Ward, in commemoration of his talents and virtues, presented the Royal Society with a handsome and valuable pendulum clock. * Athen. Oxon. Vol. II. c. 297. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 95 Bishopsgate-street, The funeral was attended by most of the fellows of the Royal Society then in London The death of Rooke, which had been a great loss to literature and science in general, and to Gresham College in particular, was happily compensated by the election of the celebrated Dr. Isaac Barrow to be his successor, as professor of geometry, July 16, 1662, upon the recommendation of Dr. Wilkins. In the new professor’s Latin inaugural oration, delivered previous to his lectures, and which is published in his Opuscula and in the Appendix to Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors J ; after a handsome encomium upon the founder of the college, Sir Thomas Gresham, he gave a just and laudatory character of several of the made by Fromentel, then esteemed a great rarity, with the following in- scription on the dial plate : — SOCIETATI REGALI AD SCIENTIAM NATVRALEM PROMOVENDAM INSTITVTAE DONO DEDIT REVEREND VS IN CHRISTO PATER SETHVS WARD EPISCOPVS EXON EIVSDEM SOCIETATIS SODALIS IN MEMORIAM LAVRENTII ROOKE IN OMNI LITERARVM GENERE INSTRVCTISSIMI IN COLLEGIO GRESHAMENSI PRIMVM ASTRONOMIAE DEIN GEOMETRIAE PROFESSORIS DICTAEQ.VE SOCIETATIS NVPER SODALIS QVI OBIIT IVNII XXVI MDCLXII. * Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors, p. 92. t Opuscula, p. 100. { Appendix to Ward’s Lives, p. 44. “ Oratio habita in lectura geo- metrica Collegio Greshamensi, anno 1662, ab Isaaco Barrow, A. M.” See also the fourth volume of his collected Works, published in 178 7, consisting of determinations, conciones ad clerum, &c. &c. 96 THE LIFE OF 1662. former professors. His eulogium upon Wren is as elegantly written as it is true and forcible : it is as follows ; for it would but weaken to translate it : “ Quid alios, dum vita suppeteret, florentes fam&, nunc placide quiescentes, ab umbrarum tranquillo hospitio producerem in scenam ? quos certe omnino tacitos praestat, quam male tractatos inficeta condone, et mutil& cum laude memoratos (unum * saltern gratitudo publica vetat omnino intactum praeterire, stupori etiam- num nostro superstitem, geometricam hanc qui nuperrime, ni fal- lor, et sane fallar haud invitus, nunc astronomicam Oxonii cathe- dram meritissime occupat ornatque f, a facillimS, nescio divinitate ingenii, an a suavissim& morum humanitate magis commendandus : (id certissime constat, ut praecociores neminem unquam praetulisse spes J, ita nec maturiores quenquam fructus protulisse,) prodi- gium olim pueri, nunc miraculum viri, imo daemonium hominis ; atque, ne mentiri videar, sufFecerit nomin&sse ingeniosissimum et optimum Christophorum Wrennum. De quo ne plura addam, cum virtus facit ejus toti spectata mundo, vobisque intimius ex- plorata, meisque adeo attenuanda potius, quam amplificanda en- comiis ; turn delicatum viventis ne rudius offendam pudorem. * “ Totus hie locus de Christophero Wrenno in priore editione unci- nulis inclusus est, quod in nonnullis forsan ob scripturam maculis deletam auctoris mentem editor haud satis assequi posset. Et profecto non semel depravatus esse mox apparebit,” ■)* Cathedram geometricam nunquam occupavit, sed solum astronomi- cam, primum in collegio Greshamensi, deinde Oxonii, vir ille egregius; quod auctorem fugere non potuit. $ Sic in priori editione legitur. Vid. Opuscula, p. 93. FART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 9 7 meamque simul in tam luculent& materia prodam temere in- fantiam.”) To be so complimented by a Barrow, is merited by few besides a Wren. Science experienced this year another loss in Wren’s great adversary, Blaise Pascal, whom he had conquered in the face of all Europe in 1658 # ; the particulars of which are before enu- merated f. This eminent mathematician, whose precocity of genius and inveterate love for the mathematics are familiar to most persons, died at the early age of thirty-nine, on the 19th of August, 1662. The greatest event of this year was the incorporation of the society by royal charter. This important occurrence took place the 15th July. Evelyn records the reading of it in his Diary under its proper date. “ Our charter being now passed under the broad seal, constituting us a corporation, under the name of the Royal Society, for the improvement of natural knowledge by experiment , was this day (Aug. 13, 1662,) read, and was all that was done this afternoon, being very large J.” At a meeting of the society on the 9th of July of this year, Dr. Wren’s friend, Sir Robert Moray, being president, after other business had been transacted, Lord Brouncker reported to the society that Sir Heneage Finch, his majesty’s Solicitor-general, having signed the docket of the bill prepared by him for his ma- # 1658. Epistolae ad D. Dominos de Carcavy et Pascal ; Parisiis ; cum solutione problematis ab ilJis missi et propositi, de cycloidis ejusque solidis , cent risque gravitatis. MS. apud nos. — Wren, MS. f Page 58 of this work. t Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 350. o 98 THE LIFE OF 1662. jesty’s signature, in order to execute letters patent for incorpo- rating the society, had refused the fees due to him for the same out of respect to the said society; it was therefore put to the vote, and resolved, that Mr. Solicitor-general be esteemed and accounted a benefactor to the society : and it was likewise ordered, that Sir John Finch, Dr. Baynes, Sir William Petty, Dr. Goddard, and Mr. Palmer, be appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. Solicitor, and give him the thanks of the society for his said favour and respect to them *. Dr. Wren and Dr. Pope were desired to continue their ob- servations of Jupiter’s satellites. Before the next meeting, a charter passed the great seal on the 15th of July, 1662, for the incorporation of the society under the title of the president, council, and fellows of the Royal So- ciety of London, for the improvement of natural knowledge j-, and appointing William Lord Brouncker the first president, and Sir Robert Moray, knt. and member of the privy council for Scotland ; Robert Boyle, Esq. ; William Brereton, Esq. eldest son of Wil- liam Lord Brereton ; Sir Kenelm Digby, knt. and chancellor to the queen mother ; Sir Paul Neile, knt. one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber ; Henry Slingesby, Esq. another of the said gentlemen of the privy chamber; Sir William Petty, knt.; John Wallis, D. D. ; Timothy Clarke, M. D. and one of the physicians to his majesty; John Wilkins, D. D.; George Ent, M. D.; Wil- liam Aerskine, Esq., cup-bearer to his majesty; Jonathan Goddard, Esq., M. D. and professor of physic in Gresham College; Chris- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 88 . t Bishop Sprat’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Lond. 1667 , p. 1 34. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 99 topher Wren, L.L.D.*, and Savilian professor of astronomy at Oxford; William Balle, Esq. ; Matthew Wren, Esq.; John Eve- lyn, Esq.; Thomas Henshaw, Esq.; Dudley Palmer, of Gray’s Inn, Esq. and Henry Oldenburg, Esq. of the council; William Balle, Esq. the first treasurer; and Dr. John Wilkins and Mr. Oldenburg, the first secretaries f. The letters patent, incorporating the society, were read on the # In the charter he is, by mistake, entitled, M. D. t . . . volentes quod praedictus Willielmus vicecomes Brouncker, cancellarium praeclarissimae consorti nostrae reginae Catherine, fore et esse primum et modernum praesidem Regalis Societatis praedictae ; . . . . Assignavimus etiam, constituimus, et fecimus, ac per praesentes pro nobis, heredibus, et successoribus nostris fa- cimus, delectos nobis et fideles Robertum Moray militem unum a secre- tioribus nostris conciliis in regno nostro Scotiae ; Robertum Boyle armige- rum ; Willielmum Brereton armigerum filium primogenitum baronis de Brereton ; Kenelm. Digby militem, praecharissimae matri nostrae Marine reginae cancellarium ; Paulum Neile militem unum generosum camerae privatae nostrae; Henricum Slingesby armigerum alium generosum prae- dictae privatae camerae nostrae ; Willielmum Petty militem ; Johannem Wallis in theologii doctorem ; Timotheum Clarke in medicinis doc- torem et unum medicorum nostrorum ; Johannem Wilkins in theologi& doctorem; Georgium Ent in medicinis doctorem; Willielmum Aerskine unum a poculis nostris; Jonathan Goddard in medicinis doctorem et pro- fessorem Collegii de Gresham ; Christophorum Wren in medicinis * doc- torem ; Savillk professorem in academia! nostra! Oxoniensi; Willielmum Balle armigerum ; Mattheum Wren armigerum ; Johannem Evelyn armigerum; Thomam Henshaw armigerum; Dudley Palmer de Gray’s Inn, in comitatu nostro Middlesexiae ; et Henricum Oldenburg armi- gerum, fore et esse primos et modernos viginti et unum de concilio Regalis Societatis praedictae. — Extract from the Charter of the Royal Society . * Error j see last note. o 2 100 THE LIFE OF 1662. 13th of August by Mr. Oldenburg; and it was voted, “ that the president, attended by the council, and as many of the society as can be obtained, should wait upon the king, after his coming from Hampton-Court to London, to give him humble thanks for his grace and favour ; and that, in the mean time, the president should acquaint his majesty with their intention : and that, afterwards, the Lord Chancellor (Clarendon) be thanked likewise, as also Sir Robert Moray, for his concern and care in promoting the consti- tution of the society into a corporation*.” Among other important powers, granted to the council on behalf of the society, is one that they would do well to exercise at the present day ; for it may well be asked, why should not London be an university as well as Paris, Edinburgh, or Dublin ? If the powers of a full university be likely to prove injurious to Oxford and Cambridge, or the dissipations of a metropolis to the scholars — at all events, a college, or polytechnic academy, where youths, natives of the metropolis, might be educated, and reside with their parents, residents of London, at a less expense than boarding at the universities, as at present, would be well worth the consideration of the society. They have, by their charter, full power and authority granted on the behalf of the society to the council, to erect and build one or more colleges within Lon- don or ten miles thereof, of any form or quality soever , for ha- bitation, assembling, or meeting of the president, council, and feU lows, about any affairs or businesses of the society j.” * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 104. t . , . eoneedimus praefatis prassidi, concilio, et sodalibus Regalis Societatis praedictae et successoribus suis plenam potestatem et authoritatem PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 101 The new society was patronized by all the men of rank, in- fluence, and ability in the kingdom. They were grateful for their honours, and deserved them. Bishop Sprat, the learned historio- grapher of the society, in his history, drawn up at their desire, says : “In this place I am to render their public thanks to the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor of England ; to Sir Jeffery Palmer, attorney general ; and to Sir Heneage Finch, solicitor general* ; who, by their cheerful concurrence and free promotion of this confirmation, have wiped away the aspersion that has been scandalously cast on the profession of the law, that it is an enemy to learning and the civil artsf.” The society continued their meetings, their experiments, and their discoveries ; Boyle, Wren, Evelyn, and other illustrious members regularly contributing. On July 16, they received the accession of Sir Robert Harley, and were perpetually adding the names of the most ce- lebrated men in Europe, who sought to enroll themselves among, and contribute to the essays of the society. August 27, Wren was entrusted with the important matter of perusing the Earl of erigendi, cedificandi , et extruendi, aut erigi , cedificari , etextrui faciendivel can- sandi , intra civitatem nostram London, vel decern milliaria ejusdem, unum vel plura collegium vel collegia cujuscunque modi vel qualitatis , pro habitatione 9 assemblatione , et congregatione predictor um pra?sidis, concilia et sodalium prce- dictce Regalis Societatis et successorum suorum, negotia sua et alias res eandem Regalem Societatem concernentia ad ordinandum et disponendmn. — Extract from Charter of the Royal Society. * See this work, page 97- j- Sprat’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Lond. 4to. I 667 , p. 143. 102 THE LIFE OF 1662. Sandwich's observations made by him in his late voyage to Por- tugal and the Straits, and to compare them with those made here of the same kind. At the same time, it was ordered that the thanks of the society be given to the earl, by Sir Paul Neile, for his care and favour in making and communicating these ob- servations ; concerning which, he should receive a farther account hereafter*. On the 29th, he accompanied the president and the rest of the council, with other members of the society, who waited upon the king at Whitehall, to return his majesty the thanks of the society for the patent of their establishment f. Upon which occasion the president made the following speech to his majesty J. * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Yol. I. p. 106. t John Evelyn was of the party, and thus records it in his Diary. August 29, 1662. “ The council and fellows of the Royal Society went in a body to Whitehall to acknowledge his majesty’s royal grace in granting our charter, and vouchsafing to be himself our founder ; when the president made an eloquent speech, to which his majesty gave a gracious reply, and we all kissed his hand. Next day we went in like manner with our address to my lord chancellor, who had much promoted our patent ; he received us with extraordinary favour. In the evening I went to the queen mother’s court, and had much discourse with her.” Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 352. £ Dr. Pell’s MS. Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 107. This Dr. Pell, who is quoted by John Birch as authority for the following speeches, was an eminent mathematician, born March 1, 1611, at Southwich, in Sussex, where his father was minister. He went to school at Steyning, and sent properly qualified to Cambridge at thirteen years of age, understanding Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He took his degree of Master of Arts in 1630, and finished his education at Oxford. In 1632, he married Ilhamaria, second daughter of Mr. Henry Regenolles of London. In addition to his PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 103 “ May it please your majesty, “ We your majesty’s most loyal subjects, newly incorporated by your majesty’s charter, and honoured with the name of the Royal Society, do with all humility present ourselves before your majesty, the royal founder thereof, to offer you our most hearty thanks, as the only way we have at present to express our deep sense of your majesty’s grace and favour to us, and to assure your majesty of our constant veneration for your sacred person, our devotion to your majesty’s service, and our firm resolution to pursue sincerely and unanimously the end for which your majesty hath founded this society — the advancement of the knowledge of natural things, and all useful arts, by experiments : a design, sir, that is deservedly accounted great and glorious, and is universally reputed to be of that advantage to mankind, that your majesty is former acquirements, he had now added those of Arabic, Italian, French, German, and Dutch. In December, 1643, he went to Amsterdam, where he was appointed professor of mathematics, and became colleague to Gerrard Vossius. In 1646, the Prince of Orange sent for him to be professor of philosophy and mathematics in the schola illustris at Breda. While residing at Breda, he had under his tuition William Lord Brereton, who made great progress in mathematics. In 1652, Mr. Pell returned to England, and in 1654 was sent by Cromwell to the protestant Cantons of Switzerland, where he resided with the title of Ablegatus. June 23, 1658, he took leave of the Cantons in a Latin oration, and returned to England. His negotia- tions abroad gave general satisfaction at home ; and as he had rendered services to Charles II. and the church of England, he was ordained, March 31, 1661, a deacon, and in June following a priest ; and died, after many scenes of poverty and distress, December 12, 1685, in the 74th year of his a ge.— Martin’s Biographia Philosophica. 104 THE LIFE OF 1662 . highly admired and extolled for setting it on foot ; and this society is already taken notice of, and famous throughout all the learned parts of Europe ; and doubtless, in time, will be much more by the continuance of your majesty’s gracious favour, and the happy success of their endeavours, to the great increase of fame of your majesty’s prudence, which has justly entitled you to the honour of laying the first foundation of the greatest improve- ment of learning and arts, that they are capable of, and which hath never heretofore been attempted by any : so that men cannot now complain, that the favour and assistance of a potent monarch are wanting to this long wished for enterprise. “ And, sir, our assurance of this your majesty’s favour and assistance is that, which gives vigour to our resolutions, and is the life of our hopes, that in due season we shall be able to make your majesty an acceptable present of choice and useful experi- ments, and accomplish your great design, being thereto engaged by so many powerful motives. “ And in the mean time we shall daily pray, that God will be eminently gracious to your majesty, and accumulate upon you all the blessings answerable to the largeness of your heart, the height of your condition, the weight of your charge, the multitude of your virtues, and the desires and wishes of all your faithful subjects.” To which his majesty gave a suitable reply, and the president and members paid the customary respects to the king. The next day they waited on the lord chancellor, to whom the president spoke as follows. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 105 “ My Loud, “ All of us, whom your lordship hath thought fit to be mem- bers of the Royal Society, are come solemnly to acknowledge your lordship’s favour to us, and to present our thanks, together with an assurance of our readiness to serve your lordship upon all occasions, and of our desires to contribute the best we can to the greatness of your name, which is already far more illustrious than that of a learned predecessor of yours, a great and renowned chancellor of England, who is famous for having but pointed at that improvement of solid learning, which is now by your hand so vigorously and effectually carried on, “ My lord, we are sensible of the importance of that duty now incumbent upon us, to pursue diligently the ends for which our society is constituted; and hope that our endeavours shall, by God’s blessing, become successful for the honour of the king, the royal founder of this society, and of your lordship, our noble patron, as well as for the good, not only of his majesty’s king- doms, but of all mankind, and suitable to the great expectations of the learned abroad, who are already pleased to take notice of us. And the continuance of your lordship’s favour to us will both strengthen our confidence, and quicken our endeavours, and withal give us cause to glory daily more and more in those vows, by which we have dedicated ourselves to your lordship’s service.” Hyde the lord chancellor (afterwards Lord Clarendon), re- ceived this flattering address with satisfaction and favour. He 106 THE LIFE OF 1662. assured the deputation, among other testimonials of his regard, that it was his intention to attend the society, to express his acknowledgments to them in person*. This was reported by the president at the meeting of September 3, with his majesty’s answer, and assurances of his peculiar esteem for the society, and his readiness to give them all due encouragement. The pre- sident Lord Brouncker was desired to deliver in a copy of the speech, which he made to his majesty, and of that to the lord chancellor in the name of the society f. At the same meeting, it was referred to Dr. Wren to make the several experiments mentioned at the last meeting, concerning the aquce salientes , which had been suggested by Sir Robert Moray; who proposed to inquire, by experiments, what bore made a jet of water rise highest ; and of what figure the end of the pipe must be for that purpose ; alleging that the end of the pipe being tapered, the cylinder of water incumbent on that figure presses more upon it, than by its own weighty. The opinions of Wren upon every subject were held in such esteem by his philosophical companions, that they were continually urging him upon all points of great and momentous subjects. This meeting did not break up without a formal request to him, that he would continue his investigations of the Earl of Sandwich’s experiments : but it being a business of great difficulty and much calculation, it required more time than he could yet spare from his other employments §. At the next meeting of the society * MS. of Dr. Pell. Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 10S. t Ibid. t Ibid. § Ibid. PART tl. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 107 Wren was present, and was reminded of prosecuting Mr. Rooke’s observations concerning the satellites of Jupiter, which the mem- bers had entrusted to his experienced ability. There is scarcely any subject in the whole round of modern improvements and discoveries, that had not at times engaged the inquiring mind of this great experimental philosopher. The eminent discovery of Dr. Carmichael Smith, for fumigating the apartments of the sick and contagions, and which obtained a parliamentary reward, had been thought of and tried by Wren. He produced to the society an explanation of the apparatus, which he described as a vessel constructed for the purpose of cooling and percolating the air at once, by the action of certain ingre- dients, and left it in the hands of his philosophical friend, the Honourable Robert Boyle. By this experiment he clearly showed that some other qualities than mere coolness and freedom from the fuliginous vapours and moisture with which it is infected in respira- tion, are requisite in air for the sustaining of life ; for all these were deposited in its circulation through the instrument. Upon a sugges- tion that nitrous vapour might be found requisite, he contrived ways to supply that deficiency, by placing some “ benign chemical spirits, that by fuming might infect the air within the vessel*.” This ardour in the pursuit of knowledge was such, that he made it no small part of his business to have a furnace frequently at work in the laboratory, for the more select experiments in chemistry, well knowing that many parts of philosophy are not to be penetrated without this aid. He took many opportunities p 2 * Parentalia, p. 21 3 . 108 THE LIFE OF 1662. of entertaining Charles II. and Prince Rupert, both lovers and practisers of chemical experiments, with scientific elucidations of his discoveries. The prince, as a distinguishing mark of his regard, enrolled him in a list of his especial friends, to whom he yearly sent a present of his choicest wine from his estates on the Rhine*. The mode of impressing pictures by light and shade on copper, commonly known by the name of engraving in mezzotinto, owes improvement if not its invention to Wren. The journals of the Royal Society for October 1, in this year, record that Dr. Wren presented some cuts done by himself in a new way of etching ; whereby, he said, he could almost as soon do a subject on a plate of brass or copper as another could draw it with a crayon on paperf. On this subject, the editor of Parentalia speaks with decision, that “ he was the first inventor of the art of graving in mezzotinto ; which was afterwards prosecuted and improved by his Royal Highness Prince Rupert, in a method somewhat different, upon the suggestion, as it is said, of the learned John Evelyn, Esq. Of this art some original essays are extant: viz. The head of a Moor, & c. by the inventor: the executioner of St. John the Baptist, by Prince Rupert f.” On the sword is marked R. P. f§, and over it an electoral coronet. Evelyn himself, in his diary, says, “ February 13, 1661, Prince Rupert first showed me how to grave in mezzotinto ||.” “ March 13, 1661. This afternoon Prince Rupert showed me * Parentalia. t Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol, I. p. 114. t Parentalia, p. 214. § Rupertus Princeps fecit. Ii Diary, Vol. I. p. 333. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 109 with his own hands the new way of graving, called mezzo tin to, which afterwards by his permission I published in my History of Chalcography; this set so many artists to work, that they soon arrived to that perfection it is since come, emulating the tenderest miniatures Besides this improvement or discovery in art, the society received at the same meeting communications from him on hor- ticulture, pneumatics, and hydrostatics. In the latter he informed them that, on an experiment, he found that when he forced water up two pipes of different diameters and equal altitudes, but having both in the lower end equal bores, the water in the larger pipe would be forced out with less strength than that in the smaller pipef. On October 8, he submitted an experiment about the undulation of mercury in a curved tube ; which he suggested was, for the velocity of it, proportionable to the vibrations of a pen- dulum. The society desired him to prosecute this experiment further, and to report upon it. The year 1663 saw Wren in a situation of activity and public employment worthy of his great talents. He had been appointed assistant surveyor-general nearly two years, but had received no public commissions in architecture. This year peace was concluded with Tangier and Tripoli, and the former, which was given as part of the portion of Catherine the Infanta of Portugal, queen of Charles II., was declared to be a free port J. A commission was proposed to him to survey and direct the works at the mole, harbour, and fortifications of the * Diary, Vol. I. p. 331. t Birch's Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 115. t Sandford, p. 616. 110 THE LIFE OF 1663. citadel and town of Tangier, he being then esteemed one of the best geometricians in Europe. This flattering and honourable service was offered to him with an ample salary, and promise of other royal favours, particularly a dispensation for not attending the duties of his professorship during his continuance in his ma- jesty’s service abroad ; and a reversionary grant of the office of Surveyor-general of the royal works, on the decease of Sir John Denham. These offers were signified to him by letter from his cousin Matthew, secretary to the Lord Chancellor Hyde # . This employment he declined accepting, being inconsistent with his health, praying his majesty to allow of his excuse, and to com- mand his services in England. In 1662 the dean and chapter of St. Paul’s had fitted up, for divine service, the east part of the church beyond the old choir, enlarging it the length of one arch until the repairs which they anticipated were performed j-. Dr. Wren, as assistant surveyor- general, was ordered to survey the fabric, and to prepare proper designs for that purpose. Inigo Jones, his illustrious predecessor, had put the choir J, which was supposed to have been built by Richard, Bishop of London, in the first year of Richard I., into very good repair; had cased a good part of the church with Portland stone, had rebuilt the north and south fronts, and also the west end, with that exquisitely beautiful portico of the Co- rinthian order, which has received so much and such well-merited praise. * Parentalia, p. 260. + Dugdale’s Old St. Paul’s, p. 146. t Pursuant to a royal commission, 1731, 7 Car. I. PART ii. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. Ill For the expediting this proposed general repair, a royal com- mission passed the great seal in 1663, appointing Wren to this great work. In allusion to this employment, and his proposed works at Tangier, his friend and associate, Bishop Sprat, wrote to him from his college the following playful and kind-hearted letter. ‘‘Oxford, 1663. “ My dear sir, “ I must confess I have some little pique against you; there- fore am not much displeased that I have this occasion of telling you some ill news. The vice chancellor did yesterday send for me, to inquire where the astronomy professor was, and the reason of his absence, so long after the beginning of the term. I used all the arguments I could for your defence. I told him, that Charles the Second was king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland ; that he was, by the last act of parliament, declared abso- lute monarch in these his dominions ; and that it was this mighty prince who had confined you to London. I endeavoured to per- suade him that the drawing of lines in Sir Harry* Saville’s school was not altogether of so great a concernment for the benefit of Christendom as the rebuilding of St. Paul’s, or the fortifying of Tangier ; for I understand those were the great works in which that extraordinary genius of yours was judged necessary to be employed. All this I urged ; but, after some discourse, he told * Founder of the Savillian professorship, then held by Wren. 112 THE LIFE OF 1663. me, that he was not to consider you now as Dr. Bayly # , for so he owed you all kindness, but as vice-chancellor ; and under that capacity he most terribly told me, that he took it very ill you had not all this while given him any account what hindered you from the discharge of your office. This he bid me tell you, and I do it not very unwillingly, because I see that our friendships are so closely tied together, that the same thing which was so great a prejudice to me (my losing your company all this while here) does also something redound to your disadvantage. And so, my dear sir, now my spite and spleen are satisfied, I must needs return to my old temper again, and faithfully assure you, that I am, with the most violent zeal and passion, Your most affectionate and devoted servant, Thomas Sprat j-.” Another letter of the same amiable and eminent prelate, in the same year, to his friend Wren, throws such light upon their mutual tempers and conversations when together, that I cannot refrain from giving it entire. “ I owe you, my dear friend, an ill turn. Your late plot against me was most barbarous ; your design was as bloody as Venner’s ; you endeavoured to raise a new rebellion in my heart, * Dr. Richard Bayly, president of St. John’s College, vice-chancellor of the university, and dean of Sarum. f Parentalia, p. 260. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 113 just after a long civil war : for this I have vowed a severe revenge, and have laid a thousand policies to catch you. I have looked over all my treasures of malice, and have at last found a good old engine which never failed me in time of need ; and that is, writing a long letter. With this I have made many fatal experiments, and have, on all occasions, satisfied my wrath on those who have dis- pleased me; so that for fear of it, some have wholly forsaken my acquaintance, and rejected my passion ; some have fled the kingdom ; and some, (for what I know), have gone into another world. It is with this murderous instrument that I now come to assault you ; and I trust its operation will confirm the opinion of you philosophers, that any thing, though never so innocent, may be a poison, if taken in too great a quantity. It shall, I promise you, be as long as the paper will give me leave, and to the length of it I will also add, that it shall be written on a subject on which I have heard you yourself speak many admirable things : that so you may undergo the torment to read your own thoughts disfigured by my expressions ; which, I hope, will be as great a grief to you as it was to that king, whose name I have forgot, when the Scythians sent home his own ambassadors to him with their ears, and noses, and lips cut off. “ Now, then, my dearest friend, you may recollect we went lately from Axe-yard to walk in St. James’s Park, and though we met not the incomparable person, whose company we sought, yet he was enough present to our thoughts to bring us to discourse of that in which he so much excels, the wit of conversation. Some part of what you then said, you shall now hear over again ; for though I have a most treacherous memory in other matters, yet my love to Kit Q 114 THE LIFE OF 1663. Wren makes it always faithful in preserving whatever he commits to it. The wit, therefore of discourse, is as different among the several parts of mankind, as the temper of their air, and constitu- tion of their bodies ; and so it is to be divided into general , and particular. The general is that which consists of terms, and si- militudes, and humours, which are received by many nations. This either prevails by conquest, and so the Roman language and wit have obtained over all the countries where they sowed civility by their victories : or else by the situation, authority, and com- manding genius of one people above another. Thus the Grecians became teachers of the art of talking to the ancients ; and the French, of late, to the moderns, whose tongue and customs have gone farther in Europe than their present king, how terrible soever he appears, is likely to carry their armies. Of this general wit there are manifest differences to be observed. That of the Chinese consists in the skill of writing several characters ; that of the Egyptians, in giving things themselves, instead of words, for similitudes : a lion, for courage ; the sun, moon, and stars, for a thousand conceipts. A strange kind of laborious expressing their minds, which, if the orators of our times should use in their luxuriancy of metaphors, they would stand in need of the ark, to carry about with them any one of their orations. The eastern wit in all ages has been principally made up of lofty and swelling comparisons, as we may see at this day in the titles of the Sophy, and Grand Seignor, which no doubt are some of their noblest fancies ; and yet to our understanding, they require the assist- ance of Mahomet’s dove to make sense of them. That of the Moors was the same of the Spanish at this time. The Italian, PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 115 French, English, Dutch, (if they have any) is somewhat alike, ac- cording to their common original the Latin. Of the Musco- vitish, or Tartarian, I can give but little account ; but I assure you, even the Irish had a wit of their own, though you will hardly believe it, till some of our friends went thither. Nay, to say more to their advantage, they had this peculiar to themselves, that almost all their whole nation was at the same time both poets and saints. The particular wit is that which arises from the fre- quent meetings of private assemblies : and this too is capable of infinite divisions ; for, there is hardly the least company in the world which rendezvouses together but has its common sayings, figures, characters, and observations, which are great raillery in their proper compass, but tasteless to strangers. This is evi- dent in several shires of England*. When I was in the north , there was a buffoon that was a dreadful droll among the Yorkshire gen- tlemen, and yet scarce spoke a grain of salt to our southern tastes. This likewise appears in several professions of men. The lawyers will laugh at those jests in the Temple, which, it may be, will not move us at Charing Cross ; and it is likely that Tom Kiligrew himself would not seem good company to a table of benchers. The wit beyond Fleet bridge has another colour from that on this side. The very watermen on the Bank side have their quipps and their repartees, which are not intelligible but upon the Thames. But, to say no more ; this is to be seen in every private family : I had almost gone so far as to say, that there is scarce a husband and wife in the world, but have a particular w ay of wit * See Pope’s imitation of this. Q 2 116 THE LIFE OF 1663. among themselves ; but this I will not affirm, because this evil age believes, that few married persons are wont to delight so much in one another’s company as to be merry and witty alone. Now, then, having discovered this mighty Proteus, which puts on so many various shapes in several places and occasions, let us try to define it. The wit of discourse is (to speak magnificently) the greatest art about the smallest things : for to confess a secret, as Sir William Davenant’s way differs very little from Frank Bow- man’s, and yet one is the gayest and the other the most insipid ; so the true pleasant talk and the vainest tattle are not very much distinguished. The subjects of both of them are a thousand little trifles, and the difference lies only in the management. Nor does this meanness of matter prejudice the art; for then it would follow, that your divine works* in the king’s closet are- the worse, because they are the descriptions of a louse, a flea, a nit. This wit, there- fore, is made up of many inexpressible excellencies. It must have a general evenness of humour ; it must perfectly observe all the rules of decency, to know when enough is said ; to forbear biting things not to be touched ; to abstain from abusing honest and vir- tuous matters. “ It must apply itself to the condition and inclination of the company; it must rather follow than lead; it must not always strain to speak extraordinary things, for that is a constant walking on the ropes, in which, though a man does often well, yet he may have one fall that may chance to break his neck. It must allow * Forms of little animals, and minute bodies, drawn by the help of microscopical glasses. See page 31 of this work. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 117 every one their turn of speaking ; for it is natural to all, better to love their company who give them occasions of speaking well, than those that do it themselves. It must mingle stories with arguments, pleasant things with solemn : it must vary the subject often, and not pump itself dry at once. This, if you will believe Mr. Cowley, is a wise quality : for, in a copy of verses which you have not seen, he says, ‘ So the imperial eagle does not stay Till the whole carcase he devour That’s fallen into his power ; As if his generous hunger understood That it can never want plenty of food ; He only sucks the tasteful blood, And to fresh game flies cheerfully away, To kites and meaner birds he leaves the mangled prey.* “ This generous eagle-wit therefore, uses the best and easiest words, is not the first that takes up new ones, nor the last that lays down old ones. But, above all, its chiefest dominion is in forming new significations, and images of things and persons. And this may be so suddenly practised, that I have known, in one afternoon, new stamps, and proverbs, and fashions of speecli raised, which were never thought of before, and yet gave occa- sion to most delightful imaginations. You see now, my dear friend, of what extent and difficulty this art is. The truth is, it is seldom to be found among men of large and full and high thoughts ; because such minds overlook the little passages, and fly presently to general axioms, which it may be are most useful, 118 THE LIFE OF 1663 . yet they do not affect our thoughts with such an immediate and familiar delight. But to speak truth, the perfection of this glo- rious faculty, without which life were no life, belongs not so much to men as to the softer sex: for they have usually their heads less disturbed with busy thoughts, their minds are quicker and readier for new impressions, they talk more of circumstantial things, they sit longer together, and (which you used to say is of great concernment in our northern and phlegmatic climate) they keep their feet warmer and drier, and go less into the moist and open air. But that women are the best speakers I could give you two undeniable instances, in your Laura, (as I think you call her) and her who was once my Clelia : the one speaks with a great freedom and spirit, and abundance of sweet words ; the other talks less, but with as much sweetness and nature : from the one nothing can be taken away, to the other nothing ought to be added. But I dare not go farther in this description on remembrance of an old story ; that while a painter was drawing a most beautiful lady, he fell desperately in love with her, and it had cost him his life had not Alexander bestowed her on him. The first part of this tale, I am sure would be my fortune, if I should longer employ my thoughts on such a lovely object ; and I am as certain, that I should perish long enough before I should find an Alexander to pity me. To go on then in my first pur- pose. Wit consists in a right ordering of things and words for delight. But stay — now I look about me, what need have I to go any farther ? you are without question already sufficiently tired, and so my end is obtained ; and then it will be useless to speak more on this subject, seeing the age wherein we live runs already PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 119 so mad after the affairs of wit. All the world are at present poets : the poetical bees are all at work : comedies, tragedies, verses, satires, burlesques ; songs buzz every where about our ears ; and (to ease my hand a little by changing my pace) Wits we have now as many (if not more) As we had sects, or preachers, heretofore ; And Heaven in mercy grant this crying sin Don’t the same judgments once more usher in. We have our northern wits, wits of the east, Wits of the south, and witlings of the west* ; South and by west, south-east, east and by north, From every point like winds they bluster forth. We have our wits that write, only to sway At York or Hull, or ten miles thence each way. Each corporation, sea-port, borough-town, Has those that will this glorious title own. Like Egypt’s frogs they swarm, and like them too, Into the chambers of our kings they go. “ What is to be done with this furious generation of wits and writers ? To advise them to leave off is in vain. Too strong the infection is To be destroyed by such quick remedies : * When Reynolds asked Johnson at the club how he liked his country- men (the Plymouthians), answered, “ Why, Sir Joshua, the farther I went west, the more I was convinced of the truth of the assertion, that the wise men originally came from the east.” 120 THE LIFE OF 1663. No, no, it is a sweet and flattering kind Of poison, and deceives the clearest mind : Cowley himself (Cowley whom I adore) Often resolved, nay, and I think he swore. That he no more those barren lands would plough, Where flowry weeds, instead of corn do grow. Perchance (as Jesuits’ Powder does) each vow Kept the fit off from him three weeks, or so, But yet, at last, his vows were all in vain, This writing ague still returns again. “ Well then, if they are incurable let them write on. But while others are exalting such dangerous trophies of their wit, I will be content to give but one instance of my own ; but it is such that no critic can lay hold on ; and it is, that I infinitely love one of Sir Harry Saville’s professors : you may guess which I mean, or whether it be to Doctor Wren or yourself that I am “ A most affectionate servant, “ Thomas Sprat*.” While I am upon the letters of this excellent man, and emi- nent prelate' which show the amiability of the characters of both him and his friend Wren, I take leave to introduce another in this place, being unable to discover the exact date. Wren, it appears, cultivated the arts of the muses, as well as those of the sciences, and his translation of Horace’s Epistle to Lollius, gave * Parentalia, p. 256. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 121 PART II. birth to the following letter, which exhibits Wren in his colloquial and every-day habit. “ My dear friend, “ I received two of your letters together, for both which I heartily thank you ; but you must give me leave to dissent from your sense in one of them, wherein you maintain that Horace cannot be well translated ; for, by that elegant epistle ad Lollium , which you sent me, you have confuted yourself. You have ad- mirably well hit his genius ; your verse is numerous ; your philo- sophy very instructive for life ; your liberty in translating, enough to make it seem to be an English original, and pet not so much but that the mind of the author is still religiously observed. So that if you have not adorned the fat droll, (as you most pleasantly call him) with feathers, yet you have with jewels, which is a more stately, though not so flanting a bravery. Most other attempts on him, (nay even those of Ben Jonson himself) appear to me to have been hitherto very unfortunate, and his translators have seemed not so much to have remembered that he was friend to Augustus, as that he was liber tin o patre natus : so rudely and so clownishly have they handled him. “You perfectly well agree with my opinion, in approving this poet above others ; for, ever since I have had the good for- tune to read him otherwise than as a school-boy, 1 have always respected him as one of the most accomplished men of that incom- parable age. He was almost the first writer that brought poetry from the fables of their ridiculous religion, and from flattering women's beauties, to speak of human affairs, and to show mankind to R 122 THE LIFE OF 1663. themselves. The decency of his order and invention is admirable ; all things so justly and measurely said, that even the hypercritical Matt. Clifford himself cannot find one word in him whereon to use his sponge : so natural he is that every fancy seems to flow into his pen, without any contention of brain, and yet he was the slowest and severest of his time ; the wit which he shows is just enough for the subjects which he undertakes ; and no more. This I esteem one of the surest and noblest of perfec- tions that belong to an excellent pen ; and I like very well what Jack Birkenhead * has somewhere said — £ that a great wit's great work is to refuse.’ Moderation of fancy is a thing most com- mendable, and most difficult ; it being hard for men of hot and violent minds, (such as most commonly great writers have) to stop themselves in full speed, and to understand when they have done enough. “ He meets, I confess, with some Tuccas , that blame him for his many downright and proverbial sentences, and for the roughness of his style. But as for the first, it must be said, that if his plain morals are not wit in this age, yet they were then, * Sir John Birkenhead, a native of Nantwich, in Cheshire, was educated at Oxford, became a fellow of All Souls, and secretary to Archbishop Laud. He was a scholar and a poet, and conducted the Mercurius Aulicus , an Ox- ford newspaper, while Charles I. held his court there. He was deprived of his fellowship during the protectorate, and at the restoration of Charles II. was made master of the faculties, and one of the masters of the requests. Aubrey, who knew him, says, “ he was exceedingly confident, witty, not very grateful to his benefactors, would lie damnably.*’ — Aubrey's Lives , Vol. II. p. 239. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 123 and that too so great, that we have nothing else left us of all the eldest and most applauded Grecians, but some few such sayings, of which we meet many hundreds in Horace. And if we consider his style too, we shall find it was very smooth, compared to those who writ before him ; for the best judge of poetry in the world gives this judgment of the best of the ancienter Romans, Lucilius , that he was ‘ durus componere versus*/ Nor can his way of writing be called crabbed, or harsh, but rather a masculine plain- ness, and ductile course of verse. If there be any unevenness, or ruggedness in it, it is such as that of his own Rome was, to which it was not an injury but an advantage that it was built on hills. Nor are all things presently to be praised that are smooth, for then it may be Quarles might come in competition with Cowley ; and if to be oiled were to be harmonious, I know not why a coach wheel, or a jack, does not make good music. “ They who blame him for the equality and familiarity of his style, are not worth confuting; let such be still ignorant, who admire nothing but what is lofty and swelling ; such who prefer The fair abbess of the skies, With all her nunnery of eyes ; or to make another instance of the same author, not yet pub- lished, Go, call me Stephinsf for the sun, And hang green sarsenet Tore the moon ; For, since my Celia’s eyes appeared Those illustrious lights are bleared. * Hor. Sat. IV. lib. 1. t An eminent oculist of that time. R 2 124 THE LIFE OF 1663. Before Fountains and trees our wearied pride do please. Even in the midst of gilded palaces ; And in our towns, that prospect gives delight Which opens round the country to our sight. “ And thus much, my dear friend, for your poet, “ Thomas Sprat*.” To revert from this digression to the subject which led to it, the projected repairs of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The first business that Dr. Wren entered upon, before forming designs for the general repairs, was to take exact plans and sections of every part, upon an accurate survey and minute inspection of the whole fabric. In the prosecution of this survey, he expressed his sur- prise at the carelessness and want of accuracy in the original builders of the structure; the arches and intercolumniations varying considerably in their size : nor were they true, he reported, in their levels. This however might have arisen from the sinking of the foundations. The building, it appeared, had been constructed of old materials, which the founder, Mauritius Bishop of London, had procured of William the Conqueror, out of the ruins of the Palatine tower. He found other defects, both ori- ginal and of decay, and busied himself in providing remedies. No better account of the state of this ancient cathedral can possibly be found than in the architect’s description of the con- dition in which he found it. Among the improvements which he suggested was to add an Italian cupola to Jones’s Corinthian por- * Parentalia, p. 256. