78 
LETTERS FROM 
England. In some of the churches there 
are confessionals, which are wooden stalls 
like watch-boxes, divided into two parts, in 
one of which the priest sits, and the person 
confessing kneels in the other, whispering 
through a hole in the partition. These con¬ 
fessionals being open in front, both parties 
are exposed to public view. On one of the 
churches is this inscription, “ Indulgentia 
plenaria, quotidiana, perpetua, pro vivis et 
mortuis,” which being interpreted signifies, 
“ Full, daily, and perpetual indulgence (or 
absolution, I suppose they mean,) for the 
living and the dead.” 
The cathedral church of St John, though 
very plain outside, is exceedingly beautiful 
within, but the gilding, with which the walls 
are nearly covered, has become sadly tar¬ 
nished, and the pavement and other parts are 
in very bad repair. There are many paintings 
