By John narding. 117 



was not granted by him. The Clerk of the "Works, nothwith- 

 standing, was afterwards instructed to make an estimate of the 

 weight and value of the whole of them, of which the follo-sving is a 

 copy :— 



" Mr. Robt. Wells values the Bells at \0d. per lb. and is the most he will give 

 for them in plaee if taken in exchange, and 9rf. per lb. for the whole if no new 

 I5ells are cast." 



From this report it will be seen tliat only three of the bells were 

 in tlie bell-chamber, viz., the 1st, 4t]i, and 6th, all the others, being 

 cracked, had been lowered to the ground-floor. 



Anotlier apphcation to the Bishop (Hume) " for permission to 

 sell the useless bells," was made in 1777, the profits therefrom 

 arising 



"To be appropriated to the prnjjosed improvement or future improvement in 

 repairs of the Church." 



Bisliop Hume was at that time engaged in removing the seats 

 and fittings from the nave of the Cathedi-al, in undoing Sir 

 Christopher Wren's work in the choir, and forming closets, or rather 

 boxes, with galleries over, at the back of the stalls, approached by 

 staircases in the choir aisles. The petition of the Chapter wliich 

 gave promise of additional funds to be used " for the improvements 

 of the Chm-ch " met with a favourable reception fi-om the Bishop, 



:d the facult}'' was granted. After this no time was lost in dis- 

 )>osing of tlio five bells Avhieh were on the Belfry floor, where they 

 had lain awaiting their fate for eleven or twelve years. 