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 125 tico, which would but have increased the jumble of that dis- cordant edifice. His proposals to the commissioners for con- ducting the reparations, together with the respective drawings and designs, were afterwards laid before the king and com- missioners. “ Amongst the many propositions, that may be made to your lordships, concerning the repair of St. Paul’s, some may possibly aim at too great a magnificence, which neither the disposition nor extent of this age will probably bring to a period. Others again may fall so low as to think of piecing up the old fabric, here with stone, there with brick, and cover all faults with a coat of plaster, leaving it still to posterity as a further object of charity. “ I suppose your lordships may think proper to take a middle way, and to neglect nothing that may conduce to a decent, uniform beauty, or durable firmness in the fabric, or substantialness to the expense already laid out on the outside : especially since it is a pile both for ornament and use ; for, all the occasions either of a quire, consistory, chapter-house, library, court of arches, preaching-auditory, might have been supplied in less room, with less expense, and yet more beauty; but then it had wanted of the grandeur which exceeds all little curiosity; this being the effect of wit only, the other a monument of power, and mighty zeal in our ancestors to public works in those times, when the city had neither a fifth part of the people, nor a tenth part of the wealth it now boasts of. “ I shall presume therefore to enumerate as well the defects of comeliness as firmness, that the one may be reconciled with the other in the restitution. And yet I should not propose any thing 126 THE LIFE OF 1663. of mere beauty to be added, but where there is a necessity of re- building, and where it will be near the same thing to perform it well as ill. “ First, it is evident by the ruin of the roof, that the work was both ill designed and ill built from the beginning: ill designed because the architect gave not abutment enough to counterpoise, and resist the weight of the roof from spreading the walls ; for, the eye alone will discover to any man, that those pillars, as vast as they are, even eleven foot diameter, are bent outwards at least six inches from their first position ; which being done on both sides, it necessarily follows, thus the whole roof must first open in large and wide cracks along by the walls and windows, and lastly drop down between the yielding pillars. “ The bending of the pillars was facilitated by their ill build- ing ; for, they are only cased without, and that with small stones, not one greater than a man’s burden ; but within is nothing but a case of small rubbish stone and much mortar, which easily crushes and yields to the weight : and this outward coat of free stone is so much torn with age, and the neglect of the roof, that there are few stones to be found that are not mouldered, and flawed away with the saltpetre that is in them ; an incurable disease, which perpetually throws off whatever coat of plaster is laid on it, and therefore not to be palliated. “ From hence I infer, that as the outside of the church was new flagged with stone of larger size than before, so ought the inside also : and in doing this, it will he as easy to perform it, after a good Roman manner, as to follow the Gothic rudeness of the old design ; and that, without placing the face of the new PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 127 work in any part many inches farther out or in, than the super- fices of the old work, or adding to the expense that would arise were it performed the worse way. “ This also may be safely affirmed, not only by an architect taking his measures from the precepts and example of the ancients, but by a geometrician, (this part being liable to demonstration)’ that the roof is, and ever was, too heavy for its abutment ; and therefore any part of the old roof new pieced, will still but occasion further ruin, and the second ruin will much sooner follow than the first, since it is easier to force a thing already declining. It must therefore be either a timber roof plastered, (which, in such buildings, where a little soke of weather is not presently dis- covered, or remedied, will soon decay) or else, a thinner and lighter shell of stone, very geometrically proportioned to the strength of the abutment. The roof may be brick, if it be plastered with stucco, which is a harder plaster that will not fall off with the drip of a few winters, and which to this day remains firm in many ancient Roman buildings. “ The middle part is most defective both in beauty and firmness without and within : for, the tower leans manifestly by the settling of one of the ancient pillars that supported it. Four new arches were, therefore, of later years, incorporated within the old ones, which hath straightened and hindered both the room, and the clear thorough view of the nave, in that part where it had been more graceful to have been rather wider than the rest. “ The excessive length of building is no otherwise commend- able, but because it yields a pleasing perspective by the continued optical diminution of the columns ; and if this be cut off by 128 THE LIFE OF 1663. columns ranging within their fellows, the grace that would be acquired by the length is totally lost. “ Besides this deformity of the tower itself within, there are others near it; as, the next intercolumniation in the navis or body of the church is much less than all the rest. Also the north and south wings have aisles only on the west side, the others being originally shut up for the consistory. Lastly, the inter- columniations or spaces between the pillars of the quire next adjoining to the tower are very unequal. Again ; on the outside of the tower, the buttresses that have been erected one upon the back of another to secure three corners, or the inclining sides (for the fourth wants a buttress), are so irregular, that upon the whole matter, it must be concluded, that the tower from top to bottom, and the next adjacent parts, are such a heap of de- formities, that no judicious architect will think it corrigible by any expense that can be laid out upon new dressing it, but that it will still remain unworthy the rest of the work, infirm and tottering; and for these reasons, as I conjecture, was formerly resolved to be taken down. “ I cannot propose a better remedy than by cutting off the inner corners of the cross, to reduce the middle part into a spacious dome or rotunda, with a cupola, or hemispherical roof, and upon the cupola (for the outward ornament) a lantern with a spring top, to rise proportionably, though not to that unnecessary height of the former spire of timber and lead burnt by lightning. “ By this means the deformities of the unequal intercolumnia- tions will be taken away ; the church, which is much too narrow for the height, rendered spacious in the middle, which may be a FART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 129 very proper place for a vast auditory ; the outward appearance of the church will seem to swell in the middle by degrees, from a large basis rising into a rotunda bearing a cupola, and then ending in a lantern, and this with incomparable more grace in the re- moter aspect, than it is possible for the lean shaft of a steeple to afford. Nor, if it be rightly ordered, will the expense be much more than that of investing the tower and corners yet unfinished with new stone, and adding the old steeple anew ; the lead of which will be sufficient for a cupola; and the same quantity of ashlar makes the corners outward, that would make them inward as they now are : and the materials of the old corners of the aisles will be filling stone for the new work : for I should not persuade the tower to be pulled down at first, but the new work to be built round it, partly because the expectations of persons are to be kept up ; for, many unbelievers would bewail the loss of old Paul’s steeple, and despond if they did not see a hopeful successor rise in its stead ; and chiefly because it would save a great quantity of scaffolding poles, the scaffolds which are needful being fixed from the old to the new work ; and when the tholus or inward vault is to be laid, the tower taken down to that height will rest the centers of the vault with great convenience, and facilitate the planting of engines for raising the stones ; and after all is finished and settled, the tower that is left may be taken clear away from within ; all which can only from the design be perfectly under- stood. “ And for the encouragement and satisfaction of benefactors that comprehend not readily designs and draughts on paper, as s 130 THE LIFE OF 1663 . well as for the inferior artificers’ clearer intelligence of their bu- siness, it will be requisite that a large and exact model be made, which will also have this use, that if the work should happen to be interrupted or retarded, posterity may proceed where the work was left off, pursuing still the same design. “ And as the portico built by Inigo Jones, being an entire and excellent piece, gave great reputation to the work in the first repairs, and occasioned fair contributions ; so to begin now with the dome may probably prove the best advice, being an absolute piece of itself, and what will most likely be finished in our time, and what will make by far the most splendid appearance ; may be of present use for the auditory, will make up all the outward repairs perfect, and become an ornament to his majesty’s most excellent reign, to the church of England, and to this great city, which it is a pity, in the opinion of our neighbours, should longer continue the most unadorned of her bigness in the world. “ In the mean time, till a good quantity of stone be provided, things of less expense, but no less consequence, ought to be regarded ; such as fixing again all cramps that the roof hath been spoiled of, covering all timber from weather, taking down the falling roofs, searching the vaults beneath, and securing them. And before the foundations be digged for the dome, the arches on which the tower stands must be secured after a peculiar manner represented in the designs. “ P. S. I shall crave leave to subjoin, that if there be use of stucco, I have great hopes, from some experience already had, that there are English materials to be brought by sea at an easy PAltT II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 131 rate, that will afford as good plaster as is any where to be found in the world ; and that with the mixture of cheaper ingredients than marble-meal, which was the old, and is now the modern way of Italy. “ The proposer also (considering that high buildings grow more and more expensive as they rise, by reason of the time and labour spent in raising the materials), takes this occasion to ac- quaint your lordships, that having had the opportunity of seeing several structures of greater expense than this, while they were in raising, conducted by the best artists, Italian and French, and having had daily conference with them, and observing their engines and methods, he hath promoted this geometrical part of architecture yet farther, and thinks the raising of materials may yet be more facilitated, so as to save in lofty fabrics a very considerable part of the time, and labourers’ hire.” Besides the great work of preparing plans for the reparation of St. Paul’s, Wren w r as commissioned to design a new theatre, to be built at Oxford, for the public acts of the University ; and on April 29, 1663, he showed his model to the society. It was much commended, and he was desired to communicate in writing a scheme and description of the whole construction, to remain as a memorial among the archives of the society # . This theatre, which is well known for its admirable roof and scientific construction, was the first public building erected by Wren. Dr. Plot, in his Natural History of Oxonf, has given * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 230. t Chap. IX. s 2 132 THE LIFE OF 1663. an excellent description of its construction, which will be noticed in the year of its completion. He says, “ it was contrived by our English Vitruvius, the right worshipful and learned Sir Christo- pher Wren, and erected at the sole charge of his Grace Gilbert Sheldon*, Archbishop of Canterbury, and chancellor of the University, who, besides the expense of the structure, gave two thousand pounds to purchase land for the perpetual repair of it, which is like to stand a most magnificent and lasting monument of his grace’s munificence and favour of good learning to all posterity. The fame of this building, our architect’s first work, pro- cured him, among other testimonials of approbation, the following elegant Pindaric ode : it was presented to him from Corbet Owen, of Christ Church. * Dr. Gilbert Sheldon, educated in the University of Oxford, became warden of All Souls ; and having been chaplain to King Charles I., and run through many difficulties, was, after the Restoration, made first, Bishop of London, and lastly, Archbishop of Canterbury, which see he held with great honour and reputation for above fourteen years, when he died, at seventy-nine years of age, anno 1677. Besides his learning and piety, he is particularly distinguished by his munificent benefactions, in which no man more readily signalized himself; and especially he immortalized his name in that glorious work the theatre of Oxford, which cost him more than sixteen thousand pounds, besides the gift of two thousand pounds to buy lands worth one hundred pounds per annum, to keep it in repair. We are assured from his relations, that from the time of his being Bishop of London to that of his death, it appeared in his book of accounts, that upon public, pious, and charitable uses, he had bestowed about three score and six thou- sand pounds. — Paren. 336. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 133 Carmen Pindaricum in Theatrum Skeldonianum t et ejus Architectum. I. Quousque linguas oculis litamus Victimas tacentes ? Quousque defixi stupemus Saxei saxa, plumbeique plumbum, Tanquam Nos vacuis parata conchis Simulacra coelo dedolasset artifex? Vocales ecce lapides et trabes sonorae Ingratam humanis taciturnitatem Cognatis exprobrant, Dryas quos obstetrix Eduxit rupto frustr& de robore, frustra Deucalioneo mollibant numina jactu. Eja quae doctis musica pulsibus Tot malleorum suave concinentium Agrestes cecinit sonos ! Cedant Orphei tandem miracula plectri, Atque Amphioniae tides ; Ille feras olim sylvasque sequaces Excivit et montes vagos : Hie Architecto moenia carmine Stupenda Thebis addidit : At ecce jam blando fragore Ipsos murorum symphonia Vates attonitos trahit : At ecce ruderibus prosae jacentem Me me poetam extruit : Cui tantos liceat sonos Confusae saltern pro more imitarier Echus. THE LIFE OF II. At nullum eloquium, nulla sonantium Decora verborum strues, Vastarum trabium non enarrabile textum ^Equabit, solidamve exprimet harmoniam ! En ut sublimi pensilis aere Tenditur campus juga ponderosi Sustinens plumbi, gravidumque foeto Culmine montem ! O quam justa fides nectit amantes Arbores, quondam solitas precari Blando murmure, nutibusque blandis : Connubio junctas stabili vis nulla revellat, Divortium sera non faciens saecula. En audax quanto machina nisu Muros deserit hinc et hinc relictos, Metumque subjectis jocosum Salvis incutit usque et usque tutis ! Non ilia planispherii minacis Secura lapsum magis expavescit, Firma quam coeli camera arcuati iEterni fornicis ruinam. Tam stabilem jubet esse vastitatem Ingenium potentis architecti, Quo nil solidiusve latiusve, Quod molem setheream vi sustinet Atlantea, Carcere quod veterum teneri Orbiculorum nesciens Augusti extendit latk pomeria cceli. III. Divina Wrennus heu ! diu Mathemata Vel docto nimium pulvere sordida PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 135 Evexit assurgens in altum, Interque Stellas luce donavit nova Stellis vel ipsis invidenda. Illic sidereo spectator in Amphitheatro Vidit ferarum splendida proelia, Iratisque coruscantes Faucibus atque oculis rogos. Illic serenarum pictis noctium scenis Vidit planetas praescios coeli mimos Humana ludentes fata, Nunc ore risus comico futuros Festivosque sales, atque hilares jocos, iEthereis celebrare choris, Nunc face lugubri radiisque pullis, Et scelera, et caedes nepotum Fingere materiem cothurnis. Tandem rependit gratus hospes aetheris Spectaculorum sideribus vices. Mirantur astra posse mortales man us Ditare terras aemula cceli domo. Quin et rivalem lustrat amabilem, Suamque coelum deperiens imaginem, Ut penitus speculo furatur Jam plures oculos, et lumina plura requirit. IV. Quamvis hianti subtrahat popello Modesta frontem fabrica, sicut decet Sacro parente procreatam virginem Non turba genitam promiscua ; Profanis subducat licet Oculis plebis malk feriatse Intemerandum vultus eximii decus ; 136 THE LIFE OF 1663 . Quale nec Etrusca miratus victor in urbe Negavit olim Carolus Cuivis mortali fore fas profesta Luce videre ; Non ilia cceli tamen intuentis Criticum lumen fugit ; ultro solem Lynceum vocat, astraque curiosa Centum receptat fenestris. Ingentis populi videt capaces Pegmatum moles attonitus Sol, Mundi supervisor supremus, Interque varios undique miratur foros Tam bellam ordinis benignitatem, Dum nulla lucem pars queratur amissam, Tristemque pulla lugeat eclipsin. Hie sole melius quilibet vel ipso Et cunctos vidisse potest, cunctisque videri. y. Celandum nihil est, nihil tagendum ; Nullus hie error latebras requirit ; Perfecta surgit undequaque moles, Et merito duplicis gerit ornamenta coronae : Quanta debitur quotuplexque Wrenno Laurea victori, servatori civica, Capitique decentior Architecto Turrita Cybeles corona ? Devictam nimium diu Oppressamque suis miserabilem ruinis Tectonicen benignus Artium civem reddidit urbi Olim quae rudibus dedit vagisque Artibus urbem. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 137 Wren’s architectural employments increased with his fame, and he was required professionally in the sister University of Cambridge, to prepare designs for the new chapel of Pembroke College, of which his uncle, the Bishop of Ely, had been pre- sident and a great benefactor. He gave money and books to the college, and four thousand pounds for erecting the new chapel, of which his illustrious nephew was the architect. On May 13, of this year (1663) Dr. Frank, the master of the college, accom- panied by the dean, archdeacon, and prebendaries of Ely, Dr. Pearson, of Trinity, and other heads of Colleges, laid the first stone of the foundation of the new chapel, in the name of Bishop Wren, which was built and finished at his sole charge *. In spite of these numerous engagements, Wren did not neglect his beloved philosophy. About the same period with the fore- going, he was desired at a meeting of the society to acquaint Mr. Hooke with the, apparatus, and progress which he had made in the experiment of hatching eggs by the equal and moderate heat of a lamp, in order to prosecute the experiment, which was said to have been so far advanced, as that thereby blood was produced in eggs f . In the survey of the zodiac, which the society proposed this month, Lord Brouncker and Sir Robert Moray were assigned to Sagittarius ; Mr. Balle, Libra ; Dr. Pope and Dr. Croune, Aries ; and Dr. Wren and his friend and fellow-labourer in science, Mr. Hooke, to Taurus f . * From Bishop Wren’s Autographum. Parentalia, p. 52. •]* Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 233. t Ibid. 138 THE LIFE OF 1668. The king* having expressed his intention of visiting the so- ciety, a meeting of the council was held on July 1, when, among other resolutions passed, it was ordered, that the council do again meet on the Monday following, at three o’clock, to consider of experiments proper for his majesty’s reception ; and that Colonel Long, Dr. Christopher Wren, and Mr. Hooke, be desired to meet with them on this occasion j-. At this meeting (Monday, July 6,) the council, consisting of Lord Brouncker, president, Drs. Wilkins, Goddard, and Clarke, Messrs. Neile, Aerskine, Slingesby, Ralle, Evelyn, Palmer, Hill, and Oldenburgh, together with, says the original register of the society J, Colonel Long, Dr. Christopher Wren, and Mr. Hooke. They took the circumstance of the king’s proposed visit, and the best mode of providing suitable entertainment for his majesty, into consideration, and ordered, that Mr. Hooke and the operator should so prepare the compressing engine that it might not fail in the trying of experiments therein : and that the operator take care to have the long tubes set up against the Monday following. Colonel Long promised to bring his apparatus of insects, some snake’s eggs, his collection of curious stones, among which were some with natural screws ; some ermines and lizards, natives of Eng- land ; as also some exotic beasts’ skins. “ Dr. Christopher Wren promised to think upon some ex- periments proper for the purpose, and to send them from Oxford to the president. He mentioned the turning glass thermometer, with an index, left with Dr. Goddard §.” * Charles II. f Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 268. + Vol. II. p. 249. § Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 271. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 139 This promise led to the following letter from him to Lord Brouneker, the president. “ Oxford, July 30*, 1663. “ My Lord, “ The act and noise of Oxford being over, I retired to myself as speedily as I could, to obey your lordship, and contribute some- thing to the collection of experiments designed by the society for his majesty’s reception. I concluded on something which I thought most suitable for such an occasion ; but the stupidity of our artists here makes the apparatus so tedious, that I foresee I shall not be able to bring it to any thing ere I am necessitated to take a journey, which I am unavoidably tied to. What in the mean- while to suggest to your lordship I cannot guess. The solemnity of the occasion, and my solicitude for the honour of the society, make me think nothing proper, nothing remarkable enough. It is not every year will produce such a master-experiment as the Torricellian, and so fruitful as that is of new experiments ; and, therefore, the society have deservedly spent much time upon that and its offspring : and if you have any notable experiment that may appear to open new light into the principles of philosophy, nothing would better beseem the pretensions of the society ; though possibly such would be too jejune for this purpose, in which there ought to be something of pomp. On the other side, to produce knacks only, and things to raise wonder, such as Kircher, Scholtus, and even jugglers abound with, will scarce become * Parer) talia erroneously calls this July 30, 1661. T 2 140 THE LIFE OF 1663. the gravity of the occasion. It must therefore be something between both, luciferous in philosophy, and yet whose use and advantage is obvious without a lecture ; and besides that, may surprise with some unexpected effect, and he commendable for the ingenuity of the contrivance. Half a dozen experiments, thus qualified, will be abundantly enough for an hour’s entertainment ; and I cannot believe the society can want them, if they look back into their own store. For myself, I must profess freely, I have not any thing by me suitable to the idea I have of what ought to be performed upon this occasion. Geometrical problems and new lines, new methods (how useful soever) will be but tasteless in a transient show. New theories, or observations, or astrono- mical instruments (either for observation or facilitation of the calculi), are valuable to such artists only as have particularly ex- perimented the defects that these things pretend to supply. Scio- graphical knacks (of which an hundred sorts may be given) are so easy in the inventions, that now they are cheap. Scenogra- phical, catoptrical, and dioptrical tricks require excellent painting, as well as geometrical truth in profile, or else they deceive not. Designs of engines for ease of labour, or promoting any thing in agriculture or the mechanic trades, I have occasionally thought upon divers ; but they are not intelligible without letters and references, and often not without demonstration. “ Designs in architecture are only considerable as they are ap- propriated to some work in hand, or else, as they are a kind of criticism and search into antiquity- In navigation, it will be pre- sumptuous to proffer at any thing, while we expect from your PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 141 lordship an accurate theory, from the times of Noah unknown, and reserved for your lordship, a second great endeavour of human nature. The needle had possibly more of chance than invention ; yet that gave us a new world. This will be the pro- duct of reason and philosophy, and may give us the undiscovered parts of our globe. In the few chemical experiments I have been acquainted with, I cannot tell whether there will be any, that will not prove too dirty or tedious for an entertainment. Ex- periments of anatomy, though of the most value for their use, are sordid and noisome to all but those whose desire of knowledge persuadeth them to digest them. Experiments for the establish- ment of natural philosophy are seldom pompous ; it is upon billiards and tennis-balls, upon the purling of sticks and tops, upon a vial of water or wedge of glass, that the great Des Cartes hath built the most refined and accurate theories that human wit ever reached to ; and certainly nature, in the best of her works, is apparent enough in obvious things, were they but cu- riously observed ; and the key that opens treasures is often plain and rusty ; but unless it be gilt, the key alone will make no show at court. 4 4 If I have been conversant in philosophical things, it hath been principally in these ways, which I have recounted to your lordship, by which your lordship perceiveth how useless I am for this occasion. Yet if your lordship will still pursue me, I know not what shift to make, but to retire back to something I have formerly produced or discoursed of. 44 I have pleased myself not a little with the play of the weather-wheel, (the only true way to measure the expansions of 142 THE LIFE OF 1663- the air) and I fancy it must needs give others satisfaction, if it were once firmly made, which I suppose may be done, if the cir- cular pipes, which cannot be truly blown in glass, were made of brass, by those who make trumpets and sackbuts (who wire- draw their pipes through a hole to equal them, and then filling them with melted lead, turn them into what flextures they please) ; but the inside of the pipe must be varnished with china varnish, (which Graterix hath) to preserve it from the quicksilver ; and the glasses must be fixed to the pipe with varnish, which I take to be the best cement in the world ; for thus the Chinese fix glass and mother of pearl in their work. It would be no un- pleasing spectacle to see a man live without new air as long as you please. A description for cooling and percolating the air at once, I formerly showed the society, and left with Mr. Boyle : I suppose it worth putting in practice. You will at least learn thus much from it, that something else in air is requisite for life, * than that it should be cool only, and free from the fuliginous vapours and moisture it was infected with in expiration ; for all these will, in probability, be separated in the circulation of the breath in the engine. If nitrous fumes be found requisite (as I suspect) ways may perhaps be found to supply that too, by placing some benign chymical spirits, that, by fuming, may impregnate the air within the vessel. “ If an artificial eye were truly and dioptrically made, (which I would have at least three inches diameter), it would represent the picture as nature points it. The cornea and crystalline must be glass ; the other humours water. I once surveyed an horse’s eye as exactly as I could, measuring what the diameters of the PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 143 several spheres of the humours were, and what the proportions of the distances of the centres of every spherical superificies was upon the axis of the eye. The ways by which I did it are too long to rehearse, but the projection is triple the magnitude. Sir Paul Neile may possibly find out : or, if your lordship think it worth while, I shall reiterate the experiment. “ A needle, that would play in a coach, will be as needful to know the coast and the way, (joined with the way-wirer) as a pleasant diversion to the traveller ; and would be an acceptable present to his majesty, who might thus, as it were, sail by land. The fabric of it may be such as this : in a sphere of glass of two inches diameter, half full of water, cause a short broad heavy needle to swim, being buoyed up by the chart, and both varnished. Instead of a cap and pin, let the perforated needle play about a small wire or horse-hair, extended like a perpendicular axis in the glass sphere ; which being made weighty with lead, fixed to the nadir, and an horizon as it were cemented to it, let it play in circles like the vulgar compass. Then let an hemispherical concave box, containing the sphere in its circle, be hung upon strings after this manner: suppose a basis, upon which are erected three stiff wooden springs of yew ; from the ends of which springs , are strings or neives strained, forming an equilateral triangle, the middle of whose sides pass through three small loops on the brim of the concave, which therefore, hanging on the lutestrings, represents a circle inscribed in a triangle : from the middle of the brass ariseth a worm-spring, fastened by a spring to the nadir of the concave, drawing it down a little, and acting against the other three springs. Thus I suppose the springs will take 144 THE LIFE OF 1663. off much of the lateral and perpendicular concussions ; the circles will take off oscillations ; the agitations remaining will be spent in the water, and stilled by the chart covering the superficies of the water; for thus we see a trencher swimming in a bucket, keeps the water from spilling in the carriage ; and the Chinese, instead of circles, have their compass swimming in water. Lastly, I would have all the bottom of the basis, near the edge, made like a brush, but with soft, thick, and inclining bristles, which will ease it like a thousand springs. It should be placed on the middle of the floor of the coach, where, by opening a window, you may likewise see the way-wirer placed on the perch. “ My lord, if my first designs had been perfect, I had not troubled your lordship with so much scribble, but with some- thing performed and done ; but being taken off by my occasions, I had rather be impertinent than disobedient, and am fain in this letter to do like the common chemist, who, when projection (his fugitive darling) hath left him threadbare, is fain to fall to vulgar preparations to pay his debts. And I must needs acknowledge, I am not only indebted to the society, but most part to your lordship, to whom I owe a double duty, both as to our president, and to my very good lord and patron. “ Chr. Wren*.” Wren continued his residence at Oxford for the rest of this * Letter Book of the Royal Society, Vol. I. p. 97- Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 5288, et seq. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 145 year, pursuing his studies, his experiments, and his buildings, both at Oxford and at Cambridge* * * § . The barometer and its phenomena engaged much of his at- tention, as well as that of his scientific colleagues in London. At a meeting of the Royal Society on the 16 th of September, his experiments on the changes of the weather being a portion of the discussions, Dr. Wilkins was desired to write to him for his scheme and description of the instrument f. At another meeting of the society Mr. Hooke was desired to lodge some days in Gresham College, to direct the operator in many experiments then under consideration, and to perfect Dr. Wren’s new kind of thermometer, with two round glasses, and quicksilver in them J. Among these numerous and important avocations, Wren yet found leisure to assist his friend Dr. Thomas Willis, the grand- father of the eminent antiquary, Browne Willis, in his anatomical description and elucidations of the brain. The portion under- taken by Wren was the accurate drawings from which the plates were engraved of that celebrated workj. * The Sheldonian theatre at Oxford, and the chapel of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. t Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 304. t Ibid. p. 315. § Ath. Ox. Vol. II., &c. 1663. Clarissimo ac eruditissimo viro Doctori Tho. Willis, suppetias attulit in opere suo celeberrimo, cerebri anatome , utpote qui dissertationibus istis interesse, et circa partium usus rationes conferre solebat : qui insuper plurimas cerebri et calvarias figuras, quo exactiores essent operas, erudi- tissimis suis manibus delineare non fuit gravatus. — Willis , Anatome Ce- rebri; Wren, MSS. u 146 THE LIFE OF 1663 . The physiological opinions of Dr. Willis* upon the brain, are replete with the reveries of the chemical philosophy of his day. The anatomical descriptions are good, and the drawings accu- rate. He appears to have had some notions of the modern quackery of phrenology, or craniology, and lodges common sense in the corpus striatum of the brain, imagination in the corpus callosum, and memory in the cineritious matter which encom- * This illustrious English physician was, as well as Wren, a Wiltshire man, being born at Great Bedwin, in that county, Jan. 27, 162 1. He re- ceived the elements of his education at a noted grammar-school kept by Mr. Edward Sylvester, in All Saints, Oxford, and became a member of Christ Church in 1636. He took his bachelor’s degree in 1639, and that of master in 1642. When Oxford was turned into a garrison for the king, he, with other scholars, bore arms in the royal army, and devoted his lei- sure to physic, in which faculty he took a bachelor’s degree in 1646, when Oxford was surrendered to the parliamentary forces. In 1660 he was ap- pointed Sedleian professor of natural philosophy, and took in the same year the degree of Doctor of Physic. He discovered the celebrated medi- cinal spring at Alstrop, near Brackley, of which his contemporary Aubrey gives the following account. “ About 1657, riding towards Brackley to a patient, his way led him through Alstrop, where he observed the stones in the little rill were discoloured of a kind of crocus martis colour ; thought he, this may be an indication of iron : he gets galls, and puts some of the powder into the water, and immediately it turned blackish ; then said he, ‘ I’ll not send my patients now so far as Tunbridge;’ and so in a short time brought these waters into vogue, and hath enriched a poor obscure village +.” Dr. Willis was one of the first members of the Royal Society, and soon made his name as illustrious by his writings, as it was already by his practice. He died Nov. 11 , 1675 , and was buried among the illustrious dead in Westminster Abbey. t Aubrey’s MSS. Vol. II. p. 585. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 147 passes the medullary. Dr. Willis was assisted in this work by Dr. Wren, Dr. Millington, and other scientific friends # . The progress of intellect in Europe was now in full march. This year is celebrated for the establishment of the Royal Academy of Belles Lettres and Inscriptions at Paris f, for the founding of the colony at Carolina, and for Prussia’s declaring itself inde- pendent of Poland. The Royal Society of London was increasing in fame, and the learned of all nations sought and were proud of its notice. Communications were sent from the Montmorianf * Praeter suppetias ab hujus manu (Doctoris Lower) in dissecando peritissima allatas, celare non decet, quantas insuper acceperim a viris cla- rissimis, domino Tho. Millington, M. D., necnon a domino Christophoro Wren, L.L.D., et astronomiae professore Saviliano; qui utrique dissecti- onibus nostris crebro interesse, et circa partium usus rationes conferre so- lebant. Porro prior ille vir doctissimus, cui privato observationes meas, et conjecturas, de die in diem proponebam, me animo incertum, et propriae sententiae minus fidentem, suffragiis suis saepe confirmabat. Ceterum alter vir insignissimus Doctor Wren, pro singulari qua pollet humanitate, pluri- mas cerebri et calvariae figuras, quo exactiores essent operae, eruditissimis suis manibus delineare non fuit gravatus. — Willis , Anatome Cerebri, prae- fatio, Lond. 1664. f This celebrated academy was established by Louis XIV. in the month of February, 1663. It was at first composed of only four or five members, whose duty it was to write inscriptions, invent designs and le- gends of medals, casts, and other monuments, to the glory of the king and the illustrious men of France. Among its principal publications is the Medallic History of Louis XIV. , a work as celebrated for the beauty of its designs and execution, as it is for the egregious vanity of the self- called Grand Monarque, whose weakness it flatters. J Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 317* u 2 148 THE LIFE OF 166*3. and other academies of France, and numerous valuable presents were made to its repository. Many of its members, at this moment, turned their attention to the facilitating the mechanical operation of drawing in per- spective, which began then to be much used. Dr. Potter, a celebrated mathematician, mechanic, and artist*, among other useful inventions, completed a machine for drawing in perspec- tive. Aubrey, who knew him well, and corresponded frequently with him, relates having “ a curious design of his to draw a land- scape or perspective, but Sir Christopher Wren/’ he adds, “ hath fallen on the same principle, and the engine is better worked f.” The diary of the Royal Society relates, that on November 11, Sir Robert Moray presented from Prince Rupert to the society an instrument of his highness’s invention for casting any platform into perspective. It was ordered, that the president, Sir Robert Moray, Mr. Aerskine, Dr. Wilkins, Dr. Goddard, and Mr. Olden- burgh, wait upon the prince on the following Friday, the 13th inst., and return him the humble thanks of the society ; and to * The founder’s portrait in Trinity College, Oxford, is of his copying. — Aubrey, Vol. II. p. 490. t Aubrey also relates, that “ he was smith and joiner enough to serve his turn, but he did not pretend to curiosity in each. He gave me,” says he, “ a quadrant in copper, and made me another in silver of his own pro- jection, which serves for all latitudes. He showed me,” he continues, “ in 1649, the best way of making an arch, which was a parabola, with a chain ; so he took off his girdle from his cassock, and applied it to the wall thus,” (describing in dotted lines an inverted catenaria). — Aubrey, Vol. II. p. 501-2. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 149 show him an instrument of Dr. Wren’s invention for throwing any natural object into perspective*. These dates and descriptions not only give the priority of invention, but also superiority of execution to the philosophical Wren ; but his jealous coadjutor, Hooke, whose mind was always tormented by fear of rivalry, suggested that additions might be made to the invention of Prince Rupert, so that it might incline and recline, and be fitted to draw likewise solid bodies in perspec- tive, and to describe all kinds of dials. He was desired to bring his propositions in writing, and then to give a description, and to show the practice of the whole. In the mean time the society wisely ordered that the prince’s instrument should be left as it was, without any alteration whatever j\ At a meeting on the 18th Nov. Mr. Hooke was reminded of his promise, which he performed on the 25th, and an engine, with his additions and improvements, was ordered to be made for the use of the society ; but I can find no account of its superiority to that of Wren. Among the numerous inventions which emanated from the fertile mind of Wren, his weather-clock, which he produced to the society in the December of this year, deserves enumeration. At a meeting on the second of December, Dr. Wilkins acquainted the society that he had received an answer from Dr. Christopher Wren concerning his promised weather-clock, with its diagram. The amanuensis was ordered to draw it out at large against the next meeting, at which it was to be considered, together with the letter describing it. The clock and its appendages are described # Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 329. f Ibid. 150 THE LIFE OF 1664. in the first volume of Birch’s History of the Royal Society, with an engraving*. Its principal advantages and description are, that to a common pendulum clock two wings are added ; one of which has a cylindrical tumbril, containing a weather-wheel of quicksilver, on the surface of which a black lead pencil describes the various changes of the weather that occur, and registers the hour at which each change took place. On the other side is a wheel moved round by a vane, or weather-cock, outside the build- ing, on which an index or black lead pencil described the changes of the wind. These surfaces were covered with printed paper slightly fastened down with glue, or of a proper durable white ground, on which the durable lines were stained, and the pencil- marks wiped off when copied. The whole machine possesses great ingenuity, and might be of service even in the present ad- vanced state of science for registering the changes of the wind and weather at every minute of the time that the clock continued going. While wars and tumults agitated the kingdom f, the new society cultivated the arts of peace. Wren, one of its most illustrious and useful members, continued his pursuits at Oxford. Evelyn J records an interesting tour to Oxford this year, where, on a visit to the Hon. Robert Boyle, he found that great phi- losopher engaged with Drs. Willis and Christopher Wren in the tower of the schools, observing the passing of the planet Mer- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. I. p. 341. : also the original register, Vol. II. p. 321. t 1664. War was declared between the English and Dutch. t Diary, Vol. I. p. 367. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 151 cury over the sun’s disk, with “ an inverted tube or telescope.” Thence he says he went to the new theatre then building at an exceeding and royal expense by the Lord Archbishop of Can- terbury (Sheldon). “ The foundation,” he says, “ had been newly laid, and the whole designed by that incomparable genius, my worthy friend, Dr. Christopher Wren, who showed me the model, not disdaining my advice in some particulars.” It must have been about this year, and perhaps at the anni- versary, that Wren delivered the following discourse to the Royal * “ Mr. President, “We begin a new year, and therefore may pause a little, and look back on what we have done, and consider what we may do. It is a great encouragement to us that, by the influence of his sacred majesty, the prudence and diligence of yourself, the inge- nious performances of the Society, we have hitherto kept up our meetings full, and in good repute at home and abroad, and not without sufficient appearance of doing something considerable f so that we need not now fear lest the world, from all our expe- riments, should make this one, that there is little use of these # In the preceding year Evelyn describes the first anniversary dinner, and does not mention his friend’s discourse. The succeeding (1665) Wren was in Paris, and some authority, which I cannot now find, has led me to enter it under the head of this year, when I was collecting my materials for this work. The precise date is not very material, but except in this in- stance, I have scarcely ventured on a conjecture. I may, perhaps, before concluding, find my authority, which I will not fail to give either in the Appendix, or in a succeeding note. 152 THE LIFE OF 1664. inquiries : and I make no question but the design of so many excellent persons meeting in this society (besides the present satisfaction that accrues from the converse and communication of every one’s thoughts in the disquisition of nature), carries along with it principally a zeal of approving themselves benefactors to mankind, and of perfecting something for which posterity may be really obliged to us. “ Of effecting this there seem three ways ; by advancing, 1st, knowledge ; 2, profit ; 3, health, and conveniences of life. “ For the first of these, the improvement of theories, we need be least solicitous ; it is a work will insensibly grow upon us, if we be always doing something in experiment ; and every one is more prone to exercise fancy in building paper theories, than patient to first pile the unsure foundation, and hew solid materials out of the history of nature. This is rather our task, and in many things we must be content to plant crabstoeks for posterity to graft on. “ The second, I make no question, will be excellently effected by two things now in hand ; the carrying on the history of trades, and the improvement of the art of navigation ; which being now committed to an excellent hand, cannot but produce something very extraordinary. Besides, there can hardly be any thing proposed worth our consideration, that will not itself, or some corollary from it, be reducible to this head. “For the third, the health of mankind, the restoring part is properly the work already of one whole faculty, in which no age or nation affords more learned and inquisitive men than this of ours. Yet I wish we might incorporate with them so far, as to PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 153 have a fire going in the elaboratory for choicer experiments in chymistry, especially since many parts of philosophy are not to be pierced far into without this help ; and little is to be done in the business of trades without it. Mechanical philosophy only teaches us what probably may be done in nature by the motion and figures of the little particles of things, but chymistry helps to determine what is actually done by the motions of those invisible parts of liquors, spirits, and fumes ; and oftentimes gives light enough to contradict mechanical hypotheses, that otherwise seem well grounded. Thus in the body of a man, if we consider it only mechanically, we may indeed learn the fabric and action of the organical parts ; but, without chymistry, we shall be at a loss to know what blood, spirits, and humours are, from the due temper of which (as of the spring in the barrel wheel), the motions of all the parts depend. “ To carry on both together, I could wish we were frequent in dissections of animals of any sort whatsoever, and that figures be drawn, where nature appears anomalous, as she is most in fishes and insects ; especially in the parts that serve for concoction. And with this we may take in the experiments about generation. The spring should not be lost for observing the progress of hatch- ing eggs ; and likewise the springing of grain and seeds ; which, in a ruder proportion, gives some light to the generation of ani- mals. Tame rabbits may be kept purposely for dissection, as well because they are frequently pregnant, as because of late some observations have been made from them, which seem to thwart those of Dr. Harvey ; how truly, will be worth our inquiry. “ Besides these, there is another part of physiology, which x 154 THE LIFE OF 1664. concerns us as near as the breath of our nostrils, and I know not any thing wherein we may more oblige posterity, than that which I would now propose. It is not the work of any one person, and therefore fit for a society ; nor of a little time, though of little trouble, and therefore fit to be proposed now at the beginning of the year, and to be carried on with other things. The history of seasons is this excellent work I would recommend to you, desired by all modern philosophers, though nobody hath had yet the patience to pursue it. “ It consists of two parts: 1. A meteorological history: 2. A history of things depending upon alteration of the air and seasons. “ The meteorological parts will be completed by five histories. “ 1. A punctual diary of the motion of the air, the winds; wherein should be noted, not only the rhumb, but force of the wind, as the seamen have these distinctions, if I mistake not : from a calm they begin with a soft wind, a fresh wind, a stiff gale, a storm, and sometimes a hurricane. These may be noted down by a cypher, and 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., and the rhumb by letters. “ 2. A punctual diary of the qualities of the air, as to heat and cold observed by a thermometer ; and likewise of the moist- ure of the air observed by some other instrument. “ 3. The refractions should be observed, and the rising of any vapours, by the telescope, and the tremulation of the air. “ 4. A diary of the state of the air ; as fair, cloudy, rain, See. “5. A register of other accidental meteors, as figured snows, parelii, coronae, unusual colours and shapes of clouds, called fights in the air, fiery meteors in the night, falling stars, PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 155 (in which I could give direction for finding if any thing falls from them in their extinction). “ The second part will be comprised in “ 1. The history of the growth of those annual things of food, as fruits and grain. The causes of dearth and plenty, and diseases. Especially the annals of the plough should be kept. How the weather retarded or accelerated seed time, springing, flowering, corning, ripening, and harvest; with the diseases and enemies of that year, as whether blighted, mildewed, smutted, choked with this or that weed, eaten with rook-worms, or infected with a blue mite, covering the ear while green, a calamity which I have observed, but wants a name. Lastly, the plenty, scarcity, and price of corn. We are enough to learn this in every county of England, by inquiring or corresponding with those that are a little more curious in country affairs. 44 2. The state of grass and hay, and consequently of cattle; the plenty, dearth, diseases and murrains of them. “3. Wines, which, though foreign, bear a great share in our diet, and therefore a note should be given of them, of their good- ness or vices that year. So for coffee, tobacco, and such like of general use. 4 4 4. The seasons of fish and fowl are retarded or accelerated by weather ; foreign fowl are observed to come in great multi- tudes, near the time of their departure, to some coasts of Eng- land, and there to stay for a wind, which, when it happens for their turn, in few hours there is not one to be seen in the whole country. The seasons of fish depend much upon the seasons of the water-flies and insects, their food: in two rivers, parted by x 2 156 THE LIFE OF 1664. the same meadow, I have known the difference of ten days or more. The seasons of insects are, of themselves, very considerable. The multitudes or paucity of venomous creatures, and of many other the like things, are very well worth registering; and all other things found to be either consequences, signs, or presages of weather and seasons. “5. Above all, the physicians of our society should be desired to give us a good account of the epidemical diseases of the year ; histories of any new disease that shall happen ; changes of the old ; difference of operation in medicine according to the weather and seasons, both inwardlv, and in wounds : and to this should be added a due consideration of the weekly and annual bills of mor- tality in London. “ Thus, instead of the vanity of prognosticating, I could wish we would have the patience, for some years, of registering past times, which is the certain way of learning to prognosticate ; ex- periment and reason is the only way of prophesying natural events. And I shall not therefore need to press the utility of this design, since I am confident there is none here but apprehends what excellent speculations, what a multitude of new ingenious conse- quences will hence arise conducible to profit, health, convenience, pleasure, and prolongation of life. And I dare be confident that no one part in the whole extent of philosophy will afford us more delightful or useful speculations, or render us more considerable to posterity. “ The only thing I fear is, lest we should want patience, and flag in the design, since, in a few years at the beginning, it will hardly come to any visible maturity. But as it is a long work, PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 157 so it is of no difficulty, nor will take up more time, than once a year to have an audit, wherein every one shall bring in his account of that part which, in this history, was enjoined him. “ The greatest difficulty will be in keeping the diary of the winds and air, because it seems to require constant attendance ; but this at first may be delegated to four or five men, who near their abodes have weathercocks in view, and have diligently taken the position of their houses : these may sometimes compare notes; what have escaped the observations of one will be taken by another. So likewise for the thermometer. “ Some help may be given for the exacter observance of the wind, as thus : a point being taken in a convenient part of a window, where a square vane of a weathercock appears, the nearer and higher above the eye the better, an ellipsis may be drawn on the glass, and the rhumbs within the ellipsis so that it may be a projection upon the pane of the window of an imaginary card, placed horizontally upon the steeple, whose centre is the axis of the vane ; therefore observing only with one glance how the edge of the vane lies amongst these lines of the window, you have the wind exactly given you. This way hath been put in execution with very good effect, and some other useful additions, at Oxford. “ But because it is convenient that the changes of winds in the night, too, should not pass unobserved, such a vane as is at Whitehall, showing by an index within a room, may be necessary for this purpose. “ But this is not yet enough, for many changes may happen while the observer is absent or asleep. I might seem to promise 158 THE LIFE OF 1664. too much should I say an engine may be framed, which, if you visit your chamber but one half hour in the day, shall tell you how many changes of wind have been in your absence, though there were twenty, and at what hour every change happened, and whether it were soft, stiff, or vehement. Neither shall the in- strument be subject to be out of time, or if it be, your own hand may rectify it. “ Neither shall the thermometer need a constant observance, for after the same method may that be made to be its own register. Some errors likewise there are in the use of the thermometer, which should therefore be used with some cautions. “For the pretended way of discovering the two other qua- lities of drought and moisture in the air, they are all uncertain that I ever heard of. Trials have been made of lute strings, which by their various tensure move an index ; but these strings alter in their parts, and in the same temper of air will not return to the same degrees. The beards of oats are more uncertain. “It is indeed an error to think there are any degrees of siccity, since all siccity is but less or no humidity : and therefore the degrees of humidity being nothing else but the quantity of moist vapour in the air, it is best done by collecting the very moisture of the air after a peculiar manner, which I shall be ready to produce. “ Many other things I might suggest of this nature, which if the design be once begun, I shall most willingly submit, upon occasion, to the judgment of the society * Parentalia, p. 224. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 159 Thus did this great man communicate, in the most unreserved manner, the whole contents of his rich and highly cultivated mind to his illustrious coadjutors ; and it is satisfactory to find that they were duly estimated by the great characters to whom he addressed himself. During the course of this year the Royal Society formed themselves into several committees, the better to extend the benefit and forward the views of their institution. These com- mittees were 1. Mechanical, whose business it was to consider and improve all mechanical inventions. 2. Astronomical and optical. 3. Anatomical. 4. Chemical. 5. Geological. 6. For HISTORIES OF TRADE. 7 . FOR COLLECTING ALL THE PHENOMENA OF NATURE HITHERTO OBSERVED, AND ALL EXPERIMENTS MADE AND recorded ; and 8 . For correspondence # . In three of these, namely, Mechanics , Astronomical and Optical , and the general one for collecting all the phenomena of nature , &c., was Wren nomi- nated a member, and in each of them he perpetually exhibited the results of his transcendent powers of intellect and study. The year 1665 is an important year in the life of Wren, and is but too well remembered in history as the era of one of the greatest disasters that ever befel the English nation, the fatal infection or plague which overspread the metropolis. The elo- quent historian of the Royal Society, Dr. Sprat, whose hand was stopped, and his mind disturbed in the prosecution of his labours, * This list of the committees of the Royal Society shows the extended nature of its researches in these early days of its institution compared with those of the last presidency. 160 THE LIFE OF 1665. describes it with all the liveliness and feeling of an eye-witness. “ The plague was, indeed,” says he, “ an irreparable damage to the whole kingdom : but that which chiefly added to the misery was the time wherein it happened. For what could be a more deplorable accident, than that so many brave men should be cut off by the arrow that flies in the dark , when our country was en- gaged in a foreign war, and when their lives might have been honourably ventured on a glorious theatre in its defence ?” Honours were showered this year upon Wren with a profu- sion only equalled by his merits. His friend Dr. Sprat, Bishop of Rochester, dedicated to him, in the most flattering manner, his Observations on Mons. de Sorbiere’s* Voyage to England; wherein Sprat chastizes with spirit the superficial foreigner who had vilified the country. And Robert Hook confessed in the preface to his Micrographia, that although he was first in- duced to undertake the work at the suggestion of Bishop Wilkins, yet he commenced it with reluctance, because he had “ to follow the footsteps of so eminent a person as Dr. Wren, who was the first that attempted any thing of this nature; whose original draughts do now make one of the ornaments of that great col- lection of rarities in the king’s closet. This honour which his first beginnings of this kind have received, to be admitted into the most famous place in the world, did not so much encourage, as the hazard of coming after Dr. Wren did affright me ; for of him I must affirm, that since the time of Archimedes, there scarce ever met in one man, in so great a perfection, such a mechanical * Biog. Brit. &c. ; Paren. p. 212; See, also, p. 84 of this work. