S A L I i 
the square area in the centre by a series of unglazed win¬ 
dows. On the eastern side a vestibule forms a communication 
with the chapter-house, which is a lofty, light, and elegant 
piece of architecture, of an octagonal fonn, and supported 
in the centre by a small clustered column. A stone seat sur¬ 
rounds the interior; and at the east end, facing the entrance, 
is a second seat, raised above the former. A series of 
arcades, with columns and arches, extend round the lower 
part, between the seat and the sills of the windows. Over 
these arches are several specimens of ancient sculpture, in 
bold basso and alto-relievo, representing various incidents 
mentioned in the sacred writings. The interior of the church 
also contains many subjects entitled to notice and descrip¬ 
tion. At its western extremity is a lofty window, tilled with 
stained glass, the work of William Egginton, who executed 
it at the expense of William Benson Earle, Esq. Two 
windows at the east end of the church are likewise filled 
with stained glass ; one from a design by Sir Joshua Rey¬ 
nolds, and the other from a picture by Mortimer. The 
former represents the Resurrection, and the latter a group of 
figures raising the brazen serpent. The stalls, bishop’s 
throne, organ-screen and organ, are all of modern date, and 
all betray marks of their origin. Parts of the organ-screen 
are, however, extremely beautiful, as are also two other 
screens, which have been placed under the north and south 
arches of the tower, in order to strengthen and support 
them. The monuments are too numerous to admit of sepa¬ 
rate description. We shall only therefore mention the 
names of the principal persons to whom they belong, or 
who are known to have been buried here. The bishops who 
have monuments are, Herman, Josceline, Poore, Roger, Wal- 
ter-de-la-Wyle, Osmund, Hyde, Thomas, Hume, Davenant, 
Capon, Ward, York, Audley, Bingham, Wyckampton, 
Roger de Mortival, Wyvil, Gheast, Jewel, and Mitford; 
but several others of them were undoubtedly interred in the 
church. The other distinguished characters whose ashes 
repose here, are Thomas, Baron Wyndham, of Finglass, in 
Ireland; William Longspee, Earl of Sarum; Robert, Lord 
Hungerford; one of the Lords Stourton; Lord Cheney; Sir 
Walter Hungerford ; Lord Chief Justice Hyde; Sir Thomas 
Gorges, of Longford Castle; Edward, Earl of Hertford; 
John, Duke of Somerset; Elizabeth, Duchess of Somerset; 
James Touchet, Lord Audley; James Hams, Esq., author 
of Hermes; Henry, Earl of Pembroke, and numerous mem¬ 
bers of the same illustrious family. Here is besides a monu¬ 
ment of a choral bishop. It consists of a slab of stone, sup¬ 
porting the effigy of a boy habited in episcopal robes, with 
a mitre on his head and a crosier in his hand. At his feet is 
a figure of a dragon, with his head reflext to his tail. This 
monument, having been concealed by seats, lay undiscovered, 
as was supposed, for several centuries, and when brought 
to light, in 1680, excited much speculation relative to its 
actual intention. The first person who gave a satisfactory 
solution of the difficulty, was the Rev. John Gregory, chap¬ 
lain to Bishop Duppa. This gentleman, after much laborious 
research into the ancient archives of the church, discovered a 
remarkable custom,'practised in early times, of electing an¬ 
nually, from among the children of the choir, a chorister 
bishop, whose authority lasted from the day of St. Nicholas 
to Innocents’ day at night. This boy-bishop not only 
bore the name and held all the state, but likewise exer¬ 
cised some of the most important functions of the episcopal 
office; and in the event of his death during his prelacy, 
was buried with all the honour and pomp becoming his high 
station. 
