Architecture And Archæloogy.

of St . Peter , Westminster . It Avas opened in the year 1730 , with the anthem " O give thanks . " It was to be regretted that a great number of the service books of the abbey were ¦ destroyed . In early times church music Avas preserved - with pious care , and the singing men and boys Avere enjoined , when using service books , to interpose the sleeve of the ¦ surplice between their hands and the books , Avith a view to

the preserA'ation of the latter . Iu the subsequent morose age of Christianity cathedral music Avas denounced as "Popish and sinful superfluities , " and destroyed Avith remarkable energy aud acrimony . The thanks of the Meeting ha \ ing been unanimously aAvarded to Mr Hart , Mr . JOSEPH BUKTT made some observations on certain

eazly documents found in the ancient treasury beneath , the library . These records Avere brought to light some few years ago by Mr . Gilbert Scott , the architect to the cathedral , who { found a quantity of muniments beneath the rubble in a narrow passage which had formerly been a portion of the treasury . In ancient times the King ' s treasures Avere deposited in this room , and in tho reign of Edward I . ( 1303 )

property to the then value of £ 100 , 000 ( now representing £ 2 , 000 , 000 ) Avas stolon , and the Abbot of Westminster and forty of his monks Avere sent to the ToAver on suspicion . Oiving , hovreA-er , to the vigorous steps taken by the King , Avho wanted the money to pay for the Scotch ivar , a great ¦ portion of the j > late and Araluables Avas recoArered , and it is due to the memory of the Abbot to add that the crime was proved to have been committed by a travelling

merchant , assisted by the sacristan of the abbey and the keeper of the King ' s palace . The manuscripts accidently found by Mr . Scott included a letter of Thomas of Woodstock , date 1360 ( written on paper ) , and a great number of documents connected Avith the Courts of Record at Westminster Hall . Specimens of tho curious manuscripts , and also some ancient dies , keys , seals , buckles , spurs , and other

objects Avere exhibited in the library . Many of the manuscripts ( all written iu Latin ) were in excellent preservation , and may be read Avith ease by ]) ersons familiar Avith blackilettcr characters . At the conclusion of Mr . Burtt ' s observations , the members proceeded to the interior of the abbey , and there , in the western nave , standing immediately above tho grave of

Robert Stephenson , Mr . Gilbert Scott explained the principal architectural points of interest in the abbey , and exhibited diagrams , showing the original formation of the church , and also the portions which have succumbed to the influence of time . Mr . HEN ' EV MOGFOKD subsequently commented on the monuments as a museum of sculpture .

Mr . Joiix HuxTEKalso read a paper in Henry the Seventh ' s chapel on the institution of the Order of tho Bath . In the afternoon several of the members attended Divine service , and at the conclusion the meeting was resumed in the chapter-house , Avhich Avas explained by Mr . Scott and Mr . Bnrfct . From thence the members proceeded to the Jerusalem Chamber , Avhere a paper Avas read by the ReA " . THOMAS HUGO descriptive of the building and its contents .

GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE . The first stone of West Cowes ( Isle of Wight ) National Schools Avas laid on the 24 th ulb . The building IIOAV in course of erection is intended for an infant school , 60 feet by 20 feet , and about 23 feet hi gh , affording accommodation for 150 children . By the general plan it is intended to erect three schools of thc same dimensionsaffording

accommo-, dation for 450 children ; also residences for the master and mistress . The structure erected in the Saw Close , Bath , for the Blue Coat Schools has been opened Avith some ceremony . It contains two school-rooms , —one for boys , and one for girls , —Avith committee-rooms and offices , and a residence lor the master and mistress . During the removal of thc

building a . portion of a Roman tesselated pavement was found near the foundations . This was removed , and has been relaid , under his superintendence , in thc entrance-hall of the master ' s private residene . The corn-market , Berkhampstead , Avhich for some years has been discontinued in consequence of the destruction of

the old market-house b y fire , has been re-opened iu the new building which has been erected , containing a market-bouse for the sale of corn on the ground-floor , and tAVO rooms o \ 'ei" , one of Avhich is to be used as a library , and the other for the accommodation of the members of tho Mechanics' Institute . At the back there is a hall 52 feet by 32 feet , for hofding meetings , balls , & c .

