If it be allowed to apply to a building dedicated to the special purpose of burials only, the general terms of ecclesiastical architecture, I would describe the Mausoleum as consisting of a porch, the projection for which is continued to the same elevation with the rest of the building; a nave; a chancel; and an angular apsis. The circular arch of the porch is decorated with mouldings of zig zag character, and roses of the field; and springs from piers with detached columns, whose capitals are ornamented with boldly sculptured leaves. The elaborate iron work on the doors was modelled from that on a door in an entrance of beautiful Norman character, in the south side of Sempringham church, in Lincolnshire. Over the arch is a corbel table, consisting of grotesque heads alternately with a dotted lozenge moulding. Above this is a parapet, with a nebule corbel table. The roof of the porch is vaulted, and intersected with ribs springing from flowered corbels at the four corners. The porch is separated from the nave by the superb brass gates before alluded to; which are hung in a plain round arch. On these gates are the cyphers E. R. intertwined, and a ducal coronet.

The nave is a square, the side of which is 20 feet. The floor, a mosaic of freestone and black marble, has, in the centre, the ventilator of the vault beneath. At each angle are four massive Norman columns with plain bases, and having capitals foliated in a triple series; from which spring a corresponding number of ribs ornamented with zig zag moulding; and at the point of intersection, with a boss, on which are sculptured the Rutland arms. The circular headed windows of this portion of the Mausoleum, are also decorated on the face with zig zag mouldings; the sides and soffits being boldly splayed in the interior. The arch of entrance to what has been denominated the chancel, is a remarkably effective specimen of Norman work, in the

massiveness of its constituent parts, the richness of its decorations, and the general breadth of its appearance. The floor is an area of mosaic, consisting of entrochi and black marble; in the centre of which, an oblong portion has been marked out for the solemn purpose of interment, by a frame of black marble. The length of the chancel is 11 feet 4 inches; its breadth within the bases of the piers, 10 feet 6 inches.

Within the apsis is the beautiful memorial of the departed Duchess. A sort of low altar tomb, of statuary marble, bevelled off at the sides so as to have something of the appearance of a coffin, is decorated with niches, in which are emblematical figures representing Faith, Hope, and Charity, Resignation, or self government, Britannia, and Fortune with a bandage. The Duchess is represented as rising from the tomb, with expanded arms, and the face elevated towards the clouds, in which are seen four cherubs,—the children who have preceded her to the grave, one of whom is holding over her a crown of glory. The group is lighted from above, and from the two sides, by windows of glass stained with ruby, amethyst, topaz, and emerald colours. This arrangement of the light is judiciously contrived so as not to be obvious to the visitor, except upon close examination. The sculptor employed on the occasion was Mat

thew Wyatt.

The foundation stone of the Mausoleum was laid by his royal highness the Duke of York, March 1, 1826. The plans for the elevation, finally adopted, after much consideration, were those sent in by Messrs. Wyatt. It was consecrated by the present Bishop of Lincoln, Nov. 28, 1828; and a sermon was preached on the occasion, in Knipton Church, by the chaplain to the bishop, the Rev. Mr., now Dr. Graham, master of Christ's College, Cambridge. The bodies of the late Duchess, and of nine others of this noble

family, were removed from the vault at Bottesford, to the Mausoleum, in the following August. It was then closed till the autumn of 1829; when the remains of John, the third Duke, his children, and the celebrated Marquis of Granby, were removed to it.

Note. It was erroneously stated, p. 304, that the Duchess Dowager of Rutland acted as proxy for the Duke of York, in laying the foundation stone.

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BOTTESFORD CHURCH.

A work professing to be a history of Belvoir Castle, would be incomplete without some notice of the church, in which so many of the illustrious members of the Belvoir family are interred. Bottesford Church, dedicated to St. Mary, has, however, merit of its own, which well entitles it to a somewhat more extended description than has yet been given in any accessible work on topography. Nichols' Leicestershire, in which there is indeed an ample account of both church and parish, is by far too expensive a work, to be within the reach of any but the noble and wealthy; and its value has been constantly increasing. But even that great work is defective in one respect; though from no want of searching enquiry and indefatigable industry on the part of its author; but from disadvantages proper to the period of its publication. Church architecture, which has now become a science almost perfect in its details, and capable of an accuracy of dates truly surprising; was but little understood till within the last very few years. It is, therefore, by no means a culpable deficiency in the History of Leicestershire, that but little has been attempted in the way of

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