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 161 hand, and so philosophical a mind*.” The value of this com- pliment from such a man as Robert Hook will receive its due estimate from the learned and scientific. Added to these, his amiable and illustrious friend John Evelyn consulted him on the education of his son in the following beautiful letter, where the feelings and affections of a father are most naturally expressed To Doctor Christopher Wren. “ Sir, “ You may please to remember that some time since I begged a favour of you on behalf of my little boy : he is now susceptible of instruction, a pleasant, and (though l speak it) a most inge- nious and pregnant child. My design is to give him a good edu- cation : he is past many initial difficulties, and conquers all things with incredible industry. Do me that eternal obligation, as to inquire out and recommend me some young man for a preceptor. I will give 20/. per annum salary, and such other accommodation as shall be no ways disagreeable to an ingenuous spirit ; and pos- sibly I may do him other advantages : in all cases he will find his condition with us easy, his scholar a delight, and the conversation not to be despised. This obliges me to wish he may not be a morose, or severe person, but of an agreeable temper. The qua- lities I require are, that he be a perfect Grecian, and if more than commonly mathematical, so much the more accomplished for my design : mine own defects in the Greek tongue, and knowledge * Preface to Hook’s Micrograpliia, or Physiological Descriptions of minute Bodies, made by the Help of Magnifying-glasses, Lond. 1665. Y 162 THE LIFE OF 1665. of its usefulness, oblige me to mention that particular with an extraordinary note : in sum, I would have him as well furnished as might be for the laying of a permanent and solid foundation. The boy is capable beyond his years ; and if you encounter one thus qualified, I shall receive it amongst the great good fortunes of my life, that I obtained it by the benefit of your friendship, for which I have ever had so perfect an esteem. There is no more to be said, but that when you have found the person, you direct him immediately to me, that I may receive and value him. Sir, I am told by Sir Jo. Denham that you look towards France this summer; be assured I will charge you with some addresses to friends of mine there, that shall exceedingly cherish you ; and though you will stand in no need of my recommenda- tions, yet I am confident you will not refuse the offer of those civilities which I shall bespeak you. There has lain at Dr. Need- ham's a copy of the Parallel bound up for you, and long since de- signed you, which I shall entreat you to accept ; not as a recom- pense of your many favours to me, much less a thing in the least assistant to you (who are yourself a master), but as a token of my respect, as the book itself is of the affection I bear to an art which you so happily cultivate. “ Dear Sir, I am, “ Yours, See., “ John Evelyn.” “ Says Court, 4 April, 1665.” The journey to France, alluded to in this letter, was com- menced by Wren early in the year. While in Paris, he not only PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 163 inspected and studied all the principal buildings of that great metropolis, and made excursions to the principal places in its vicinity worth his attention, but, as might be expected from the structure of his mind, took particular notice of what was most remarkable in every branch of mechanics, and contracted inti- macies with the most celebrated artists and men of letters. In a manuscript letter quoted by Ward in his lives of the Gresham professors, to his friend, the Rev. Dr. Bateman, he says, “ he was so careful not to lose the impressions of these structures he had surveyed, that he should bring away all France on paper Previous to Wren’s departure for Paris he submitted to the society a new hypothesis and geometrical problem about the comets, which appeared the last and present yearsf; it was read to the society at their meeting on the 25th of January. At the same meeting Lord Sandwich communicated other observa- tions on the same comets, which were referred to Dr. Wren and Mr. Hooke. This way of finding the parallax of comets Hooke declares to be wholly new, and though hypothetical, as supposing the annual motion of the earth and the motion of the comet in a right line, through equal spaces in equal times ; yet, being founded on a problem in geometry, invented, as he says, by the incom- parable mathematician, Dr. Christopher Wren, one may easily find the true parallax of comets from any four exact observations of it made at different times at the same place j. Wren’s eor- * Ward’s Gresham Professors, page 102. f Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. II. p. 12. $ See Appendix, No. 12. Y 2 164 THE LIFE OF 1665. rectness about the place of the comet was afterwards corro- borated by Mr. Huygens in a letter to Sir Robert Moray, dated from the Hague *. This hypothesis produced the following letter from Mr. Hooke to Dr. Wren, then at Oxford. To Dr. Wren, at Oxford. “ London, May 4, 1665. 44 Sir, 4 4 I hope you received the globe and observations which I sent you : you had had them much sooner, but, in truth, I could not get the copy of your Hypothesis, though the amanuensis was ordered by the society to have had it ready above a week before. Those observations of my own making I have not yet had time to adjust so well as I desire ; for the sun came upon me before I was aware, and so I must stay till the constellation of eog xfa&ijpiv K apo\os vif/irof [uv Et( icruwove^iuev eSijxev. Of Dr. Holbeach, under whom Wren finished the chapel, he says, O X ? g x t o v Xa«j. Barnes’s Eucharisterion. * Vide Parentalia, pp. 277, 278. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 245 pass. Our work at the west end of St. Paul’s is fallen about our ears. Your quick eye discerned the walls and pillars gone off from their perpendiculars, and I believe other defects too, which are now exposed to every common observer. “ About a week since, we being at work about the third pillar from the west end on the south side, which we had new cased with stone where it was most defective, almost up to the chapitre, a great weight falling from the high wall so disabled the vaulting of the side aile by it, that it threatened a sudden ruin so visibly, that the workmen presently removed, and the next night the whole pillar fell, and carried scaffolds and all to the very ground. “ The second pillar, which, you know, is bigger than the rest, stands now alone, with an enormous weight on the top of it, which we cannot hope should stand long, and yet we dare not venture to take it down. “ This breach has discovered to all that look on it two great defects in Inigo Jones’s work ; one, that his new case of stone in the upper walls (massy as it is) was not set upon the upright of the pillars, but upon the core of the groins of the vaulting : the other, that there were no key stones at all to tie it to the old work ; and all this, being very heavy with Roman ornaments on the top of it, and being already so far gone outward, cannot possibly stand long. In fine, it is the opinion of all men, that we can proceed no farther at the west end. What we are to do next is the present deliberation, in which you are so absolutely and indispensably necessary to us, that we can do nothing, resolve nothing, without you. “ ’Tis therefore, that in my lord of Canterbury’s name, and 246 THE LIFE OF 1668 . by his order (already, I suppose, intimated to you by the Dean of Christ Church), we most earnestly desire your presence and assistance, with all possible speed. “You will think fit, I know, to bring with you those ex- cellent draughts and designs you formerly favoured us with : and, in the mean time, till we enjoy you here, consider what to advise, that may be for the satisfaction of his majesty and the whole nation ; an obligation so great and so public, that it must be acknowledged by better hands, than those of “ Your very affectionate friend and servant, “ W. Sancroft.” In spite of remonstrances from the able heads which were entrusted with the works, the patching and piecing still continued. Wren wrote a remonstrance from Oxford, which produced some effect; as may be seen in the following letter from the same eminent prelate to our architect. C ( “ July 2, 1668. “ Yesterday my lords of Canterbury, London, and Oxford, met on purpose to hear your letter read once more, and to consider what is now to be done in order to the repairs of St. Paul’s. They unanimously resolved, that it is fit imme- diately to attempt something; and that, without you, they can do nothing. “ I am, therefore, commanded to give you an invitation hither, in his grace’s name, and the rest of the commissioners, with all PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 247 speed, that we may prepare something to be proposed to his majesty (the design of such a quire, at least, as may be a con- gruous part of a great and more magnificent work to follow) ; and then, for the procuring contributions to defray this, we are so sanguine as not to doubt of it, if we could but once resolve what we would do, and what that would cost. So that the only part of your letter we demur to, is the method you pro- pound of declaring first what money we would bestow, and then designing something just of that expense: for quite otherwise the way their lordships resolve upon, is to frame a design, hand- some and noble, and suitable to all ends of it, and to the re- putation of the city and the nation ; and to take it for granted that money will be had to accomplish it: or, however, to let it lie by till we have before us a prospect of so much as may reasonably encourage us to begin. “ Thus far I thought good to prepare you for what will be said to you when you come, that you may not be surprised with it : and, if my summons prevail not, my lord the Bishop of Oxford hath undertaken to give it you warmer, ore femes, the next week, when he intends to be with you ; if, at least, you be not come towards us before he arrives, which would be a very agreeable surprise to us all, and especially to “ Your very affectionate humble servant, “ W. Sancroft.” The following able philosophical report appears to have been made to the commissioners in consequence of these letters. The 248 THE LIFE OF 1668. reader cannot fail to discover in its perusal the rich harvest of Wren’s early studies, which were all brought to bear on the object before him. # “ What time and weather had left entire in the old, and art in the new repaired parts of this great pile of St. Paul’s, the late calamity of the fire hath so weakened and defaced, that it now appears like some antique ruin of two thousand years con- tinuance : and, to repair it sufficiently, will be like the mending of Argo-nairs, scarce any thing will at last be left of the old. “ The first decays of it were great, from several causes ; first, from the original building itself : for it was not well shaped and designed for the firm bearing of its own vault, how massy soever the walls seemed to be, nor were the materials good ; for it seemed to have been built out of the stone of some other ancient ruins, the walls being of two several sorts of free-stone, and those small; and the core within was ragstone, cast in rough, with mortar and putty; which is not a durable way of building, unless there had been that peculiar sort of banding, with some thorough courses, which is necessary in this kind of filling work, but was omitted in this fabric. This accusation belongs chiefly to the west, north, and south parts. The choir was of later and better work ; not inferior to most Gothic fabrics * From the Antiquarian Refectory, communicated by the late Thomas Astle, Esq. ; and not printed in either Parentalia, or Dugdale’s History of St. Paul’s. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 249 of that age. The tower, though it had the effects of a bad manner of building, and small stones and filling work, yet was it more carefully banded, and cramped with much iron. “ A second reason of the decays which appeared before the last fire was, in probability, the former fire, which consumed the whole roof in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The fall of timber then upon the vault was certainly one main cause of the cracks which appeared in the vault, and of the spreading out of the walls above ten inches in some places from their true perpen- dicular, as it now appears more manifestly. This giving out of the walls was endeavoured to be corrected by the artist of the last repairs, who placed his new case of Portland stone truly perpendicular ; and if he had proceeded with casing it within, the whole had been tolerably corrected. But now even this new work is gone away from its perpendicular also, by this second fall of the roof in this last fire. This is most manifest in the north-west aisle. “ The second ruins are they that have put the restoration past remedy, the effects of which I shall briefly enumerate. “ First. — The portico is nearly deprived of that excellent beauty and strength, which time alone and weather could have no more overthrown, than the natural rocks ; so great and good were the materials, and so skilfully were they laid after a true Roman manner. But so impatient is the Portland stone of fire, that many tons of stone are scaled off, and the columns flawed quite through. “ Next, the south-west corner; one of the vast pillars of the body of the church, with all that supported it, is fallen. K K 250 THE LIFE OF 1668. “ All along the body of the church the pillars are more given out than they were before the fire ; and more flawed towards the bottom, by the burning of the goods below, and the timber fallen from above. “ This farther spreading of the pillars within hath also carried out the walls of the aisles, and reduced the circular ribs of the vaults of the aisles to be of a form, which to the eye appears distorted and compressed; especially in the north-west aisle of the body of the church. “ The tower, and the parts next about it, have suffered the least ; for these, by reason that the walls lying in form of a cross, give a firm and immoveable butment each to other ; and they stand still in their position, and support their vaults ; which shows manifestly, that the fall of the timber alone could not break the vaults, unless where the same concussion had force enough to make the walls also give out. “ And this is the reason of the great desolation which appears in the new choir; for there the falling vaults, in spite of all the small buttresses, hath broken them short, or dislocated the stouter of them, and overthrowing the north wall and pillars, and consequently the vaults of the north-east aisle, hath broken open the vaults of St. Faith (though those were of very great strength) ; but irresistible is the force of so many thousand tons, augmented by the height of the fall. “ Having shown in part the deplorable condition of our patient, we are to consult of the cure, if possible art may effect it. And herein we must imitate the physician, who, when he finds a total decay of nature, bends his skill to a palliative, to PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 251 give respite for a better settlement of the estate of the patient. The question is then, where best to begin this sort of practice ; that is, to make a choir for present use. “ It will, worst of all, be effected in the new choir ; for there the walls and pillars being fallen, it will cost a large sum to restore them to their former height ; and before this can be effected, the very substruction and repair of St. Faith’s will cost so much, that I shall but frighten this age with the computation of that which is to be done in the dark, before any thing will appear for the use desired. “ The old choir seems to be a convenient place, and that which will be most easily effected ; because the vault there looks firm, or easily reparable, as far as to the place where was once the old pulpit. But this design will not be without very material objections. First, the place is very short and little between the stone screen and the breach, and only capable of a very little choir, not of an auditory. “ And if the auditory be made without, yet, secondly, all the adjacent places are under the ruins of a falling tower, which every day throws off smaller scales, and in frosts will yield such showers of the outside stones (if no greater parts come down with tempests), that the new roofs (yet to be made) will be broken up, if no farther mischiefs ensue. Thirdly, you are to make such a dismal procession through ruins to come thither, that the very passage will be a penance. Fourthly, this cannot be effected without considerable expense of making partition walls to the top, to sever this part on every side from the ruins, and covering with timber and lead those four short parts of the k k 2 252 THE LIFE OF 1668 . cross next the tower, and covering the tower also; that is, if you make room for the auditory as well as the choir, the choir itself being very little. “ These ways being found inconvenient and expensive, either of taking out a part, where the new choir was, or where the old choir is, with the parts west, north, and south, next the tower, as far as the vaults stand ; it remains that we seek it in the body of the church. And this is that which I should humbly advise, as the cheapest way of making a sufficient choir and auditory, after this manner. “ I would take the lesser north and south door for the entrances, and leaving two intercolumniations eastward, and three or four westward, I would there make partition walls of the fallen stone upon the place. The east part above the doors may be contrived into a choir, the west into the auditory. I would lay a timber roof as low as the bottoms of the upper windows, with a flat fretted ceiling. The lead saved out of the burning will more than cover it. Of iron and of pavement there is enough for all uses. The roof lying low, will not appear above the walls ; and since we cannot mend this great ruin, we will not disfigure it, but that it shall still have its full motives to work, if possible, upon this or the next ages : and yet within it shall have all convenience and light (by turning the second story of arches into windows), and a beauty durable to the next two centuries of years ; and yet prove so cheap, that between three and four thousand pounds shall effect it all in one summer. “ And having with this ease obtained a present cathedral, there will be time to consider of a more durable and noble fabric. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 253 to be made in the place of the lower and eastern parts of the church, when the minds of men, now contracted to many objects of necessary charge, shall, by God’s blessing, be more widened, after a happy restoration, both of the buildings and wealth of the city and nation. In the mean while to derive, if not a stream, yet some little drills of charity this way, or, at least, to preserve that already obtained from being diverted, it may not prove ill advised to seem to begin something of the new fabric. But I confess this cannot well be put in execution, without taking down all that part of the ruin ; which, whether it be yet seasonable to do, we must leave to our superiors.” The result of these deliberations, letters, reports, and meetings, was, that Wren’s judgment and science prevailed over the narrow- mindedness and self-sufficiency of his less qualified opponents; and an order * was issued by the king in council to take down * or might he taken in, from, and out of his River Thames, to the intent to make the line between London-bridge and the Temple un form and regular , according to the said module, form, and draught * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. II. p. 463. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 285 and more water, according as it should be sunk deeper and deeper into it. Mr. Hooke, as usual, was ordered to make the experiments *. At this meeting Mr. Oldenburg mentioned, that Dr. Wren had a demonstration of a line of an arch, for supporting any weight assigned; and at the next (January 19) Wren attended, and delivered to the president his demonstration of what line it is, that an arch, fit to sustain any assigned weight, makes. The president was desired to examine it, and to give an account to the society f. On March 23, Wren was appointed, with Mr. Boyle, Dr. Wallis, and Mr. Hooke, to peruse, consider, and report to the society, their sense of a book which had been dedicated to their body, by Leibnitz ; containing a short account of what he thought to be a new physical hypothesis of his, for solving the phoenomena of nature, of which he had sent a portion printed, and desired their judgment Manifold and important as were the engagements of the surveyor-general, the society could not spare him from their councils. He was, at the meeting of April 13, appointed, with his indefatigable friend, Hooke, and the president of the society, to determine the most proper figure, or portion of the sphere or parabola, that is sufficient to make all the rays meet in a point ; * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. II. p. 463. t Ibid. t The title of this work is — “ Hypothesis physica nova, qu& phceno- menum naturae plerorumque causae ab unico quodam universali motu in globo nostro supposito, neque Tychonicis neque Copernicanis aspernando, repetuntur.” — Published at Mentz, I67I. It was republished in London, in 12mo. in the same year, and is there entitled — “ Hypothesis physica nova, sive theoria motus concreti, una cum theoria motus abstracts ” 286 THE LIFE OF 1671. for a burning concave to be formed of several pieces of glass, lined with a mixture of mercury and lead, and put together on the concave side of some hemispherical body of lead # . On May 4, a paper having been received from Mons. Mariotte, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, of Paris, concerning the science of levelling, and on some new methods of performing its operations, written in French, the author requesting, in a letter written by Mons. Justel, dated April 29, 1671, that it might be communicated to the Royal Society; the manuscript was delivered to Dr. Wren, as the most competent member; who was desired to examine it, and to report his opinions upon it to the society f. At a subsequent meeting, May 1 1 , the surveyor-general was appointed one of a committee concerning the society’s property in Chelsea College ; and being present, had Mons. Mariotte’s manuscript handed to him for his opinions f. At the last meeting of the society this year, Mr. Isaac Newton, professor of mathematics in the university of Cambridge, is re- corded as being proposed candidate for admission into the society by the Lord Bishop of Salisbury §. This year Wren commenced his great Doric fluted column on Fish-street-hill, called the monument It was erected in pursuance of an act of parliament^, in commemoration of the conflagration and rebuilding of the city and its public edifices. * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Yol. II. p. 477- t Ibid. p. 479. t Ibid. p. 481. § Ibid. p. 501. 1! “ I 67 I ad 1677* Structuram columnae colosseae speculatoriae Londi- nensis, ex ordine Dorico, inchoavit et perfecit.” — Wren MS . IT Strype, p. 180. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 287 The site on which this loftiest of commemorative columns is erected was that whereon the ancient church of St. Margaret, New Fish-street, stood before the fire ; which is about one hundred and thirty feet from the spot where that calamity began. It stands on the eastern side of the street, on a Palladian pedestal, of about twenty-one feet square, the plinth being twenty-seven feet. Its entire height from the pavement is two hundred and two feet, which is nearly thirty feet higher than that of Antoninus at Rome ; and is not only the highest, but also the finest isolated column in the world. Its bottom diameter on the upper part of the base is fifteen feet, and contains in its shaft a staircase of black marble, consisting of three hundred and forty-five steps. On the abacus is a balcony, encompassing a moulded cylinder, which supports a flaming vase of gilt bronze. As was usual with Wren, many improvements took place during the progress of the works ; and various designs were made for its execution, but none equal to its present appearance # . * Among the collection of Sir Christopher’s designs, in the library of All Soul’s College, Oxford, is one numbered 73, volume two, in the cata- logue made by me, and published in the General Chronicle for October, 1812, which has sculptured flames of gilt bronze issuing from apertures in its shaft, like the rostral columns of the Romans ; and on its apex, a phcenix, also of gilt bronze ; for which common-places the architect has wisely sub- stituted the more sensible flutes, and blazing urn. At one time he proposed erecting a statue of King Charles II. on its summit, for the omission of which, and the substitution of the present finial, the following letter, tran- scribed from the original, in the possession of Mr. Upcott, of the London Institution, gives the architect’s own reasons. “ In pursuance of an order of the committee for city lands, I doe here- 288 THE LIFE OF 1671. This columnar monument was in hand from 1671 to 1677, a period considered too long for such a work. This delay was with offer the several designes which some monthes since I shewed his Majestie, for his approbation ; who was then pleased to thinke a large ball of metall gilt would be most agreeable, in regard it would give an ornament to the town, at a very great distance; not that his Majestie disliked a statue ; and if any proposal of this sort be more acceptable to the city, I shall most readily represent the same to his Majestie. “ I cannot but comend a large statue, as carrying much dignitie with it ; and that which would be more vallueable in the eyes of forreiners and strangers. It hath been proposed to cast such a one in brasse, of twelve foot high, for <£1000. I hope (if it be allowed) wee may find those who will cast a figure for that money, of fifteen foot high, which will suit the greatnesse of the pillar, and is (as I take it) the largest at this day extant ; and this would undoubtedly bee the noblest finishing that can be found answerable to soe goodly a worke, in all men’s judgments. “ A ball of copper, nine foot diameter, cast in severall pieces, with the flames and gilt, may well be done, with the iron worke and fixing, for £350 ; and this will be most acceptable of any thing inferior to a statue, by reason of the good appearance at distance, and because one may goe up into it, and upon occasion use it for fireworks. “ A phoenix was at first thought of, and is the ornament in the wooden modell of the pillar, which I caused to be made before it was begun ; but, upon second thoughtes, I rejected it, because it will be costly, not easily understood at that highth, and worse understood at a distance ; and lastly, dangerous by reason of the sayle the spread winges will carry in the winde. “ The balcony must be made of substantiall well forged worke, there being noe need, at that distance, of filed worke ; and I suppose (for I cannot exactly guesse the weight), it may be well performed and fixed, according to a good designe, for fourscore and ten poundes, including painting. All which is humbly submitted to your consideration. (Signed) “ Christopher Wren.” “ July 28, 1675.” PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 289 occasioned by the scarcity of stone of good quality and sufficient dimensions for the work, which was remedied on the complaint of the surveyor-general, by the proclamation quoted in page 269. The work was at length completed, and may be justly reckoned the finest column of its kind in the world. It was at first used by the members of the Royal Society for astronomical experiments ; but was abandoned on account of its vibrations being too great for the nicety required in their observations. This occasioned a report that it was unsafe ; but its scientific construction may bid defiance to the attacks of all but earthquakes, for centuries to come. The basso rilievo, on the west side or front of the pedestal, representing the king affording protection to the desolated city, and freedom to its rebuilders and inhabitants, is sculptured in a sufficiently rude and gross style by Cibber ; who in his maniacs on the portal of Bedlam soared almost to the sublime. Charles is bewigged and be-Romanized ; scaffold poles support Portland stone clouds, and solid genii float bisected with joints of mortar as thick as their fingers. The scaffolding, ladders, and hodmen, have been admired for years, and record the dresses of the labourers with more fidelity than those of the monarch and his architect *. * The following curious piece of cotemporary scandal is taken from the London Spy. “ Now, says my friend, I’ll show you a towering edifice, erected through the wisdom and honesty of the city, as a very high memorandum of its being laid to, either by a judgment from heaven, for the sins of the people, or by the treachery of the papists* according to the inscription of the Monument, who, I suppose, is as ignorant of the matter as myself ; for that p P 290 THE LIFE OF 1671 . The other three sides of the pedestal are covered with inscrip- tions in the Latin language, for the information of the citizens ; that was neither built then, or I born ; so I believe we are equally as able to tell the truth of the story, as a quack astrologer is, by the assistance of the signs and planets, what was the name of Moses’s great grandfather, or how many quarts of water went to the world’s drowning. You will be mightily pleased with the loftiness of this slender column j for its very height was the first thing that ever occasioned wry necks in England, by the people’s staring at the top of it. To the glory of the city, and the everlasting reputation of the worthy projectors of this high and mighty Babel, it was more ostentatiously than honestly built, by the poor orphans' money , many of them since having begged their bread ; and the city have here given them a stone. Look ye, now you may see it ; pray view, and give me your opinion. “ What! is it of no use, but only to gaze at ? Yes, yes, says my friend, astrologers go often to the top on’t, when they have a mind to play the pimp, and see Mars and Venus in conjunction ; though the- chief use of it is for the improvement of vintners’ boys and drawers, who come every week to exercise their supporters, and learn the tavern trip, by running up to the balcony and down again, which fixes them in a nimble step, and makes them rare light-heeled emissaries in a month’s practice. Do you observe the carving which contains the king and his brother’s pictures? They were cut by an eminent artist, and are looked upon by a great many impartial judges to be a couple of extraordinary good figures. Pray what think you ? Why truly, said I, they are the only grace and ornament of the building ; but ’tis a thousand pities the stones, formed into so noble order, should be so basely purchased, to the ruin of so many thousand fatherless and widows; but I suppose it was politically done, to fix the king’s effigies, as a testimonial of their loyalty, upon a structure so unjustly raised, that the one might in some measure wash away the stain of the other.” And much more in a similar strain, which, I doubt not, was the cry of the city scandal club. The Spy concludes it to be “ a monument to the city’s shame, the orphan’s grief, the protestant’s pride, and the papist’s scandal ; serving only as a high-crowned hat to the old fellow that shows it.” — London Spy, p. 57. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 291 on the north describes the conflagration of the metropolis, that on the south its restoration, and that on the east the years and persons under whom the works were commenced, continued, and brought to perfection *. * The inscription on the north side is as follows : — " ANNO CHRISTI CIODCLXVI. DIE IV. NONIS SEPTEMBRIS HVIC IN ORIENTEM PEDVM CCII. INTERVALLO QV2E EST HVIVSQVE COLVMNiE ALTITVDO ERVPIT DE MEDIA NOCTE INCENDIVM QVOD VENTO SPIRANTS HAVSIT ETIAM LONGINQVA ET PARTES PER OMNES POPVLABANDVM FEREBATVR CVM IMPETV ET FRAGORE INCREDIBILI XXCIX. TEMPLA PORTAS PRiETORIVM JEDES PVBLICAS PTOCHOTROPHIA SCHOLAS BIBLIOTHECAS INSVLARVM MAGNVM NVMERVM DOMWM CCIOOOOOOOOCC. VICOS CD. ABSVMPSIT DE XXVI. REGIONIBVS XV. FVNDITVS DELEVIT ALIAS VIII. LACERAS ET SEMI-VSTAS RELIQVIT . VRBIS CADAVER AD CDXXXVI. JVGERA HINC AB ARCE PER THAMISIS RIPAM AD TEMPLARIORVM FANUM ILLINC AB EVRO AQVILONALI PORTA SECVNDVM MVROS AD FOSSAE FLETANiE CAPVT PERREXIT ADVERSVS OPES CIVIVM ET FORTVNAS INFESTVM ERGA VITAS INNOCWM VT PER OMNIA REFERRET SVPREMAM ILLAM MVNDI EXVSTIONEM. VELOX CLADES FVIT EXIGWM TEMPVS EANDEM VIDIT CIVITATEM FLORENTISSIMAM ET NVLLAM TERTIO DIE CVM IAM PLANE EVICERAT HVMANA CONSILIA ET SVBSIDIA OMNIA COELITVS VT PAR EST CREDERE IVSSVS STETIT FATALIS IGNIS ET QVAQVAVERSVM ELANGVIT SED (FVROR PAPISTIC VS QVI TAM DIRA PATRAVIT NONDVM RESTINGETVR *)” * These words in a parenthesis have been expunged and recut. p p 2 292 THE LIFE OF 1671 . Its learned architect offered an inscription of more elegance, but consisting of less matter of fact and common-place, which That on the south side thus : — “ CAROL VS II. C. MART. E. MAG. BRIT. FRANC. ET HIB. REX. FID. D. PRINCEPS CLEMENTISSIMVS MISERATVS LVCTVOSAM RERVM FACIEM PLVRIMIS FVMANTIBVS I AM TVM RVINIS IN SOLATIVM CIVIVM ET VRBIS SV^E ORNAMENTVM PROVIDIT TRIBVTVM REMISIT PRECES ORDINIS ET POPVLI LONDINENSIS RETVLIT AD REGNI SENATVM QVI CONTINVO DECREVIT VT PVBLICA OPERA PECVNIA PVBLICA EX VECTIGALI CARBONIS FOSSILIS ORIVNDA IN MELIOREM FORMAM RESTITVERENTVR VTIQVE ^EDES SACRiE ET D PAVLI TEMPLVM A FVNDIMENTIS OMNI MAGNI- FICENTIA EXTRVERENTVR PONTES PORT.E CARCERES NOVI FIERENT EMVNDARENTVR ALVEI VICI AD REGVLAM RESPON- DERENT CLIVI COMPLANARENTVR APERIRENTVR ANGIPOR- TVS FORA ET MACELLA IN AREAS SEPOSITAS ELIMANAREN- TVR CENSVIT ETIAM VTI SINGVLiE DOMVS MVRIS INTER- GERINIS CONCLVDERENTVR VNIVERS^E IN FRONTEM PARI ALTITVDINE CONSVRGERENT OMNES PARIETES SAXO QVADRATO AVT COCTO LATERE SOLIDARENTVR VTIQVE NEMINI LICERET VLTRA SEPTENNIVM .EDIFICANDO IMMO- RARI AD HiEC LITES DE TERMINIS ORITVRAS LEGE LATA PRiESCIDIT ADIECIT QVOQVE SUPPLICATIONES ANNVAS ET AD iETERNAM POSTERORVM MEMORIAM H. C. P. C. FESTINATVR VNDIQVE RESVRGIT LONDINVM MAIORE CELERITA- TE AN SPLENDORE INCERTVM VNVM TRIENNIVM ABSOLVIT QVOD SECVLI OPVS CREDEBATVR." P ART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 293 was rejected for those now inscribed Another inscription was also cut in English on the lower part of the pedestal, which was The inscription on the east side is as follows : — INCEPTA RICHARDO FORD EQ. PRiETORE LOND. A. D. MDCLXXI. PERDVCTA ALTIVS GEORGIO WATERMAN EQ. P . V ROBERTO HANSON EQ. P . V GVLIELMO HOOKER EQ. P . V ROBERTO VINER EQ. P . V IOSEPHO SHELDON EQ. P . V PERFECTA THOMA DAVIES EQ. PR^E. VRB ANNO D n ** MDCLXXVII. * Proposed Inscription for the great column , called the Monument, according to the first conception of Sir Christopher Wren. From Parentalia, p. 323. “ Qui celsam spectas Molem, idem quoque infaustum et fatalem toti quondam civitati vides locum. Hie quipp&, anno Christi MDCLXVI. 2 Sept., alters post mediam noctem hori, ex casa humili, prima se extulit flamma, quae austro flante, adeo brevi invaluit, ut non tantum tota fer& intra muros urbs, sed et aedificia quaecunque arcem et templariorum ho- spitium, quaecunque denique ripas fluminis, et remotissima civitatis inter- jacent maenia, ferali absumpta fuerint incendio. Tridui spatio, C. templa, plateae CCCC. et plura quam XIV. domorum millia flammis absorpta fuere. Innumeri cives omnibus suis fortunis exuti, et sub dio agitare coacti, infinitae et toto orbe congestae opes in cinerem et favillam redactae : ita ut 294 the life of 1671. obliterated in the reign of James II., on account of its insinuations against the papists ; but it was recut with deeper incisions, in de urbe omnium quotquot sol aspicit amplissimd, et faelicissima, praeter nomen et famam, et immensos ruinarum aggeres, vix quicquam superesset. “ Carolus secundus, Dei gratia, Rex Magnae Britanniae, Francias, et Hi- bernias, Anno Regni XVIII. et plerique Angliae proceres, consumpt& mcendio urbe pene universe, eademque triennio spatio in ampliorem modum instaurata, et non ut antb ligneis aut luteis, sed partim lateritiis, partem marmoreis aedificiis et operibus ornata, ut & suis ruinis pulchrior multo prodiisse videatur; auctis praetere& ad immensam magnitudinem urbis pomceriis; ad aeternam utriusqUe facti memoriam, hie, ubi tantae cladis prima emicuit flamma, “ Monumentum posudre. “ Discat praesens et futura aetas, nequa similis ingruat clades, tempestivis Numen placare votis : beneficium vero Regis et procerum, quorum libe- ralitate, praeter ornatum, major etiam urbi accessit securitas, grata mente recognoscat. “ O quantum tibi debet Augusta, Tot nascentia templa, tot renata. Tot spectacula ? Mart.” There appears to have been a sort of competition for the inscription ; and in addition to that which was accepted, I add another rejected in- scription, from the pen of the indefatigable Adam Littleton, author of the well-known Latin Dictionary. He addresses himself — B “ Lectori benevolo. a “ Quoniam ex edicto parliamentario statutum erat ut columna in me- moriam conflagrationis Londinensis exstrueretur, Ego quoque, inter alios, (quod praeficere dico, ut absit invidia verbo) meam symbolam conjeci, partim Historicam , i narrativam ; partim poeticam, nimirum lapidariam, quo animum erga inclytam urbem propensum testarer. Earn, ne residua PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 295 a panel formed by the excisions of the former letters, during the reign of William and Mary, where it still remains in its sunken obscurity, more an object of curiosity than belief*. haec pagella prorsus vacaret, visum est hie ponere. Ignoscent mihi Nobiles et Ingenui Cives, quod hanc qualemcunque demum Epigraphen in extremo opere locavi ; ubi meminerint vulgati illius dicti, Finis Coronat Opus. “ Quod felix faustumque sit Civitati Londinensi Quum Anno Salutis Humana; MDCLX VI., Reditus Carolini VI.,j Regni autem XVIII., Die IV Nonas Septembris, fatale et ineluctabile Incendium, hoc ipso loco in pistrina conceptum, et in viciniam long& lateque, afflantibus sive etiam reflantibus vends, proseminatum, continuo triduo Domos, Templa , Basilicas , caeteraque qua privata qua publica iEdificia (quae jam cum bono Deo renasci videmus), horrendo flammarum diluvio absorbuisset, et Nobilissimam Urbem, cui nulla gens aut habuit, aut certe (ita vovere fas est) habitura est parem, maximam partem in cineres redegisset; donee tandem non minore cum miraculo consopitum, quam sub initiis concitatum fuerat, inter medias strages et inhabiles ad resistendum ruinas ultro deflagraretj Placuit ex Senatus-consulto , in perpetuam rei memoriam, decerni Obeliscum hunc, sive Turrim Speculator} am, ex quo quoqu oversum pateat prospectus Urbicus ; quo Posteris innotescat Divina cum Severitas turn Clementia , cui utrique luculentum ignis desceviens perhibuit testimonium. " Perennet Columna haec Votiva, Sethian,® aemula, ad extremum usque diem, quo Uni versa conflagrabunt ; Locumque et Lares Subjectos undique Collustret pariter atque Illustret, longe visura sed et visenda long& ; eadem Urbis Extinctae Monumentum et Resurgentis Ornamentum. * This double cut inscription is as follows : — “ This pillar was set up in perpetual remembrance of the most dreadful burning of this protestant city, begun and carried on by the treachery and malice of the popish faction, in the beginning of September, in the year of our Lord, 1666; in order to the effecting their horrid plot, for the extirpating the protestant religion and English liberties, and to introduce popery and slavery.” 296 THE LIFE OF 1671. In the spring of this year Wren commenced his incomparable work, the spire of St. Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside ; which is not ' Inchoatum Richardo Ford, Milite Praetore, I 67 I. TGeorgio Waterman, Milite Praetore, 1672 . I Roberto Hanson, Milite Praetore, 1673. Opus hoc les of the moon, and more correct places of the fixed stars, than Tycho’s nervations, made with plain sight, afforded. This being made known to ; king, he declared that his pilots and sailors should not want such an istance. He resolved, therefore, to found an observatory, for the pur- se of ascertaining the motions of the moon, and the places of the fixed rs, as a means of discovering that great desideratum, the longitude at 1 ; and Flamsteed, who was recommended to his Majesty by Sir Jonas 3ore, was appointed astronomer royal ; and the observatory, from him, } been denominated Flamsteed House. — Lyson’s Environs of London , 1. IV. * Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors, p. 337; Parentalia, p. 333; ef. ad Hist. Coelest. Johann. Flamsteedii, p. 11, edit. 1712; fo. &c. &c. 346 THE LIFE OF 1675. Notwithstanding all these public and private engagements, and having the ruined metropolis and all its churches to reinstate, Wren proceeded with St. Paul’s with as much expedition as if that stupendous work was his only engagement. The original plan, as before stated, and which the architect preferred, namely, that of the wooden model in the cathedral, engraved for this work, did not please his clerical brethren who were on the commission with him, being, in their opinion, not sufficiently of a cathedral form : he was compelled to alter his plan to that which we see executed, and which the author of Parentalia calls “ the Gothic rectified to a better manner of architecture *. In the portfolios of his drawings, belonging to All Souls College, Oxford, are many of his variations, from the original sketches, as the work proceeded, and as they arose in his fertile mind ; each increasing in beauty, till it arose to the present admirable plan. At last, the king and council approved the designs ; and, that there might be no farther interruption, a warrant j* was issued, * Page 282 . t “ Charles R. “ Whereas we have been informed that a portion of the imposition laid on coals, which, by act of parliament, is appointed and set apart for the rebuilding of the cathedral church of St. Paul, in our capital city of London, doth at present amount to a considerable sum, which, though not propor- tionable to the greatness of the work, is, notwithstanding, sufficient to begin the same ; and, with all the materials, and other assistances which may, probably, be expected, will put a new quire in great forwardness} and whereas, among divers designs which have been presented to us, we have particularly pitched upon one, as well because we found it very artificial, proper, and useful, as because it was so ordered that it might be built and PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 347 under the privy seal, for beginning the works. From this time, armed with the authority of his royal patron, Sir Christopher resolved to make no more models, or exhibit any more of his designs ; which not only delayed time, but subjected his works to the frivolous opinions of incompetent judges. By these means, at last, the entire plan of the present mighty structure was con- cluded upon and sanctioned by the king, whose decision of character, in this business, procured for his country its greatest architectural ornament. The king, says the author of Parentalia*, allowed him to make variations f in his design as he pleased ; and, most properly, left the whole to his own management. finished by parts : — we do, therefore, by these presents, signify our royal approbation of the said design, hereunto annexed ; and do will and require you forthwith to proceed according to the said design, beginning with the east end, or quire, and accomplishing the same with the present stock of money, and such supplies as may probably accrue, according to the tenor of the commission * to you directed ; and, for so doing, this shall be your warrant. Given at our court, at Whitehall, the 14th day of May, 1675, in the 27th year of our reign. “ By his Majesty’s command, “ t Henry Coventry.” “ To our Commissioners for rebuilding the Cathedral of St. Paul , London” * Page 283. j* Some of these variations, as I have before mentioned, show the ope- rations of this great man’s mind in a curious manner. In the second J volume * See Appendix, No. 1 7. f From Parentalia, p. 281. Collated with the original. No. ix. Vol. II. of Sir Christopher Wren’s designs, &c. in the library of All Souls College, Oxford. J See the entire catalogue of them, published by me in the General Chronicle and Literary Magazine, for October, 1812. y y 2 348 THE LIFE OF 1675. The work of pulling down the ruins of the old cathedral now proceeded with rapidity and caution ; yet disobedience to the of his drawings, at All Souls, is a ground plan of the old cathedral, before the addition of Inigo Jones’s portico, most delicately drawn on vellum. The Rev. Mr. Gutch, librarian to the college, and registrar of the uni- versity, informed me, when I was transcribing many of the documents for this work, that Mr. Buckler had copied it for Sir Henry Englefield. No. 2 is a sketch for a cupola for the old cathedral, before the fire of 1666 j when it was intended, as Evelyn relates, to metamorphose it, after the mode of Inigo Jones, to an Italian cathedral: it is in pencil, and much resembles that of St. Maria del Fiore, at Florence. 3 is a ground plan of one of the Gothic pillars in old St. Paul’s, with the autograph, Christopher Wren. 4 is a plan of the intersection of the cross of the old cathedral, and the pro- posed cupola in the middle. The pendentives, or four principal piers which support it, are drawn solid, with large niches, and only open at the nave, choir, and transepts ; also signed Christopher Wren. 5 is a plan of the said cupola. 6. Orthography of the cupola and part of the old cathedral, arranged according to the preceding design. The cupola has luthern win- dows and a gallery. 7 is a section of the same, most elaborately drawn and finished in Indian ink. The choir, which is on an ascent of eighteen steps, remains Gothic ; the other parts are of the Corinthian order. The upper windows somewhat resemble those of the present choir. This drawing has the autograph, Christopher Wren , 1666, among the timbers of the roof. 9 is the original warrant, under the sign manual of Charles II. before quoted, and is also printed in Parentalia. 10 is an ichnographical plan of the new church, made after the great fire : it somewhat resembles the present plan in general feeling ; but the north and south entrances are flat, and have inverted porticoes, or columns, in antis ; and the west portico projects three columns from the wall. 11 is an elevation of the west end, with a cupola and spire, and only one story of columns : it has heavy piers instead of pilasters, and the cupola is surmounted with a lofty spire. The west portico resembles that of Inigo Jones. 12. Elevation of the west end, with a section of the same. 13. South front, resembling the last, with a PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 349 orders of this scientific master more than once caused the loss of limbs and lives. The pulling down the old walls, which were, in many places, eighty feet in height, and five feet in thickness, was a great and arduous undertaking. At first, the men stood lofty spire, surrounded by seven galleries, on the cupola. 14. Section from east to west of the whole church, cupola, and spire. In this design Sir Christopher has not omitted the architrave over the columns that support the arcade in the choir and nave. 15. A sketch for a portico to the last. 16. Plan for the new cathedral, drawn and hatched with a pen ; somewhat, though little different, from the approved plan (No. 10). The pendentives in this drawing are open to the aisles of the nave, choir, and transepts, as at present, and as in the approved design, No. 10 ; which proves this novel and beautiful idea to have arisen early in the mind of its great architect. 17. An unfinished pencil drawing, with some variations upon No. 14. 18. A pencil sketch for the screen and organ. 19. A pencil drawing, in out- line, of the interior, beautifully correct, and spiritedly touched. I fancied I could trace ornaments in the spandrels of the arches ; but, being so much foreshortened, I am not positive. 20. A perspective of the interior, taken from opposite the recess under the cupola, now occupied by Dr. Johnson’s monument, showing the whole expanse of the cupola. The vanishing is correctly managed, and the curved lines appear struck with an instrument. 21 is called, in the volume, Sir Christopher’s favourite design. It does not much differ from that of the model engraved in this work. 22. West front of the same, resembling the model. 23. Section of ditto, from north to south. 24 is called, in the manuscript index, “Design for the centering of the present cupola j” but, to my serious disappointment, it was only a plan of the octagon below the whispering gallery, and of the lantern above, and very slight. 25. Elevation and centering of the cupola of the model design. 26. Ditto. 27. Named the same as 24, but is only a plan of the model cupola. 28. Design for a cupola after the Italian taste, with double cupolas, in an excellent manner of construction, drawn and shaded in hatching with a pen : it has steps on the top of the outer cupola, surmounted by 350 THE LIFE OF 1675. above, working them down with pickaxes, while labourers below moved away the materials that fell, and dispersed them in heaps, which accumulated to a complete hinderance of forming the founda- a statue, like that of his pupil, Hawksmoor’s, at St. George’s, Bloomsbury, concerning which a wag wrote, — “ When Harry the Eighth left the Pope in the lurch. The people of England made him head of the church ; But, wiser than those, the good Bloomsbury people, ’Stead of head of the church, made him head of the steeple.” 2 9 is a drawing of the south elevation of St. Paul’s, nearly as at present, with variations in the cupola and western towers. The cupola is like that of the model, with windows in it ; and the bell tower is finished like the present cupola. There are statues over every pilaster, well drawn, and shaded in ink. 30. The choir of St. Paul’s, with the stalls, and a sketch for the plan, in red chalk. 33. Plan of St. Paul’s, with the arrangement for the churchyard, as at present. 35. Plan of St. Paul’s, nearly as at present j well drawn and hatched with a pen. The north front in this drawing has steps like the south. 36. Elevation of the east end of St. Paul’s, remarkably well shaded. 37. Elevation of the west end, on a large scale, and highly finished: it has luthern windows in the cupola, and a small variation from the present bell towers. 38. Section of the north transept of St. Paul’s, shaded with great force and effect. 39. Elevation of the west end, with luthern windows in the cupola, and variations from the present bell towers, highly finished. There is a clock in both towers without minute hands. The walls are not rusticated, nor the columns fluted. 40. An unfinished sketch in pencil, partly washed with Indian ink, of orna- ments for the choir. 41. Sketch of part of the inside, and elevation of the front. 42. An early idea for St. Paul’s. 43. Plans, sections, &c. of various parts of St. Peter’s at Rome, and II Duomo at Florence, compared in two sections and six plans, on one large sheet. 64. Another idea of a plan for St. Paul’s, differing from the other. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 351 tions. Many of the streets of the city required new paving, and others raising. The corporation, therefore, bought much of the stone and stone rubbish for this purpose ; and other parts were disposed for building the parochial churches, as permitted by the order of April 21, 1671 # . In order that the rubbish and old materials might not hinder the setting out of the foundations, for the purpose of proceeding with the works, Sir Christopher constructed scaffolds high enough to extend his lines over the heaps that were in the way; and thereby caused perpendiculars to be fixed upon the points below, for his various walls and piers, from lines drawn carefully upon the level plan of the scaffold. Thus he proceeded, gaining every day more room, till he came to the middle tower that formerly carried the lofty spire. The ruins of this tower being nearly two hundred feet high, the labourers were afraid to work above, which induced him to facilitate the labour by the use of gunpowder. To perform this work, he caused a hole to be dug, of about four feet wide, by the side of the north-west pier of the tower, in which was perforated a hole two feet square, reaching to the centre of the pier. In this he placed a small deal box con- taining eighteen pounds of gunpowder. To this box he affixed a hollow cane which contained a quick match, reaching to the surface of the ground above ; and along the ground a train of powder was laid with a match. The mine was then closed up, and exploded, while the philosophical architect waited with con- fidence the result of his experiment. * See page 307 of this work for the order of the commissioners. 352 THE LIFE OF 1675. This small quantity of powder not only lifted up the whole angle of the tower, with two great arches that rested upon it, but also two adjoining arches of the aisles, and the masonry above them. This it appeared to do in a slow but efficient manner, cracking the walls to the top, lifting visibly the whole weight about nine inches, which suddenly dropping, made a great heap of ruins in the place, without scattering or accident. It was half a minute before the heap already fallen opened in two or three places, and emitted smoke. By this successful experiment the force of gun- powder may be ascertained ; eighteen pounds only of which lifted up a weight of more than three thousand tons, and saved the work of a thousand labourers. The fall of so great a weight from an height of two hundred feet gave such a concussion to the ground, that the inhabitants round about took it for the shock of an earthquake *. Encouraged by this successful operation, Sir Christopher pro- posed to continue this method ; but, having engagements in the country for the king, he left the management of another mine to the care of his next officer ; who, too wise in his own opinion to obey the orders of his superior, inserted a larger quantity of powder, and neither went low enough, nor sufficiently fortified the mouth of the mine. The result, though successful, unfortunately caused a fragment of stone to be shot from its mouth into a room of a private house, where some women were sitting at work. This accident, although no injury was sustained, alarmed the neigh- bours to that degree, that they prevailed on the commissioners to * Parentalia, p. 284. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 353 order that no more powder should be used ; though with the ori- ginal caution of the architect, it might have been continued without danger, and with a saving of much time and money. This com- pelled him to turn his thoughts to other methods of saving time, preventing expense, and the preservation of men’s limbs and lives. His first, and successful expedient, was with that ancient engine of war, the battering-ram : to accomplish this object, he provided a strong mast of timber, about forty feet in length, which he armed at the bigger end with a great spike of iron, fortified with iron bars along the mast, secured by ferrules. This machine he suspended from two places to one rihg with strong tackle, on a triangle, such as were used to weigh heavy ordnance. Thirty men, fifteen on a side, vibrated this machine to and fro, beating for a whole day against one place of the wall. This the workmen fancied was little to the purpose, not discerning any immediate effect. Wren, however, who dived into causes and effects more philosophically than most men, and knew that the intestine motion thus communicated must be successful, bid them not despair, but proceed another day. On the second day the wall began to tremble at the top, and after a few more hours perseverance it fell. He made ample use of this machine in beating down all the lofty ruins, and speedily cleared away enough to commence his building. The first stone of the new cathedral was laid on June 21 # * Bateman’s MS. account of the rebuilding of St. Paul’s, at Lambeth Palace. “ 167.5. Novae basilic® D vi Paul® Lon. primum posuit lapidem.” — Wren MS. z z 354 THE LIFE OF 1675. of this year, by the architect, assisted by Thomas Strong *, the master mason, and the second by Mr. Longland f , and the works were carried on with energy and perseverance towards their close ; the most important features of which will be mentioned chrono- logically, as we proceed. The church of St. Michael, on the west side of Wood-street, Cheapside, w 7 as rebuilt this year of stone. The ceiling is flat, and decorated with fret work, and the walls with arches and imposts. Its greatest beauty is the exterior of the east end, which is a bold and simple composition of four Ionic pilasters, on a stylobate, supporting a well proportioned pediment; under which, and between the pilasters are three semicircular headed windows. Its length, within, is sixty-three feet, breadth forty-two, and height thirty-one. Among the less public acts of the surveyor-general, was his first marriage, which Ward, in his Lives of the Gresham Professors, and other biographers, relate to have taken place about this time + ; but neither Parentalia nor any other writer mention the date§, * Clutterbuck’s Hist, of Hertfordshire, Vol. I. p. 168. t Strype, Vol. I. p. 155. t Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors, p. 103. § I have not been able to discover the date of this marriage, nor where it took place. Miss Wren, the daughter of Stephen Wren, the publisher of Parentalia, who has resided for many years with the amiable family of the venerable Bishop of Meath, and to whom I paid a visit, to Ardbrac- can-house, county of Meath, this autumn, for the purpose of perusing her documents, has many very valuable mementos of her illustrious great grand- father, but no date of this event, neither in a manuscript biography of Sir Christopher by her father, nor in the Genealogical Tree, nor is it in the Lansdown Manuscript. They all mention it, but give no date. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 355 although it was into no obscure family. It must have been early in 1674 that he married Faith, the daughter of Sir John Coghill, of Blechington, in Oxfordshire, by whom he had one son, Chris- topher* Wren, who was born on Feb. 16, 1675, while prepara- tions were making for laying the first stone of St. Paul's. His other children and marriage will be mentioned. The year 1676 commenced with Sir Christopher much the same as the last ; St. Paul’s, the parochial churches, the court of * This gentleman, the only surviving child of Sir Christopher, was born on February 16 , 1675, and was educated at Eton school, and Pembroke- hall, Cambridge. In 1694, his father procured him the office of deputy- clerk engrosser ; but this preferment did not prevent him from making a tour through Holland, France, and Italy. On his return from the con- tinent, he was elected member of parliament for Windsor, in 171 2, and 1714. He died August 24, 1747, aged seventy-two, and was buried in the church of Wroxhall, adjoining to his seat, Wroxhall Abbey, Warwickshire, now the residence of his worthy descendant, Christopher Wren, Esq. late high sheriff of the county. He was a man much esteemed, and was equally pious, learned, and amiable. He had made antiquity, which he well understood^ his particular study, and was extremely communicative. He wrote and published, in 1708, in quarto, a work entitled “ Numismatum antiquo cum sylloge, populis Graecis, municipiis et coloniis Romanis cusorum, ex chime- liretio editoris.” This work, which he dedicated to his brethren of the Royal Society, contains representations of many curious Greek me- dallions in four plates, and two others of ancient inscriptions ; these are followed by the legends of imperial coins in the large and middle size, from Julius Caesar to Aurelian, with their interpretations: and subjoined is an appendix of Syrian and Egyptian kings and coins, all collected by himself. He also wrote the manuscript life of his father in Latin, now among the Lansdown Manuscripts at the British Museum, often quoted in this work, and compiled the documents for Parentalia, which were afterwards published by his son Stephen, assisted by Mr. Ames : the manu- scripts of which are in the library of the Royal Society. z z 2 356 THE LIFE OF 1676. claims after the fire, the duties of his office as surveyor-general, &c. make a dull monotony of narration for twenty or more of the most important years of his life. The duties of so active a mind, in such an active but monotonous station, do not afford much variety of narrative ; therefore, for some years, the acts of his life are but little more than catalogues and dates. Sir Christopher’s attendances at the Royal Society were this year consequently few ; he is not once spoken of in their transac- tions or occurrences till April 27, when, after the first successful experiment of the prism by Newton, and other important philoso- phical experiments, Mr. Oldenburg, the secretary, presented the society with a manuscript of Mons. Joly of Dijon, containing a body of mechanics, in which he pretended to have found and de- monstrated an universal principle to explain the effects of the moving powers in engines, upon which he desired the society’s judgment. Upon which the president (Lord Viscount Brouncker) Sir Christopher Wren, Sir Jonas Moore, Dr. Wallis, Dr. Pell, Dr. Croune, and Mr. Hooke, were desired to read it over, con- sider it, and make a report thereon to the society *. At the anniversary election of the society, on November 30, Sir Christopher Wren was elected member of the new council, and, being present, took the usual oaths -f*. On December 14, Sir Christopher is recorded to have been present at a meeting of the council, but propounded (contrary to his former custom) nothing new J. Among the parochial churches, which were designed by Sir * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 314. t Ibid. p. 326. t Ibid. p. 327. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 357 Christopher, that of St. Magnus, London-bridge, was commenced this year, as well as that of St. Mildred, in the Poultry. The former is an elegant and substantial church, built of stone, and oak timber, covered with lead; and a handsome lofty steeple, consisting of a tower, a lantern or bell tower, containing a fine ring of ten bells, covered with a cupola, which is surmounted by a well proportioned spire. The view of this church from Fish- street-hill, with the monument in the foreground, terminated by the bridge, is peculiarly fine and picturesque. The new opening made shortly after the fire of 1759, though the recesses and groined arches originally formed in the main building by Sir Christopher, as if he had foreseen its necessity on widening the street, is light and elegant, exhibiting an essential proof of the great abilities of the rebuilder of London. The interior is ninety feet in length, fifty-nine in breadth, and forty-one high ; divided into a nave and two aisles, by columns, and an entablature of the Ionic order. The roof over the nave is camerated and enriched with arches of fret work, well executed in stucco, and is an interior of ex- cellent proportions and of a good style of Italian design. St. Mildred’s, on the north side of the Poultry, is a small but well proportioned church, with a handsome fapade of Portland stone next the street and court by its side, with a plain tower rising from its own base, and surmounted by a cupola. Its interior consists of a small nave and two aisles, covered with a flat quadrangular roof supported by Ionic columns, and is very hand- some. St. Stephen’s, Coleman-street, was rebuilt this year, chiefly of stone, with a nave and two aisles ; but has nothing particular to 358 THE LIFE OF 1676. recommend it except its simple usefulness, and an antique carving of the Last Judgment, in high relief, over the door going into the church-yard. Sir Christopher continued his great employments with zeal and perseverance, and gained daily in the confidence of his su- periors. As I have before shown, every thing connected with his art was referred to him. On March 28, this year, Sir Philip Howard, petitions # for a free-passage to his house, in Scotland- yard, which his majesty grants by a warrant addressed to “ Our * This grant or warrant in my manuscript book, concerning the privy council, so often quoted, runs as follows, and exhibits Charles’s public decrees to his queen, whom he thoroughly disliked, in a favourable though not un- usual point of view. “ Charles Rex. “ Whereas our trusty and well beloved Sir Philip Howard, knight, cap- tain of the troop of guards of our dearest the queen, having a house adjoin- ing unto Scotland-yard, hath, for his better and easier attendance upon our service, humbly desired the use of a free-passage through Scotland-yard to his said house, and also liberty to erect a pale in Scotland-yard before his said house, the full length of the wall thereof, to keep persons and coaches from doing hurt to his said house, such pale to stand at the same distance from his wall as another pale doth, that is near thereunto on the same side of Scotland-yard. We are graciously pleased to condescend unto that his request. And it is our will and pleasure, that you give effectual order, and see the same done accordingly in all and every particular above-mentioned. And for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given at our court at White- hall, this 28th day of March, 1676, in the 28th year of our raigne. “ By his majesty’s command, “ H. Coventry.” “ To our trusty and well beloved Sir Christopher Wren , knight, Surveigher -General of all our works and buildings PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 359 trusty and well-beloved Sir Christopher Wren, Knt., surveigher- general of all our works and buildings.” Thomas Elliott, Esq., one of the grooms of his Majesty’s bed-chamber, petitions for leave to build on a yard whereon the old house stood at New- market, on a lease for ninety-nine years. The king, in council, refers it to Sir Christopher; who reports, on June 3, 1676, that, not finding it of any particular use or employment, he re- commends it to be granted *. Next, John Blythman petitions the Right Honourable Thomas, Earl of Dauby, Lord High Treasurer of England, showing, that one of his Majesty’s lodges, called Chappel-Henalt Lodge, within the forest of Waltham-stoe, in the county of Essex, is very much decayed and out of repair ; and he, the petitioner, being keeper of the said walke, humbly conceives it would be much for his Majesty’s service in preventing further charge, that the said lodge may he speedily repaired. This is also referred to Sir Christo- pher ; who reports that, in obedience to his lordship’s reference, he had caused the lodge, called Chappel-Henalt Lodge, in Wal- tham forest, to be surveyed by a faithful and able carpenter, employed by the office of his Majesty’s works ; and he accordingly certified, that the said lodge was a timber house, of about fourteen squares, not habitable, and so ruinous as not to be worth re- pairing!. The council giving further orders, he informs them, under date of June 26, 1676, that he conceives a lodge, built according to the design and measure which he annexed, may cost about the sum of five hundred and fifty pounds, in materials and * Manuscript Transactions of Privy Council, p. 67 . t Ibid. p. 68. 360 THE LIFE OF 1676. workmanship; being built with brick, floored with deal, and finished within with white walls only. A barn and stable, with a kitchen and an outhouse, for breaking up deer, and other necessary outbuildings, all which are demolished, may amount, at the lowest rates, to one hundred and seventy pounds more : so, he adds, the whole expense will be seven hundred and twenty pounds, out of which may be discounted, for old materials, eighty pounds. Another entry, in the surveyor-general’s writing, is an order for Esquire Paston’s * buildings, in the Privy-garden, by order of his Majesty. * “ To Sir Christopher Wren, Knt., &c. “ Sir, “ His Majesty having directed your setting out of fifty-four squares of ground, next my Lord of Oxford’s building, in the bowling-green, White- hall, for building of lodgings, for William Paston, Esq., my Lord Treasurer desires you will view the said ground, and make a skeame, or map, thereof, which his lordship desires you to transmit unto him, in order to the making of a lease thereof unto the said Mr. Paston, according to his Majesty’s commands in that behalf. “ I am. Sir, “ Your most humble servant, “ Charles Bertie.” “ Wallingford-house, June 28, 1676.” Sir Christopher’s report thereupon is as follows : “ In pursuance of directions from my Lord High Treasurer of England, I humbly certify this map to represent the situation of a parcel of ground in his Majesty’s bowling-green, in Whitehall, bounded southward with the old enclosure wall of the same ; eastward, with the Earl of Oxford’s new PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 361 In the following year Sir Christopher finished his great Doric column on Fish-street-hill, of which there is a full account in the year of its commencement * ; and continued his various and important avocations, with a perseverance commensurate with their multiplicity and importance. The church of St. Lawrence Jewry, on the north side of Cateaton-street, and on the west side of Guildhall-yard, was re- built by Sir Christopher in this year. It is a handsome building of the Corinthian order ; and the east end, next Guildhall-yard, a composition of four Corinthian columns, on a continued plinth, with niches and festoons of fruit, is in good taste, and exquisitely sculptured. The vane is a gridiron, from the legend of St. Law- rence’s martyrdom. The interior is rich and beautifully decorated with elaborate ornaments in plaster work. It is eighty-one feet long, sixty-eight broad, and forty feet high. This church is occasionally used for corporation sermons, with Bow and Wall- brook, and has several monuments within. One of the most remarkable is that of Archbishop Tillotson, one of the greatest ornaments of the protestant episcopacy of England. It is placed on the north wall, in the chancel, and inscribed as follows : building ; westward, with a line, about seven feet distant, from the timber building belonging to the under housekeeper of Whitehall ; northward, with a line, ranging with the front of the said building of the Earl of Oxon. On testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of July, 1676. “ Christopher Wren, Surveyor-general; ” # See page 286 of this work. 3 A 362 THE LIFE OF 1677. P. M. Reverendissimi et sanctissimi Praesulis Johannis Tillotson, Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis, Concionatoris olim in hac Ec- clesia per Annos XXX celeberriini, Qui obiit X° Kal. Decembr. M . DCjLXXXXIV. iEtatis suae LXIV . Hoc posuit Elizabetba eonjux ejus moestissima. The parish cburcb of St. Mary Aldermanbury, a spacious and handsome edifice of stone, with a plain, square tower, was also rebuilt this year. It has a nave and two aisles, separated by columns of the composite order, well sculptured. Its length inside is seventy-two feet, breadth forty-five feet, and height thirty-eight. The church of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, on the south side of Fish -street, near Doctors’ Commons, was also rebuilt this year. This handsome and well-proportioned church is built partly of brick and stone, with rusticated angles, and handsome stone architraves and entablatures round the semicircular-headed win- dows. Its tower is a specimen of Wren’s symmetry ; but the spire, aiming at originality, has scarcely escaped absurdity, if not ugliness. Wren also repaired, this year, the church of St. Mary Woolnoth, Lombard-street, which had been damaged by the great fire; and which was afterwards rebuilt, in 1719 , in a style of great solidity and originality, by his pupil, Nicholas * Hawks- * This highly original architect was born in 1666, the year of the great fire of London j and was placed, in his seventeenth year, as a domestic PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 363 moor ; and rebuilt the church of St. Michael Queenhithe, a handsome structure on the north side of Thames-street, near the clerk, or pupil, with Wren. His genius is unquestionable, but his taste not of the most refined order; nearer approaching the bold flights of Van- brugh than the chastened correctness of his master. His knowledge of every science connected with his art is allowed, and his character has been spoken of, from authority, with commendation. He was deputy surveyor, under Wren, at the building of Chelsea College ; clerk of the works at Greenwich Hospital ; in which offices he remained during the reigns of William, Anne, and George I., at Kensington, Whitehall, and St. James’s. He was appointed superintending surveyor to all the new churches, and of Westminster Abbey, after the death of Sir Christopher; and designed many that were erected in pursuance of the statute of Queen Anne, for building fifty new churches. Among others, besides the church above mentioned, are Christ church Spitalfields, St. George Middlesex, St. Anne Lime- house, and St. George Bloomsbury, which has been condemned by hasty critics, from not falling within their narrow rules of art. This church is a bold, original, and striking composition, built in a masterly and scientific manner, and designed in a masculine style. The interior is commodious, appropriate, and picturesque; worthy of its author, his master, and his school. The portico is remarkably handsome, and the tower is placed in a judicious and proper situation. The steeple is novel, ingenious, and pic- turesque ; and the statue of George I., in spite of the epigram, looks like the father of his people surveying his good city with complacency, and holding forth his protecting hand over it. Hawksmoor also rebuilt part of All Souls College, Oxford, but, I believe, from Wren’s designs ; as also the mansion of Easton Neston, in Northamptonshire ; restored a defect in Beverley Minster with great skill ; and repaired the west end of Westminster Abbey in a judicious manner: and, at Blenheim and Castle Howard, was associated with Vanbrugh, where he died in March, 1736, in nearly his seventieth year. From, information communicated by his family to Alexander Chalmers, Esq., for his Gene- ral Biographical Dictionary. 3 a 2 364 THE LIFE OF 1677. little haven, called Queenhithe. It is well built of stone, has a nave and two aisles, with a well proportioned front next Thames- street. Wren’s attendances on the Royal Society this year were but few; he is not noticed as being present till September 13 # , and nothing is recorded of his propositions ; nor on the 27th, at which he was also at a meeting of the council f. At a general meeting of the society, he affirmed, during a discussion on Lee- wenhoeck’s papers on minute insects in water, vinegar, &c. that he had often seen and taken out of standing water a certain small insect, consisting of about twelve rings, with horns before and behind, after the manner of earwigs. He remarked also, that, as to the generation of eels, he had, nearly twenty years before, upon the dissecting of eels, found them to be viviparous, having several times taken the young ones out alive J. At a subsequent meeting, (Leewenhoeck’s observations on the generation of eels and insects being mentioned) Sir Christo- pher related, that the young eels which he had formerly taken out of the old ones were about the length and bigness of pins ; that he had taken out of lobsters’ eggs a lobster perfectly shaped, with claws, &e. ; and that water newts, dissected at the proper season of the year, have young ones perfectly formed within them §. Upon a discourse which arose concerning the waterpoise, Sir Christopher Wren desired that there might be drawn up a cata- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 342. t Ibid. p. 343. t Ibid. p. 347- § Ibid. p. 350. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 365 logue of experiments, which might be tried with that instrument ; and conceived that it might be very useful also for examining of metals *. At the anniversary election of the society, on November 30, Sir Christopher Wren was elected of the old council for the year ensuing f : and at a discussion which arose at the general meeting on December 13, on the barometer and its various phenomena, he proposed Bermuda as a very convenient place to have trials made of the mutations of that philosophical instrument, the dis- covery of which he has such a share in ; the seasons, he adding ? there being very temperate, and the island lying encompassed on every side with the sea, and very far from any land J. On the 19th he also attended a meeting of the council, which was em- ployed in legislating for the society The king, wishing to commemorate the memory of his un- happy father, desired his surveyor-general, early in the ensuing year (1678), to design a mausoleum, which he performed with * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 351. f Ibid. p. 353. At this same meeting Sir Joseph Williamson, principal Secretary of State, was chosen president, after Lord Brouncker had pos- sessed the chair for sixteen years in succession, and ever since its establish- ment. Evelyn says the resignation was made, that prescription might not prejudice. A few days before this, Evelyn reports, that he dined at the Lord Treasurer’s with Prince Rupert, Viscount Falconberg, the Earl of Bath, Lord O’Brien, Sir John Lowther, Sir Christopher Wren, Dr. Grew, and other learned men. The new president of the society gave them a magnificent supper on his election. — Evelyn's Diary , Vol. I. p. 495, t Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 362. § Ibid. p. 366. 366 THE LIFE OF 1678. alacrity and talent The original designs, neatly sewn up in a book for the king’s use, are among Sir Christopher’s drawings in the library of All Souls College, Oxford. The House of Commons, although by no means the most accommodating to the king, voted, upon the motion of Lord O’Brien, on January 29, 1678, “ the sum of seventy thousand pounds, for a solemn funeral of his late Majesty, King Charles the First, and to erect a monument for the said prince, of glorious memory ; the said sum to be raised by a two months’ tax, to begin at the expiration of the present tax for building ships f. The following day, being the anniversary of the martyrdom of that unhappy monarch, Sir Christopher’s friend, Dr. Sprat, being appointed to preach the anniversary sermon before the House of Commons, at St. Margaret’s Westminster, made the following allusion to the circumstance : — “ I confess I might, and, give me leave to say it, I intended to have complained that the present age had not made that use of him (King Charles), which it ought; his enemies for their repentance and amendment, nor even his friends for his praise and honour. But, blessed be God, I am happily prevented in one part of the complaint : I have nothing now to wish, but that his enemies would as well perform their duty to him, as, it must be acknowledged, you (the House of Commons), his friends, have done yours, by that much desired, * “ 1678. Mausoleum divi Caroli Regii Martyris (de mandato Regis, et suffragiis inferioris domus parliamenti) excogitavit et delineavit ; at, eheu conditionem temporum ! nondum perfecit.” — Wren, MS. t Echard’s History of England, Vol. III. p. 441 . PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 367 long expected, yesterday’s vote, in which you have given a re- surrection to his memory, by designing magnificent rites to his sacred ashes : so that now, for the future, an Englishman abroad will be able to mention the name of King Charles the First with- out blushing; and his heroic worth will be delivered down to posterity, as it always deserved to be, not only freed from calumny or obscurity, but in all things most illustrious, in all things to be commended, in all things to be imitated, — in some things scarce imitable, and only to be admired After divine service, the house sat, as appears from the date, “ Mercurii 30 die Jan., 1677-8,” and ordered “ that the thanks of this house be returned to Dr. Sprat, for his sermon this day preached before the house, at St. Margaret’s Westminster, and that he be desired to print the same.” The original designs, consisting of several drawings and estimates in the architect’s own handwriting, are inscribed by him as follows : — Mausoleum Divi Caroli, Regii Martyris, Excogitatum, Anno Salutis 1678, de Mandato Serenissimi Regis Caroli secundi, Consentaneo cum votivis Inferioris Domus Parliamenti Suffragiis ; at (eheu conditionem temporum !) nondum exstructum. The Tomb of King Charles the Martyr, Designed in the year 1678, By the commands of his Excellent Majesty King Charles II. * Dr. Sprat's Sermon on January 30, I678, printed for Henry Brome, at the Gun, in St. Paul's church-vard, 1678, page 4. 368 THE LIFE OF 1678. This monument, approved by his Majesty, was proposed to have been erected at Windsor Castle, at the east end of St. George’s chapel, on the place where stands the little chapel (commonly called the Tomb-house) ; in the middle of which was begun, by Cardinal Wolsey, a magnificent tomb of copper-gilt, for King Henry the Eighth, but never finished*. The designs for the monuments inside the mausoleum are two : — one sketched with a pen, and tinted yellow, as if for gilt copper ; the other also with a pen, but tinted with Indian ink ; in one of which King Charles is represented in armour, crowned and robed, looking upwards with an air of devotion, and standing on a shield, supported by allegorical figures of Hercules, Minerva, and two females, standing on a long cube ; under which, and above a larger base, are being crushed by them four horrid figures ; one of which is Hypocrisy, with a mask in his hand ; Murder, with a dagger, aiming a fruitless blow upwards ; and two Furies : two infant angels are holding a laurel crown over * The above is in Sir Christopher’s hand, and numbered 89 in Vol. II. of MSS. at All Souls library. The designs accompany it, and bear a great general resemblance to the Radcliffe library, deprived of the basement story ; but the columns are not coupled. There is subjoined an estimate of the expense in MS., of which these are extracts : First story without Second story without . Brick work within Ornaments of the first story within Ornaments within the cupola The monument itself . <£ 11,669 0 0 5092 2 0 1225 0 0 11,032 0 0 6445 0 0 8200 0 0 Total charge 4 3,663 2 0 PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 369 the monarch’s head ; and five others above them, with palms in their hands, welcoming the monarch to the realms of immortality ; the other is nearly similar, but the king is uncrowned : his crown is supported by Cherubim who have the axe, his arms, a symbol of immortality, a cross, &c. : they are both intended to stand in a large niche, but the last has a curtain extended behind the whole of it. The composition and grouping of both are good, and sketched with much spirit, partaking too much perhaps of the then prevailing taste. The Parentalia says * they were to have been executed by the celebrated carver, Grinlin Gibbons f . * Parentalia, p. 332. t As a specimen of the manner in which Sir Christopher made his esti- mates, and as a criterion of the expense of building in his time, I have tran- scribed the following curious details of that for the above described mauso- leum. It is not inserted with the fair copies of the rest, but is a rough pri- vate copy, much scratched, interlined, and doubled. It is a very interesting document, in his own handwriting, and developes the process of his mind, divested of the formality of a document intended for public inspection. For 70 rod of foundation, with digging, at £5 For 2300 feet superficial of stone in y e base, with y e rubble 6 feet thick, at Id. ..... For 224 feet running of chaptering moulding of the pedestal under the bases of the half columnes, being 18 inches deepe and 4 feet broad, at 20s. y e foot running ... . For 300 foot running of the bases of y e columns and intercolumnes, at 14s. y e foot running . . ... For the shafts of 20 halfe columnes, each shaft being 27 feet high, and containing about 300 feet solid with the beads, w ch at 4s. 6d. stone and works is 67 ft. 10 in. a shaft, in all For 20 intercolumnes from the y e base to the astragali, each containing 190 feet of large rustick ashler, at 4s. c£ 38. In all £250 00 00 805 00 00 224 00 00 210 00 00 1350 00 00 760 00 00 3 B o£3699 00 00 370 THE LIFE OF 1678. The architect made the drawings and estimates, the parlia- ment voted the money, the eloquent and pious preacher com- Brought forward <£3699 00 00 For 20 half capitals, at £35 each irone and work . . . 700 00 00 For 20 festoones with the stone of the intercolumnes between the capi- tells, at £16 each ..... 320 00 00 For the door-case compartment, and armes of white marble . . 200 00 00 For 220 feet running of architrave, at 30s. y e foot, stone work and ornament of the moldings and soffite . . . 330 00 00 For 220 feet running of freese, at 10s. . . . . 110 00 00 For 240 feet running of cornice, 3 foot projecting with modillions and ornaments, £3. 10s. the foot running . . . 840 00 00 For 220 foot running of plinth, at 10s. . . . 110 00 00 For 220 foot running of the parapet, 4 foot f high, with all its mould- ings enriched, at £3 y c foot running including the breaks of y e pedestalls . . ..... 660 00 00 For 20 figures of the great life .... 2000 00 00 For 1600 foot square of paving with hard stone in terrace upon brick in terrace for the covering behind the parapet, with the con- veighances for water ... . . 400 00 00 For 24000 foot solid of black stone in the butments, and inside courses of y e out wall, at 2s. the work being well wrought in courses and cornerstones for bond . . . 2400 00 00 <£11669 00 00 For 2550 foot of great ashler in the pedestall, at 3s. . . 382 10 00 For 160 foot running of the pedistall moulding, with the paving belonging ..... 160 00 00 For 6656 superficial feet in the walls of y e cupolo, at 7 d. y e foot super- ficial, including stone worke, mouldings, capitalls and carving . 2429 12 00 For 1900 superficial feet in the cupolo, at 10s. y e foot, including terrace ribs and ornaments, and centring . . . 950 00 00 For the base moulding under the lanthorne with y e paving . . 50 00 00 For the lanthorne . . . . 120 00 00 For a large figure of brasse, gilt, on the top, being 10 foot high . 1000 00 00 £5092 02 00 PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 371 plimented the act, and was thanked for it ; but, as Wren feelingly exclaims, “ at (eheu conditionem temporum !) nondum extructum !” For 72 rod of brick work in y e inside walls of the first story, and 60 rods in the groines of the cupolo, and 33 rods in the inside of the cupolo, and 10 rods in the inside shell of the cupolo, with the groyning, in all 175 rods of Kentish bricks, the beds being rubbed to close joynts at o£7 y e rod .... <£1225 00 00 For 8 bases of black marble for y e great pillars, at <£*30 each . . 240 00 00 For 8 shafts of rich marble in whole stones, 28 feet long 3 foot \ diameter, brought from the Levant, valued at <£*400 each . . 3200 00 00 For 8 capitalls of brasse gilt for y e same pillars, at <£250 each eapitall . 2000 00 00 For 3520 of incrustation with various marbles, at 10s. per foot, in the lower orders of pilasters within the neeches . . . 1760 00 00 For 160 foot r uning of architrave, freese and cornice of white marble 7 foot in heigth, enriched with all the proper ornaments, at <£10 the foot . ... . 1600 00 00 For 680 foot incrustation in figure or marbles, inlayed in the square drills over the neeches, at 30s. y e foot . . . 1020 00 00 For 1606 foot superficial in the heads of the neeches, to be done with mosaick, or glasse work, 40s. y e foot . . . 3212 00 00 <£11032 00 00 For the compartments of 4 windowes in white marble . . 120 00 00 For 200 ft. of the arches with great suffites in marble carved at 6£ 10s. y e foot running ..... 1300 00 00 For 105 foot running of marble cornice under the upper windows, at 30s. y e foot . . ... 157 10 00 For 16 small capitalls with festoones between, at 10£ . . 160 00 00 For 105 foot running of small architrave fi'eese, and cornice of marble, at 31. the foot ... ... 315 00 00 For 4620 foot superficial of stucco, and the best painting in fresco, in the spandrills between windowes and in y e cupolo, at 10s. y e foot . 2310 00 00 For 2025 foot ofpavingwith various marbles with designe, at 10s. the foot 1012 10 00 For paving and stucco in the vaultes ... . 1000 00 00 For a brasse dore . . . . 50 00 00 For a marble dore in the vaultes . . . . 20 00 00 <£6445 00 00 3 B 2 372 THE LIFE OF 1678. Although this commemoration of King Charles was not exe- cuted, yet the beautiful equestrian statue by Le Soeur, originally erected at Charing Cross, was this year replaced in its present situation, under the direction of Wren. The Rump parliament had previously ordered it to be sold and broken to pieces, but honest John Rivers, the brazier, who purchased it, concealed it till the Restoration, and exhibited various fragments of bronze metal as proofs of his obedience. Two designs for the pedestal are in the collection at Oxford ; one resembles that now standing, which is finely executed by Grinlin Gibbons, and the other some- what differing, but with Tritons at the angles. They are both beautifully drawn. The parochial churches, many of the company’s halls, and private houses, proceeded with rapidity under the decisive and active mind of Wren. St. Paul’s proceeded with care and pro- priety, and every measure was adopted to render it, what it cer- tainly is, the finest cathedral ever built by protestants in the world. To forward the views of the king, as expressed in his letters patent, in favour of this important and expensive work, the Bishop of London caused an address to be printed, exhorting all persons throughout the kingdom to extend their liberality towards For 10 figures of the great life, cut in brasse and gilt, at <£500 a figure <£5000 00 00 For 7 children of brass gilt, each £200, with ornaments belonging . 1400 00 00 For the pedestal tutch, and the steps of rich marble and other apper- tenances 300 00 00 A gratuity for an excellent statuary, for his skill in moulding and founding, over and above the value of the worke . . 1500 00 00 £8290 00 00 PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 373 the building ; and endeavoured to remove certain objections which bad been raised against it : then showing how far they had pro- ceeded, and what receipts and disbursements had been made on its account *. The success of this may be perceived in perusing the accounts of the receipts of each year. * The following is a copy of the address of this zealous bishop +, who witnessed the laying of the first stone of his cathedral, and lived as Bishop of London to the completion of the colossal work. “ You perceive by his Majesty’s letters patent for rebuilding the cathedral church of St. Paul’s, how zealously his Majesty is concerned to have this so pious and charitable work effectually carried on ; and to that end, how earnestly, both by his royal grant and example, he recommends it to all cities, towns, and parishes, throughout his kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales. “ In pursuance of this, his Majesty’s pious intention, and that it may have its desired effect, it will be requisite not only to vindicate the piety of this design, but also the necessity and reasonableness of so general a con- tribution towards the accomplishing of it ; for besides the objections against so good a work, proceeding from disaffection to religion in some, and from a covetous and sordid disposition of mind in others, there are likewise these two great prejudices against it, which have too far possessed the minds even of better disposed persons. f This eminent prelate, Henry Compton, was the youngest son of Spencer Compton, the second Earl of Northampton, who was killed at the battle of Hopton Heath, fighting in defence of King Charles I. Though Henry was but ten years of age when his father was killed, he re- ceived an education suitable to his rank ; and was entered a nobleman of Queen’s College, Oxford, in 1649, where he continued till 1652, when he travelled on the continent. Upon the restoration of Charles II. he returned to England, and became a cornet in a regiment of horse, which he soon left, dedicated himself to the church, and went to Cambridge, where he took his degree of M. A. When about thirty years of age, he entered orders, and became a canon of Christ Church, Oxford. In 1667, he was made master of the hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester; and was preferred to the bishopric of Oxford, in December, 1674. About twelve months after this, he was made dean of the Chapel Royal, and was translated to the see of London, where he remained the active, zealous, and pious diocesan, till the day of his death in February, 1713* aged 81. 374 THE LIFE OF 1678. Notwithstanding these constant demands upon the time of Wren, he did not neglect his duties at the Royal Society. He “ 1. That the sumptuousness and magnificence of churches is not at all suitable to the times of the gospel, nor according to the simplicity of the primitive Christian worship. “ 2. That the church of St. Paul’s, belonging only to the city and diocess of London, ought to be rebuilt solely at their charge, without having recourse to so extraordinary a way of supply and contribution, from others who are no way concerned in it. First, It is objected against the work itself, that the sumptuousness and magnificence of temples, and so much splendour in the outward circumstances of God’s worship, is Jewish and ceremonial, and not so suitable to the spiritual nature and design of the gospel, and the worship thereby required ; which consist in the inward purity of our hearts, and the devotion of our minds and spirits, nor so agreeable to the simplicity of the primitive Christianity, which in things of this nature contained itself within the bounds of necessity and convenience ; and there- fore whatever is beyond these may justly be deemed superfluous, and might much better be employed in alms and works of charity. For the removal of this prejudice, we may please to consider ; “ 1. That the publick worship of God is a moral duty, founded in the light of nature, and the common reason of mankind. “ 2. That the publick worship of God, though it doth suppose and re- quire inward and spiritual devotion, yet as publick is necessarily external, and as such ought to express, in best manner we are able, that inward honour and reverence which we pay to the Divine Majesty, and therefore, that the circumstances of it should not only be decent, but very solemn and magnificent, the light of nature seems plainly to require, and the gospel doth nowhere gainsay ; and the resolution of David, that he would not offer to the Lord his God of that which cost him nothing, and the de- claration which he afterwards made concerning the building of the temple, that the house which is to be built to the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, was not a piece of ceremonial piety, but grounded upon a moral and eternal reason, of equal force in all ages and times ; namely, that which Solomon PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 375 attended a meeting of the society, and took the chair, as vice- president, on January 10 # , and took part in a discussion on the his son gave to King Hiram, why he designed so magnificent a temple, that it might be in some measure suitable to the greatness and majesty of that God who was to be worshipped in it. The house (says he) which I build is great, for great is our God above all Gods. Christians indeed are not tied to one place of worship, as the Jews were ; but they are obliged to honour God as much as they ; and to declare their high regard and esteem of so glorious a Majesty, by all outward fitting testimonies of respect and reverence. “ 3 . That the mean estate and circumstances of God’s publick worship in the beginnings of Christianity was not the effect of choice, but of ne- cessity ; and enforced upon Christians by their poverty and persecution, by reason whereof their worship was not only without splendour and mag- nificence, but without ordinary decency, and the common conveniences of time and place ; being usually performed in the night, in chambers, and grots, and secret places ; not because they thought this best, but because they could then do no better, as they sufficiently testified so soon as they were from persecution ; when every where, with great zeal, they raised stately structures for the publick worship of God, and spared no cost to that purpose ; believing it to be highly for the honour of Christ and his re- ligion, that men should declare their regard to Almighty God, and the solemnity of his worship, in this way. And surely they who, from the ob- scurity and meanness of the public worship in the primitive times, would draw a pattern for churches in succeeding ages, may do well to consider whether they would be willing that the poverty of the first Christians should be made the measure and standard of men’s estates in all ages ; because the force of the argument from bare primitive example is the very same in both cases ; God is pleased to accept of that in case of neces- sity, which he will disdain, where men have the ability and opportunity to serve him after a better manner. While the people of Israel were in a persecuted and unsettled condition, God was content that the Ark should * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 378. 376 THE LIFE OF 1678. nature and properties of the atmosphere : and again, on the 31st, when he related the singular circumstance, that a relation of be placed in a tabernacle ; but when he had given them rest on every side, then David, from the natural reason and congruity of the thing, concluded it fit to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and that exceedingly magnificent. And God approved of his intention, telling him by that he did well, that it was in his heart to build such an house to the name of the Lord. “ 4. To warn us for ever against grudging at any extraordinary expense for the honour of religion, as needless and superfluous, and especially from cloaking our covetousness with a pretence of charity to the poor ; we may do well to consider how severely our Saviour reprehends his own disciples for murmuring at that cost which the devout woman bestowed upon the temple of his body, in pouring upon it an ointment of so great price. To what purpose (said they) is this waste ? This ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. But our Saviour sharply reproves this sordid disposition of theirs ; and what they called waste, he calls a good work, such as in its proper season is no less pleasing to God than charity to the poor ; and to testify his high esteem and acceptance of it, he took particular care to have it recorded in the history of his own life, that toge- ther with his doctrine and miracles, the memorial of it might be celebrated in all ages to the end of the world, hereby teaching us that we ought under the gospel to honour God with our substance, as well as to relieve the poor ; and that magnificent acts of piety have their place no less in the Christian religion than the most liberal deeds of charity. “ Secondly, It is objected against the general extent of this contribu- tion, that the church of St. Paul’s, belonging only to the city and diocess of London, ought to be rebuilt solely at their charge, without having re- course to so extraordinary a way of supply from others, who are no ways concerned in it. “ In answer to this objection be pleased to consider, — 1. That the inha- bitants of London were not only exceeding great sufferers by the late dreadful fire, but have since been at a vast and incredible charge in re- building their own houses and parish churches, their hospitals, halls, and PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 3 77 Lord Wenman’s, upon swallowing a bullet into his lungs, bad been freed from the same, by a person who turned him with his Royal Exchange, and in several other publick works, to the great honour and advantage of the city, and to the wonder and astonishment of the world, that in so short a space so great a city should rise so beautiful, and out of such vast and dismal ruins. “ 2. That the city of London and counties adjoining have done, for several years, and still do, towards this work, pay a particular tax upon all the coals brought into the port of London ; besides which, it is not doubted but they will be very exemplary in their voluntary contributions thereto. “ 3 . That the city of London hath ever been found very charitable and bountiful upon all occasions, towards the rebuilding of churches in town and the country, and the repairing of the fortunes of particular persons, that have been ruined by the like calamity of fire. For which cause they hope it will not be thought unreasonable in them, for once, to crave and expect the assistance of the country upon so pressing and extraordinary an occasion, when they are utterly unable, alone, to support the burden, and to defray the mighty charge of so great a work. “ 4. That the rebuilding of this church is of very public concernment, and the whole nation, in some sort, interested in it : our kings have used, upon extraordinary occasions, to resort to it, there to pay their solemn acknowledgments to Almighty God, for publick blessings and deliverance granted to this nation ; and the preachers there have always been particu- larly appointed and chosen from both the universities of this realm, and from all parts of the kingdom ; and the glory of the work will also redound to the whole nation, to which it will not only be a singular ornament, but likewise a standing monument of the publick affection and zeal of this protestant kingdom to piety and good works. Which last consideration ought to have the greater force with us, because, at this time as much as ever, the protestant religion stands upon its reputation, and stands in need of it too. And, therefore, every one ought, with more than ordinary zeal, to be concerned for the carrying on of this work, not only for the honour of 3 c 378 THE LIFE OF 1678. heels upwards, and shook him, thereby causing him to cough, which occasioned the bullet to fall back into his epiglottis, and from thence, by the violence of the cough, to be thrown out with great violence, and produced no farther injurious effects*. At the meeting on February 7, on discoursing of the height of the mercurial standard, Sir Christopher Wren propounded that the measure thereof might be reduced to the universal standard, namely, the length of a pendulum, moving a second of time, which was between thirty-nine and forty inches long, and which was the same all over the world, and would even be so for all ages f . On March 28, Sir Christopher, as vice-president, being in the chair, upon reading the minutes of the preceding meeting, a discussion was raised, concerning the ways there spoken of, for sounding the depth of the sea by the help of a long pipe of glass ; the lower end of which was to be sealed hermetically, and the upper end so managed, as, upon its descending, to admit of the water to enter in, according as the pressure of the water was greater and stronger upon the enclosed air; and, upon pulling our nation, and the credit of our common Christianity, but also of our re- formed religion. “ That there may be no pretence to upbraid us, that error and super- stition could make men more zealous of good works than the doctrine of the true religion ; and that our adversaries of Rome may be convinced that our piety is as generous and charitable as theirs, but would not be so arro- gant and presumptuous ; and that, whilst we disclaim the merit, yet we do most steadfastly believe the obligation and necessity of good works.” Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 381. # t Ibid. p. 384. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 379 up again of the said pipe, as the pressure of the water de- creased, the air expanded, and found its way out, without forcing out the water which had been admitted in its descent. To this Sir Christopher objected, that the coinpressure of the air might be occasioned by the cold as well as the pressure of the water ; and, therefore, it could not be ascertained which part of the admitted air was to be ascribed to the cold, and which to the pressure. Mr. Hooke answered to this, that it was ne- cessary that there should be other instruments let down with the said pipe, in order to find the degree of coldness in the water, at several depths below the surface, and that the said experiment was not less instructive than the other; for the performing of which, he alleged that he had a contrivance by which it might certainly be examined. Sir Christopher then seconded Dr. Croune’s * desire of having an universal index made to the Register Books ; and alleged that he had not heard any real objection against the wooden balls for sounding the depths of the sea. To which it was replied, that if these balls were ordered, as directed in the Philosophical Transactions, they would certainly perform the effect, if care were taken to observe exactly when the balls appeared again above the water ; which was easy to be noticed in small depths, and where the water was without motion ; but where the water or the ship were in motion, so that the ball did not ascend again into the same place where it descended, and where the depth was very great, there, the observing of the moment and the place where it appeared again, after it had been * The founder of the Crounian lectures. 3 c 2 380 THE LIFE OF 1678 . sunk to the bottom, was very difficult, and hardly practicable. But as to the way of managing the ball and weight, which was presented by Ricciolus, it was very fallacious ; the ball frequently letting go the weight before it came to the bottom, and at other times being detained at the bottom without separating from the weight, as had been found on trial, and of which an account was entered in the Register Book # . Mr. Pitt, a bookseller, made, at the same meeting, a pro- posal to the society, of his design of printing an atlas, or de- scription of the parts of the earth, sea, and heavens, contained in about six hundred copper-plates, or maps, and about nine hundred printed sheets ; and desiring the assistance and en- couragement of the society. For the more exact performance and the better carrying on of this work, it was referred to Sir Christopher Wren, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Hill, Mr. Haak, Mr. Hooke, Dr. Grew, and Mr. Collins, to consider of the proposal, and to report thereon at the next meeting f. On April 25, Vice-President Wren again took the chair, when a discussion took place concerning the resistance of the air to bodies moved through them ; and particularly concerning the figure in which a granado is moved, how near it approaches to a parabola, and in what it varies from it •> that in the motion of lesser bodies, in lesser spaces, the figure is so near a true para- bola, that it is not possible, by any instrument yet known, certainly to describe one nearer to the truth. Sir Christopher alleged, that he had, by many trials, found that he was able, by binding and * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 396. t Ibid. p. 397* PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 381 fixing his barrel fast, to shoot three shots out of five into the same holes. After this, a conversation arose upon the causes of the motion of the muscles, and how far the air taken in by the lungs might contribute towards muscular motion. Mr. Henshaw observed, that the divers for sponges and corals at Samos could hold their breath for three quarters of an hour ; and mentioned his design of dissecting an otter, in order to inquire into Mons. Des Cartes’ assertion concerning the foramen ovale, by which the blood of otters was supposed to pass from one ventricle of the heart to the other, without passing through the lungs ; and thence it was supposed that there was less need of the motion of the lungs or breathing, since it was thought that the great use of the motion of the lungs was for the making the blood pass through them. But against this, he alleged, that, in his opinion, the other had no foramen ovale ; which Sir Christopher Wren positively asserted, having dissected and examined an otter for that purpose. Dr. King affirmed, that an otter could not con- tinue under water, without breathing, above four minutes, and then must, of necessity, come up and breathe ; and, for so long, any man, in cold weather, was able to abstain from breathing. Sir Christopher, however, related, that the seal which was in St. James’s park had muscles, by which it could contract and dilate its nostrils, and by such means sink itself, and lie at the bottom of the pool made for him, for a great while together; and that it .could eat its food at the bottom of the river # . On May 4, a council of the society was held at the house of * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 403. 