therefore, by a moderate computation, were equivalent to £, 500 fterling.—- 1 The ftlver 
work alone, employed on the embellilhraent of the altars, for the facred utenfils, & c * 
was confiderably above a hundred weight ; from which, and a right elaborate eftunate 
of the jewels, ornaments, infignia, and plate of the Cathedral, they mull altoge- 
ther have exceeded ten thousand rounds fterling value ! 
Amidft all this parade and fplendor, the mvftical divinity prevailed. The very bells 
were call with words in their mouth, as if animated and founding the voice of piety > 
and were named after the angels. 
One, called Gabriel, was furrounded with the appofite text, 
Lo! I PROCLAIM UNTO YOU GLAD TIDINGS ; — GLAD TIDINGS UNTO ALL 
PEOPLE ! , 
Another, named Michael, aflumes the voice of the archangel; exprefling ana 
exemplifying the divine command. 
Make a loud noise unto God! praise him acceptably with a solemn 
sound. 
A third, in language more appropriate, perhaps, tells its various office. 
I celebrate the Sabbath : proclaim the solemnities of the sanctuary • 
and sound the funeral knell *. 
A fourth rings an ejaculation to the V irgin : 
Protege precor, pia, quos convoco, Sancta Maria ! 
Which has been paraphraled in a manner that does full juftice to the original : 
Plail! Holy Mary ! — at the infpiring found 
Afiembling crowds convene to prayer and praife : 
Blefs thou the pious, who thy fhrines fur round ; 
For this to Heaven My folemn voice I raife. 
An infcription of a correlponding ftrain, was placed over the gate that led into j 
court of the Cathedral f, on a piece of fculpture reprefenting the Virgin with the chi 
Jefus in her arms, and as patronefs of the canonry. Verfes of a fimilar nature wit 
the above, and which give a fublimity to the turn of thought, concifely exprefled in t 
Latin, are not foreign to our purpofe, and may be therefore acceptably repeated here. 
See ! o’er the gates that to thefe altars lead, 
Maternal Deity her love difclofe ! 
Let all who feek thefe facred courts to tread, 
On love divine their pious hopes repofe. 
Dare not approach ; — unlefs with holy care 
You to the glorious Virgin fay. All hail ! 
But if the hallowed name you thus revere. 
Your prayers, your w : fh for accefs, fhall prevail. 
Thefe yield us ftrong expreffions of the peculiar enthufiafm, fo prevalent in that £ ra j 
which blended the adoration of Mary with every facred thought ; and finally P roVC 
fo fatal to the Catholic caufe. _ , 
It is not a little remarkable, in evidence of this, that in the charter granted J 
King James IV. devoting ample territories to the church, and confirming all the ^ 
ligious efhbliffiments of the Cathedral and See of Aberdeen, there is no expreffioWj _ 
his piety to the Supreme Being, nor of veneration to the Messiah and Son of 
but only — “ For the special devotion which we bear to the most glori 
st Virgin Mary ! in praise and honour of HER; we grant, &c.” ( . e . 
The too dittinguifhing charafteriftic of the Catholic faith, at this tera, was this P _ 
eminent devotion to the Holy Virgin, and confequent veneration of her i ta r y 
Sculptured and painted reprelentations of the Virgin and Child, appeared on e 
* Sabbato pango— Solennia clango — Funera plango. 
f Hac ne vade via, nisi dixeris Ave Maria ! 
Invenies Veniam, sic sai.ut.indo Mariam. 