Designs of buildings proposed to be erected ( at a cost of £ 1000 ) for the Bradford Volunteers have been on view in St . George ' s Hall , Bradford . The buildings Avill include a large drill-room , 97 feet long by 60 feet broad , in the centre ; a gymnasium , 44 feet long by 20 feet broad ; and sergeants ' orderly room , 20 feet by l 5 feet , on the other side , A residence for the drill-sergeant will stand at one cornerin the

, rear of the building . Thc elevation , in the Italian style of architecture , presents a broad entrance , Avith folding-doors in the centre , and has a verandah , with seating beneath , running along its entire length . The new church of St . John the Evangelist , Tvrinstead , ( Essex ) has been consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester . The church is in the style of the fourteenth century . Thc

internal Avails arc all worked Avith black , Avhito , and red bricks , into arcades , arches , and geometrical designs . The nave is benched Avith open seats , and is separated from tho chancel by three arches AAuth ornamental brass work , in tho centre of which is fixed a large gilt cross . Thc pavement is of encaustic tiles , which in the chancel are of blue tint . There is an altar screen of stone with carved angels AA ith

wings extended at the corners , divided into compartments painted and gilt in tho Medieval stylo , Avith scenes in the life of the patron saint of the church . Above is a painted window Avith the Crucifixion in the centre light , and there are other windows of stained glass in tho chancel . The roofs are stained . There is a small veshy , and organ

chamber , a gable and bell , and ornamental crosses at the apex of thc roof , The church of Cople , Bedfordshire , has been re-opened , after a renovation of the interior . The Avhole area both of nave and chancel has been cleared out , and now floors laid . The blocks of sittings arc arranged on a more convenient plan . The best of the old oak scats have been re-erected ,

hut by far the greater portion arc IICAV , of pitch-pine or red deal . Those in the navo , with the pulpit , are varnished , with a feAV mouldings pricked out with colours . The paA ements are of Portland cement , Avith tile borders and coloured mosaic patterns in thc centre . St . Michael ' s Church , Leafield , Oxfordshire , tho first stone of Avhich was laid by Lady Churchill on All Saints '

Day , 1858 , Avas consecrated on the 19 th ult ., by the Bishop of Oxford . Tho style of the new edifice is Earl y English . It consists of a nave , Avith north and south aisles ; a chancel , also Avith aisles ; and a vestry at the north-east corner , Avith a A'anlt under for hot-air apparatus . There is a central octagonal tOAver , and spire , surmounted by a weather-vane , rising 1-15 feet 6 inches from the ground line . The tower is ornamented by four double lancet AvindoAvs , Avith Milton stone shafts , moulded bases , and carved capitals ; and the

spire by four gabled single lancets , similarly decorated . Tho nave is divided from the aisles by an arcade of four bays on cither side , supported by circular piers , Avith moulded bases and square capitals , from Avhich tho arches spring square , Avith labels over them , aboA'o which are inscriptions painted on zinc : tho clerestory windows are square-headed triplets , with detached mullions , standing fair with [ the inside of the

Avail . The tOAver is supported by four piers , with carved capitals and moulded arches , Avhich rise nearl y to the bell floor . The Avhole of thc roofs are of stained deal , open framing , plastered betAveen tho rafters , and covered with felt under tho Stones-field slate . The sittings arc open , of pitch-pine , stained and varnished , and Avill accommodate about 500 persons , 250 free . The church is entered from the

Avest by a recessed doorway , Avith a carved medallion in the tympanum , and on the south by a porch . It is built of local stone , the external face of the Avails being hammerdressed , and the internal finely chopped and pointed . Thc Avhole . of tho dressings are of Milton stone . The length of the navo is 66 feet b y 21 feet 6 ' inches wide , and thc chancel , including tho choir and sanctuary , 41 feet by 16 Avide ; thc height , from the floor to the ridge of the roof , 43 feet 6 inches : the total length of the church internally is 107 feet .