382 THE LIFE OF 1678. Sir Christopher Wren, who, as vice-president, took the chair; when it was ordered, that the iron chest in the gallery of Gresham College be opened, on the Thursday following, in the presence of a vice-president and any two of the council, and that an in- ventory be taken of its contents *. He also took the chair at a meeting of the council on the 30th of the same month, when a committee was appointed to consider of the best way of disposing of Chelsea College, which belonged to the society; and Mr. Hooke related some experiments which he had made, with Mr. Hunt and Mr. Crawley, at the column on Fish-street-hill, con- cerning the pressure of the atmosphere at different heights ; when he affirmed, that he had found the quicksilver in the tube to stand higher at the bottom of the column than at the top of it, by nearly a third part of an inch ; and that he had observed the same to ascend by degrees, as near as he could observe, propor- tional to the spaces descended in going down from the top of the column to the bottom j-. Sir Christopher again presided, both * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 404. In the manuscript collection of original letters to Sir Thomas Brown, M. D., at the British Museum, is one from Wren, of this date, which exhibits his peculiarity of character, decision, and terseness, in a forcible manner : — “ Sir, " There is here, at present, a very thin council, just a quorum ; and it is their opinion that you should suspend the putting out these transactions till we have farther conference with you. ** Sir, your humble servant, “ Christopher Wren.” “ May 4, 1678 . — To Sir Thomas Brown , M. D.” f Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 409. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 383 at the council and at the general meeting of the society on June 6, at which many philosophical subjects were discussed, the chairman taking a distinguished part ; but did not attend any more till August 1, when the new president, Sir Joseph Williamson, presided : the discussions were principally medical, and Sir Christopher again appears a prominent character. On the 22d of the same month, Mr. Henshaw, V. P. being in the chair, Mr. Hooke delivered to the society an ancient urn, of glass, discovered in Spitalfields, upon digging cellars there ; and pre- sented to the society, for their repository, by Sir Christopher Wren *. At the anniversary meeting this year, for the election of officers, Sir Christopher was continued in his former situations of vice-president, and a member of the old council, for the year ensuingf, (1679). The life of Wren at this period, and for some years after- wards, presents little more than a catalogue of dates of his public works in architecture. The parish church of St. Michael Bassishaw, or Basinghall, so named from an opulent family of merchants, which formerly resided here, was rebuilt this year. It is a plain useful structure of brick and stone, of no very striking character. The spire has an air of originality, and is skilfully contrived. St. Swithin’s church, on the north side of Cannon-street, was also rebuilt this year. It is of small dimensions, and is * Birch's Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 430. f Ibid. p. 442. 384 THE LIFE OF 1678. worthy of inspection by the architectural student *, from the many excellencies of construction which it exhibits, and from the anti- quary, as being the protector of that ancient milliary London- stone. The church of St. Bartholomew, at the corner of Bartholo- mew-lane, and Threadneedle-street, was also rebuilt, except its ancient tower, by St. Christopher this year. It is a strong plain building. The inside, of the Tuscan order in a bold style ; and the outside is rusticated, and has sculptured stone ornaments, and dressings. The cathedral of St. Paul continued with undeviating pro- gress ; the eastern part, or choir, being the principal care of its architect. Some time during the early parts of its works, when Sir Christopher was arranging and setting out the dimensions of the great cupola, an incident occurred which some superstitious observers regarded as a lucky omen. The architect had ordered a workman to bring him a flat stone, to use as a station ; which, when brought, was found to be the fragment of a tombstone, con- taining the only remaining word of an inscription in capital letters, “ Resurgam.” This has been asserted (but I do not remember the authority) to have been the origin of the emblem — a phoenix on its fiery nest — sculptured by Cibber, over the south portico, and inscribed with the same word: but the rising again of the * This church was repaired by my brother, Mr. Henry Elmes, of College-hill, about three years ago ; and while its construction was thus laid open, Mr. George Allen, then one of my pupils, made some elaborate and demonstrative drawings from its scientific and ingenious composition. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 385 new city and cathedral from the conflagration were quite suf- ficient hints for the artist. I have previously noticed in these pages the singular ob- scurity of the dates and places where Sir Christopher was married. His first lady, the daughter of Sir John Coghill, and the mother of his son Christopher, died shortly after his birth. Sir Christopher could not have been long a widower ; for his daughter, Jane*, who lies buried near her father, died in 1703, aged 26, and therefore must have been born in 1677. Evelyn relates f, that he stood godfather to a son J on June 17 this year, with Sir William Fermor (afterwards Lord Pomfret), and the Lady Newport, wife to Lord Viscount Newport, treasurer of the * The following is the inscription on a small mural monument, opposite that of Sir Christopher’s, in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Upon the upper part, she is represented playing upon an organ, with a Cupid bringing her some music books, in alto relievo of white marble. M.S. DESIDERATISSIMiE VIRGINIS, JANiE WREN, CLARISS. D NI CHRISTOPHERI WREN FILLE UNIC^E, PATERNiE INDOLIS UTERIS DEDITiE, PliE, BENEVOLiE, DOMISEDiE, ARTE MUSICA PERITISSIM.E. HERE LYES THE BODY OF MRS. JANE WREN, ONLY DAUGHTER OF S R CHR. WREN, KNIGHT, BY DAME JANE HIS WIFE, DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM LORD FITZ- WILLIAMS, BARON OF LIFFORD, IN THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND. OB. XXIX DEC. AN°. MDCCIII. iET. XXVI. f Vol. I. p. 507- t This son William died unmarried on March 15, 1738. — Ward's Lives of the Gresham Professors t p. 1 10. 3 D 386 THE LIFE OF 1679. king's household. This second marriage was to Jane, daughter of Lord Viscount Fitzwilliams, Baron of Lifford, in the kingdom of Ireland. This year (1679) is celebrated for the election of the second parliament in the reign of Charles II., after the dissolution of the long parliament on December 30 preceding; which Hume calls a desperate remedy, as it had been elected during the popular joy at the restoration, and contained many personal friends of the king. The popish plots manufactured by Oates and Bedloe gave alarm, real or pretended, to the king and his friends. The dead body of Sir Edmondsbury Godfrey had been recently dis- covered lying in a ditch, at Primrose Hill ; and the new plot, called the meal-tub plot , from the place where some papers relative to it were found, added to the ferment. The whole nation was in a con- sternation, and the popular fury was directed against the papists in a violent manner. All the catholic ambassadors were objects of suspicion ; and, in consequence of Bedloe’s narrative, that an army, consisting of twenty or thirty thousand religious men and pilgrims, were to land at Milford Haven from St. Jago in Spain, to join forty thousand more ready in London, a peculiar odium was excited against the court of Spain *. The commons actually accused the queen of participation in the plot, but the lords would not join in this nefarious accusation. Some circumstances of moment, however, induced them to meet on April 12 ; and on receiving information at their bar, they referred them to Sir Christopher Wren and Mr. Warcup, who were to secure the communication between the * Hume, Vol. VIII. octavo, p. 77- PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 387 houses of the Spanish ambassador and Mr. Weld, and deliver the keys to the clerk of the parliament, till further orders # . * “ Die Sabbati, 1 2° Aprilis, 1679. “ Ordered from the L ds Comittees appointed to receive information tending to the discovery of the late horrid conspiracy, that Sir Chr. Wren, and Edw. Warcup, Esq. doe forthwith cause padlocks to be hung upon all such doors as open out of Mr. Weld’s house into the Spanish embassador’s house, and that they deliver the keyes of the s d padlocks to the clerke of the parliament, to be kept by him till further order. “ John Browne, cler. “ Parliamentor. “ To the R* Hon ble the Lords Comittee, to receive information tending to the discovery of the late horrid conspiracy. “ In obedience to yo r lordpps order, Apr. 12, 1679, wherein we were ordered to cause padlocks to be hung upon all such doors as open out of Mr. Weld’s house into the Spanish embassad 3 house, and to deliver the keys to the clerke of y e parliament ; we repaired to Wild-house, and having viewed the dores, we acquainted his ex cie Count Egmont, who with great civility gave permission for ail things necessary to be done on his side. And on Mr. Weld’s side, we affixed padlocks to three dores, one upon the 2nd floor, upon the great staires, one in the 3rd floor, upon the back stairs, leading downe to the oratory, and one in the garrets, w ch gave opportunity to pass into the roofe on the embassador’s side. One of the garden doores we secured with irons, and another of the 2nd floor, w ch we found before nayled up, and the keyes of the 3 padlocks, we have rt d to the clerke of the parliam ts . And further, having viewed the wall appointed to be built for shutting out the neighbours from the chappell, we found it neer finished, but w th a doreway left through it, by w ch meanes it seemes not to answer the intentions of former orders. All w ch we humbly submit. “ Chr. Wren. “ Edw. WARcupf.” f From the manuscript book of court orders to Sir Christopher Wren, belonging to the author of this work. 3 d 2 388 THE LIFE OF 1679 . Among Sir Christopher’s principal works in architecture, the parish church of St. Stephen, Walbrook, mentioned in page 314, was finished this year : and as his services to all these buildings were given for a salary of only one hundred pounds a year # , the parish voted to his lady a present of twenty guineas f . Among the names of subscribers to the rebuilding of St. Paul’s, this year, is that of Sir Christopher Wren, for fifty pounds ; which, considering that his salary, for all his services to the cathedral, was but two hundred pounds J a year, was a considerable donation. He also finished about the same time his beautiful work, the library of Trinity College, Cambridge § ; which is one of the finest speci- mens of Palladian architecture in the country. Wren’s zeal for the success of the Royal Society, notwith- standing his incessant labours in his public avocations, continued unabated. He took the chair, as vice-president, the first meeting this year (January 2) ; and participated in their discussions, com- municating observations on the nature and properties of sand gold H • * Parentalia, p. 344. t “ August 24, 1679. — Ordered that a present of twenty guineas be made to the lady of Sir Christopher Wren, as a testimony of the regard the parish has for the great care and skill that Sir Christopher Wren showed in the rebuilding of our church.” Extracted from an old parish vestry book, and communicated to Mr. Ward from the Rev. Dr. Wilson, then rector of the parish.-— Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors , p. 104. t Parentalia, p. 344 . § “ 1677 — 16 . . — Bibliothecam magnificam collegii incepit SS. Trinitatis Cantabrigiae, et erexit.” — Wren MS. f Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 452. PAET II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 389 At a meeting of the society on February 20, the theory of the barometer was discussed, in which Sir Jonas Moore, Mr. Hooke, and other scientific members joined. It was then de- sired that the experiments formerly propounded by Mr. Hooke, to be tried at the column on Fish-street-hill, might be prepared anew with proper instruments, and all possible care and exactness. Hereupon it was questioned how this experiment of the different pressure of the atmosphere came first to be thought of, and Wren’s right to the title of discoverer of the barometer fully acknowledged *. On June 26, Sir Christopher Wren, vice-president, in the chair, the minutes of June 5 and 12 w T ere read ; whereupon occasion was given to discourse farther about the China-ink, which some supposed to be an inspissated juice ; but Sir Christo- pher affirmed it to be only lamp-black, very finely ground, and made up in cakes. There was also a discussion concerning the manner of softening bones, by Mons. Papin, in his machine, called the digester; when Sir Christopher asked whether the mode of softening them did not suggest, that a contrary pro- cess would harden either the same or other bones, not softened first: to which the French chemist gave no answer f. On Sep- * “ It was related, that it was first propounded by Sir Christopher Wren, in order to examine Mons. Des Cartes* hypothesis, whether the passing by of the body of the moon presses upon the air, and consequently also upon the body of the water ; and that the first trial thereof was made at Mr. Boyle’s chamber, in Oxford.” — Birch , Vol. III. p. 464; see also page 41, et seq. of this work. f Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 490. 390 THE LIFE OF 1679- tember 22, he took the chair at a meeting of the council ; and was appointed, with Sir John Hoskyns, Messrs. Colwall, Hill, and Hooke, to go, as soon as possible, to Mr. Cheney, and view and take possession of such lands as belong to the society, now lying about Chelsea : also, that Sir Christopher and Mr. Hooke be desired to go to Greenwich, to procure from Mr. Flamsteed all the instruments belonging to the society, to be removed to Gresham College. At another meeting of the council, on Sep- tember 29, at Sir Christopher’s house, himself in the chair, he was desired to make proposals to Mons. Foubert, concerning Chelsea College ; and he again took the chair at another meeting of the council at Gresham College, concerning the books left by the late George Ent, Esq. to the society*. He also is to be found, as chairman, at the four successive meetings ; namely, on October 10, and November 11, 20, and 27. The society, at the first, sold their property in Chelsea College to Mons. Foubert ; and, at the others, appointed various committees and other routine business f. At the latter meeting, it was debated whence the alteration of the gravity of the air proceeds ; whether from the greater height of the air, by a new influx of air from some other part of the world, whereby the perpendicular altitude was in- creased or diminished, and consequently the pressure ; or from the new accession of steams, fumes, or saline substances, dissolved and taken up by the air, in the manner of aqua fortis taking up into itself silver, copper, iron, & c. and so is made heavier in specie than it was before it was so impregnated : and thus, though * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 505. t Ibid. p. 507- PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 391 it were not increased in balk or height, yet it might be increased in gravitation or pressure. Mr. Hooke was of opinion, that both these causes concurred to produce this effect ; and that, in order to the examination thereof, he had contrived two kinds of baro- meters, which were first mentioned to the society, as he conceived, about the year 1662, and also last year. The first of these in- struments was to show the variations of the pressure of the air, caused by the alteration of the pressure of the air from either or both causes; but the second would only show the alteration of the pressure of the air from the alteration of the specific gravity. Sir Christopher Wren was of opinion, that it proceeded most of all from the impregnation of the air by nitrous salts, which were continually raised up into it # . At the anniversary election of officers, on St. Andrew’s day, Sir Christopher Wren took the chair, the president being absent on account of ill health. Sir Joseph Williamson was again elected president; Sir Christopher on the old council, and the Earl of Berkeley, Mr. Evelyn, Dr. Holder, Dr. King, Mr. Parker, and Sir Robert Southwell, were sworn of the new council, before the vice-president, Sir Christopher Wren, according to the di- rection of the charter f . At a meeting of the society on December 4, an important letter, from Mr. (afterwards Sir Isaac) Newton was produced by Mr. Hooke, dated November 28, 1679, containing his senti- ments of Mons. Mallemont’s new hypothesis of the heavens ; and * Birch's Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 509. t Ibid. p. 511. 392 THE LIFE OF 1679. also suggesting an experiment, whereby to try whether the earth moves in a diurnal motion or not; namely, by the falling of a body from a considerable height, which, he alleged, must fall to the eastward of the perpendicular, if the earth moved. Sir Christopher Wren supposed, that there might be something of this kind tried, by shooting a bullet upwards, at a certain angle from the perpendicular, round every way, whereby to see whether the bullets so shot would all fall in a perfect circle round the place where the barrel was placed. This barrel he desired might be fixed in a frame upon a plane foot, and that foot placed upon a true plane every way ; and the mouth of the gun be almost in the same point over the plane, which way so ever shot. Mr. Flamsteed hereupon alleged, that it was an observation of the gunners, that, to make a ball fall into the mouth of a piece, it must be shot at eighty-seven degrees, and that he knew the reason thereof, which agreed perfectly with his theory, — that a ball shot perpendicularly would never fall perpendicularly ; and he mentioned the recoiling of a perpendicular jet of waters. But this was conceived to arise from some mistake of the gunners, in not well taking notice of all circumstances ; since a body shot perpendicularly would also descend perpendicularly, and a body shot at eighty-seven degrees would fall considerably from the place where it was shot *. Among the illustrious men who died in the course of this year, were Hobbes, the philosopher ; Sir Jonas Moore, the mathe- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. III. p. 513. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 393 matician, founder of the Observatory at Greenwich, and the mathematical school at Christ Hospital, London ; the celebrated Cardinal de Retz, and Mezaray the historian. The employment of our great national architect the next year was nearly the same as the last ; continuing his architectural works, presiding and assisting at the Royal Society, adjudging disputed claims under the board, and other similar occupations. The cathedral of St. Paul was continued with its usual celerity ; and the funds for its completion, arising from the coal duties and voluntary contributions, were faithfully applied. The various parish churches were also going on towards com- pletion ; and the companies’ halls, merchants’ houses, streets, &c. fast assuming a metropolitan appearance. The parish church of St. Bridget, or St. Bride, on the south side of Fleet-street, was finished this year, and further embellished in 1699. This church is a fabric of great strength and beauty, and is one of the most striking features of the me- tropolis. Its interior is at once spacious, commodious, and elegant ; is one hundred and eleven feet in length, fifty-seven feet in breadth, and forty-one in height; composed of a lofty nave, covered with an arched ceiling, and two aisles, separated below by solid pedestals, supporting coupled Doric columns, which support the arches of the nave and galleries. The altar is handsomely carved in oak, of the Corinthian order ; the pulpit, reading-desk, and pewing of the church, are in a grand and hand- some style. The peculiar ornament of this church is its beautiful tower and well proportioned spire : it is only second to that of 3 E 394 THE LIFE OF 1680 . Bow in beauty, and fully its equal in scientific construction. On a lofty tower, which forms a base higher than the neighbouring houses, crowned with a well proportioned cornice, rises a stylo- bate, or continued plinth, which supports a cubical tower of the Corinthian order, covered with circular headed pediments, and finished with a blocking course, a balustrade, and a well propor- tioned vase on each angle. Between these commences the spire, which is octagonal, each face containing an aperture, covered with a semicircular headed arch ; a series of these, setting off in just proportion, reduces the upper one to a size sufficient to commence the lofty and well proportioned spire, which is termi- nated by a golden ball and weathercock. The entire height of this fine piece of architecture, before it was lowered a few feet by the late Sir William Staines, was two hundred and thirty-four feet, which is thirty-two feet higher than the Doric column on Fish- street-hill. The church and steeple of St. Mary-le-Bow was finished this year, an account of which may be found in page 296 ; and that of St. Clement Danes, in the Strand, was commenced*. He also built the little square church of St. Anne and St. Agnes, on the north side of St. Anne’s-lane, in Aldersgate-street. The interior, fifty-three feet square, and thirty-five feet high, is divided into a large square in the centre by four handsome Corinthian columns and an ornamented ceiling. At the four angles the ceiling is lower, and divided into quadrangles, within each of which is a circle, enriched in its circumference with fretwork. * See page 333 of this work. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 395 The first meeting of the Royal Society this year, January 8, was honoured by their vice-president, Sir Christopher Wren, taking the chair; when farther discussions arose on Newton’s theories of circular motion and attraction, from which several observations and deductions were made; as — 1. That pendulum clocks must vary their velocity in several climates : 2. That this variation must also happen at different heights in the same climate ; which last remark Hooke confirmed by an observation of Halley’s, made at St. Helena : and 3. As a consequence of these, that the pendulum was unfit for an universal standard of measure # . Various motions were made at subsequent meetings concerning the society’s pro- perty at Chelsea, in each of which the surveyor-general is com- missioned by the society on their behalf. Sir Christopher attended several other meetings, and took the chair at some ; but nothing occurred at them of much consequence. At the meeting of May 27, Dr. Tyson presented his printed treatise, containing the description of the parts of a porpoise dissected by him in Gresham College, together with a discourse on the utility of such anatomical inquiries: he received the thanks of the society, and was desired to prosecute his designed method. Upon this occasion, the intention of procuring the bodies of such exotic animals as should die in St. James’s park, for the purpose of being dissected and described, was again mentioned; and Sir Christopher Wren and Mr. Henshaw were desired to use their interest to procure them for the society’s * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 1. 3 e 2 396 THE LIFE OF 1680 . use # . Sir Christopher again took the chair at the meeting of June 3, when Boyle’s experiments, related in his “ Experi- mentorum Novorum Physico-mathematicorum continuatio,” were discussed, as well as some curious accounts of monstrous births ; when the chairman was of opinion that most monstrous births proceeded from twins. This led to a conversation about mon- strous productions of several kinds, and from the mixtures of different species, as of mules, &c. Sir Christopher and Mr. Aubrey mentioned a production which they had seen, from a male cat and a female rabbit f- Sir Christopher’s attendances on the society this year were very frequent. On the anniversary, November 30, at the annual election of officers, Sir Christopher Wren was re-elected on the old council, and the Hon. Robert Boyle w r as elected president £ ; but de- clining, by a letter to Mr. Hooke, the secretary, dated Pall-mall, December 18, 1680, to accept of that office, and desiring the society to proceed to a new election of a president, Sir Christo- pher Wren was elected to that honourable office, and was sworn in, before the council, January 12 following §. Mr. Hill was rechosen treasurer, and Dr. Gale and Mr. Hooke secretaries. Among the deaths of illustrious contemporaries, recorded this # Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 30. t Ibid, p 41. t Life of the Hon. Robert Boyle, pp. 250, 251. § Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 58. Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors, p. 103, &c. &c. “ 1680. — Illustrissimae societatis regalis ad philosophiam promovendam Brasses. Vid. Archiv. Soc. Reg.” — Wren MS. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 39 7 year, we find those of Sir Peter Lely, the portrait painter ; Ber- nini, the architect, in his 82d year*; Butler, the author of Hu- dibras ; Bartholine, the celebrated Danish anatomist ; and Kir- cher, the inventor of the micrometer. At the before-mentioned meeting of the council, on January 12, 1681, were present Sir Christopher Wren, President. Sir John Lowther, Mr. Colwall, Sir John Lawrence, Mr. Aston, Sir John Hoskyns, Mr. Perry, Mr. Hill, Mr. Hooke. Sir John Lowther was sworn of the council. Sir Chris- topher Wren was sworn president, who deputing Sir John Hoskyns vice-president for the year ensuing, he was also imme- diately sworn f . After the council broke up, a general meeting of the society was held, the new president in the chair. The business com- menced by reading a letter from the Hon. Robert Boyle, signed William Bythasia, containing an account of a strange hur- ricane, which happened at Hanau, in November, 1680; and another from Mr. Pascall, dated from Chedsey, in Somersetshire, January 4, 1681, relating an account of an earthquake, which * A medal struck of this eminent artist, who, like Michelangiolo, was at once painter, sculptor, and architect, characterises him as “ singulars in singulis, in omnibus unicus.” t Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 63. 398 THE LIFE OF 1681 . had happened the day before at Chedsey, and other contiguous places ; and of the comet then appearing. These communications led the president (Sir Christopher) to discourse on the cause of earthquakes, who conceived that many of those, which only shook, and did not fracture the earth, were occa- sioned by some vast subterraneous caverns, into which some great impending portions of the upper parts might fall, and thereby occasion that great noise and trembling, which is sensible in the surface of the earth contiguous thereto : and that hence, the rea- son might be assigned, why, after some earthquakes, there have been found divers parts of the ground sunk, which are sometimes also filled with water, and so make a lake or stagnum. And he was of opinion, that there might be some general constitution of the aether, that might be the cause as well of the earthquake, as of the storm and the comet *. On the 19th the council met, when Sir Christopher pre- sided, and moved that committees of anatomy, of georgics, and of cosmography be appointed ; the business of the latter being to register all things that should be remarkable. It was resolved, that these three committees be appointed ; and that the president should consider of fit persons to be of the said com- mittees, and to draw up some directions for their proceedings and consideration. The council breaking up, a general meeting of the society was held on the same day, the president in the chair ; who pro- posed Dr. Robert Wood, LL.D. as a candidate for the honour of * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 64. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 399 fellow. On occasion of Leibnitz’s letter # being mentioned, which had been read at the last meeting, containing several ingenious conjectures about the use of an universal language and character, as also of an universal algebra, and the great benefit thereof, by which he had been able to perform many important operations, w T hich the commonly known algebra would in no way enable him to do ; the president, and Sir John Hoskyns, discoursed about the universal algebra therein mentioned, supposed that it might be somewhat like the ars Lulliana ; but did not conceive that it could be of so great use as Leibnitz seemed to imagine. The president next acquainted the society with a proposition of Mr. John Adams, to survey all England, by measuring, taking angles, and also the latitudes of places ; and, in order to do this, running three several meridians through England: that Mr. Newton f , of Cambridge, had promised to assist him ; and that he intended the next week to attend the society, in order to de- sire their directions and assistance Some discourse arising about the comet, Mr. Hill observed that Calphurnius the poet, who lived in the time of Carinus, had mentioned a comet not noticed by writers on astronomy ; and the president mentioned that the fire-ball which had formerly been observed in England might possibly be a sublunary comet, and observed, on reading a letter from Sir Theodore de Vaux, re- counting some appearances in the heavens resembling the fighting of armies, and noises like the discharges of guns, that he had * Letter Book of the Roy. Soc. Vol. VIII. p. 147. t Afterwards Sir Isaac Newton. J Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 65. 400 THE LIFE OF 1681 . formerly witnessed a similar beautiful scene, when the clouds opened, and flashes of lightning ran to and fro between them *. At a subsequent meeting on February 2, Sir Christopher again presided, and on discussing the subject of the comet, ob- served, that there were two comets, and that the last was dif- ferent from the first ; that he had tried its course from Mr. Flamsteed’s observations, and found it to agree with his hypo- thesis, that comets move in straight lines, equal spaces, and in equal times, contrary to the hypothesis of Kepler f. On March 2, the indefatigable president again took the chair, and gave the society an interesting account of the Italian book, en- titled Prattica Minerale trattato del Marco Antonio della Fratta , the substance of which he promised to put into writing against the next meeting ; and acquainted the members with an observa- tion that he had formerly made about the motion of the superficies of undulating water, which he had taken notice of by the motion of a cork floating in it ; and said that the cork did not keep ex- actly rising in a perpendicular line, but had also a lateral motion, the composition of which two motions together made the cork move in an ellipsis. He also took occasion to remark that Eschi- nardus had demonstrated, that the best figure for a specular burning glass was a spherical concave, which was much better than a parabolical concave. At the same time he gave them an account of this philosopher’s way of graduating and adjusting thermometers, by a standard %. * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 66. t Ibid. p. 67. t Ibid. p. 72. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. V 401 * On March 16, the president being chairman, after other busi- ness had been debated, Mr. Houghton proposed that a trial be made, whether there could not be discovered in England the way of making jessamine scented gloves, by the help of white nar- cissus flowers, or daffodils ; for that he had been informed that such a thing had been done. Sir Christopher replied that he had known oil of jessamine made in England, with flowers of that plant, by packing up the gloves, prepared with oil of ben or of almonds, and mixing with them layers of jessamine flowers. He afterwards acquainted the society that Mr. Mercator had lately shown the king a new method or projection of maps, very useful for seamen, but did not describe particulars *. At a meeting of the council on March 23, Sir Christopher Wren, president of the society, in the chair, various subjects con- nected with their estate at Chelsea were discussed, and orders made relative thereto : and at a general meeting of the society on the same day, after much debate concerning the jessamine perfume before-mentioned, he observed that the Chinese were so skilful in perfuming, that he had found a Chinese cabinet to have a distinct perfume in every drawer, which he conceived to have been mingled or incorporated with the hard varnish, as it was varnished within and without. The president then somewhat explained Mercator’s new projection for maps for the use of seamen ; namely, that it was a certain projection of the surface of the globe upon a plane parallel to the plane of the equator ; that the pole was the centre, and the parallels concentric circles, * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 74. 3 F 402 THE LIFE OF 1681 . the meridian straight lines passing through the pole or centre; all which were common with several other polar projections already known and used. But the singularity, Sir Christopher observed, of this was, that the distances of the parallel lines were proportioned according to the proper spreading of the meridians, somewhat of the nature of the chart of Mr. Wright, commonly but falsely called Mercator’s chart, to which he had a certain scale ap- propriated so, as that he could easily measure distances *. The president attended his duties at most of the subsequent meetings, both of the council and the society, but either took but small part in the discussions, or they were either affairs of accounts, or proceedings about their estate at Chelsea. At a meeting of the society, after one of the council, at both of which Sir Christopher presided, mention being made of the great stag’s horns recently found in a quarry in Ireland, and pre- sented to the king, the president remarked, that he had seen them, and, from their size and shape, conceived them to be the tire of a moose-deer, and the largest that he had seen. He re- lated, that this animal would in a short time fall into a scouring, and die, for want of eating grass, and that it was necessary to provide moss for its food ; that its neck was so short, that it could not reach its food without kneeling. He also informed the society, that the people near Hudson’s Bay live to a great age, as one hundred and thirty, or one hundred and forty years, without the use of spectacles ; that they generally go well clad in furs, and have a mantle of furs over their shoulders; which being very * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 77. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 403 curiously tanned, so as to be like a piece of cotton, they lie upon it in the night; with many other particulars of this sin- gular people # . Sir Christopher then gave a description of, and conjecture about the way of raising water in China for watering ground ; which it was desired might be farther elucidated. Among other observa- tions, the president remarked, that it was of late years discovered that the blacks who live only upon potatoes were apt to die of dropsy ; and that therefore the planters had found it necessary to allow them bread and milk, which prevented it. He thence drew the conclusion that it was necessary that all wholesome food should have oils ; that most roots wanting oil are not of themselves a good nourishment ; and that in Ireland, where the people feed much on potatoes, they assist themselves by drinking sour milk, to make the potatoes digest the better. On a discourse concerning peat moss, he observed, that peat was made by a certain subterranean plant, which grew, and filled, and matted up all the place ; which might easily be discovered by washing the peat in water, and so clearing away all the sand and earth, which would leave the vegetable matted and felted together *f. On July 27 the president again assumed the chair, at a meeting of the council, when he was appointed on a committee with Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Colwall, Dr. Gale, Dr. Croune, and Mr. Hooke, to go to Chelsea, on the business of enclosing the * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 91. t Ibid. p. 93. 3 F 2 404 THE LIFE OF 1681 . society’s ground, and to meet at the Swan tavern there, at the hour of nine in the morning. At another meeting of the council, on October 5, the president being in the chair, he acquainted the council with a treaty which he had lately entered into with Sir Stephen Fox, concerning their estate of Chelsea College ; when it was ordered, that Sir Christopher and Mr. Evelyn be desired to treat with Sir Stephen Fox, about selling the house and the whole concerns of the college, and that they were empowered to fix a price for the house and land *. In the course of this year a philosophical dispute occurred between Mr. Hooke and Mr. Flamsteed. The former brought it before the society on November 2, and exhibited a mechanical way of finding the focus of all parallel rays falling upon the spherical superficies of a more dense refracting medium, by the motion of a certain circle upon a point in its diameter eccen- trically taken, according to a proportion assigned ; and by which means would be avoided the tediousness of calculating several triangles for the finding the focus of every single ray. He also showed the geometrical ground and demonstration of the same ; which, though it was denied, as he said, by Mr. Flamsteed, as false and impossible, yet he persisted in his proposition, and referred it to be judged by Sir Christopher Wren, who, he doubted not, would easily satisfy the society of the truth and evidence thereof f. At the next meeting Flamsteed acknowledged himself in error about this proposition ; and that, upon con- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 97. f Ibid. p. 100. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 405 sidering it more seriously, he had found out the demonstration, but not before the way of demonstrating it had been shown to him by Mr. Hooke *. At a meeting of the council on November 10, Sir Christo- pher being in the chair, it was agreed and ordered, that the president, Sir John Laurence, Mr. Colwall, Mr. Aston, and Mr. Hooke, be a committee for auditing the treasurers accounts. Sir Christopher, in discoursing upon the library of the society, promised to give the society five pounds, to be expended in books of geometry ; and Mr. Hooke was desired to find out such books as he should think proper, and were not already in the library. And the council, taking into consideration the improvement of the library, ordered that there should be annually expended the sum of ten pounds in purchasing philosophical books. At a general meeting of the society on the same day, Sir Christopher also presiding, after a discussion concerning instruments useful for the sea service, in which Mr. Hooke bore a principal share, the president expressed himself desirous that a good and easy contrivance should be thought of and made for an azimuth com- pass, in order that observations of that kind might be made more often and more certain by seamen ; the difficulty of making such observations, he said, with the instruments now known, being the greatest reason why there were so few good observations of that kind. He farther observed, that no good observations could be made at sea by the help of a perpendicular, which was the * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 101. 406 THE LIFE OF 1681. reason of discontinuing the use of the astrolabe, and making use of the sea quadrant and back staff*. In spite of his numerous professional engagements, we find Wren, at the next and subsequent meetings, both of the council and of the society at large. At that of November 30 the members of the society had the usual summons from the pre- sident to meet this day, in order to the election of the council and officers of the society for the year ensuing : when being about thirty present, the president, Sir Christopher Wren, took the chair. After which the secretary read the statutes concerning the election, and the society proceeded to the election of some new members. While the lists were gathering, Mons. Lyenbergh, ambassador from the King of Sweden, presented the society with a letter j- and two books j, from Dr. Olaus Rudbeck, professor # Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 102. t Letter Book of the Roy. Soc. Vol. VIII. p. 186. $ At the next meeting, on December 7> these books and letters were produced and read ; whereupon it was ordered, that Mr. Cluverus should be desired to peruse Dr. Rudbeck’s work, make an abstract concerning the principal matters contained in it, and give the society his judgment upon it : also, that the thanks of the society be returned to their learned author. At the following meeting, Sir Christopher presiding at both, the doctor was proposed candidate by Dr. Gale. Mr. Aston mentioned, that, having perused some parts of the said Dr. Rudbeck’s work, presented by him to the society, he had found him to be laborious as well as learned. Sir John Hoskyns remarked, that he had been informed that the doctor, besides his knowledge in anatomy and ancient history, was well skilled in botany, and now writing a history of plants, for which purpose he had already drawn and cut in wood above two thousand plants. — Birch's Hist Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 112. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 407 of anatomy, at Upsal, in Sweden ; for which the president returned the society’s thanks to the ambassador, and ordered the said letter and books to be produced at the next meeting, that a more full account might be taken of them The society then proceeded to the election, and chose Sir Christopher Wren, and ten other of the most eminent members, to be continued of the council for the year ensuing, and ten members for the new council. Sir Christopher was then f re- elected president, and the new members of the council sworn J. Sir Christopher attended his duties, and presided at every council and general meeting held during the remainder of this year. Among the principal of Wren’s works in architecture this year, the parish church of St. Stephen’s, Walbrook, was finished ; St. Paul’s, and other public works, were* continued ; part of the Temple, destroyed by the fire, rebuilt ; and the parish church of St. Peter, in Cornliill, commenced. It is a commodious edifice, eighty feet long by forty-seven feet wide, and forty high, divided into a lofty nave, with a camerated ceiling and two aisles, by a double row of Corinthian columns. It has a lofty tower, sur- mounted by a well-proportioned spire ; and a large key, the emblem of St. Peter, for a vane. This year Wren lost by death his able coadjutor and master mason, Thomas Strong, who has been alluded to in page 353. Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, also died this year; who, during * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 105. t “Nov.~30, 1681. — Sir Christopher Wren chosen president. There was a most illustrious appearance.” — Evelyn’s Diary , Vol. I. p. 5SJ. $ Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 106. 408 THE LIFE OF 1682. his residence in England, disconcerted John Evelyn so much, by destroying his house and garden, at Deptford. Among other improvements, consequent on the improving state of society, it may not be improper to mention, that it was in this year that the penny post was first established in the metropolis. In the following year, 1682, the military hospital at Chelsea was founded, and the building commenced by Sir Christopher Wren. This monument of national gratitude owes its origin to the benevolent Sir Stephen Fox *, who proposed to Evelyn f , on * This gentleman, whose name and biography is most unaccountably omitted in Chalmers’ last edition of his Biographical Dictionary, Rees’s Cyclopaedia, and other similar works, was, at this time, in great favour with the king, and also one of the Lords of the Treasury. Fie came ori- ginally to London a poor boy from the choir of Salisbury, when he was taken notice of by Bishop Duppa j and afterwards waited on Lord Percy, who procured him an inferior situation among the clerks of the kitchen and board of green cloth : where he was found so humble, diligent, indus- trious, and prudent in his behaviour, that the king, who was then in exile, and Mr. Fox waiting, both the king and the lords about him frequently employed him in their affairs, trusting him with receiving and paying the little money they had. Returning with Charles II. to England, at the Restoration, after great privations and suffering, his Majesty found him so honest and industrious, and at the same time so capable and ready, that, being advanced from clerk of the kitchen to that of the green cloth, he obtained the office of paymaster to the whole army ; and, by his dexterity and punctual dealings, he obtained such credit among the bankers, that he was in a short time able to borrow vast sums of them upon any exigency. From this continual turning of money, and from the soldiers’ moderate and voluntary allowance to him, for punctuality with them, he so enriched himself, that Evelyn, who knew him well, says, he believed him “ to be t Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 535 . PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 409 September 6, 1681, the purchasing of Chelsea College, which the king had previously given to the Royal Society, and was willing to repurchase for this purpose. Sir Stephen, with whom Evelyn dined on that day, desired his assistance as one of the council of the society. The measure was proposed by Wren # , who, with Evelyn, was appointed to conduct the salef. On January 27 of this year, Sir Stephen Fox again acquainted Mr. Evelyn with the king's intention of founding a royal hospital for wounded, disabled, and superannuated soldiers, on the piece of ground at Chelsea which the Royal Society had sold to his Majesty; who would settle five thousand pounds a year upon it, and erect a building to the value of twenty thousand pounds. Sir Stephen not only was very active, but also very benevolent himself to this national charity ; to which the fortune he had gained by the army, and the intercourse he had with it, enabling him to witness its distresses, probably urged him J. On May 25, Sir Stephen Fox, Sir Christopher Wren, and Mr. Evelyn, waited upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, with the archi- worth at least two hundred thousand pounds, honestly gotten, and unenvied, which is next to a miracle.’ ’ With all this, says the same authority, he continued as humble and as ready to do a courtesy as ever he was. He was generous, and lived honourably; was of an excellent temper, well spoken, and was so highly in his Majesty’s confidence, and so useful, that he had given him “ the reversion of the cofferer’s place, after Harry Brouncker.” His eldest daughter was married to Lord Cornwallis, and had twelve thousand pounds to her fortune ; besides her father restoring that noble family from its embarrassments. — Evelyn’s Diary , Vol. I. p. 525. # See page 401 of this work. j- Ibid. p. 404. t Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 540. 3 G 410 THE LIFE OF 1682 . tect’s design for the new hospital, which met the archbishop's approbation*. Early in August the business commenced; for Sir Stephen and Evelyn went there to survey the foundations which were then laying outf. Wren not only designed and superintended the building as architect, but also prescribed the statutes and whole economy of the hospital ; which, for cleanli- ness, health, and convenience, is one of the best designed and best regulated in Europe £. Among the architectural works of Wren this year, besides those which were proceeding and beginning, he finished the parish churches of St. Clement Danes, which has been spoken of before ; and that of St. Antholin, Watling-street, a church of small pretensions to taste, although of scientific construction and good building. Its spire, which would have been elegant on a loftier tower, has a Corinthian capital for a finial, which ac- commodates itself to the various angles of its octagonal supporter ; but is too formal, and carries the spectator too much to consider the order whence it is stolen, to think it either beautiful in itself, or well applied to its situation. The Royal Society continued to flourish under his guidance. The first meeting of the year, January 4, 1682, had the benefit of his presence in the chair, and of his advice and direction in the pursuit of those philosophical discoveries and improvements which he could now only point out to his coadjutors, without giving his valuable talents to their investigation. On a discussion * Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 543. t Parentalia, p. 327. t Ibid. p. 545. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 411 concerning the properties of phosphorus, he moved, that a quantity of that substance be procured, in order to make several other experiments with it, to ascertain more exactly the true nature of its flame, and what affinity it hath with other flame ; what effects the presence or absence of the air produces ; what part or quali- fication of it is the cause thereof ; how its effects may be increased or diminished; and the like. He also moved, as a desirable object to be procured by the society, on account of the curious effects which it would produce, that a very large burning or specular concave, of metal, be forthwith made, in order to make several experiments therewith. This was agreed to by several other members, as an affair that would be of great use in the farther investigation of the nature and effects of heat *. On the 11th of the same month the council met, when Sir Christopher, who, as president, took the chair, having been em- powered by former orders of the council to dispose, by sale, of Chelsea College, with its appurtenances, reported, that he had sold it, with the lands belonging to it, to Sir Stephen Fox, for his Majesty’s use, in case the council should ratify the said sale, for thirteen hundred pounds, ready money, to be paid by Sir Stephen Fox at one payment, on the sealing of the conveyances. The council thereupon approving the said sale, voted that the president had done a service to the society, and returned him thanks accordingly f. At the next meeting of the council, January 18, Mr. Flam- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 115. t Ibid. p. 117; also Evelyn’s Diary, Vol. I. p. 540. 3 G 2 412 THE LIFE OF 1682 : steed, the celebrated astronomer, was sworn a member by the president, who rendered an account to the society of his pro- ceedings in the disposal of Chelsea College ; for which the council returned him their thanks, with their earnest request that he would complete the said undertaking. He also presided at a general meeting on the same day ; when, speaking of the practice of the Chinese physicians, he observed, that they were extremely curious about feeling the pulse of the patient, examining the beating thereof, not only in the wrist, but in various other parts of the body, by which they pretended to make discoveries of the disease; and he was of opinion, that the ancients might know and make more use of the information of the pulse than our modern physicians of Europe ; and that there might be more in Galen’s curiosity about the pulse than was generally understood. He also conceived, that there might be somewhat even in the motion of the parts of the artery itself ; for it is very visible in living subjects, that the artery hath a peculiar muscular motion of its own, distinct from the pulse of the heart ; and that, by dissecting, it appeared plainly made up of three sorts of muscular coats ; the innermost of them having long fibres, the outermost round fibres, and the middlemost diagonal or tubical fibres # . At a meeting of the council on the 25th of the same month, Sir Christopher, being in the chair as president, reported his proceedings relating to Chelsea College, with Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Bailey, the society’s counsel, and the attorney-general. He also desired the council to consider what expedient might be * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 120. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 413 adopted, to prevent improper persons being admitted fellows of the society ; which was ordered to be debated at the next meeting of the council *. The sale of the college at Chelsea was perfected at a meeting of the council on February 8, Sir Christopher presiding. Mr. Counsellor Bailey attended for the society, and Mr. Nicholas Johnson for the attorney-general, in order to witness its con- veyance, with all its appurtenances, from the society to the king. The deed of sale was read over, the whole council assented to its conditions, the common seal was affixed, and the bargain completed •f. On February 15 Sir Christopher presided both at the council and a general meeting, at which much business was transacted. At the latter, Mr. Flamsteed having cavilled against the method shown by Mr. Hooke, of describing a parabola, as he had done before, on November 2, 1681, about his method of finding the focus of parallel rays J, and affirming it to be false, the society desired Mr. Hooke to show again the way which he had demonstrated at the last meeting ; who repeated it, and demonstrated the ground thereof. Flamsteed was again defeated ; and the president de- clared to the society that it was true and certain, and the best way yet known of describing that curve, and never published before §. Sir Christopher presided at the council, March 8, and took no part in the discussions, which were principally on defaulting mem- * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 121. t Ibid. p. 124. J See page 404 of this work. § Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 129. 