The different members belonging to the cathedral are a 
bishop, a dean, a chancellor, three archdeacons, a sub-dean, 
a sub-chanter, forty-five prebendaries, four vicars and petty 
canons, six singing men, eight choristers, and an organist, 
besides sextons, vergers, and other inferior officers. The 
dean, together with six residentiary canons, who are chosen 
from among the dignitaries and prebendaries, constitute the 
chapter, and have the superintendance and management of 
all affairs connected with the church. In ancient times the 
bishops of Salisbury held the dignity of precentors to the 
S B U R Y. 575 
Archbishop of Canterbury; and since the reign of Charles II. 
they have been hereditary Chancellors of the Garter. The 
diocese over which they preside contains the whole of Wilt¬ 
shire, with the exception of two parishes, Kingswood and 
Whitesbury; and all Berkshire, except the parish of Chilton, 
and the chapelry of Little Faringdon, in Langford parish, 
comprehending in all 544 parishes, of which 109 are impro¬ 
priations. The archdeaconries are those of Salisbury, Wilt¬ 
shire, and Berkshire; the first comprising the deaneries of 
Salisbury, Amesbury, Chalk, Wilton, Wyly, and Pottern; 
the second, with the rectory of Minety, those of Avebury, 
Cricklade, Malmesbury, and Marlborough; and the third, 
those of Abingdon, Newbury, Reading, and Wallingford, 
with the annexed rectory of North Moreton.—See History and 
Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury, illustrated 
with engravings, by J. Britton, F.S.A., 4to., 1815. Histo¬ 
rical Account of the Episcopal See of Salisbury, by William 
Dodsworth, 4to., 1815. 
The Bishop's Palace, which stands at a short distance from 
the south-east corner of the cathedral, is a large irregular 
structure, evidently the work of different and distant periods. 
Indeed we believe scarcely a bishop has possessed the see for 
any length of time, who has not made alterations in, and en¬ 
largements to, this building. The late Bishop Barrington 
added some parts to it, and also effected considerable im¬ 
provements in the garden. Dr. Fisher also paid particular 
attention to the latter; and under his lordship’s tasteful 
direction, much improvement as to picturesque effect has 
been produced. In the palace are several portraits of bishops, 
the oldest of which is that of Bishop Duppa, and the latest 
that of the present prelate. 
The College of Matrons, situated near the entrance into 
the Close from the High-street, was erected by Bishop Ward, 
who settled upon it an endowment yielding 200/. per annum, 
but that sum has since been greatly increased by the rise in 
the value of property, and also by various additional bene¬ 
factions. This college is appropriated for the reception of 
ten widows of clergymen of the established church, who have 
each an allowance of money, and is under the patronage of 
the Bishop, Dean, and Chapter, who elect alternately in the 
event of a vacancy. 
Public Buildings in the City .—Among the principal are 
the new council-house, the parish churches, the infirmary, 
and the county gaol. The new council-house stands at the 
south-east corner of the market-place, on the scite of an older • 
building appropriated to the same purposes, which was des- ' 
troyed by fire in 1780. It was erected between the years 
1788 and 1795, under the authority of an act of parliament, 
and at the sole expense of the Earl of Radnor, to whose 
munificence and public spirit Salisbury is indebted for 
several other valuable improvements. This structure is of 
brick, but the angles of each front are ornamented with rustic 
work in stone. The principal front faces the north, where 
the ascent to the door is by a semicircular flight of steps, 
beneath a recessed portico, supported by four Doric columns, 
with an inscribed entablature above, in commemoration of 
the founder and donor. All the apartments are on one floor, 
and consist of a council-room, two court-rooms, a grand 
jury-room, rooms for the different officers of the corporation, 
a waiting-room, and a vestibule. The courts of law occupy 
the left, and the council the right wing. 
The parish churches are three in number; St. Martin’s, St. 
Thomas’s, and St. Edmund’s. St. Martin’s church stands 
upon an eminence at the east end of the city, and is said by 
Leland to have been erected in place of a more ancient 
edifice, which was situated at Harnham ; but the author of 
the “ Antiquitates Sarisburienses,” contends, that the church 
of St. Martin has always stood on the same scite. The pre¬ 
sent building consists of a nave, two aisles, and a chancel, 
with a tower at the west end, and contains a few monuments, 
but none of them are of any note. The church of St. Tho¬ 
mas, situated near the centre of the city, is said to have been 
erected by Bishop Bingham, about the year 1240, and to 
have been dedicated by him to Thomas a Becket, in honour 
of the martyrdom of that bold and zealous advocate for 
y ecclesiastical 
