40 On Church Bells. 



WITH SOME NOTICES OF WILTSHIRE BELLS. 

 By The Rev. W. C. Lttkis. 



I do not propose to enter into the antiquity and history of bells 

 in general. This has been done already by several most able 

 writers of our day, I refer particularly to the Reverends Alfred 

 Gatty, and H. T. Ellacombe. My object is to speak of church bells 

 exclusively, as we find them, making some passing allusions to 

 some of the uses to which they were applied in former times, as 

 well as to those to which they are applied now. 



Accordingly into the origin of church bells, whether they were 

 adopted into the christian church from heathen temples, or whether 

 they are the legitimate offspring of the church herself, I will not 

 now enquire. 



And in the pursuit of this very interesting and fruitful subject 

 I propose to consider the following divisions : — 



1. Belfries; their condition, and the causes of their frequent 



dilapidation. 



2. Bell-founders and foundries. 



3. The composition of bell-metal. 



4. Method of casting and tuning bells. 



5. Bell hanging. 



6. Expenses of bells in early and present times. 



7. Ancient bells. 



8. Epigraphs or legends. 



9. Bell ringing. 



10. Spoliation of bells, temp. Reformation and subsequently. 



11. Comparative scale of tenor bells. 



I have adopted this order, because in investigating the subject of 

 campanology, the belfry first presents itself to your eyes. You 