414 THE LIFE OF 1682. bers ; but, at a general meeting on April 5, being in the chair, he gave an account of the writings of Dr. Wiberd, which the society had desired him to peruse. He remarked, that the doctor had been very diligent and curious in observing the figure, quality, refraction, &c. of the parts of the eye, and had made many very good observations and conclusions thereon : but that in relating he was somewhat too prolix and particular ; owning that he set them down merely as helps for memory ; and therefore it was very desirable that the said writings might be recommended to some judicious person, learned in the studies of anatomy, geometry, and optics, to peruse the same, and make an abstract of whatever was necessary and pertinent, and to leave out such things as should be judged otherwise; and that being done, to procure them to be printed and published in the doctor’s name. The president also gave an account of Signor Borelli’s book De Motu Musculorum , perused by him, stating, that the author had been very elaborate and ingenious in his inquiries into that subject, but seemed to be much mistaken in several things that he had asserted ; particularly as to the motion of a horse, and in the strength of the motion of a muscle ; for that, according to his calculation of the strength, it was impossible that the tendons of several muscles could sustain such a force, though they should be as strong as a piece of iron of the same dimensions # . On the 12th of the same month, we again find the inde- fatigable president at his post ; and upon occasion of reading some of the minutes of the preceding meeting, which referred to the * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 140. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 415 transformation of creatures by means of the qualifications of the place wherein they are fostered ; he related that he had observed in a garden made out of the ruins of an old building, that the leaves of all the plants became speckled and striped; and that the same plants, being transplanted thence to another place, con- tinued for some time striped and speckled ; and at the close of the meeting, he moved, that some experiments be made about the strength of timber and of iron *. He again attended, and pre- sided at a council on April 2 7 ; but the business was principally concerning arrears of certain members ; and again on May 10, when having given deputations to Dr. Wood and Mr. Packer to be vice-presidents, he swore them into office accordingly. At a general meeting on the same day, the experiments ordered by the president at the last meeting were made, Mr. vice-president Henshaw in the chair ; but the entry of it in the society’s books being left in blanks for the scantling of the timbers so tried, they are useless to the inquirer f. On the 31st, Sir Christopher again presided at a general meeting ; and some further experiments on the strength of various sorts of timber were tried, but not enumerated. On June 7, the president being in the chair, a discourse arose about the motions of pendulum clocks, in which Mr. Hooke took a distinguished part. Sir Christopher thereupon informed the society, that Captain Sheeres was to go again in a short time to Tangiers, and desired them to furnish him with instructions for continuing his experiments with pendulum # Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 142. t Ibid. p. 147. 416 THE LIFE OF 1682 . clocks, which he found, when adjusted in England, went too fast in Tangiers, and obliged him to make his pendulums con- siderably longer : — also that the captain had engaged to receive such instructions, and to do his utmost to observe them, and to give an account thereof to the society. The debate now went on the comparative measures of weight, length, and capacity of various countries. Sir Christopher supposed Mr. John Greaves to be the most accurate among those who had written on the sub- ject. Mr. Hooke mentioned that Mons. Picart had taken much pains in comparing the length of other countries with the Paris foot, in his book concerning the measure of a degree upon the earth ; which occasioned the president to inquire of Mr. Hooke the reason why the measure of a degree upon the earth was not taken here in England, as had been formerly desired : to which he answered, that if the society would defray the expense thereof, he was willing to take charge of it, and see that it be accurately done : that it would be necessary for this and any other accurate trials, that the society should have in their custody an accurate measure of the standard foot of London. The president was of opinion, that the best standard for this occasion would be a cer- tain part of the length of a degree upon the earth, if at least, upon several accurate trials of the measure of a degree in several latitudes, it should be found the same, and not different ; as it would be, if the body of the earth were oval, and not perfectly globular # . Sir Christopher again presided at the council on August 2, * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 151. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 417 and brought in the draught of a statute which was read, debated, and carried ; and also at a council on the 5th and 9th ; but they were principally occupied about fellows in arrear and matters of account. He presided also at every other meeting till November, but communicated nothing of material consequence. On the 29th same month, he took the chair at a general meeting, when Prince Borghese making a visit to the society, was entertained with seeing the curiosities of the repository and library, and after- wards in the meeting room, with various mathematical and me- chanical experiments, particularly with the instruments and ways of describing various sorts of regular and geometrical curve lines, and the use of them. His highness subscribed his name in the charter books, as one of the members of the society, and the pre- sident proposed his excellency Don Joseppe de Faria, Knight of the order of Christ, and envoy extraordinary from the King of Portu- gal to the British court, and Sir John Chardin*, the great tra- # This learned and ingenious French traveller, who about the period above quoted settled in England, had been before in London, and was well known to Wren, Evelyn, Hoskyns, and other leading members of the Royal Society. When he was in London in 1680, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir John Hoskyns, and Mr. Evelyn, waited upon him on August SO, 1680, in the name of the Royal Society, to congratulate him, and to invite him to honour them with his company. “ We found him,” says Evelyn, “ at his lodgings in his Eastern habit, a very handsome person, extremely affable, a modest, well-bred man, not inclined to talk wonders. He spake Latin, and understood Greek, Arabic, and Persian, from eleven years’ travels in those parts, whither he went in search of jewels, and was become very rich. He seemed about thirty-six years of age. After the usual civilities, we asked some account of the extraordinary things he must have seen in 3 H 418 THE LIFE OF 1682. veller, as candidates for the honour of becoming fellows of the society # . travelling over-land to those places where few, if any, northern Europeans used to go, as the Black and the Caspian sea, Mingrelia, Bagdat, Nineveh, Persepolis, &c. He told us that the things most worthy of our sight would be the draughts he had caused to be made of some noble ruins, &c. ; for that, besides his own little talent that way, he had carried two good painters with him, to draw landscapes, measure and design the remains of the palace which Alexander burnt in his frolic at Persepolis, with divers temples, columns, relievos and statues, yet extant, which he affirmed to be sculp- ture far exceding any thing he had observed either at Rome, in Greece, or in any other part of the world where magnificence was in estimation. He was sorry he could not gratify the curiosity of the society at present, his things not being out of the ship j but would wait on them on his return from Paris, whither he was going the next day, but with intention to return sud- denly, and stay longer here, the persecution in France not suffering pro- testants, and he was one, to be quiet.” — Evelyn's Diary , Yol. I. p. 522. This eminent traveller, the son of an opulent protestant jeweller, was born at Paris, in 1643. In 1664, he went to the East Indies, where he remained for six years, passing much of his time in Persia. On his return to Paris he stayed there only fifteen months, the King of Persia having made him his agent. He accordingly left Paris in I 67 I, again visited Persia, and did not return to Europe till I 677 . He, determining to settle in England, came to London in April, 1681, and was knighted by Charles II. on the 24th of that month, and married on the same day a young lady of Rouen, the daughter of a protestant refugee in London. Next year, as above, he was chosen a fellow of the Royal Society, on the nomination of its president. Sir Christopher Wren. After this, Charles II. sent him to Holland, and in 1683 he was there as agent to the English East India Company. In 1686 he published the first part of his voyage, the sequel of which was published * Birch's Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 167 . PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 419 November 30. — The anniversary of the Royal Society was celebrated as usual. Before proceeding to their usual business, the Portuguese ambassador and Sir John Chardin, proposed at the last meeting by Sir Christopher, were elected fellows, and when they had sealed their bonds, and inscribed their names, were admitted as such by the president : who after holding the office with zeal, ability, and attention for two years, resigned. As soon as the election was declared by the scrutators, Messrs. Flamsteed and Cluverus, Sir Christopher was among the number continued of the old council, Sir John Hoskyns was elected pre- sident, Mr. Hill treasurer, Dr. Plot and Mr. Aston secretaries. At the next meeting of the society, the new president appointed Sir Christopher Wren, Mr. Henshaw, Sir Cyril Wyche, and Mr. Col wall, to execute each of them the office of vice-president*. The next year, 1683, of Wren’s life, passed much the same as the last, superintending and designing for St. Paul’s Cathedral, the royal and episcopal palaces at Winchester, the parochial churches, companies’ halls, and other public and private edifices in the metropolis, and the two universities, besides his attendance on the privy council, the court of claims, the Royal Society, and unrecorded public and private engagements. some years afterwards. He died on December 25, 1735, and was buried at Chiswick. His monument or cenotaph is in Westminster Abbey, in- scribed — " Sir John Chardin. • “ Nomen sibi fecit eundo.” Chalmers , &c. * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 171. 3 h 2 420 THE LIFE OF 1683. About this time he built the chapel* at Queen's College, Oxford, the entrance to which was afterwards finished by his pupil Hawksmoor. Charles II. had a distinguished love for art, and architecture met in him a splendid and sincere patron. About this time Winchester, which had been almost totally destroyed by Cromwell after the battle of Nazeby in 1645, attracted the notice of the king, who chose it for his usual residence, when not required by business in the metropolis. In imitation of his example, many of the nobility and gentry commenced mansions in the city. Among others, the Bishop, Morley f who had been in exile with * In the manuscript notices of the principal events in the life of Wren, at the British Museum, described in my first page, is the following entry without date, but standing just before an entry dated 1683, namely, .... “ Capellam collegii Regin : apud Oxon\ extruxit.” — Wren MS. t Dr. George Morley. — This learned English prelate Was the son of Francis Morley, Esq. by a sister of Sir John Denham, and was born in Cheapside, London, February 27> 1597* He lost his parents and all his patrimony when very young ; yet he was successful enough to procure his election as a king's scholar at Westminster school, and became a student of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1615, took his degree of B. A. in 1618, and proceeded to that of M. A. in 1621. After a residence of seven years in this college, he was invited to be chaplain to Robert Earl of Carnarvon and his lady, with whom he lived till 1640, without seeking any preferment in the church. At the end of that time, being in his forty-third year, he was presented to the rectory of Hartfield, in Sussex, which, being a sinecure, he exchanged for that of Mildenhall, in Wiltshire. Before this exchange, Charles I., to whom he was chaplain in ordinary, had given him a canonry in Christ Church, the only preferment he ever desired ; and of which he gave the first year's profit to his majesty, towards the charge of the war then begun. In 1 642, he took his degree of D. D. and preached one of the PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 421 Charles II., began a new palace under the superintendence and from the designs of Wren, after the destruction and on the site first solemn sermons before the house of commons ; but so little to their liking, that he was not commanded to print it, as had been usual. Yet he was nominated one of the assembly of divines, but never appeared among them, preferring to remain with his royal master, whose interest he promoted to the utmost. Among other services, he persuaded the university of Oxford not to submit to the parliamentary visitation, and the convocation to pass an act to that effect with only one dissenting voice, although they were then in their power. The university afterwards appointed him to nego- tiate the surrender of their garrison to the parliamentary forces, which he managed with great address. These actions procured him his dismissal from his canonry, but with an offer of being allowed to hold it and his other preferment if he would only pass his word not to appear openly against them ; but he preferred suffering with his celebrated colleagues, Fell, San- derson, Hammond, &c. He attended the king at Newmarket, and was one of his chaplains at the treaty of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. In March, 1649, he prepared the brave Lord Capel for death, and accompanied him to the scaffold on Tower Hill. In the same year, he attended Charles II. at the Hague, and remained in exile till the Restoration, having been sent over by Chancellor Hyde two months before to assist in paving the way for that great event. In July, 1660, he was elected to the bishopric of Worcester, and in 1662, upon the death of Dr. Duppa, was translated to that of Winchester, the king observing that he would be none the richer for it. In 1 661, he was a principal manager at the conference between the episcopal and presbyterian divines, commissioned under the great spal to review the liturgy, and, according to Baxter, was the chief and most fluent speaker of all the bishops. He was, as Charles predicted, a great benefactor to this see; for besides the repairs to his palace at Winchester, he spent above eight thousand pounds in repairing Farnham Castle, and above four thousand pounds in purchasing Winchester House, Chelsea, to annex to it. He also gave a hundred pounds a year to Christ Christ, Oxford, for the public use of that college ; founded five scholarships of ten pounds a year each in Pembroke College ; gave upwards of eighteen hundred 422 THE LIFE OF 1685. of the ancient structure, formerly called Wolvesley Castle. On the death of this prelate the works were discontinued, although he had completed one wing, and had left money for the rest. Bishop Mew, his successor, seeing no probability of a court at Winchester, neglected it ; but Sir John Trelawney, who succeeded Mew in Queen Anne’s reign, called for the money left by Bishop Morley, and completed it *, The king, as before stated, having taken a liking to the situation of Winchester, desired Sir Christopher Wren to design a plan for a royal palace to be erected there ; which was begun by his Majesty’s commands, March 23, 1683f, and prosecuted with that expedition, that the greatest part was covered in and finished, as far as the shell, before the king’s death in 1685. Its extent, to the west, was three hundred and twenty-six feet; to the south two hundred and sixteen feet J. There was also to have been a large cupola raised thirty feet high above the roof, which would have been seen a great way towards the sea ; and a regular street of handsome houses, leading in a direct line pounds to the Cathedral of St. Paul, London, and bequeathed one thousand pounds to purchase lands for the augmenting of some small vicarages. This distinguished ornament of our church died at Farnham Castle, on October 29, 1684, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, and was buried in his cathedral at Winchester. — Wood . Ath. Ox. Vol. II. ; Barwick's Life , Milner, Chalmers , &c. * Parentalia, p. 326. t “ 1683. — Fabricam novi palatii Regalis de Winchester incepit, et tantum non 1685, perfecit. [Perficiat Georgius R. *].”■ — Wren MS. t Parentalia, p. 325. * The words in crotchets in the original are in pencil.— J. E. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 423 down the hill on which it was situate, from the front of the palace to the west gate of the cathedral ; for which, and for the parks, the necessary ground was procured*, and preparations * In the bound books of the architect’s drawings, &c. at All Souls College, Oxford, No. 96, in Volume II., is an abstract of lands, &c. pur- chased at Winchester for building the palace, in Sir Christopher’s hand- writing, and is as follows : — A brief Account of all the Lands and Tenements purchased for the Accommo- dation of the King's intended P allace at Winton . A. The scite of the castle and part of the ditches, in lease from the city to Mr. Robert Mitchell, for 37 years to come. B. Other part of the castle ditches, lett by the city to Andrew Stone for 34 years to come. The remaining part of the said ditches were held by Alexander Oram from the city, for the same term of 34) years to come. A small tenement by the west gate, held by Edward Littlefield from the city for 54) years to come. Three small tenements by Mr. Barefoot and Matthew Embers, by lease from the city for 80 years to come. A hopp ground to cherry orchard, held by lease from the city to William Complyn for 40 years to come ; with a small piece of ground, held from the city for 1000 years. A hopp ground, held by Richard Taylour by lease from the city for 20 years to come, with a small part of it. Bishop’s land, held by copyhold ; the other part held by Susan Lime for 14 years to come. A house, Bowlinggreene, and two little gardens, held from the city by Robert Mitchell for 34 years to come. Part of the city south ditch, held by lease from the city to Richard Lane for 22 years to come ; and a piece of free land next it. Two pieces of arable land adjoining the castle ditch, held by John Badger for 3 lives, from the dean and chapter. 424 THE LIFE OF 1083. made for proper plantations # ; a very necessary ornament for such an open situation. The architect had projected also to have brought, from the downs, a river through the park, which would have made a noble cascade of thirty feet fall. The whole disposition of this palace was such, as made it esteemed, by the best judges of the day, as an excellent model of a royal hunting seat f. A ten acre close field, held by Alexander William Taylour, free of the Bishop of Winton. A brick house, and orchard, without west gate, held by William Mitchell for 1000 years. Two brick tenements next adjoining, held by Alexander Oram, by lease for 1000 years. Another house, held by the said Alexander Oram, by lease from the city for 55 years to come. A little close of freehold land, held by Thomas Fox. A hop ground, held by Richard Taylour for a term of years to Jona Page. An acre of land by the graves, held by the copy of the deane and chapter. Christopher Wren. * Camden’s Britannia, 2d Ed. p. 141. t Parentalia, p. 325. The following description of the palace, being No. 97, Vol. II., of the collection before mentioned, and entitled Explana- tion of the Plan of Winchester Castle, is in the architect’s handwriting, and may serve to explain the accommodations he intended. It is as follows : Explanation of the Plan of Winchester Castle . I. Entrance for the king’s coach. II. Garde-chamber below stakes. III. Principal stakes. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 425 From “ A Journey through England,” quoted in # Parentalia, the author says, “ it will be the finest palace in England when [The rest represents the plan of the 2d story]. IV. Lobby. King’s side. V. Presence. VI. Passage and anti-chappell, and closet above the scrieene. VII. Chappell. VIII. Staires to the closett. IX. Privy chamber. X. Drawing-room. XI. Lobby, or dining-room, on the king’s side. XII. Antiroom to the Councill-chamber and y e clerkes seates. XIII. Staires to the councell. XIV. Councell-chamber. XV. Closett to the Councell-chamber. XVI. Privey-gallery. XVII. Ante-room. XVIII. Bed-chamber. XIX. Lobby, Store-roome, and private staires. XX. Cabinett. XXL Inner bed-chamber. XXII. Dressing-room closett, and staires to the inner bed-chamber. XXIII. Inner room of the back staires. XXIV. Waiting-room of the back staires. XXV. Back staires. XXVI. Passage with light from above. Queen’s side. XXVII. Presence. XXVIII. Drawing-roome. XXIX. Bed-chamber. 426 THE LIFE OF 1683. finished, and inferior to few abroad. It fronts the city to the east, by a noble area between two wings. The marble columns XXX. Closett and Store-room. XXXI. Dressing-roome, robes, and private staires. XXXII. Waiting-roomes and back staires. XXXIII. Chappell. Duke’s side. XXXIV. Staires out of the Garde-chamber. XXXV. Presence. XXXVI. Privy-chamber. XXXVII. Bed-chamber. XXXVIII. Garderobe, cabinett, Stoole-roome. Dutchesse side. XXXIX. Presence. XL. Bed-chamber. XLI. Dressing-room, Stoole-roome, back staires. XLII. Garde-room and cabinet. XLIII. Passage and trunk roome. Another apartment. XLIV. Great staires and Anteroom. XLV. Dining-room e. XLVI. Drawing-roome. XLVII. Bed-chamber. XLVIII. Dressing-roome, cabinet, Garde-room e, back staires. XLIX. Belcony. L. Belcony. Over the Garde-chamber II., is the king’s dining-room on the queen s side. Over the passage I., is a gallery joining the king and queen’s side with the duke and dutchesse. The ground story. Under XLVIII., XLIX., L., VII., IV., XXXI., and XXXII., is a PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. * 427 sent by the Duke of Tuscany, for supporting the portico of the great staircase, lie half buried in the ground. The staircase carries you up to the great guard-hall, from which you enter into sixteen spacious rooms on each wing, nine of which make a suite cloister or passage, running quite through, and leading to 3 chambers and closetts under the great roomes next the terrace. Under the council roomes are the secretaries’. Under the queen’s side the ladies. Under the duke and dutchesse their servants. Under the side next the Privy Garden as his Majesty shall direct. Third story. The third story may containe 60 roomes for accommodation of the family. Offices and Outbuildings. LI. Portico. LII. Descent into the passage leading into the kitchens. LIII. Porters’ roomes one story high. LIV- 8 Kitchens on both sides. LY. Other offices. LVI. Fewell houses. LVII. Necessary houses, LVIII. The gate next the town gate, the passage being under the terrace. LIX. The descent of 30 steps within the great court not covered. LX. The fore gate. LXI. A bulwarke lower than the terrace, w th y e drawbridge. LXII. The rest of the steps to the bottom of the precipice. The Saracen figures she we the diclivity of the ground from the middle of the great court. The whole plan is divided into squares by white lines, each of w ch squares are 24 feet $ by w ch the dimensions of the roomes and ground may be collected by view. Christopher Wren. 3 i 2 428 THE LIFE OF 16*83. to the end of each wing. There are also two entries under the middle of each wing, to the south and north, above which are to be two cupolas ; and the front, to the west, extends three hundred and twenty-six feet ; in the middle of which is another gate, with a cupola to be also over it. Under the great apart- ment, on each side from the ground, is a chapel on the left for the king, and another on the right for the queen ; and behind the chapels are two courts, finely piazzaed, to give light to the inward rooms. There was to be a terrace round it, as at Windsor ; and the ground laid out for a garden, very spacious, with a park, marked out of eight miles in circumference, which was to open into a forest of twenty miles circumference, without either hedge or ditch This palace has been, for some years past, used as barracks for soldiery. Another of Sir Christopher Wren's public works this year was that useful structure, the Ashmolean Museum, at Oxford ; which owes its foundation to Elias Ashmole, the well-known herald, and author of “ The Institution, Laws, and Ceremonies of the most noble Order of the Garter who offered to bestow on the university all the extensive collections in natural history, which had been bequeathed to him by John and William Tradescant, the celebrated naturalists and physic gardeners at South Lambeth, with the additions which he had made to it, if the university * Queen Anne came once to visit Winchester, where she staid seventeen days ; and designed to have finished the palace, as a jointure house for her consort, Prince George of Denmark; but an expensive war, and the prince’s death before her, prevented it. — Parentalia , p. 326. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 429 would erect a proper building for their reception. This liberal offer was immediately accepted, and the present edifice raised ; and he afterwards added to it his hooks and manuscripts. Thus commenced the “ Museum Ashmoleanum,” now subsisting at Oxford. The other contributors to this museum have been nu- merous ; but the principal of them are its architect’s friend, Dr. Plot, the author of the Natural History of Oxfordshire ; Mr. Llwyd, Mr. Borlase, and Mr. Reinhold Foster, who contributed many curious articles from the South Sea islands. This museum also contains the books of Dr. Lister, and the valuable manuscripts of Dugdale, Aubrey, and Wood *. This year also brought to a conclusion the church of St. Allhallows, on the south side of Upper Thames-street, a sub- stantial plain structure of brick and stone : the interior is of the Tuscan order; eighty-seven feet in length, sixty feet in breadth, and thirty-three feet high. The neat little church of St. Augustin and St. Faith, in Watling-street, near to St. Paul’s, was also finished this year, and the steeple in 1695 : the interior is of the Ionic order, fifty-one feet long, forty-five broad, and thirty feet high. He also began that of St. Clement East Cheap, and finished that of St. Bennet Paul’s Wharf, on the north side of Upper Thames-street ; a plain, handsome church, of brick and stone, ornamented on the outside with festoons, carved in stone: the interior is nearly quadrilateral; fifty-four feet by fifty, and thirty-six feet high. Sir Christopher also finished this year the church of St. * Rees’s Cyclopedia, Chalmers, Evelyn, &c. 430 THE LIFE OF 1683. James Westminster, situate between Piccadilly and Jermyn- street, one of the most perfect of his designs, whether it be con- sidered for its commodiousness, beauty, or ingenuity in construc- tion. It was built at the expense of Henry Jermyn, afterwards Earl of St. Alban’s, and of the principal inhabitants of this dis- trict, formerly a precinct of St. Martin’s parish, but made pa- rochial by an act of parliament of the 3rd James II. The walls are of brick, with rustic coins, facias, architraves to doors, win- dows, &c. of Portland stone. The ceiling is arched, and beauti- fully panelled, supported by columns of the Corinthian order, which also divide the interior into a nave and two aisles. The construction of the roof, which is shown in the annexed plate # , is singularly ingenious and economical f both of room and of ma- * The drawing and dimensions from which Mr. Lowry made the en- graving were taken during its recent repairs by Mr. Cockerell, jun. who most kindly lent them to me, when it was impossible for me to take them myself. t Sir Christopher himself thought this one of the best contrived of his churches, and speaks of it in his letter to a friend, in 1708, printed in Parentalia, in the following terms. “ The churches therefore must be large : but still, in our reformed religion, it should seem vain to make a parish church larger, than that all who are present can both hear and see. The Romanists, indeed, may build larger churches : it is enough if they hear the murmurs of the mass, and see the elevation of the host ; but ours are to be fitted for auditories. I can hardly think it practicable to make a single room so capacious, with pews and galleries, as to hold above two thousand persons, and all to hear the service, and both to hear distinctly and see the preacher. I endeavoured to effect this, in building the parish church of St. James Westminster, which, I presume, is the most capacious, with these qualifications, that hath yet been built $ and yet at a solemn time, when the church was much crowded, I could not discern from a gallery Sir Of Ifiv/i Jj-dil W dowry sculp £lmss MIRA del* M>h.s'k.7 frv Frhsrfrv A’ .’ 77 ', //* , T,t/y v > x !, 9- 5 > PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 431 terials. It is not too much praise to say that it is the most novel, scientific, and satisfactory as to results, of any roof in existence. The section represents a principal truss, which the scientific critic will perceive is executed without a tie beam : the whole area of the roof is occupied hy the noble vault of the nave ; the prin- cipals are braced to purlines a few feet below the ridge, the ties and struts of which serve for the cradling of the waggon-headed framing for the ceiling. The architraves from the columns con- tain lateral ties over the aisles, which, forming a right-angled tri- angle with the principal rafter, present a tie of consummate skill and strength, which is most skilfully assisted by the flat roof- ing over the aisles for the lead covering. The springing (if it may be so termed) of the roof so low down in the walls, level with the top of the Corinthian columns, contributes much to its strength ; and the simplicity, strength, and beauty of this admirable roof is a perfect study of construction and architectural economy ; containing the principles of action and counteraction, so necessary for durability in the greatest perfection. The exterior of the building is ornamented by a handsome door of the Ionic order, with bold and masculine trusses and entablature next Jermyn- that two thousand were present. In this church I mention, though very broad, and the nave arched up, yet as there are no walls of a second order, nor lantherns, nor buttresses, but the whole roof rests upon the pillars, as do also the galleries ; I think it may be found beautiful and convenient, and as such the cheapest of any form I could invent.” Sir Christopher Wren to a friend on being appointed a Commissioner for Queen Anne’s fifty new churches in 1708.— Parentalia, p. 320. 432 THE LIFE OF 1683. street ; and the east window is remarkably handsome, of two stories of columns and pilasters ; the lower of the Corinthian, and the upper of the composite order. It appears designed purposely for Raf- faelle’s celebrated Transfiguration, which has been long spoken of to be copied on glass for it. The interior, which is eighty- four feet in length, sixty-eight feet in breadth, and forty high, is divided into a nave and two aisles (as shown in the engraved sec- tion), by a row of Corinthian columns on square moulded piers, the aisles having galleries. It will contain about two thousand persons. The carvings of the altar-piece and baptismal font are by Grinlin Gibbons. The latter represents the fall of man, the saving of Noah and his family, and other scriptural subjects ; and the former, a pelican feeding its young, on each side of which are two doves, and some beautiful festoons and swags of fruit leaves, &e. in lime-tree wood, and are fine specimens of this ingenious artist’s carvings. The parish church of St. Mildred Bread-street, Cheapside, is another work of Wren’s, finished this year. The front, towards Bread-street, is built of Portland stone in a picturesque Italian style, with a large window flanked with panelling, and a circular compound pediment at the end of the roof. The four sides of the interior are uniform, each having one window under a spa- cious arch, from which springs the ceiling. It is divided into a nave and aisles ; sixty-two feet in length, thirty-six feet in breadth, and forty in height. Among the more public occurrences of the year, which con- nect the history of the country with that of our architect, are the executions of Lord Russell and Algernon Sidney, the discovery of PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 433 the Rye-house plot, and the death of the great statesman Colbert, to whom France is indebted for what England so much wants, a royal academy of architecture. In the following year, 1684, Sir Christopher Wren was con- stituted by letters patent, under the great seal, comptroller and principal officer of the works in the castle of Windsor # , and of all * In a manuscript of Sir Christopher belonging to me is the following account : The revenue belonging to their majesties’ honour and castle of Windsor doth amount yearly to the sum of viij c lxx 15 . Out of which paid. PERPETUAL PENSIONS. Viccar of Old Windsor . . ... ofl 0 0 Viccar of New Windsor . . . .20.0 Viccar of Upton . . . . .16 8 Viccar of Burneham . . . . .200 Resolute rent to Clewer . . . . 0 19 0 CASTLE OFFICERS. Constable, the Duke of Norfolk Lieute 1 Richard Nevil, Esq. Clarke of the Castle, Thomas Staples, Esq. Janitor, William Angell, Esq. Steward of Cookham and Bray, Con. Phips, Esq. Keeper of the upper ward, Theo. Randine, Esq. Keeper of the garden, Lord Godolphin Auditor, John Shales, Esq. Receiver, William Roberts Comptroller £ of the works, Sir Christopher Wren o£112 9 11 10 0 0 9 2 6 11 1 8 4 0 0 12 3 4 4 0 0 7 6 8 18 7 7 9 2 6 f By this it must have been drawn up in the reign of William and Mary. J Wren’s new office of Comptroller was therefore not very lucrative ; but Wren in every in- stance through life sought fame more than profit. Had he been remunerated as architects now are, he would have been perhaps the richest commoner in England. 3 K 434 THE LIFE OF 1684*. manors, lodges, &c . in the forest thereof, in room of Hugh May # , Esq. deceased f. Having vacated his chair at the Royal Society, FFOREST OFFICERS. Brought forward £112 9 11 Rideing fforester, Mr. Branch • • • 5 6 5 Woodward, William Clarke, Esq. • • • 25 0 0 Keeper of Cran House, Lord Godolphin 12 3 4 Keeper of New Lodge House and walk, Earl of M— — • • 26 1 8 Keeper of Great Parke and Knock pins, B. May, Esq. • ■ 13 13 9 Keeper of Little Parke, Sir Thomas Duppa • • • 6 1 8 Keeper of Pagsholt Walk, R. Hannington • • 20 0 0 Keeper of Easthinstead Walk, A. Hannington • 20 0 0 Keeper of Sandhurst Walk, A. Hannington • • • 20 0 0 Game Keeper • • • 18 5 0 Vermine killer, R. Cotterlel • • • 9 2 6 For making hay in Little Parke, Sir Thomas Duppa • • • 6 13 4 EXPENSES. Riding surveyor, Mr. Ball • # • 14 12 6 Expenses in the audite • • 14 6 10 For Swainmote court ffees • • 27 0 0 £350 16 11 Remaines in money 520 16 .11 Brought over remaines 250 16 11 To Mr. Gibbons # 100 0 0 To Sir Thomas Duppa • ■ • 50 0 0 To Mr. Taylor • • 40 0 0 To Windsor Corporation • • • 30 0 0 To Windsor poore • • • 50 0 0 £270 0 0 Remains 250 16 11 * This gentleman, who was one of the commissioners for the repair of old St. Paul’s, was an architect of some repute, and of much fashion in his t Parentalia, p. 264. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 435 and his professional occupations increasing daily, he could not attend their meetings so frequently as before ; yet his name is often found among the prominent speakers in their debates, and he occasionally, as vice-president, took the chair, in the absence of the president. At the annual election, he was again re-elected a mem- ber of the old council. This illustrious society lost, by death, within a few months of each other, their first royal patron and founder, King Charles II., (a monarch whose character has never had even-handed justice rendered to it; but has been misrepresented by the partiality and malignity of party feeling, rather than depicted by that candour, which his real worth, balanced against his more pro- of this the taxes in ninety-three (which now are much greater) To the clarke of the works Auditors of the imprests For the works .... . <£60 0 0 40 0 0 35 0 0 95 16 11 <£250 16 11 And besides the expenses yearly accruing for the payment of their ma- jesties’ works, done in and about their castle and honours of Windsor, there is a debt already contracted, due to severall persons for materials delivered and worke done in the said castle for divers years, ended at Michaelmas, 1692 ..... =£4993 0 0 day. He imitated Palladio, but in a coarse and clumsy manner. He was a friend of Evelyn, and a patron of Gibbons, whom he employed in some chimney-pieces and other works in Lord Essex’s house, in St. James’s square, with Verrio, who painted some of the ceilings. He built Lady Fox’s house, at Chiswick, which Evelyn, a good judge, complains of as clumsy ; and a large house for the Earl of Berkeley, which was burnt down : it stood near the present mansion. 3 k 2 436 THE LIFE OF 1684. minent faults, deserved) ; their first president, Lord Viscount Brouncker *, of Castle Lyons, in the kingdom of Ireland ; and their able and learned coadjutor, Dr. Croune f , the founder of the Crounian lectures. The Dublin society, founded on the * This nobleman, the grandson of Sir Henry Brouncker, Lord Pre* sident of the province of Munster, was born about the year 1620; and, having received an excellent education, discovered an early genius for mathematics, in which, afterwards, he became so eminent. He was created M. D. of Oxford, June 23 *, 1646. In 1657 and 1658 he was engaged in a correspondence, on mathematical studies, with Dr. John Wallis, who published them in his Commercium Apostolicum ; Oxford, 1658, 4to. His own and his father’s loyalty to Charles I. and his exiled son were constant ; and he accordingly signed the remarkable declaration, with others of the nobility and gentry, published in April 7, 166O. After the Restoration, he was made chancellor to the queen consort, and one of the Commissioners of the Navy. He was one of the founders of the Royal Society, and was appointed the first president, by the charters of July 15, 1662, and April 22, 1663 ; which office he held till November, I667, as recorded in these pages. He died at his house in St. James’s-street, April 5, 1684, aged 64 ; and, on the 14th of the same month, he was buried in the middle of the choir of the church of St. Catharine, near the Tower, of which church and hospital he was for some years the master. — Birch's Hist. Roy . Soc. Yol. IV. p. 338. t William Croune, or Croone, as he sometimes wrote it, was a native of London, and educated at Cambridge. He entered Emanuel College, May 13, 1647 ; took his degree of B. D. 1650 ; chosen fellow of that college 1651 ; and commenced M. A. 1654. On June 8, 1659, he was chosen pro- fessor of rhetoric in Gresham College t, where he became a zealous and able promoter of the Royal Society ; at the first meeting of which, in No- vember, 1660, he became their secretary. In 1662 he was created M. D. by the university of Cambridge §. On May 20, 1663, he was chosen one * Wood, Fasti Oxon. Vol. II. col. 56. t Kennet’s Register and Chronicle, pp. 120, 121. + Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors, p. 320. $ Kennet’s Register, p. 791. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 437 model of the Royal Society, was this year established by Sir William Petty ; and corresponded regularly, for some years, with that of London. St. Paul’s continued with undeviating progress towards com- pletion ; and the other works of the new city in a similar manner. Among his other works, was the frontispiece to the Middle Temple, begun this year, and completed in 1688*. The parish church of St. Allhallows Bread-street, rebuilt after the great fire, was finished this year: it is a handsome, substantial church, with of the fellows of the Royal Society, and was frequently an active member of their council. The same year he was admitted into the College of Phy- sicians. In 1665 he travelled into France ; the same year with Wren, and probably with him. In 1670 he was chosen lecturer upon anatomy at Sur- geons’-hall, which he held to his death ; but resigned his professorship at Gre- shamCollege on October 21, 1670. He died on July 29, 1684, and was interred in the church of St. Mildred, in the Poultry. He is represented to have been not only a friend, but an ornament to the whole race of mankind ; a general scholar, an accurate linguist, an acute mathematician, a well-read historian, and a profound philosopher. He died rich ; and, besides many benevolent legacies, left his medical books to the College of Physicians, and his mathematical collection to Emanuel College. A list of his works may be found in Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors!; and many of them are printed in the Philosophical Transactions. His memory will always be dear to science, both in London and at Cambridge, for the lectures he founded, and which are still known by the name of the Croonian Lectures. His amiable and benevolent widow, afterwards the wife and widow of Sir Edwin Sadleir, liberally endowed and completed his intentions from regard and respect to his memory. — Birch's Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 341 ; Ward's Lives , p. 323, &c. * “ 1684. — Portam Medii Templi proxime plateam. ,, — Wren MS. “ Sur- rexit impensis Societ. Med. Templi. 1688.” Inscription over the gateway. f P. 323. 438 THE LIFE OF 1685. a well-proportioned stone tower: its interior dimensions are seventy-two feet long, thirty-five feet broad, and thirty high: it serves for the united parishes of St. Allhallows and St. John the Evangelist. He added the steeple to St. Dionys Backchurch, mentioned in page 334 ; and built the well-proportioned and ornamental little church of St. Martin, on Ludgate-hill : its facade is only visible next the street, in the centre of which is the tower and spire, one hundred and sixty-eight feet high, with a balcony round the base of the spire, crowning a sort of compound cupola : the walls, and four columns of the composite order, which support a handsome panelled ceiling, are of stone ; its interior dimensions are sixty-six feet by fifty-seven, and fifty-nine feet high. Early in the following year, 1685, King James the Second, who succeeded his brother, Charles II., on February 6 preceding, issued a new * commission for continuing the works at St. Paul’s, in which the name of Sir Christopher Wren was continued (that given by Charles II. in 1673 having become void by his decease) ; empowering the commissioners, or any six or more of them, (the Bishop of London or the Dean of St. Paul’s being one) to demolish and take down what was yet remaining of the old fabric, and carry on the new works as heretofore. This national work proceeded with such celerity, that by the beginning of April in this year the walls of the choir, with its aisles, being one hundred and seventy feet long, and one hundred * Ellis’s Dugdale, p. 170. — My quondam school-fellow has given for date « January 22d,” but this must be an error $ for Charles II. did not die till February 6, 1685. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 439 and twenty-one feet broad, with the stupendous arched vaults below the pavement, were finished ; as also the new Chapter- house and vestries. The two beautiful circular porticoes of the north and south entrances, and the massy piers which support the cupola, a circle of one hundred and eight feet diameter within the walls, were also brought to the same height, being all wrought of large blocks of Portland stone*. The parish church of St. Alban Wood-street, an indifferent attempt at the pointed style, was also finished this year ; as well as that of St. Benedict, or St. Bennet Gracechurch, a handsome and conspicuous church at the corner ofFenehurch and Grace- church-streets : its interior is richly ornamented after the fashion of the day, and is nearly a double cube of sixty feet by thirty. Dr. Tennison’s library, near St. Martin’s, a joint production of Wren and his friend Evelyn, was built this year; and also the parish church of St. Mary Magdalen, united with St. Gregory, Old Fish-street, near St. Paul’s ; a well-proportioned structure, with highly ornamented circular-headed windows, and a hand- some balustrade : its interior, composed of a nave and two aisles, sixty feet by forty-eight, is well arranged and handsomely pewed. The church of St. Matthew, Friday-street, Cheapside, was also finished this year; a substantial, plain church, in an obscure street, of no great pretensions, except to economy and good construction — a never-failing quality in all Wren’s productions. Wren had now received almost every honour that could be * Ellis’s Dugdale, p. 141. 440 THE LIFE OF 1685. conferred upon him : knighthood from his sovereign, when that distinction was more selectly conferred than of late years ; the presidency of the most illustrious philosophical society in Europe ; the surVeyor-generalship of all the royal works, the cathedral of St. Paul, and the public buildings of the capital ; and the associate and correspondent of the first men for rank and talent in Europe. In this year, his services were required in a parliament, which Hume # acknowledges was placed in a more critical situation than was almost any one preceding it : he was accordingly elected, and returned a member for Plympton, in Devonshire ; and served in that parliament which began at Westminster, May 19, 1685 f. Sir Christopher’s attendances at the Royal Society this year were necessarily few, yet he communicated some philosophical observations on the nature of ice ; on the polarity of sapphires, the stone of which he supposed to be the rock, and the gem the fluor J ; and mentioning the different natures of iron, it being stated that the iron of the present day would not cut porphyry, he affirmed that porphyry was to be cut now as well as formerly, but that it would wear out a great many tools, and that the work- men must take but little strokes §. He was also appointed on some committees to examine new inventions and discoveries, and * Hume, A. D. 1685. t The Parent alia again errs in date, ascribing this circumstance to May 29, while Hume and other authentic historians give it on the 19th. " 1685. Electus in publica regni comitia, parliamentum nempe, Bur- gensis Burgi de Plympton in agro Devoniae.” Rot . Part . — Wren, MS. t Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 357- § Ibid. p. 358. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 441 took part in a few discussions on philosophical subjects. At the anniversary of the society, November 30, Sir Christopher was again elected a member of the old council *. The ruins of Inigo Jones’s fine portico, and the more ancient parts of the west end of the old cathedral of St. Paul, were not taken down till the year 1686, when this part of the new cathe- dral was begun to be laid out, and the rest of the works of this magnificent edifice to be carried on. The parish churches of St. Clement Eastcheap, and of St. Mary Abchurch, near Cannon- street, edifices of no great pretensions to notice, except as sub- stantial useful structures, were completed this year. This year is eminent in our history, as being that wherein the Newtonian philosophy was first promulgated *f. Wren’s transac- tions with the king and council this year were many and important. Lawrence Earl of Rochester, then Lord High Treasurer of Eng- land, being petitioned by Catherine Barton, widow, who had sold her lease of a farm near Winchester, to add to the new park ; his majesty J being dead, and Mr. Harbord, who should have paid • Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 443. t This important fact is thus announced in the records of the Royal Society, May 19, 1686, Sir Joseph Williamson in the chair. Ordered that Mr. Newton’s Philosophic c naturalis principia mathematica be printed forth- with in quarto, in a fair letter; and that a letter be written to him to signify the society’s resolution, and to desire his opinion as to the print, volume, cuts, &c. Mr. Halley, the clerk to the society, wrote accordingly on May 2 . — See the Supplement to the Society’s Letter Book, Vol. IV. p. 340. — Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 484. $ Charles II. 3 L 442 THE LIFE OF 1686 . her, being beyond seas — she praying relief, he refers it to Sir Christopher, who is to certify a true statement of the case # . Sir Christopher goes fully into it ; compels Mr. Harbord’s agent to state the whole case, and procures justice for the widow. Mr. H. Tichborn, son of Sir Richard Tichborn, complains by petition of like neglect, which occasions Sir Christopher similar trouble, who reports upon it accordingly!. He next has to provide lodgings at St. James's for Mr. Ronchi J, and to investigate the Duke of Buckingham's title to Wallingford House §. He then writes to the Earl of Dunmore, Master of the Horse to her Majesty, in consequence of instructions given him to consider the de- signs of Mr. William Bankes, and his estimates for repairs and new buildings of the stables at St. James's || : his reports and esti- mates on this are full, explicit, and must have occupied much of his time and attention. Mr. Francis Jenkes petitions the Lord High Treasurer, stating that the Duke of Buckingham, owing him a considerable sum of money, had granted him a piece of ground adjoining to the Spring Garden, and which he the petitioner had let to be built upon ; and that, by his lordship's command, a stop had been put to that part of the building which adjoins the Spring Garden. This was also referred to the surveyor-general, who re- ported that Mr. Jenkes ought in justice to be allowed to proceed in his buildings fl . Many other things of less public importance, but of equal trouble to Sir Christopher, are recorded in this book, * Privy Council, M. p. 79. t Ibid. p. 84. t Ibid. p. 85. § Ibid. p. 87. || Ibid. p. 88. IF Ibid. p. 89. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 443 under the date of this year*: among them are surveys and estimates of repairs necessary to be done in St. James’s Park, Mr. Webb’s charge, Mr. Storye’s charge in Greenwich Park, in Hampton Court Park, and of the new river leading from Longford to Hampton Court Canal : the charge of the salaries, the seasons proper for planting, &c. all reported at length and with great knowledge and judgment f . The Rev. Stanfield Wallace, rector of St. Thomas’s parish, Winchester, petitions for tithes in the palace there, and no one but Sir Christopher can be ordered to assess * One answer is so characteristic of Wren’s decisive and cautious method of framing his reports, that I cannot but transcribe it. It is an answer to Lord Rochester, about the repairs of the royal stables. “ To the Earl of Rochester, Lord High Treasurer of England. “ Hounslow Heath. “ May it please your lordship, “ I have diligently examined these six papers amounting to J3015, 3, 10 ; I have viewed the works ; I have compared the several bills with the works ; and I find the particular prices very reasonable, one thing with another, and the works sufficient for such present service, and in general managed with good husbandry *. but in pursuance of what orders, or what contracts with his majesty, all things therein mentioned have been done, I have not enquired ; and whether all utensils, as carts, bushells, and other moveables of that sort, are to be brought to this account, I am not to judge, although nothing appears to me but what I take to be necessary and proper : all which is humbly submitted to your lordship’s wisdom. “ Christopher Wren.” “ December -1, 1686.” t Privy Council, MS. p. 97» and 98. 3 l 2 444 - THE LIFE OF 1686 - them, which he does with great ability*. He also had the accounts of Verrio, the painter, to examine and report upon f. * Privy Council, MS. p. 101. f Ibid. p. 100. — One of these may suffice as a specimen of an architect’s examination of an historical painter’s bill. “ May it please your lordship, “ In obedience to your lordship’s commands, I have considered Signor Verrio’s memorial, with Mr. Roberts’ report annexed, and I take the state of his account to be as followeth. Demanded for the chappell at Whitehall . . . PI 250 00 00 I suppose when the rest of the ceilings and the walls are finished, as they ought to be, it may fully deserve it. What is done I value at • The contract for the queen’s bed-chamber was And for the closet ..... And for the little chappell . ... For the work of the queen’s round closet at Windsor I made no con- tract, her majesty having changed the first design for this, which is fuller of figures. Though £ 300 is demanded, yet I hope I do not undervalue it at For Henry Vlllth’s chappell at Windsor the contract was £ 1000. It is not fully finished. For what is done there is entered in Wind- ' sor books ..... Total for work already done Received. By Mr. Roberts, in part of the said <£700, for Henry Vlllth’s chappell ♦ • • Out of the Exchequer, and for the queen’s closet at Windsor, as ap- pears in his memorial, and may be further enquired 800 00 00 150 00 00 50 00 00 100 00 00 250 00 00 700 00 00 <£2050 00 00 400 00 00 1050 00 00 P1450 00 00 So remains at this present P60Q 00 00 PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 445 On June 30 following, it appears that the Principia of Newton, referred to in page 441, was ready for publication, as it was ordered by the council that the president be desired to license it # . The incessant duties of Wren in his numerous avocations, in addition to those in parliament, took him entirely from the Royal Society this year ; yet he was again elected one of the eleven members of the old council, at the anniversary of its institution t* The year 1687 passed as the preceding. St. Paul's was con- tinued with unabating activity, and the rest of his public and pri- vate works with similar zeal and abilities. The handsome and capacious parish church of St. Andrew Holborn, one of the finest and most appropriate protestant churches in Europe, was completed this year. This exterior is plain, simple, and unpretending; consisting of a basement with low windows, which light the aisles under the gallery, and an upper story of semi-circular-headed windows, for the galleries and nave, crowned with a well-proportioned cornice, blocking course, and balustrade. The tower, which is the old one repaired, was new faced with stone ashlering in 1704: it is square, and has no great pretensions to either beauty or taste : the interior is Besides what will be further due when both the said chappells shall be finished, viz. i?750. And besides what at this present may appear due to him upon his salary, of which I cannot give the account. “ All which is humbly submitted. “ Christopher Wren;}:.” “ December 30, 1686.” * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 491. t Ibid. p. 505. X From the Privy Council MS. in my possession, p. 100. 