58 
NATURE NOTES 
absorbing interest, led to a full attendance, the Selbornians being reinforced by 
members of the Astronomical Section of the Hampstead Scientific Society. 
During the course of his masterly address Mr. Crommelin explained the chief 
method of measuring astronomical distances ; alluded to the passage of light, and 
then passed on to deal more especially with the Milky Way and with its position 
in the stellar universe. The new stars in Auriga and Perseus, the first of which 
appeared twelve, and the second three, years ago, received special consideration, 
and Mr. Crommelin explained that those sudden and gigantic flares were believed 
to be due to collisions, the cause and nature of which were not yet understood. 
Anyhow, it was astounding what must be the extent of the celestial world when 
they realised that the disturbances, of which they had lately received visual 
evidences, occurred, according to the best computations, two or three centuries 
ago. Hearty thanks were accorded to Mr. Crommelin for the intellectual treat 
he had given. The chair was occupied by Mr. P. E. Vizard, one of the founders 
of the Hampstead Branch, in i888. 
SELBORNE SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. 
January 30. — Notwithstanding the inces.sant rain, over seventy Selbornians 
met at St. Paul’s Cathedral, through which they were conducted by a substitute 
kindly sent by the Rev. Canon Scott Holland who, we regret to say, was too ill 
to be present. 
Of all the ancient monuments, one alone remains uninjured from the Great 
hire of 1666 — the strange figure in white marble, set in a niche in the wall, of 
the Poet Donne, Dean of the Cathedral, who died in 1631. Dressed in his grave 
clothes, he rises from a cinerary urn, the white marble of which bears marks of 
the Fire. 
The afternoon light was too subdued to allow one to inspect the mosaic 
decorations in progress, or to judge the different merits of the historic memorials; 
but one could not fail to admire the beautiful monument by Stevens to the Duke 
of Wellington, which in its new position adds greatly to the general beauty of the 
Cathedral. 
In the Crypt, Nelson’s sarcophagus, the Duke of Wellington’s tomb and 
funeral car received due attention, but there was a general lingering round 
the “ Painters’ Corner,” among well-known names, where is also to be noticed 
the modest tomb of the great aitist and architect of the Cathedral. Later, a 
passing glance was given to the Library, after which Wren's original model 
was examined with considerable interest. 
Towards the close of the afternoon, when looking over the Cathedral from the 
Whispering Gallery, the beautiful effects of light and shade, the magnificent 
proportions, and the unity of design harmonised in such a manner that, however 
much one may regret that Wren was not allowed an entirely free hand, one 
cannot but admit that the blending of the Classic and the Gothic is so perfect that 
there is no jarring line in the whole Cathedral. 
February 13. — Under the very able guidance of Mr. F. Downing, member of 
Council, between fifty and sixty Selbornians had the pleasure of being conducted 
over the Temple Church and Halls, reminiscent of so much that is historical and 
literary in the past. After a look at Goldsmith’s tomb and the two stone coffins 
<li.scovered in 1861, the members passed on to the gardens, the scene, according 
to Shakespeare, of the plucking of the rival roses of York and Lancaster, and 
thence on to the Church and the Halls. 
The Round Church, said to have had its prototype in the Temple near to the 
Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, was completed by the Knights Templars in 1185, 
and dedicated the same year to the Blessed ^’irgin, by Ileraclius, Patriarch of 
Jerusalem. The rectangular part was added later and consecrated in the pres- 
ence of Henry HI., in 1240. The style of the combined church is “Transitional 
Norman ” in the round and “ Early English ” in the oblong portions. The 
church has passed through many vicissitudes of fortune, and perhaps fire and 
mob have done less damage than that deadly foe to architecture, the .so-called 
“ restorer.” Accordingly, the interior calls up conflicting feelings, for while there 
is much to be admired, there is also much to be deplored. Hidden away in the 
south-east corner, made dark by the stalls, are an ancient Aumbry and double 
Piscina, and in a recess adjoining lies a mitred recumbent figure of the fourteenth 
