us, dedicating it, as the Latin name briefly denotes, to Divine Wisdom. Its architecture indeed, is greatly inferior to that of a higher and more classical period; yet the effect is grand and im. pressive, and the copola is admired as a bold and skilful effect of the art, while the seeming weight is diminished by the lightness of the materials, which are bricks formed of a particular clay that will float in the water. The interior is adorned with a profusion of marble columns of various beautiful descriptions, the purple Phrygian, green Spartan, red and white Carian, African of a saffron colour, and many other kinds.

There is a very beautiful cathedral at Salerno, which, though less expressive, may be compared with the temple of Sancta Sophia in point of splendour, and in some part of it has a considerable resemblance to it.

The temple of Sancta Sophia, however, has been less happy in its fate; for upon the triumph of the Ottomans, it was converted into a Turkish Mosque, and continues such to the present day. [Editor.

SECTION XX.

Monastery of Montserrat.

MONTSERRAT is well known to be one of the most romantic mountains of Spain: it is situated in the vicinity of Barcelona, and has given its name to one of the Leeward Carabbee Islands from a supposed resemblance to it. Towards the summit of this craggy and perpendicular steep, are erected a monastery and chapel dedi. cated to the Virgin Mary. The scenery is highly picturesque; and from the difficulty of the ascent, it has long been resorted to by pilgrims, who wish to show a proof of their zeal and superiority to fatigue. It is inhabited by monks of several nations, who entertain gratuitously, for some days, all who visit them, whether from curiosity or devotion.

The mountain is calculated at ten miles in circumference, and three thousand three hundred feet above the level of the sea; towering over a hilly country like a pile of grotto-work, or Gothic spires.

SECTION XXI.

Stone-henge.

THIS celebrated monument of antiquity, is of very uncertain date. That it is very ancient is admitted by every one, but its origin, intention, and era, are points of the most doubtful controversy. Its situation is on Salisbury-plain, six miles from the city of this name.

It is described by Camden as a huge and monstrous piece of work, such as Cicero termeth insanem substructionem. For within the circuit of the ditch, he says, there are erected, in manner of a crown, in three ranks or courses, one within another, certain mighty and unwrought stones, whereof some are 28 feet high, and seven broad; upon the heads of which others, like overthwart pieces, do bear and rest cross-wise, with small tenons and mortises, so that the whole frame seemeth to hang on which ac count we call it Stone-heng, as our old historians termed it, because of its magnitude, chorea gigantum, the giant's dance. The perpendicular stones are called corse-stones, and the over. thwart ones are called cronets. This antiquity says Mr. Inigo Jones, because the architraves are set upon the heads of the upright stones, and hang, as it were, in the air, is generally known by the name of Stone.heng. The whole work, in general, being of a circular form, is a hundred and ten feet in diameter; double winged about, without a roof; anciently environed with a deep trench, still appearing about thirty feet broad: so that betwixt it and the work itself, a large and void space of ground being left, it had from the plain three open entrances, the most conspicuous of which lies north-east; at each of which was raised, on the outside of the trench, two huge stones, gate-wise; parallel to which, on the inside, are two others, of less proportion. The inner part of the work, consisting of an hexagonal figure, was raised, by due symmetry, upon the bases of four equilateral triangles, which formed the whole structure. This inner part was likewise double, having within it also another hexagon raised; and all that part within the trench, situated upon a commanding ground, eminent, and much higher than the surrounding plain; in the midst of which, upon a foundation of hard chalk, the work itself was placed; insomuch that, from whatsoever part they came into it, they rose by a bill of easy ascent. In the inmost part of the work is a stone, appearing not much above the surface of the earth, and lying