446 THE LIFE OF 1687. spacious, rich, and beautiful, and consists of a nave and two aisles, divided into a basement and galleries ; one hundred and five feet long, sixty-three feet broad, and forty-three feet high. Christ church, on the north side of Newgate-street, near to Christ’s Hospital, was also rebuilt this year. The interior is nearly on the same plan as the preceding, and is one hundred and fourteen feet long, eighty-one in breadth, and thirty-one in height. The lofty columnated steeple, on its solid square tower, forms one of the most striking features in the architecture of the metropolis ; yet does not vie with those of Bow, St. Bride, or even St. Vedast Foster, in Foster-lane, which will be spoken of under its proper date. The parish church of St. Margaret Pattens, a plain, well pro- portioned edifice, was constructed during this year: the tower and spire are well proportioned in themselves, scientifically com- posed, and well executed ; but present a tasteless jumble between the pinnacles of the pointed style and the Italian Doric. In these innovations, Wren, as an artist, was singularly unhappy. The interior, sixty-six feet in length, fifty-four in breadth, and thirty- six in height, is plain, appropriate, and well calculated for its specific purpose. In this department our architect is equalled by few, and surpassed by none. At the anniversary of the Royal Society, the council again elected Sir Christopher as a member of their old council for the year ensuing *. Among the references from the king and the privy council, * Birch’s Hist. Roy. Soc. Vol. IV. p. 555 . PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 447 in the manuscript book of orders before mentioned, one of the date of November 6, 1687, is concerning a doorway which bad been made from a house in Scotland-yard, by Simon Basil, sur- veyor of the works to Queen Elizabeth ; which, being continued by Sir Philip Howard, for bis own convenience only, Sir Christo- pher conceived not to be a right, and reported accordingly Other petitions were presented from persons aggrieved by the unfinished palace at Winchester, and also referred to him, which he settled with as much discrimination as good sense and justice. Rubens’s fine ceiling at the Banqueting-house, Whitehall, being considered in a state which required examination and some repairs, Sir Christopher was desired by the king f to examine and report upon them, which he did ; and they underwent a reparation, under his direction, by Mr. Parry Walton, an efficient person, who performed his task in a manner satisfactory to Sir Christo- pher J ; who, at the close of the works, on the bill being referred to him, certified accordingly. The bill appears to be for ex- # Privy Council, MS. p. 7& + James II. t His report is as follows : — • “ May it please your lordships, “ His Majesty having directed the ceiling of the banqueting-house to be refreshed by Mr. Walton, which, as it cannot be done without scaffolding the whole room, I must acquaint your lordships with the expense of this and other things that it will necessarily draw along with it. For making the scaffold ..... ,£50 00 00 For taking down the frames, setting them up again, and making good the joiners’ work of the ceiling again . . . . 40 00 00 90 00 00 448 THE LIFE OF 1687. penses incurred ; but how Mr. Walton was repaid for his skill as an artist does not appear. It is possible they were touched by Verrio *. Brought over o£90 00 00 For repairing one gallery, the timbers being decayed in the wall; the other gallery having by me been repaired before the retrenchment of the office ...... 35 00 00 For repairing the timber frames of several windows decayed . 25 00 00 For painting anew all the inside walls plain stone colour, in oil, as they were at first ...... 120 00 00 For mending broken places in the walls and under the gallery with plaister of Paris . . . 10 00 00 For cleaning the gilding and piching in the grounds 80 00 00 £360 00 00 Besides Mr. Walton’s work of repairing the pictures.” * The bill, the court order, and Sir Christopher’s report, are as follows : A Bill of extraordinary charges for repairing all the pictures the ceiling of the Banqueting-house at Whitehall , by his Majestie’s order and the Lord Chamberlain’s ; beginning July 26, 1687- — By Parry Walton . For clothe to line the pictures . For priming For paste For nailes For colours For oyle, varnish, and glass For six workmen to help me 5 months For porters to help me £ 65 00 00 30 00 00 5 00 00 1 00 00 20 00 00 10 00 00 77 00 00 4 00 00 £212 00 00 “ Whitehall Treasury-chamber, July 7> 1688. “ The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury are pleased to refer this bill to Sir Christopher Wren, Surveyor-generall of his Majesty’s PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 449 The year following, 1688, is celebrated in our history for the wise, prudent, and bloodless revolution, which removed an im- becile and obstinate, but unfortunate monarch, from a throne which he ungratefully abused ; and settled a constitutional king over a people qualified to enjoy the blessings of liberty, and of a just and equitable commonweal, as the triune government of King, Lords, and Commons, may be justly denominated. In the month of June of this year, the building of the new metropolitan cathedral had advanced so far, that the commis- sioners announced in their proceedings, that they had contracted for timber toward roofing the aisles of the choir, which was now in a state to receive it # . The other public works under the direction of Wren were proceeding in an equally rapid manner ; and the substantial edifice, the parish church of St. Michael Crooked-lane, was rebuilt this year: the interior, seventy-eight feet long by forty-six broad, and thirty-two high, is a fine spe- workes ; who is to examine the particulars thereof, and report his opinion thereof to their lordships. “ Hen. Guy.” To which Sir Christopher answered : — “ May it please your lordships, “ I have considered this bill of Mr. Walton, to me referred ; and having been eye-witness of the pains and skill he hath used in the work, I consider his) demands very modest and reasonable ; which is humbly submitted. “ Christopher Wren t.” “ July 10, 1688.” * Ellis’s Dugdale, p. 1 70. f From the Manuscript Transactions of the Privy Council before mentioned, pp. 86, 106. 3 M 450 THE LIFE OF 1689. cimen of a metropolitan parish church, well lighted by wide and lofty semicircular-headed windows, and distributed into pews, well calculated for seeing and hearing the clergyman. The tower is of Portland stone, about one hundred feet high, crowned with a balustrade and vases at the angles ; from the centre of which rises a lofty and well-proportioned steeple, with a clock, a vane, and a cross. The parliament, or, as Hume calls it, the English con- vention, which assembled at Westminster on January 22, 1689, after passing a vote of thanks unanimously to the Prince of Orange, declared the throne of England vacant by the abdication of James II. Wren was elected and returned a burgess for the borough of New Windsor, on the election of all the inhabitants paying scot and lot; from which he was, during the session # , removed by petition, the house resolving that the right of election was in the mayor, bailiffs, and a select number of burgesses only | ; but he was immediately J re-elected. In this year the illustrious Christina, Queen of Sweden, died at Rome, and a splendid monument was erected to her memory in St. Peter’s, by Carlo Fontana. Pope Innocent XI. (who wisely gave our obstinate monarch, James II., the prudent advice not to attempt a solemn re-admission of England into the bosom of the catholic church, as being a rash attempt, and what repeated experience might convince him was impracticable) § , also died this * August. t Parentalia, p. 344. % 1689. — Bis electus in Parliamentum pro Burgo de Windsor. Rot. Pari —Wren, MS. § Hume. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 451 year; as did our great philosopher, Sydenham, who has been justly called the father of physic among the moderns. In the course of this year, Wren finished his College of Phy- sicians ; the theatre of which is given in two plans, an elevation, and a section, on the accompanying plate*. The entrance, as shown in the ground plan, is under the theatre, and opens into a spacious quadrangle, with lodgings for the professors, curator, &c. on either side, and the hall and court-room up stairs opposite. The elevation of the theatre next the street is strictly Palladian, the lower story is of the Scammozzian Ionic, and the upper of the Corinthian order: the interior also, is one of the best ima- gined for seeing, hearing, and classification of the students and fellows, and for the display of anatomical demonstrations, or philosophical experiments, upon a table in the middle of the arena, of any building of its size in existence. It is a perfect study of acoustical and optical architecture : the roof and form of the section being so well adapted for the distribution of sound, and the elevation and arrangement of the seats, with the president’s chair in the centre, and the separate stairs for the fellows and members, so well designed. This admirable structure being shortly to be pulled down, it is worth the inspection of the scien- tific architect, before it is destroyed. The effect of the lantern on the inside is every thing that can be desired ; affording light and ventilation, and excluding rain in a very efficient manner. Its external appearance however is by no * See the engraving. 3 m 2 452 THE LIFE OF 1690. means graceful ; and its golden ball, perhaps intended to denote the universality of the healing art, gave occasion to Garth, in his Dispensary, the scene of which is laid in this identical building, to say, — “ A golden globe, placed high with artful skill, Seems, to the distant sight, a gilded pill The former college was in Knight-Rider-street, Doctors' Commons; but after the fire of London, which destroyed it, a- considerable sum was raised by the fellows in 1674, for the erection of a new college. Sir John Cutler offering to subscribe a considerable sum, a committee was appointed to wait upon him to thank him for his liberality; and, in 1688, statues in honour of the king and Sir John were ordered to be executed at the expense of the college. In 1689, the buildings being completed, the fellows borrowed a sum of money of Sir John to defray the expenses ; but, upon his death, to their great surprise, his exe- cutors demanded upwards of seven thousand pounds of them ; as in his books he had made them debtors, not only for the sum he had lent them, but the sum he had given them, and all the accu- mulated interest. The executors at length accepted two thousand pounds; and the college expunged the inscription of the old miser's liberality from under his statue, which still remains in a niche in the western front of the theatre. In the year 1690, on May 17, Sir Christopher was again * Garth’s Dispensary, Canto I. v. 13, 14. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 453 elected, and returned for the borough of New Windsor ; and the house reversed its former vote of 1689, by negativing # the question, on the report of the merits of this election, “ that the house do agree with the committee, that the right of election is in the mayor, bailiffs, and a select number of burgesses only thus confirming the right of election, as formerly, in the inha- bitants paying scot and lot f ; and Wren continued their sitting member. The royal hospital of Chelsea was finished this year, having been little more than seven years in building $. It is a plain, substantial building, of brick and Portland stone, designed for utility and convenience. These two great ends in architecture Wren has here attained ; and has added, without any useless ex- pense, a play of light and shade, a bold and masculine composition, and a beauty of form, beyond many buildings of more pretence. Viewed from the north, looking westward, the whole composition appears in beautiful foreshortening ; and its manly portico, of the Roman Doric, seems to invite the spectator to it, as the grand and principal entrance. While William III. was successfully putting down the enemies of civil and religious liberty on the banks of the Boyne, his ministry were completing the dilapidated metropolis with energy and perseverance. St. Paul’s was continued with great activity ; and Wren was no less engaged with the privy council and the # Nays 144, yeas 13S, majority 6. t Parentalia, p. 344. J See page 408 of this work. 454 THE LIFE OF 1690. lords of the treasury* than formerly. He also finished the parish church of St. Edmund the King, on the north side of Lombard-street, which possesses a front next the street of ex- cellent proportion, embellished with vases, and a handsome clock projecting into the street. The church of St. Margaret Loth- bury was also built this year : it faces Mr. Soane’s new front of the Bank of England, and is not disgraced by its modern neigh- bour. A door to the tower, of the Corinthian order, is a hand- some specimen of Wren’s style, pure, beautiful, and conformable to the best rules of the art. The interior is also of the Corinthian order, the column and pilasters of which are of excellent pro- portions. The talents of Wren were in such estimation, and his employ- ments so general and satisfactory, that he was equally in favour with King William and Queen Mary as he was with their pre- decessors. The queen had taken a great liking for the situation of the old palace at Hampton Court, and Wren, in consequence, received their majesties’ commands to make plans, elevations, and sections of a new design for a royal palace on the site of the old one. This edifice was accordingly commenced this year, by taking down the principal part of the old fabric, fronting the house park. Two suites of the royal apartments were finished just before the death of that excellent princess in 1694, and little else was done by Wren towards the completion of the new palace. * See the MS. book of Court Orders. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 455 This amiable queen, whose taste and accomplishments have been acknowledged by all who were qualified to appreciate them, and who regarded idleness as the great corrupter of human nature* — was fond of architecture and gardening, and gratified her inclinations from time to time in examining and inspecting the drawings, mechanism, and whole progress of the works, on which she often offered her own judgment, which was allowed to be exquisite ; for there were few arts or sciences in which she not only had an elegant taste, but also a knowledge superior to most of her sex. After this discerning princess had discovered the worth of her architect, she treated him with favour and esteem ; and Wren bore willing testimony to her excellent qualities and supe- rior judgment; having had repeated opportunities, during the four years he was thus engaged, of free conversation with her majesty f , not only on the subject of architecture (an art peculiarly adapted to the patronage of the great), but other branches of mathe- matics and useful learning, in which Wren so pre-eminently shone. If Wren was in high and deserved favour with Queen Mary, he was not less so with the king, who was so much gratified with his designs and works at Hampton Court, as occasionally to de- liver his opinion, in the highest circles of the English nobility, that these two suites of apartments, for good proportion, state, and convenience, were not paralleled by any palace in Europe J. # Burnet. t Parentalia. t Ibid. On the authority of Thomas, Earl of Pembroke. 456 THE LIFE OF 1691. The king’s apartments, which face the privy garden and the river Thames, extend to a length of three hundred and twenty-eight feet ; the queen’s apartments, which front the home park, extend three hundred and thirty feet : the grand entrance to the principal staircase, leading to the king’s side, is through a portico of the Ionic order. Whatever were King William’s talents and genius in war, which are indisputable, his taste in art may be doubted, for Wren was never less happy in any of his works than here. He evidently worked under shackles for his majesty, who, when the lowness of the cloisters under his apartments was complained of, excused his architect, by acknowledging that they were so con- structed by his express orders # . The nation now began to feel secure : arts and manufactures began to flourish, and architecture added its graces to the new and rising metropolis. The year 1691, by the battle of Aughrim, and the treaty of Limerick, ended the civil war in Ireland, and the hopes of James. Commerce, trade, and associations for their encouragement, the signs of domestic security and rising opu- lence, were promoted, and charitable institutions patronised. The noble charity, St. Thomas’s Hospital, was built this year ; but its architect is uncertain. Aske’s Hospital at Hoxton, more generally known by the name of the Haberdashers’ Alms-Houses, was built by Robert Hooke ; and the York Buildings Water Company, near the Strand, was incorporated. Wren’s occupations were the same as last year, and his credit * Parentalia, on the authority of Thomas, Earl of Pembroke. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 457 with his sovereign and the government gained a daily increase. The roof of the house of commons being in a dangerous state, he was desired, by an order of the house, under the speaker’s warrant*, * The following are the order, survey, and report, copied from the manuscript book of court orders belonging to me, and so often quoted and referred to in the course of this work : “ By virtue of an order of the Commons of England in parliament assembled this day made : These are to require you to view the ceiling and roofe of y e house of commons, and report y e condition thereof to the house on Friday morning next ; and this shall be your warrant : given under my hand this 12th day of December, Anno Domini, 1691. “ J. Freure, Speaker.” “ To the king’s surveyor of the workes, and cheife officer of the worke.” The following is Sir Christopher Wren’s answer : “ In obedience to an order of y e honourable house of commons, dated December 12, 1691 , requiring me to view the ceiling and roofs of y e house of commons, and report the conditions thereof, I humbly report as fol- loweth : “ That the ceiling (according to the manner used in former times) is made of plaister of Paris, and not (as the moderne way is) of lime and hair, which, yielding to y e timbers when they shrink or swell with weather, doth not discover cracks, whereas all plaister ceilings having y e framings of stone, doe for that reason alwayes crack, but without danger, because y e lath is preserved in plaister, and is more apt to decay in lime. Yet for greater caution it is fitt there should be a new ceiling, because this way being out of use is not generally understood to be safe. “ About eight years since, upon y e like order, not only y* ceiling and floor above, but the roofe also was examined very carefully ; the records above were moved to the walls, and many things then done rather out of caution than apparent necessity, and this very summer I caused y e gutters to be uncovered, the timbers to be laid open and secured, and great part 3 N 458 THE LIFE OF 1691. to survey it and report upon it instanter, and with which he im- mediately complied. of the roofe to be new leaded, in doing of all which no great defect could be undiscovered. “ And now again, in pursuance of this order, I have viewed y e ceiling and roofe, accompanied with their majesties’ master carpenter ; and though no person ought to be confident in so great a concerne, yet we were of opinion that all was firme, finding all things as we lately left it. “ Notwithstanding though the roofe were not now in danger, yet it is very old, and y e covering hath been much neglected in former times; neither can it be presumed to be left many years longer, and therefore it seems most reasonable, that ere long a new roome be thought of, where the important affairs of the nation may be transacted without suspicion of this sort : or otherwise, for the present, that the records be removed ; that a new ceiling be layed, and some other repairs done as soon as an interval of sessions, and y« season of y e year, shall permit. “ C. W.” “ In obedience to an order of the honourable house of commons of January 18, 1692, that y e surveyor and comptroller of his majestie’s workes doe attend the committee appointed in the said order, or any three of them, and that they view the building of y e house of commons, pursuant to his majestie’s directions ; accordingly Mr. Surveyor and Mr. Comptroller of the workes did attend Major Vincent, Mr. Clarke and Dr. Barbone, three of the said committee, and did view the said building of y e house, and debating upon the place the defects that appeared, were of opinion that the danger is not imminent ; but notwithstanding, to remove the apprehensions for the future, doe judge it fit and necessary that y e upper part of the walls be taken much lower, and that a new roofe be laid and a new ceiling made, and some other things performed of less consequence for the accommoda- tion of the house, with humble submission to his majestie’s commands therein, and they are further of opinion that this worke be done with ex- pedition, that it may be ready before the next session of parliament.” PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 459 Among other of Wren’s public works this year, was the mint, or as it is called in his manuscript book of court orders, Mo- ney er’s Hall. This year science and Wren experienced a heavy loss, by the death of that truly great and eminent man, the Hon. Robert Boyle*, the most illustrious philosopher in modern times, and * This benefactor to mankind was born at Lismore, in the county of Waterford, on January 25, 1627 > about five years before the birth of Wren. He was the seventh son and fourteenth child of Richard, Earl of Cork. His education was of a general and excellent nature, and his bringing up of the hardiest kind. He commenced his public education under Sir Henry Wootton, the friend of his father, at Eton ; and exhibited a force of understanding and of intellect, that promised all his future excellence. He remained at Eton for nearly four years, and finished his education under the direction and care of the Rev. William Douch, one of his father’s chaplains. After this he travelled into France, and remained some time in Switzerland, studying mathematics. After this he visited Italy, where he read the modern history of Italy, studied its language, and made himself acquainted with the works of Galileo. After visiting Rome and other ce- lebrated cities of that classic country, with the mind of a philosopher and a Christian, he returned to his native country, where he found his father dead, and a suitable provision for himself. After other travels and deep investigations into natural causes and revelation, he fixed his residence at Oxford, and became one of that illustrious band, the first members of the Royal Society. With them he coalesced and acted till the day of his death, although his modesty and retired habits made him decline the honour of being their president, as recorded in page 396 of this work. His dis- coveries and writings are known wherever knowledge is propagated. “ To him we owe the secrets of fire, air, water, animals, vegetables, fossils : so that from his works may be deduced the whole system of natural know- ledge +.” t Boerhaave. 3 n 2 460 THE LIFE OF 1692. whose name, in conjunction with that of Wren, occurs so often in this work, and in every other connected with universal science. In 1692, Wren finished the plain substantial church of St. Andrew, in the Wardrobe by Doctors Commons: an edifice principally of brick, with rusticated angles of Portland stone. It has a square tower, without either steeple or spire, and a plain useful interior, seventy-five feet long by fifty-nine wide, supported by Tuscan columns. He also finished the Royal Hospital* of Chelsea, which is described at page 408. In page 171 is mentioned Sir Christopher’s engagements, as architect to Trinity College, Oxford, under the presidency of his friend Dr. Bathurst. The works were not completed in 1 692, as appears by the following correspondence : “ February 25, 1691* “ Worthy Sir, “ When I sent Mr. Phipsf to wait on you with a scheme of our new building, he told me how kindly you was pleased to ex- press your remembrance of me, and that you would send me your thoughts concerning our design ; and particularly of the pinnacles, which, as they were superadded to our first draught, so, I must confess, I would be well content to have omitted with your ap- probation. The season for our falling to work again will now speedily come on; which makes me the more hasten to entreat * ct 1692, Hospitium regale militum emeritum de Chelsea funditus, extruxit, et exegit.” — Wren MS. t The Surveyor of the building. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 461 from you the trouble of two or three lines in relation to the pro- mises, whereby you will farther oblige “ Sir, your old friend, and “ ever faithful servant, “ R. Bathurst*.” To which Sir Christopher returned the following answer : “ Scotland-yard, March % 1692. “ Sir, “ I am extremely glad to hear of your good health, and, what is more, that you are vigorous and active, and employed in build- ing. I considered the design you sent me of your chapel, which in the main is very well, and I believe your work is too far ad- vanced to admit of any advice : however, I have sent my thoughts, which will be of use to the mason to form his mouldings. “ He will find two sorts of cornice ; he may use either. I did not well comprehend how the tower would have good bearing upon that side where the stairs rise. I have ventured upon a change of the stairs, to leave the wall next the porch of sufficient scantling to bear that part which rises above the roofs adjoining. There is no necessity for pinnacles ; and those expressed in the printed design are much too slender. I have given another way to the rail and baluster, which will admit of a vase that will stand properly upon the pilaster f. * From the originals at All Souls College, Oxford, j* This scheme was adopted. 462 THE LIFE OF 1692. “ Sir, I wish you success, and health, and long life, with all the affection that is due from “ Your obliged, faithful “ friend, and humble servant, “ Christopher Wren*.” “ P. S. A little deal box, with a drawing in it, is sent by Thomas Moore, Oxford carrier.” Among other employments of the surveyor-general this year, he had the important duty of ascertaining and defining the boun- daries of the buildings and other property formerly possessed by the Jesuits and Benedictines, in the precinct of the Savoy Palace, in the Strand f. * From the original at All Souls* College, Oxford. t Sir Christopher’s report to the privy council, in the folio book of manuscript reports belonging to me, is as follows : — (i May it please your lordships, “ At the request of the petitioners, in further pursuance of your lord- ships’ letter of March 14*, 16S>J, I have more particularly examined the situation and boundary of the edifices and buildings lately possessed by the Jesuits and Benedictine monks in the Savoy, which are of extent and bounded as followeth : “ The building called the Jesuits* College is 212 feet in length along the river Thames, and twenty-seven feet broad, including the walls, joining to the house, now Henry Allen’s to the eastward, and to the house now possessed by Widow Salisbury on the west. “ The tower at the east end of the said Jesuits* College is 36 feet one way, and 34 feet the other, including the walls ; the lower story of which is made use of, in part, for a public laystall, and public house of office, used PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 463 Government business in general was not conducted with that regularity in its various departments as at present ; nor was pay- ment made, and services rewarded, with equal consistency and propriety. The transactions between Sir Christopher and the privy council bear perpetual witness ; but one is of such a curious by all the neighbourhood ; and a little stable and house of office, in pos- session of Henry* Allen. The story above is in possession of the said H. Allen ; and Jhe uppermost story in possession of one Cooling ; but whether these are of right or encroachment I cannot ascertain. “ The Jesuits’ chapel is 96 ft. 6 in. long, and 27 ft. broad, including the walls ; joins to the said Jesuits’ college on the south, and to the hospital or barracks on the north, having a little turret for the staircase, 15 ^ ft. long, and 1 2 ft. broad ; with a vestry on the east, containing in length 22 feet, and 12 feet in breadth, from outside to outside; and also a yard ad- joining, 17 ft. square, and having also on the west side another small priest office, 15 ft. long, and 11 ft. 6 in. wide, together with the Jesuits’ kitchen, of 44 ft. long, and 15 ft. wide, from outside to outside ; and a small yard at the west end of the said kitchen, 15 ft. long, and 15 ft. 6 in. wide, in- cluding the walls. There is also on the east side of the said chapel a garden plot, 54 ft. long, and 44. ft. wide, and the passage all along the Jesuits’ college of 8 feet wide. « The two empty houses, that were lately possessed by the Benedictine monks, extending themselves along the side wall of the old hospital, the south end adjoining to the said Jesuits’ college, and the north end to the hospital or barracks, containing 96 ft. in length, and 19 ft. 6 in. in breadth. To which two houses belongs a garden plot, of 90 ft. long, and 30 J ft. broad, joining to the glass house on the west, and to the barracks or hospital on the north. “ All which is more fully expressed in the plot annexed, and is humbly submitted. “ Christopher Wren.” “ August 16, 1692.” 464 THE LIFE OF 1692 . nature, that I cannot resist the temptation of recording it. On October 19, 1692, John and Joseph Roffington, and Edward and Charles Palmer, laid their case before the lords of the treasury, stating, that in their petition presented some time before to their lordships, together with their certificate from several members of parliament, setting forth their service done in augmenting that branch of their majesties’ revenue on coffee, &c. in one year, up- wards of twenty-three thousand pounds, they prayed reward for such service : which petition and certificate were ordered to be respited for some time. These coffee-taxers not finding it likely that they should receive any pecuniary recompense, humbly be- sought the lords of the treasury to give them grant of the ground set forth in a drawing, which they annexed to their new petition, being part of his majesty’s Mews, which they represented as being a considerable charge for the pavement thereof, in consideration of their said service. This petition, and the value of the ground therein solicited, was as usual referred to Sir Christopher Wren ; who replied to their lordships, that he and his coadjutor, Mr. Tailer, had considered the case of the petitioners, who had “ been instrumental in augmenting their majesties’ revenue upon tea and coffee upwards of twenty thousand pounds per annum, as they allege .” That upon their view they conceived it might be for their majesties’ service, that the front ground should be built, and the charge thereof taken off, provided that the stables lately burned did not want convenient room. The front ground desired by the petitioners was about three hundred and ten feet ; which, taken at a middle depth, they valued at twelve shillings per foot, PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 465 f t > '■} - which amounted to a ground rent of one hundred and eighty-six pounds per annum. A petition was presented from one Arnold Thompson, of New Windsor, to his Grace Henry Duke of Norfolk, praying for the grant of a piece of ground in the castle ditch at Windsor, which he stated was nothing but a common nuisance, being abused by the laying of carrion and making dunghills, and emptying jakes upon it, which made it very noisome to their majesties’ court. This led to an inquiry into various other encroachments of buildings upon the castle ditch, which were as usual referred to Wren, and his decision acted upon # . * The petition is at length in the before quoted manuscript book of Sir Christopher’s, as well as the Earl Marshal’s reference, which is as follows : “ Whereas there are several encroachments made by the tenants and others pretending to have interest in the castle ditch at Windsor, which tends to the damage of their majesties’ royal palace there ; for redress and prevention thereof, these are to will and require you forthwith to view and examine the same, and make a fair draught of the ground commonly called the castle ditch, belonging to the said castle, bounding and distinguishing the same from what belongs to the town of Windsor and College of Eton ; as also the particular dimensions of the ground held or claimed by the several tenants or occupiers thereof, as well from the town or college, as from the constable of the castle ; and return the said draught, with an ac- count of the premises, to me, for the better adjusting all such differences as are among any of the tenants. And whereas Arnold Thompson, of New Windsor, has, by his petition annexed, prayed that he may have a lease of a piece of void ground in the said castle ditch, to plant and build a hut or house thereupon ; I desire you will view the same, and certify your opinion if leave may be granted to the petitioner, without damage to the castle. And for so doing this shall be a sufficient warrant. Given under my hand 3 o 466 THE LIFE OF 1692. This year he also made the new road from Hyde park corner to Kensington, and superintended the repairs of several others, Captain Stydolfe being the principal manager under him *. and seale, the 28th day of September, 1692, in the fourth year of their majesties* reign. : “ Norfolke & Marshall.” “ To Sir Christopher Wren t Knt . Comptroller of their Majesties * Works at Windsor Castle , and other the officers of their Majesties' works there'' Sir Christopher made his report in the following December, with the required drawings and references, copies of which are in the same manu- script volume. It is as under : — “ To the most noble Henry Duke of Norfolke, Earl Marshall of Eng- land, and Constable of the Castle of Windsor, &c. “ May it please your Grace, “ In pursuance of your Grace’s warrant to us directed, that we should examine how the ground of the ditch of Windsor Castle is possessed by the several occupiers thereof, and represent the particular dimensions of the ground claimed by the several tenants, to prevent, for the future, any en- croachments tp the damage of their majesties’ palace there ; we have caused a perfect draught of the same to be taken, wherein also what belongs to the town of Windsor, or College of Eton, is distinguished. “ Also, in pursuance of your directions, upon the petition of Arnold Thompson, praying that he may have a lease of a piece of void ground in the ditch of Windsor Castle, to plant and build a little house thereon, we have considered the same, and find there is a void place in the south ditch, under the poor knights’ row, adjoining eastward to a garden, now in pos- session of one Green, which void place we conceive may be allowed to build a house upon the edge of the ditch, with a garden running backward to the * See the various reports and estimates in the aforesaid book of MSS. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 467 Complaints having been made to the queen during the ab- sence of King William, that the Earl of Ranelagh, paymaster- general of the forces, had enclosed part of the stable ground belonging to the horse guards, for his office, without a right, the queen referred it to Sir Christopher ; and ordered the alterations, &c. in conformity with his report, to be obeyed*. wall of the poor knights* row, which may contain thirty feet front toward the south, and fifty feet upon the said wall, and the ground being laid out as it is expressed in the map annexed, we humbly conceive will be no pre- judice to the castle, more than many others formerly built in like manner : neither will it hinder the proposition of joining the terraces, if their ma- jesties shall at any time think fit to prosecute the said design, provided the ground be set out as the map represents it. “ All which is humbly submitted. “ Christopher Wren. * “ John Ball t.** “ December 28, 1692.** * The report and court order are as follows, transcribed from the ma- nuscript book before referred to: “ May it please your majesty, “ In humble obedience to your majesty's pleasure signified to me, I have' examined, “ l. What part of the stables belonging to the horse guards hath been lately enclosed by the said paymaster-general. “ 2. Whether the front toward the park, of the pay-office now building, is longer than the former front of the said office. “3. Whether the alteration of the dung-yard belonging to the said stables is convenient to the guards. t This person, according to a manuscript of Sir Christopher’s, in my possession, held the office of Riding-surveyor to Windsor Castle. 3 o 2 468 THE LIFE OF 1694. In 1694 he designed Morden College, Blackheath; which was substantially built by Edward Strong, his able and honest “ And thereupon I humbly report to your majesty, “ 1. That the paymaster hath only enclosed 18 ft. in the clear of the stables, adjoining to the dung-yard (which he has leave to do, by her ma- jesty’s warrant to me directed, dated the 7th day of September last). That the said 18 ft. enclosed would not possibly hold above four horses at most; and that the room over the said enclosure always belonged to the pay-office. “ 2. That the front of the pay-office toward the park, now building, is erected upon the old foundations ; and consequently cannot, in the least, be longer than the former front. “ 3. That the dung-yard, as now allowed, is confessed by the officers to be more convenient for the guards than the former ; it being wholly en- closed and kept shut, and is large enough to hold more dung than can be there at one time, the scavenger being obliged to empty it every other day. “ Christopher Wren.” “ Nov. 14, 1693.” Copy of her Majesty's Warrant to Sir Christopher Wren , referred to in the above report , and transcribed from the same manuscript book of orders. “ Marie R. “ Whereas our right trusty and right well beloved cousin and councillor, Richard, Earl of Ranelagh, paymaster-general of our forces, hath lately humbly prayed us, that we would be pleased to give him leave to enclose twenty feet in length of the stables belonging to our horse guards, which is next adjoining to his office ; and to make some additions and alterations to his said office, for the better accommodation thereof, the same being at present very ruinous and inconvenient ; we being willing to gratify him therein, do hereby order and require you to give forthwith directions for the enclosing 20 ft. in length of the said stables, next adjoining to our pay- office, and for the making such additions to, and alterations in, our said PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 46S master mason In the same year he also finished the substan- tial and handsome church of St. Allhallows Lombard-street : it is eighty-four feet long, fifty-two feet broad, and thirty high, in the interior, which is of the Tuscan order, with a handsome altar-piece of the composite order, and two door-cases of the Corinthian : the tower is a square mass of masonry, with win- dows, and a well-proportioned Corinthian portal of Portland stone. The spacious and well-proportioned church of St. Mi- chael Royal, on the east side of College-hill, was also erected by Wren in this year : it is a fine piece of construction, and well- wrought masonry, executed by Edward Strong f : the interior is a large spacious room, without any column, eighty-six feet in length, forty-eight feet in breadth, and forty feet high : it is lighted by a series of lofty semicircular-headed windows, and has a beautiful altar-piece of the Corinthian order, carved in Dutch wainscot by Grinlin Gibbons, with some exquisite carvings of wheat and grapes, emblematical of the sacrament of the Eucha- rist ; over the pediment of which is Hilton's J fine picture of pay-office, as shall be necessary for our service, taking care that none of the old foundations be removed : and this shall be your warrant. “ Given at our court at Whitehall, this 7th day of September, 1693, in ’ the fifth year of our reign. “ By her majesty's command, “ George Clarke.” “ To our trusty and well beloved Sir Christopher Wren, Knt. Surveyor-general of our Works." * Clutterbuck’s History of Herts, p. 168. t Ibid. J This excellent historical' picture, which was purchased from Mr. Hilton by the directors of the British Institution, after receiving the first 470 THE LIFE OF 1694. Mary Magdalen washing the feet of the Saviour. The tower at the south-west angle of the church is square, carried up to about ninety-feet high, and surmounted by a steeple, beautifully com- posed of columns of the Ionic order. This year, the choir of St. Paul’s was finished as far as the stonework, and the scaffolds of this part were struck both from within as well as without. Evelyn records it as a piece of architecture without reproach *. ■' On the 17th July, 1694, the commissioners for sick and wounded seamen, and exchange of prisoners of war, memorialised the lords commissioners of the treasury, stating, that in obedience to an order from the right honourable the lords commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral of England and Ireland, dated the 11th instant, they were required and directed to cause the south part of the barracks in the Savoy to be immediately fitted for receiving and securing the Irish prisoners who were then to be tried. They viewed and repbrted that it would cost a con- siderable sum of money, which they did not feel empowered to expend without an order from the privy council, and therefore prayed their lordships’ order accordingly. The memorial was therefore sent to Sir Christopher, with a petition from Thomas Morris, sutler to their majesties’ foot guards ; and he was desired to view the same, and report to their lordships as soon as pos- historical premium, was presented to the parish of St. Michael Royal, to ornament their spacious and well-lighted church, by that patriotic body, at the instance of the author of this work, whose family have been domiciled in that part of the metropolis for some generations ; and a beloved portion of them lie buried in a vault under this fine church. t . * Diary, Vol. II. page 43. PAET II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 471 sible *. Sir Christopher reported that that part of the barracks proposed by the lords commissioners is very capable of being made into a fit prison, for the present occasion, and for accom- modating the marshal and his assistants, who must, as they design, be near to prevent escapes ; and considering the con- tingencies incident to alterations and repairs, he considered the estimate as moderate f . As the sutling-house, petitioned for by Mr. Morris, was at so great a distance from the intended prisons, he declared it to be in no wise commodious for this service. In the following month, Sir Christopher had occasion to memorialise the lords of the treasury himself, complaining of the Duke of Dorset, lord chamberlain of their majesties , house- hold, whose lease of the tenements adjoining to Somerset-house had been lately renewed under the broad seal, with licence to rebuild them as the surveyor-general should direct, with which grant, by his grace's directions, Sir Christopher had been made acquainted. At the same time the Earl of Feversham requested that the palace might not suffer any damage through encroach- ments on the ground, or otherwise, by the builders. Conceiving it to be his duty, even if he had not been so advised, Sir Christopher had several conferences with the duke’s agents, who assured him that his grace did not intend doing any thing pre- judicial to the palace; he therefore visited it several times, accompanied by his officers of the works, and with Justice Hancock, whom his grace had intrusted with the management of his buildings and letting the ground; when they took notes * Privy Council MS. p. 150. 472 THE LIFE OF 1695 . of such encroachments. as they found absolutely necessary to be reformed, and of which he had several times given warning. These encroachments and damages he details at length in the memorial, and states, that not having legal power to correct such trespasses upon the king’s houses, he prayed their lordships to take this affair into their consideration, as they shall find expedient*. Queen Mary, the patron of Wren, the amiable consort of the peevish and warlike William of Orange, and the friend of all who sought her protection, died of the small-pox in December, 1694, and 1 Wren was appointed to design and superintend the erection of the mausoleum that was erected in Westminster Abbey at the funeral obsequies of the lamented queen, in March, 1695^. On the 15th April, of this year, Sir Christopher was ordered by the council for the affairs of Ireland to inspect the state of the Tower of London, and to report its fitness to receive prisoners of state J. On the 17th he made his report with his usual activity. * Privy Council MS. p. 150. . t Parentalia, p. 32 7 . + The following entries are from the privy council manuscript so often quoted in the course of this work : “ At the committee for the affairs of Ireland, in the council-chamber at Whitehall, April the 15th, 1695. “ It is ordered by their lordships, that Sir Christopher Wren, Surveypr- General of his Majesty’s Works, do repair to the Tower of London, to view Beauchamp’s tower and Bloody tower, and report what it will cost to repair and put them in a condition to hold prisoners of state ; and what number of prisoners they will hold. Sir Christopher Wren is also to survey the ground behind the chapel in the Tower ; where it is proposed to erect some buildings for keeping prisoners, and to report in like manner what it will cost, and how many prisoners it can be made to hold. And he is PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 473 In the course of this year Wren built the plain substantial parish church of St. Mary Somerset, on the north side of Upper Thames-street, near Broken Wharf. It has a square well-pro- further to consider of the annexed draught proposed for the erecting the said buildings, and give his opinion upon it, or else make such other draughts as he shall think fit, and lay the same, together with his report upon the whole matter, before the committee as soon as conveniently may be. “ William Bridgman.” Sir Christopher’s answer immediately follows : — “ To the right honourable the Committee of Council for the affairs of Ireland. “ May it please your Lordships, “ In obedience to your lordships’ order of the 15th instant, that I should view the several places in the Tower therein-mentioned, viz. Beau- champ’s tower and the Bloody tower, and report what expense will put them in condition to hold prisoners of state, and what number they will hold ; I have accordingly viewed the same, and report that both the said places were put the last summer in better repair than they have been in many years ; being whited, mended, and made strong. But to make them fit for prisoners of state, if by that expression it be intended they should be wainscoted and made fit for hangings and furniture, it may cost <£200 or much more ; but with such walls, windows, and winding stairs, they never can be made proper with any cost without rebuilding. I have also, in pur- suance of the said order, viewed the place behind the chapel, and con- sidered, and do approve, the annexed draught, proposed to be built, which I take to be as large as the place will well bear, containing fifteen squares ; and if it be well built in three stories, cellars, and garettes, it will cost <£ 600 . “ As to the number of prisoners these places may hold, I can only report what number of rooms each place contains. Beauchamp’s tower hath a large kitchen, two large rooms, and two small servants* rooms. 3 p 474 THE LIFE OF 1695. portioned tower, surmounted by a series of pinnacles. The body of the church is finished by a handsome cornice and balustrade. The interior, which is eighty-three feet long, and thirty-six feet wide, is divided into a nave and two aisles. The altar-piece has four Corinthian pilasters, with stylobate and entablature in a good Italian style : he also added the spire to the neat little church of St. Augustine and St. Faith by St. Paul’s ; and the original, and, in some respects, beautiful steeple of St. Vedast Foster, near the west end of Cheapside. During the high protestant ascendancy of the reign of William, the attendance of the bishops in the house of peers became more frequent and regular; but finding want of accommodation, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the episcopal bench, applied for proper rooms for robing, retiring, &c., and Sir Christopher was desired accordingly to prepare apartments for that purpose *. Bloody tower hath a kitchen, one room, and one closet. The new building may contain nine single rooms, besides cellars and garretts, and a kitchen. “ All which is humbly submitted. “ Christopher Wren.” “ April 17 , 1692.” * The order and report, transcribed from Sir Christopher Wren’s manu- script book in my possession, are as follows : — “ Sir, " His grace the Archbishop of Canterbury having desired, on the behalf of himself and the rest of the bishops, that some convenient apartment might be provided and fitted up near the house of peers for their lordships to robe and unrobe themselves, and for other uses ; the lords commissioners of his majesty’s treasury direct you to view some place which may be PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 475 In the course of this year was published the excellent post- humous work of Robert Boyle, called “ A Free Discourse against customary Swearing, and a Dissuasive from Cursing;” which Wren followed up by an order* from himself and his brother proper for the service above mentioned, and to give their lordships an estimate what the charge of fitting up the same will amount unto. This, in the absence of Mr. Guy, is signified by, “ Sir, your most humble servant, “ William Lowndes.” “ Treasury Chambers , 1 st April , 1695.” “ May it please your Lordships, “ In pursuance of your lordships* commands, signified by Mr. Lowndes, upon application of his grace of Canterbury, and by the rest of the bishops, to fit up a convenient room, near the house of peers, for their retirement, out of the common passage — I have viewed the place proper for their use to robe themselves and retire into ; and I conceive the whole expense, to make one room with garretts over and staircase, two chimneys with wainscott, and some alterations to fit the new to the old work, will amount to £U7. “ All which is humbly submitted. “ Christopher Wren.” “ April 4th, 1695.” * The following is a copy of the order which Sir Christopher directed to be affixed in various parts of St. Paul’s cathedral during its building. “ Whereas, among labourers, & c. that ungodly custom of swearing is too frequently heard, to the dishonour of God, and contempt of authority ; and to the end, therefore, that such impiety may be utterly banished from these works, intended for the service of God, and the honour of religion — it is ordered, that customary swearing shall be a sufficient crime to dismiss any labourer that comes to the call ; and the clerk of the works, upon suf- ficient proof, shall dismiss them accordingly. And if any master, working 3 p 2 476 THE LIFE OF 1695; commissioners, which he caused to be issued against that abuse of language, by the workmen under his employment at St. Paul’s. Every thing in the departments of Sir Christopher’s offices was conducted with that regularity and economy that public works demand. We have witnessed the small remunerations he received for his services ; and, in the manuscript book so often quoted in the latter part of this work, is a document signed Stephen Fox, Charles Montague, and William Trumball, three of the lords commissioners of his majesty’s treasury directed, with hearty commendations, to William Roberts, Esq. and the receivers- general and paymasters for the time being of the revenues of the honour and castle of Windsor, stating, that “ whereas, for some time past there had been allowed unto the keeper of the house park at Windsor the yearly sum of fifty pounds, for doing all necessary repairs in and about the said park, furnishing new posts, rails, pales, and nails, keeping in repair the two and twenty gates, with locks and keys, cleansing the ponds and ditches, maintaining the three bridges, cutting the mole-hills, thistles, and nettles, weeding the park, repairing the colt-house and racks for the deer, and doing all other necessary things that should be wanting there,” — this sum they considered as reasonable to be continued by task, shall not, upon admonition, reform this profanation among his ap- prentices, servants, and labourers, it shall be construed his fault j and he shall be liable to be censured by the commissioners.” — Dated the 25th of September, 1695 * Malcolm’s Anecdotes of the Manners* &c. of London* from the Roman invasion to the year 1700* Vol. I. p. 392. — Lond. 3 vols. 8vo. 1811. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 477 for such duties, and pray and require them to pay to Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, Knt. keeper of the said park, or to his assigns, the sum of fifty pounds for one year, due on the said allowance at Lady-day last, and the like sum of fifty pounds per annum for the future, by equal half yearly instalments ; provided certificates be from time to time, in the first place, produced under the hand of the sur- veyor-general of the works, that the repairs and works before- mentioned were well and sufficiently done and performed *. In December, 1695, the Earl of Suffolk represented to Sir Christopher the dilapidated state of the mansion at Audley End, where he resided ; which he immediately surveyed, and reported both its state, and the expenditure necessary to put it in a proper state of repair. This report, which will be found in the note, * This warrant is dated the 3rd of April, 1695, and is immediately fol- lowed by a certificate of Sir Christopher, as under. “ Sir, “ The bearer. Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, black rod, keeper of Windsor house park, by virtue of a warrant dormant from the lords commissioners of his majesty’s treasury, bearing date the third day of April, 1695, is to receive the sum of fifty pounds per annum for doing all necessary repairs in and about his majesty’s said house park at Windsor ; and there being one year’s allowance due to him at Lady-day last past, you may please to pay the said Sir Fleetwood Shepherd the said sum of fifty pounds, he having performed the works in the said warrant. Given under my hand this 21st day of December, 1695. “ Christopher Wren.” “ To William Roberts , Esq. receiver and paymaster - general of his majesty's honour and castle of Windsor 478 THE LIFE OF 1695. gives some important historical facts relating to this celebrated and extensive ancient English mansion *. * Letter from the Earl of Suffolk to Sir Christopher Wren, transcribed from the privy council manuscript book, in my possession. 1711 . ing is the petition taken from their own pamphlet entitled “ Frauds and Abuses at St. Paul’s.” “ To the queen’s most excellent majesty. “ The most humble representation of Sir Christopher Wren, “ Sheweth, “ That your majesty having been graciously pleased (on my humble application) to give some large blocks of marble for your majesty’s statue, with figures and ornaments, to be set up before thing belonging to it, was wholly under his management and direction, and that it was in his power to hasten or protract it. “ That your petitioner having been surveyor of the said cathedral church from the beginning of its rebuilding, and the same (as may be seen) being now completed, excepting the iron fence, some ornaments undeter- mined, and some other matters which some of the commissioners for the fabric have so interposed in, as that his measures for completing the same are wholly over-ruled and frustrated ; and thereby he is under this hard- ship as neither to be paid the salary that is due to him, nor suffered to perfect the work that is made the condition of it. “ Your petitioner, therefore, most humbly prays your honours to grant him such relief in the premises as to your great wisdom and justice shall seem meet. “ And your petitioner will ever pray, &c. “ Christopher Wren.” “ Whereupon that honourable and august assembly,” says Sir Christo- pher, “ so considered his case, and were so well satisfied with the justice and the reasonableness of it, as to declare the church to be finished, so far as was required to be done and performed by him as surveyor-general: and it was accordingly enacted, that the suspended salary should be paid him on or before December 25, 1711* Which he has the truest sense of, and has not, he hopes, been wanting in all due acknowledgments and re- PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 503 the west front of St. Paul’s, I employed a very able statuary therein, and have no reason to doubt but that all will be very well performed by him. 5 “ That a pedestal for the said statue' and figures being pre- pared after my design, I did intend to have an iron fence round the same, to be done by Mr. Tijoue in the best manner, and suitable to the other performances. But Mr. Dean of St. Paul’s, Dr. Hare, Dr. Harwood, and two or three more commissioners, the Dean of Sarum also joins with them, having on Thursday last directed that it be done by such model only as they shall approve (and it is well known what sort of persons and way they are inclined to), I thought it my duty to lay this their treatment before your majesty, that they will not suffer your own surveyor to direct the fencing, &c. that your majesty so largely contributed to ; and it is most humbly submitted to your majesty’s judgment and consideration, by “ Christopher Wren.” “ February 13, 710-11.” In 1712, Dr. Woodward, the learned antiquary and natural philosopher, whose antique # shield was so unmercifully scowered turns for it. Neither is it possible that he, or his posterity, should ever forget so signal and distinguishing a favour ; while he can remember the unjust and vile treatment he had from some in the late commission for St. Paul’s ; which was such as gave him reason enough to think that they in- tended him none of the suspended salary, if it had been left in their power to defeat him of it.” * This curious and celebrated antique was a small round iron shield, of about fourteen inches diameter ; on the concave side of which were 504 THE LIFE OF 1712. by the band of satiric wits who clubbed the history of Martinus Scriblerus, published his account of some Roman urns, and other antiquities recently discovered near Bishopsgate, with brief re- flections upon the ancient and present state of London, in the form of a letter to Sir Christopher Wren # , who, notwithstanding it was at his desire that the letter was printed, did not agree f with the doctor, that a temple of Diana stood on the site of St, Paul's, although he had prepared a dissertation on her image, dug up near that cathedral J. Sir Richard Steele, in the 552nd number of the Spectator, dated December 3, 1712, printed a series of proposals, which he conceived worthy of public attention, and stated that among other omissions of which he had been guilty, with relation to men of industry of a superior order, he was compelled to acknowledge represented, according to the doctor’s opinion, in the upper part, the ruins of Rome, when burnt by the Gauls, and below, the weighing out of the gold to purchase their retreat, together with the arrival of Canullus, and the flight of the Gauls ; and in the centre was wrought a grotesque mask, with horns very large and prominent. When it came into the pos- session of Dr. Woodward, he had several casts made from it, and also, in 1705, had it engraved in Amsterdam, by Van Gunst, on a copper plate, the size of the original, copies of which he transmitted to many learned foreigners for their opinion. — Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors . — See also note to page 202 of this work, page 290. * Ibid. . t See Appendix, No. 20, concerning Westminster Abbey, near the beginning ; and also, Appendix, No. 14, p. 72, line 4. t This dissertation, which has never been printed, is in the possession of Mr. Alexander Chalmers, the author of the General Biographical Dic- tionary, who, it is hoped, will publish it. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 505 his silence towards a proposal frequently made to him by Mr. Renatus Harris*, organ-builder. The ambition of this eminent artificer was to be permitted to erect an organ in St. Paul’s Cathedral, over the great west door, at the entrance into the body of the church, which, in art and magnificence, was to have transcended any work of that kind ever before invented. The proposal set forth in perspicuous language the honour and ad- vantage such a performance would be to the British name, as well as that it would apply the power of sounds in a manner more amazingly forcible than, perhaps, has yet been known, and Sir Richard adds to an end, he was sure much more worthy. ‘ ‘ Had the vast sums,” he continues, “ which have been laid out upon operas, without skill or conduct, and to no other purpose but to suspend or vitiate our understandings, been disposed this way, we should now, perhaps, have an engine so formed as to strike the minds of half a people at once, in a place of worship, with a forgetfulness of present care and calamity, and a hope of endless rapture, joy, and hallelujah hereafter.” This fine proposal, like many others, was however not executed. This year our architect’s eldest son, Christopher, was elected, and took his seat in parliament, for the borough of Windsor, a seat previously occupied by his father f. In 1713, Sir Christopher published his reply to the anony- mous attacks made upon him in the pamphlet called “ Frauds and Abuses at St. Paul’s;” both of which have contributed to * See Sir John Hawkins’s History of Music, Vol. IV. p. 353, and 354. t Parentalia, Introd. p. ix. 3 T 506 THE LIFE OF 1714. these memoirs. He also presented to his late constituents of Windsor a statue of Prince George of Denmark, which is placed in a niche on the south side of the Town-hall, Windsor, corresponding to that of his royal consort and sovereign Queen Anne, which is on the north. The prince is represented in a Roman military habit, and on the pedestal is the following inscription : Serenissimo Principi Georgii Principi Dani®, Heroi omni saeculo venerando, Christophorus Wren, Arm. Posuit, MDCCXIII. In this year he also surveyed Westminster Abbey, for his friend Bishop Atterbury, the Dean of Westminster ; and wrote an ex- cellent historical and scientific report on its structure and defects, communicating his opinions on the best modes of repairing it, and other observations connected with it *. On July 31, 1714, Sir Christopher lost by death the last of his royal English patrons, Queen Anne ; when, in pursuance to the act of succession, her majesty was succeeded by the Elector of Hanover, as George the First. The house of commons, as usual, became extinct ; and at the meeting of the new parliament * Appendix, No. 19. This report was written at the desire of Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, Dean of Westminster, and principal com- missioner for the repairs of Westminster Abbey. The heads of it are in the Journal of the Antiquarian Society : but the original was in possession of his son Christopher, and it is printed in Parentalia, whence it is copied into the Appendix of this work. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 50 7 his son Christopher was a second time returned member for Windsor *. The office of commissioners for rebuilding St. Paul’s also expired; and, in May 1715, a new commission was issued, dated 1 Geor. I. “ for the carrying on, finishing, and adorning of this cathedral f.” In this commission the name of Sir Isaac Newton appears for the first time. The works at St. Paul’s continued, and the petty opposition to its architect increased. His age (83), rather than his in- firmities, gave them pretences to annoy him ; and the king’s partiality to his German subjects, their friends and connexions, to whom Wren would not condescend to stoop, removed the personal influence of the sovereign, no longer the protector of British interests when German influence prevailed, from our patri- archal architect J. These cabals against the architect continued to increase, fostered, no doubt, by Benson and his German friends about the king, who opened a scene of bribery and corruption, in the dis- posal of places, scarcely equalled § in any period of our history. # Parentalia, Introd. p. ix. t Ellis’s Dugdale, p. 174. t In a scarce work, called Memoirs of John Ker, of Kersland, in North Britain, Esq. published by himself, and dedicated to Sir Robert Walpole, he asserts, that “ it is very well known that Mr. Benson was a favourite of the Germans ; and I believe nobody had more occasion to be convinced of the power of this influence than myself : so great, indeed, that Sir Christo- pher Wren, the famous architect, who contrived the stately edifice of St. Paul’s church, and finished it in his own time, was turned out of his em- ployment of being master of the king’s works, which he had possessed with great reputation ever since the Restoration, to make way for this favourite of foreigners. — Ker' $ Memoirs, p. 110. 8vo. London, 17 ^ 6 . § The same Mr. Ker, quoted in the last note, among other examples of 3 t 2 508 THE LIFE OF 1717. To instance one: Sir Christopher originally designed St. " Paul’s without the balustrade which crowns the upper cornices ; but the commissioners determining to have one, sent him a copy of their resolution to that effect, to which he returned the fol- lowing answer : — “I have considered the resolution of the honourable the commissioners for adorning St. Paul’s cathedral, dated October 15, 1717, and brought to me on the 21st, importing, ‘ that a balustrade of stone be set up on the top of the church, unless Sir Christopher Wren do, in writing under his hand, set forth, that it is contrary to the principles of architecture, and give his opinion in a fortnight’s time ; and if he doth not, then the re- solution of a balustrade is to be proceeded with.’ “ In observance of this resolution, I take leave, first, to declare I never designed a balustrade. Persons of little skill in archi- tecture did expect, I believe, to see something they had been used to in Gothic structures ; and ladies think nothing well without an edging . I should gladly have complied with the vulgar taste, but I suspended for the reasons following : the corruption of the court of George I. says, “ Robert Walpole, Esq. had got a patent for the reversion of a place in the customs for his son, which Mr. B., before-mentioned, being informed of, he told Mr. W. that he was in terms of disposing of it to another for <£1500, and would let Mr. W. have it for the same sum, if he pleased ; and upon that gentleman’s contemptibly rejecting this proposal, he resented it so, that Mr. W. was turned out of his own public posts, and of all favour at court, even at a time when he was about to execute a generous public good, — to lessen the debt of the nation.’* — Ker’s Memoirs , p. 109. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 509 “ A balustrade is supposed a sort of plinth over the upper colonnade, which may be divided into balusters over open parts or voids, but kept solid over solid parts, such as pilasters ; for a continued range of balusters cannot be proposed to stand alone against high winds : they would be liable to be tipped down in a row if there were not solid parts at due distances intermixt, which solid parts are in the form of pedestals, and may be in length as long as the frieze below, where pilasters are double, as in our case ; for double pilasters may have one united pedestal, as they have one entablature, and one frieze extended over both. But now in the inward angles, where the pilasters cannot be doubled, as before they were, the two voids or more open parts would meet in the angle with one small pilaster between, and create a very disagreeable mixture. I am farther to observe, that there is already over the entablature' a proper plinth, which re- gularly terminates the building ; and, as no provision was originally made in my plan for a balustrade, the setting up one in such a confused manner over the plinth must apparently break into the harmony of the whole machine, and, in this particular case, be contrary to the principles of architecture. “ The like objections arise as to some other ornaments ; suppose of vases, for they will be double upon the solids; but in the inward angles there will be scarce room for one, though each of them be about 2 feet 9 inches at bottom, and 9 feet high ; yet these will appear contemptible below, and bigger we cannot make them, unless we fall into the crime of false bearing, which artisans of the lowest rank will have sense enough to condemn. 510 THE LIFE OF 1718. “ My opinion, therefore, is, to have statues erected on the four pediments only, which will be a most proper, noble, and sufficient ornament to the whole fabric, and was never omitted in the best ancient Greek and Roman architecture 5 the principles of which, throughout all my schemes of this colossal structure, I have religiously endeavoured to follow ; and, if I glory, it is in the singular mercy of God, who has enabled me to begin and finish my great work so conformable to the ancient model. “ The pedestals for the statues I have already laid in the building, which now stand naked for want of their acroteria . “ Christopher Wren “ October 28, 1717.” The following year witnessed the disgraceful fall of Sir Chris- topher Wren, in the 86 th year of his age, and the 49th of his office as surveyor-general of the royal buildings; his mental faculties unimpaired, and his bodily health equal to the finishing, as the head of his office, the works he had so ably began. He could not stand against the German influence of his competitor Benson, and was compelled to yield to the cabal, who prevailed upon the king to supersede f the patent of the man, “ the length * From some family papers belonging to the late Mr. Hurst, t “ Ap 1 . 26, 1718. Exauctoratus est: An 0 , aet. Octogesimo sexto, et praefecturae quae operum regiorum quadragesimonono. "On avfcr) Ba nxevs tyos og (A A. c. 7.) fix, rjSei rov ’Iajmjp’ xou ov$ev fouJaiy he being appointed on the death of Sir John Denham, a poet and critic as well as Benson, in 1669, and superseded in 1718. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 513 greater part of the remaining five years of his life, occasionally coming to London to inspect the progress of, the repairs at Westminster Abbey, visiting his great work St. Paul’s *, and indulging, after such an active life, in contemplation and studies f . In addition to the consoling study of the holy scriptures, which had been the guide of his whole life, and with which he was well acquainted J, he employed this leisure of his age in those philo- sophical studies to which he conceived it was the intention of Pro- vidence that he should apply himself more closely. Among these studies, he overlooked part of his thoughts for the discovery : of the longitude at sea, a review of some of his former tracts in astronomy and mathematics, and other meditations and researches ; whence it appeared, that though time had enfeebled his limbs, which was his chief ailment, yet it had but little influence on the * Horace Walpole says, the beginning and completion of St. Paul’s by Wren are “ a fabric and an event which one cannot wonder left such an impression of content on the mind of the good old man ; that being carried to see it once a year, it seemed to recal a memory that was almost deadened to every other use. ,, t Upon this occasion the author of Parentalia quotes a manuscript of Sir Christopher’s friend Bishop Sprat, to the following effect : — “ Heroic souls a nobler lustre find. E’en from those griefs which break a vulgar mind : That frost which cracks the brittle common glass. Makes crystal into stronger brightness pass.” t The Greek quotation in the note of page 510, which closes the Latin memoranda of his life and acts, is in Sir Christopher’s handwriting, and shows the strength of his memory, and his ready acquaintance with the Greek testament. 3 u 514 THE LIFE OF 1719. vigour of his mind, which continued, with a vivacity rarely found at that age, till within a few days of his death *. Sir Christopher notwithstanding his great age, outlived but one of his buildings, which would be no phenomenon in the hi- story of some of his successors. His Custom-house, which he built in 1668f, was consumed by fire in the course of this year. In the year 1719, the lofty picturesque tower and steeple of St. Clement Danes, in the Strand, designed by Gibbs, was added to the body, which Sir Christopher built in 1682 f. Among his illustrious cotemporaries, his eminent and learned friend Flam- steed died on the last day of December this year, at his observa- tory at Greenwich : as did the elegant-minded Addison, on June 17, at Holland House. The unparalleled neglect and ingratitude with which our illus- trious architect was used had at least one eminent person to com- miserate, in Sir Richard Steele ; who, in his Tatler § , wrote an ad- mirable character of him in the appropriate apologue of Nestor, elucidating, that though modesty is to the other virtues in a man, what shade in a picture is to the parts of the thing represented, making all the other beauties conspicuous, which would otherwise be but a wild heap of colours, it should however be justly applied ; for if there be too much, it hides our good qualities, instead of showing them to advantage ||. In a note to this paper, the writer * Parentalia, p. 346. t See page 244 of this work, t Ibid. p. 333. § No. 52. SI This apologue is as follows : “ Nestor in Athens was an unhappy in- stance of this truth ; for he was not only in his profession the greatest man of that age, but had given more proofs of it than any other man ever did $ FART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 515 declares that “ any attempt to declare his extensive merit, to enumerate his manifold inventions, or even to mention his literary yet, for want of that natural freedom and audacity which is necessary in commerce with men, his personal modesty overthrew all his public actions. Nestor was in those days a skilful architect, and in a manner the inventor of the use of mechanic powers, which he brought to so great perfection, that he knew to an atom what foundation would bear such a superstruc- ture : and they record of him, that he was so prodigiously exact, that, for the experiment’s sake, he built an edifice of great seeming strength ; but contrived so as to bear only its own weight, and not to admit the addition of the least particle. This building was beheld with much admiration by all the virtuosi of that time ; but fell down with no other pressure but the settling of a Wren *, upon the top of it. Yet Nestor’s modesty was such, that his art and skill were soon disregarded, for want of that manner with which men of the world support and assert the merit of their own per- formances. Soon after this instance of his art, Athens was, by the treachery of its enemies t, burned to the ground. This gave Nestor the greatest * This passage, says the annotator, alludes to an opposition which was made to a digest of de- signs for the reparation of St. Paul’s, laid before the king and the commissioners in the beginning of 1 666, which, the author insinuates, was rather an opposition to Sir Christopher Wren than to his plan ; it continued, however, till within a few days of the fire, on September 2, in that year, (see page 186 of this work) which put the reparation of that cathedral out of the question. There was also another model of St. Paul’s, to which Sir Christopher, certainly the best judge, and far from mercenary, gave the preference, and which he would have executed with more cheerfulness and satisfaction, had he not been overruled by those whom it was his duty to obey. The subject being now before us, he was also thwarted about his beautiful plan for the rebuilding the city after the fire, in which the deformity and inconveniences of the former city were remedied, as may be seen in the engraved plan accompanying this work ; but the execution of that noble design was unhappily prevented by the disputes which arose about private property, and the haste of re- building. f The burning of Lyons in Gaul, as related by Seneca, Ep. 92, is the event in history that many have thought to come nearest to the fatal fire of London ; of which Steele does not state, with strict precision, the extent, or the origin. Destructive as it was, says the annotator upon the apologue, it did not destroy the whole city ; nor is it altogether certain that it was kindled by the treachery of its enemies : nor is there any such assertion in the original inscription written for it 3 u 2 516 THE LIFE OF 1720. productions and architectural works, in a note on a paper of half a sheet, to say nothing of the absurdity, would be an indignity to one of the most accomplished and illustrious characters in history.” In the year 1720, among other contrivances to annoy Sir Christopher in his declining age, a groundless rumour was raised, that the Sheldonian theatre at Oxford was in a dangerous state. To remove this false impression, no time was lost in obtaining the occasion that ever builder had to render his name immortal, and his person venerable : for all the new city rose according to his disposition, and all the monuments of the glories and distresses of that people were erected hy that sole artist : nay , all their temples , as well as houses, were the effects of his study and labour ; insomuch that it was said by an old sage, * Sure Nestor will now be famous, for the habitation of Gods, as well as men, are built by his con- trivance.’ But this bashful quality still put a damp upon his great know- ledge, which has as fatal an effect upon men’s reputations as poverty, for it was said * the poor man saved the city, and the poor man’s labour was forgot*;* so here we find, the modest man built the city, and the modest man’s skill was unknown. But surely posterity are obliged to allow him that praise after his death, which he so industriously declined while he was living. Thus, we see, every man is the maker of his own fortune ; and what is very odd to consider, he must in some measure be the trumpeter of his own fame : not that men are to be tolerated who directly praise them- selves ; but they are to be endued with a sort of defensive eloquence, by which they shall be always capable of expressing the rules and arts whereby they govern themselves.” — Tatler , No. 52. by Sir Christopher, as may be seen in page 293 of this work. In the present inscription, cut, effaced and recut, it is roundly charged on the malice of the papists ; the pro and con of the argu- ment may be found in the first volume of Bishop Burnet's History of his own Times. * Eccles, chap. ix. v. 15. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 51 7 opinions of able and efficient persons, who, by command of the vice- chancellor, surveyed and made the following report upon it : “ We, William Townesend, of Oxford, mason, and Jeremiah Franklin, and Thomas Speakman, of the same, carpenters, do hereby certify, that by the command of the Rev. Robert Shippen, Doctor in Divinity, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, we did, on the day of the date hereof, survey, and strictly examine the whole fabric of the theatre in the said university, and do find, that all the same is in perfect repair, and good order ; all the walls thereof no where appearing in the least defective ; and the roof, which has been formerly swayed or sunk in the middle about eleven inches, occasioned by the shrinking of some of the timbers, and great weight of books formerly laid upon it, appearing to us to be in as , good a condition as it was above twenty years since, when the like examination was made. And we do further certify, that the whole fabric of the said theatre is, in our opinion, like to remain and continue in such good repair and condition for one hundred or two hundred years yet to come. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto put our hands, the eighth day of March, Anno Domini, 1720. “ William Townesend, “ Jeremiah Franklin, “ Thomas Speakman So vanished into vapour this and other attacks on the reputation of Wren, which was too firmly rooted to be demolished by such vain assaults, and is still growing and enlarging in public estima- tion. * Parentalia, p. 3S7. 518 THE LIFE OF 1720. The accompanying plate, engraved after an accurately reduced drawing from the Parentalia, represents the construction of the ceiling of this fine structure, which I inspected, while under repair, about eighteen years since. As one proof of its excellence, I have only to say that the gilded ropes which passed under the painted ceiling were formerly conceived to be of iron, and assist- ants to its support ; they were, however, only carved oak, affixed to the ceiling to represent, in relief, the cords on which the com- mon curtain is supported. As an illustration, I have appended an account of it from Dr. Plot’s Natural History of Oxon * ; which, from its techni- cality, I have little doubt was obtained from Sir Christopher himself: Fig. 1 f. — “ Wherein a a a and bbb show the walls of the theatre that support this frame of timber, and the places of the pilasters of the rail and baluster round it; ccc and ddd the leads and pipes let down into the wall for conveyance of water ; eee and fff the wall plate, or lintol, and places of its joints; g g g the girders of the semi-circle, each supported by a king-post or crown-post, cut off at khh 9 and secured into the binding-beam i i i, which is somewhat different from the rest of the binding- beams k kk t lll y mmm, n n n, having several prick posts let into it at o o o o o, beside the king-posts that support this and the rest ppppp, &c. “ The letters qqqq show the purlines between the binding- beams, not set right against one another, because of room to turn * See chap. ix. t See plate annexed. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 519 the screws whereby they are fastened, and rrrr two dragon (perhaps rather trigon) beams or braces lying under the joints ss ss s s, &c. “ The true lengths and distances whereof, and of all other pieces of timber and plans whatever, are all shown by the scale, and so are the lengths and distances of the several pieces of timber set over this flat-floor, such as the principal rafters ft ft, the crown- posts or king-pieces uuuu, the prick posts w w w, braces or pun- chions ocx OCT) by all which together, the binding beams, girders, joists. & c. are all held up as it were by an arch above, as in Fig. 2. which is all the band of timber that stands next the semi- circle, having prick-posts, and different one half of one of them. Fig. 3. — Which is all I think need be said concerning this fine piece of timber-work, only that there are cross braces between the middle crown-posts, as they stand in a line from the front to the semi-circle, as is represented, Fig. 4. marked with the letters, Vyyyyy > l iere > an( l as they stand, Fig. 1. — And that it was contrived by our English Vitruvius, the Right Worshipful and Learned Sir Christopher Wren, and erected at the sole charge of his Grace Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chan- cellor of the University ; who, besides the expense of the struc- ture, gave £2000 to purchase lands for the perpetual repair of it, which is like to stand a most magnificent and lasting monu- ment of his grace’s munificence and favour of good learning to all posterity. “ The painting of the ceiling of the theatre is worth examina- tion ; for in imitation of the theatres of the ancient Greeks and Romans, which were too large to be covered with lead or tile, 520 THE LIFE OF 1721 . this, by the painting of the flat-roof within, is represented open : and, as they stretched a cordage from pilaster to pilaster, upon which they strained a covering of cloth, to protect the people from the injuries of the weather, so here is a cord moulding gilded, that reaches cross and cross the house both in length and breadth, but now furled up by the genii round about the house toward the walls, which discovereth the open air, and maketh way for the descent of the arts and sciences, that are congregated in a circle of clouds, &c .” In addition to the public works of Sir Christopher Wren, and to which I have not been able to affix dates, are two splendid town mansions at Chichester ; one near the east gate on the north side of East-street, and the other on the west side of South-street. They are both well built of red brick, with stone architraves round the windows, and finished with a Corinthian modillion cornice, much resembling the one near the south-west angle in St. Paul’s church-yard, also by him. He also took dowh and re- built the upper part of the spire of the cathedral, and fixed therein a pendulum stage to counteract the effects of the south and south- westerly gales of wind, which act with considerable power against it, and had forced it from its perpendicularity. The section on the plate, which has also the elevation of the steeple of St. Dun- stan’s in the East, measured and delineated by the author of this work, under whose direction it was taken down and reinstated in 1813 and 14, shows the situation and dimensions of this curious and useful piece of machinery. To the finial is fastened a strong metal ring, and to that is suspended a large piece of yellow fir- PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 521 t timber eighty feet long, and thirteen inches square ; the masonry at the apex of the spire, being from nine inches to six inches thick, diminishing as it rises. The pendulum is loaded with iron, adding all its weight to the finial, and has two stout solid oak floors, the lower one smaller by about three, and the upper one by about two and a quarter inches, than the octagonal masonry which surmounts it. The effect in a storm is surprising and satisfactory. While the wind blows high against the vane and spire, the pen- dulum floor touches on the lee side, and its aperture is double on the windward : at the cessation, it oscillates slightly, and terminates in a perpendicular. The rest of the spire is quite clear of scaf- folding. This contrivance is doubtless one of the most ingenious and appropriate of its great inventor’s applications. Of his private houses (and I by no means purpose this as a complete list) are Marlborough House, Pall Mall, now inhabited by his Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg, which was built by Sir Christopher for Anne, Duchess of Marlborough, after her quarrel with Vanbrugh *. Dwelling houses, bearing so much the fashion of the day, are less criterions of an architect’s talents than his public works ; yet Marlborough House possesses great claims to notice as a town mansion of much comfort and good taste. The large mansion on the south side of Queen square, Bloomsbury, now divided, is also by Wren, who built it for Lord Newcastle : the plans are among his drawings at All Souls Col- lege, Oxford. He also designed the Doric court, the council chamber, the audience room, drawing room, &c. of St. James’s * See DTsraeli’s Curiosities of Literature. 3 x 522 THE LIFE OF 1m palace, which are in the same collection ; as also a town-house by the Thames for Lord Sunderland ; another for Lord Allaston 5 the large house before mentioned in St. Paul's church-yard ; the fine mansion in Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, now divided into four ; occupied, in its pristine state, by his son * ; more re- cently, by the celebrated surgeon and anatomist, Mr. Shelden ; and in my memory, by the late Mr. Alderman Combe in the larger portion, an eminent artist in the smaller. Sir Christopher’s noble front, with its majestic cantaliver cornice, have now been taken down by a speculative builder, and common act of parliament fronts “ run up,” as the modern phrase goes for such works. Besides these, there are others in the same collection unnamed, and some enumerated ; as Madam Cooper’s lodging, Clefland-court, St. James’s; the Earl of Oxford’s house, at St. James’s ; the Duchess of Buckingham’s, in St. James’s 'Park ; and various other plans, that had been left after the ransacking, before Judge Black- stone bought and presented them to the college. The life of this great and useful man began now to draw near a close ; but accident, and, perhaps, disappointment at the ungenerous conduct of the king to him at so advanced an age, shortened that life which temperance and activity had so pro- longed beyond the usual term of man’s life. Till the time of his removal from the office of surveyor-general, he had principally resided at a house appropriated to his office in Scotland-yard, Whitehall ; hut afterwards he dwelt occasionally in St. James’s- * Miss Wren, of Ardbraccan, has letters of this gentleman to her father, Stephen Wren, dated from this house. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 523 street, and remained surveyor of the Abbey till the time of his death. He also rented a house from the crown at Hampton- Court, to which he made great improvements *. Here he would often retire from the hurry and fatigue of business, and passed the greater portion of the last five years of his life in this calm recess, in those contemplations and studies which I have before enumerated. In coming from Hampton-Court to London he contracted a cold, which, perhaps, accelerated his dissolution : but he died as he had lived, with the greatest calmness and serenity. The good old man, in his latter days, had accustomed himself to take a nap after his dinner ; and on the 25th of February, 1723-1*, the ser- vant, who constantly attended him, thinking he slept longer than usual, went into his apartment, and found him dead in his chair. * From a manuscript by Stephen Wren, his grandson, in the possession of Miss Wren. f The placid soul of Wren might, by a poetical license, be imagined to have informed the equally placid mind of Reynolds, who was born the year that Wren died. No two men could be found to form a more just parallel : — equally distinguished for industry, love of art, placidity, modesty, communicativeness, disinterestedness. And the idea is by no means de- stroyed in remembering our illustrious painter’s veneration for our great English cathedral, and his voluntary offer to decorate it with his magic pencil. Farewell, ye departed twin-spirits of British greatness ; ye both were at the head of your respective artsj ye both lie in honour, and in possession of the love and reverence of your countrymen, beneath the same vast dome that honours both your memories. “ Goodness and ye fill up one monument.” 3x2 524 THE LIFE OF 1723. From a mask taken * shortly after this event, which I have con- templated with calm delight, it was as placid as sleep, and resem- bling, as his admiring friend Steele says of Dr. South, “ that of the saints, and might well be called * falling asleep for the in- nocence of his life made him expect it as indifferently as he did his ordinary rest f POSTSCRIPT. The physiognomical character of Sir Christopher Wren may be gathered from the fine print which forms the frontispiece to this work, and which I selected from several others for its cha- racteristic and historical traits. His person is said to have been short f in stature, and his state of health originally delicate ; but by temperance, exercise, and skilful management, he enjoyed through life a good state of health, and his life was protracted to an unusual length. By his works is he known, not only as an architect, but as a mathematician, and as a scholar of the first * Now at Ardbraccan-house, the palace of the venerable Dr. O’Beirne, Bishop of Meath, in the possession of Miss Wren. t Tatler, No. 61. t Seward records, in elucidation of this fact, without naming his authority, that when Charles the Second came to see the hunting-palace which Sir Christopher had built for him at Newmarket, he thought the rooms too low. The architect walked about them, and looking up, replied, tc Sir, an* please your majesty, I think them high enough.” When the merry monarch, stooping himself to his architect’s stature, replied, waddling about, “ Upon second thoughts, Sir Christopher, I think so too.” PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. . 525 eminence. His invention was so rapid and so fertile, that nearly all his propositions were at once ripe for execution ; and his dis- coveries were so numerous and so useful, that he will always be esteemed a benefactor to his country and to mankind. It is enough to say, that Newton, Boyle, Hooke, Evelyn, Barrow, were among his associates, and joined in his praise. His funeral was attended by a numerous assemblage of persons of honour and distinction from his house in St. James’s -street, where he died, to the cathedral, which he erected to his own and his country’s honour. Here his mortal remains were deposited in the crypt, in a recess under the southernmost window of the choir, near to others of his family. This honoured spot is railed in, and the plain slab of black marble which covers his coffin is inscribed in deeply cut letters : — * HERE LIETH S r CHRISTOPHER WREN The Builder of This Cathedral Church of S T PAUL &c who Dyed in the Year of our LORD M DCC XXIII And of his Age XCI On the western jamb of the window is affixed a handsome marble tablet, six feet three inches long, and three feet high, sunk into a panel with a well-sculptured border of eggs and tongues on a moulded ovolo and hollow, and inscribed as follows : but the thought of “ Reader, if you seek his monument, look around 526 i THE LIFE OF 1728. you,” argues that it was intended for a situation in the church : but if cabal and intrigue prevented its proper application at the time, the justice and firmness of Robert Milne, one of his worthy successors in the care of the cathedral, has remedied it by a handsome copy of it in large gilt brass letters on a well- proportioned tablet in front of the organ, forming an attic to the elegant marble screen which supports it. The reader may now, indeed, read and cast about his eyes in amazement and delight ; but the debt due from his country will never be paid till par- liament vote a sum of public money to erect a statue to the man who so enriched it by his works. The inscription, which was written by his son Christopher, is as follows : — SUBTUS CONDITUR HUIUS ECCLESI.® ET VRBIS CONDITOR CHRISTOPHORUS WREN, QUI VIXIT ANNOS ULTRA NONAGINTA, NON SIBI SED BONO PUBLICO. LECTOR SI MONUMENTUM REQUIRIS CIRCUMSPICE Obijt XXV Feb: An°: MDCCXXIII Mt: XCI. Near to this honoured spot lie the remains of other great and illustrious men of renown in art ; such as Reynolds, Barry, Opie, and West ; and as Westminster Abbey has her poets' corner, this may as appropriately be named and kept sacred to art, as our artists' corner. To the above just and filial testimonials to our great architect s PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 527 memory, his son added, as appears in Parentalia, the following distichs : — “ Marmora parva quidem, sed non cessura, viator, Mausola saxis pyramidumque, legis.” Martial. “ Umbrae Dii tenuem dent, et sine pondere terrain, Spirantesque crocos, et in urna perpetuum ver.” Juven. Sat. VII. Other inscriptions were proposed : one, by the author of that which was adopted, and called in Parentalia an after-thought, runs thus : H. S. E. CHRISTOPHORU S WREN HU JUS ECCLESLE ET URBIS CONDITOR QUI VIXIT ANNOS ULTRA NESTOREOS, NON SIBI, SED PATRIiE. VIATOR, SI TUMULUM REQUIRIS, DESPICE ; SI MONUMENTUM, CIRCUMSPICE. OBIIT 25 FEB. ANNO MDCCXXIII. JETAT. XCI. The following inscription, dated March 7, 1723, is attributed by the editor of Parentalia to a St. Paul’s scholar: — Suspice et mirare. CHRISTOPHORU S WREN EQUES AURATUS, TOTIUS HU JUS FABRICS MAGNUS ARCHITECTUS: 528 THE LIFE OF 1723. MOLI HUIC IMMENSE, SACK.®, EXIMIiE, QUAM ANIMO CONCEPERAT, QUAM INCHOAVERAT, QUAM PERFECERAT, UNIUS HOMINIS OPUS, HAUD MORTALI DATUM. BIS FACTUS IMMORTALIS DE C^LO INVIGILAT, MENTE PERMEAT, CORPORE SUSTENTAT, QUANTELLI CORPORI QUANTUS ANIMUS, QUALIS MENS! DEPOSITUM SERVET ECCLESL® MEMOR SUI ! SUBTUS JACET FUNDATOR, CURATOR. QUAM GRANDE OPUS ! QUAM PERENNE MONUMENTUM ! The following Latin verses from the same work are also dedicated to his memory : — Aliter In eundem. [Stylo Martialis.] Quanta quies placidi est, et quanta scientia Wrenni ! Sed cohibet vires, ingeniumque pudor. Ante fores dubitat fortunam admittere stantem j Seque piget curae praemia ferre suae. • Laudes ex meritis, magnisque laboribus ortas, Ore verecundo noluit esse suas. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 529 Palladiam tenui frontem redimire corona Contentus, famse nec dare vela suae. Sed tamen hunc nostri scit temporis esse * Rabirum Artis mira suae qui monumenta videt. In eundem, astronomum et architectum , basilica divi Pauli , et urbis Londini conditorem. Astra polumque suo concepit pectore Wrennus, Paulinam mira qui struit arte domum. Ista manus Triviae templi revocasset honores ; Seu mausolei ; seu Babylonis opus. Grandior ex flammist Augusta renaseitur, artem Stantia non poterant tecta probare suam. De Londini post incendium restaur ato. Qualiter Assyrios renovant incendia nidos %, Una decern quoties saecula vixit avis : Taliter exuta est veterem § Nova Troja senectam Et sumpsit vultus || Principis ipsa sui. Since more than half this work has been put to press, a ques- tion has arisen relative to the accuracy of the date of the birth of Wren, as given in my first page. Walpole says he was born at London in 1632, but his authority is scarcely worth the quoting. Parentalia, which is but one of my authorities, says^f, “Sir Christopher Wren, the only son of Dr. Christopher Wren, dean of Windsor, was born at East Knoyle in Wiltshire, on the 20th day * Rabirius, architectus eximius, tempore Imp. Domitiani. t Vetus Londini nomen. t Martial, L. V. Ep. 7. § Vetus Londini nomen. II Caroli R. % Page 181. 3 Y 530 THE LIFE OF of October, 1632.” Mr. Britton observes in his address read before the Society of Architects and Antiquaries of London, that “ this is inconsistent with the entry in the parish register of East Knoyle, from which we learn that Christopher, the son of the Rev. Christopher Wren, was baptized Nov. 10, 1631 # .” Sir Richard Colt Hoare, in his friendly wish to communicate know- ledge, informs me by letter, that the following is a correct extract from the register at East Knoyle : — “ Christopher, second son of Christopher, doctor in divinity, Nov. 10, 1631.” These dates cannot both be correct. Stephen Wren, his grandson, says he was the only son, and born in Oct. 1632 f, and the Knoyle register says he was baptized in Nov. 1631, eleven months before. My reasons for inclining to the date given in Parentalia are according to the laws of evidence, the preponderancy in number of the witnesses. First we have the authority of Parentalia, which was compiled by his son and .grandson; next a manuscript in the possession of Miss Wren, written by her father, Sir Christopher’s grandson ; and last, but not least, the Latin manuscript of Mr. Christopher Wren, his son, in the Lansdowne collection at the British Museum, so often quoted in this work, and described in the third page. In ad- dition to the note there given at the words Octob. 20, 1632, is added the following explanations from that manuscript. * “ History of Modern Wiltshire, Hundred of Mere.” By Sir R. C. Hoare, Bart. 1822, p. 187. t Parentalia also, in p. 147, has it “ Christophorus Wren, filius unicus Reverendi Christoph. Wren, Decanus Windesori, natus erat die VIII bns 20° paulo ante octavam vespertinam, anno 1632. PART II. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. 531 “ Periodo Juliana 6345, A. M. 5581, quo anno et menso contigit ’XufjLaTixr} 2u£uy/a o et $ quam (ad morierum Kepleri) ob- servavit Gassendus Parisiis” “ Item die inaugurationis R. Caroli II. conjunctio erat solis et Mercurii in eorde solis.” To the words “ ex schedis avitis” quoted also in page 3, Mr. Wren adds as a note, “ In domo convocations ; id sexta- gentibus D. D. D bus Owen, vice Cancellario, et Wilkins, Guardiano de Wadham, et M ro Ward, Astronomic Professore Amicissimus.” Thus, friendly reader, have I laid before you the best account of one of the most able and eminent, of our countrymen that I have been able to indite. It may be inefficient, for few could adequately describe bis great and various merits. His immediate successors, or the cotemporaries of bis declining years, on whom the duty more immediately devolved, neglected the solid ore of his discoveries, his inventions, and his productions: and after they have lain buried in the rubbish of obscurity for an entire century*, I have attempted to unclose the mine and exhibit its wealth. How far I have succeeded in attracting your attention from the whirlwind of to-day towards the calm of history and the claims of neglected genius, is yet to be discovered. If it should be, that I have failed, I take leave to assert, that it is neither the fault of the subject of my history, nor a deficiency of industry in its writer ; for it has been my labour of love for nearly fifteen years, * Wren died Feb. 25, 1723, and on Feb. 25, 1823, this work is published. 532 THE LIFE OF SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. although the present version was began and completed within twelve months: but, my disappointed vanity must then confess, that it was entirely owing to my incapacity for the greatness of the task I had undertaken. “ Quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis.” Ovid. London , February 25, 1823. J. E. END OF PART II. APPENDIX. PART III. b APPENDIX. No. 1. Dedications of his newly invented Astronomical Instrument and Treatise , to his Father. — Page 17. Reverendo Patri Domino Chris tophero Wren, S. T. D. et D. W. Christopherus Filius hoc suum Panorganum Astronomicum D. D. XIII . calend: Novem. An°. 1645. Si licet, et cessent rerum (pater alme) tuaruhi Pondera, devotag respice prolis opus. Hie ego sidereos tentavi pingere motus, Coelicaque in modules conciliare breves. Quo (prolapsa did) renoventur tempora gyro, Seculaque, et menses, imparilesque dies. Quomodo sol abeat, redeatque, et temperet annum, Et (raptum contra) grande perennet iter ; Cur nascens gracili, pleno orbe refulget adulta, Cur gerat extinctas menstrua luna faces. His ego numinibus diim bto, atque ardua mundi Scrutor, et arcanas Conor inire vias, b 2 4] APPENDIX. Adsis, 0 ! faveasque, pater, succurre volanti Suspensum implumis dirige prolis iter, Ne male, praecipiti, nimium prae viribus audax (Sorte sub Icarea) lapsus ab axe ruam : Te duce, fert animus, studiis sublimibus hisce Pasci, dhm superas detur adire domos. Dedicatio , ad Patrem , Tractatus De Ortu Fluminum . Jure accepta Tibi refero mea Flumina ; pulchre Derivata suum respicit Unda caput. No. 2. Letter to Prince Charles Elector Palatine . — Page 22. To his Most Illustrious Highness Charles, Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine , &c. Most Illustrious Prince, When of old a votive table was hung up to some deity or hero, a few small characters, modestly obscuring themselves in some shady corner of the place (as yet the modern custom is) were never pro- hibited from revealing the poor artist, and rendering him somewhat a sharer in the devotion. Indeed, I was almost prompted to such a APPENDIX. [5 presumption, out of my own zeal to a Prince, so much mercurialium custos virorum ; but the learned votary who consecrates these tables to your Highness (being one who suffers me to be a most addicted client of his) civilly obstetricated my affection to your Highness, by adding his commands to me to tender this oblation ; and had not my too indulgent patron, by undeservedly thinking them not unfit for his own presenting, (though exceedingly beneath your Highness’s acceptance) robbed me of my humility, and taken away the extreme low thoughts I should otherwise have had of them, I must needs have called the first device, but a rustick thing concerning agriculture only*, and therefore an illiberal art, tending only to the saving of corn, improper in that glorious prodigal soil of yours, where every shower of hail must necessarily press from the hills even torrents of wine. The other conceipt I must have deplored as a tardy invention, impertinently now coming into the world after the divine German art of printing. Of the third paper 1 cannot say any thing too little : it is extenuation enough to say that they are two mites, two living nothings, nay, but painted nothings, the shadow of nothing; and this shadow rarified too, even to forty thousand times its former extension, if it presents you with any thing in nature, it is but with a pair of atoms. Now if it be possible for your Highness to force yourself to accept such extreme littlenesses as these, you will therein imitate the Divinity, which shews itself maocime in minimis , and pre- serve that devotion towards your Highness, which I conceived while yet a child, when you was pleased to honour my father’s house by * A planting-instrument, which being drawn by a horse over land ready plowed and harrowed, shall plant corn equally without want and without waste. 6 ] APPENDIX. your presence, for some weeks*, who therefore must eternally retain a sense of being Your Highness’s most humble and Most devoted servant, Christopher Wren. No. 3. Letter from Thomas Aylesbury f. — Page 22. Spectatissime Juvenis, Sciotericon tuum AKPIBH2 eoncinnatum, cursusque heliaci fide- lem interpretem aecepi equidem, et summa lustravi cum voluptate ; caeterum haereo, utrum artificis ingenium, an authoris munus magis congratuler, utrumque stupens demiror, deosculor ; ubi sobs diurna conversio, atque accessu, decessuque annuo intra solstitiales terminos dimetitur. ’OPrANON OPrANDN non alio delectu gaudens quam proprio, et si magneticae aeus invento minus aequale, certe magis in- fallibile, qu6d illud alienum superbiens ductum tuo subdis dictamini, et sine istius adminiculo veraci concilias coneordid, jubesque (tua manu dimota) ad institutum tuum subsistere. Insuper non infra hujus solarii circulum tua admiranda compinguntur. In paternis aedibus solertiae tuae specimina, et limatae philosophiae AEI^ANA omnibus aulaeis anteferenda appenduntur; et pro re nat&, in ca- # The Deanery-house at Windsor, which his Highness occasionally made use of for retirement, and benefit of the air. t Author of “ Diatribse de rnterno divino beneplacito circa creaturas in- tellectuals decreto.” — 4to. Cantab. 1659. APPENDIX. [7 meris, in tricliniis, et per quascunque fenestras sol radios immittit, eos gnomonicorum subjicis regulis. Neque coelestis motus contrario dispositu (qualis inter analemma et horologium solet dirigi) sed (retorti luminis beneficio) ipsissimi Solaris eircuitus projectione aemula. Ut sol de sphser& su& deductus tamquam sponsus procedens de tha- lamo exultat , ut gigas ad currendam viarn . O te foelicem ! qui ipsum Phoebum ante conspectum provehis ! Quantam messem spondent haec tenuioris aetatis semina? Nec male auguror te id genus stu- diorum TAMEIA, et Eleusinia ingressum, ad illorum delicias prove- hendas natum, terrasque adhuc in hoc globo incognitas tua disqui- tionis clave adaperiendas ; adeo in id nervos intendis tuos. Quod- que vortat tibi foeliciter summopere adprecor. Vale, mathemati- corum ocelle, et ama tui observantissimum Thom am Aylesbury. Die salutiferse passionis, 10 April. 1649. No. 4. Letter to his Father concerning Dr. Scarborough , Mr. Oughtred , fyc. Page 28. Anno 1647 ,