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Rome from the Capitol

the events and interests of this imperial city. It at first, by force of arms and policy; then by laws, civilization, and manners; afterwards by sacerdotal power; and at last by her language, has ruled over the world, and enjoyed the veneration of nations in uninterrupted succession. The history of Rome , is, during a considerable space of time, the history of the world. Many of the most important determinations of our condition, at the present day, are derived from the City on the Tiber, and there is hardly one European nation whose history would be intelligible without that of Rome. It contains, besides the richest treasures of great characters and of imposing spectacles, the most impressive evidences of the power of man, and that of fate. It is, in fine, a continuous commentary of policy and political laws, and an illustrating counterpart of the revolutions of the latest times.

ROME FROM THE CAPITOL (see Frontispiece). - In the foreground is the Arch of Constantine, the last perfect survivor of the many grand structures of its class, erected by the sovereigns who held sway over the Eternal City. On the left is the Pantheon, a temple devoted to the gods of all nations. It is the only one of the grand temples that have come to our era scarcely marred by either time or man. Its front is a very fine pure Grecian form, while the main part of the structure is a vast rotunda, surmounted by a dome. It owes its preservation to the fact that it. was at an early period used as a Christian church, and dedicated to the Virgin. It was erected by Agrippa, and afterward dedicated as we have said. In a prominent part of the picture the Coliseum towers above the surrounding buildings. It was built for and used as a circus, in which gladitorial and other spectacles were exhibited. Vespasian, the father of Titus, was its founder It is the largest building for its purpose ever erected by man. It is 581 feet in length, 481 in breadth, 1,616 in circumference. It was of this building that the poet, Byron, wrote: "While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; When falls the Coliseum, Rome sball fall, And when Rome falls-the world."

Nearly in the centre stands Trajan's Pillar, almost perfect, and covered with exquisitely graven bas reliefs. Far in the middle distance is pictured the mighty fane of St. Peter's, the grandest edifice ever reared by mortal hands to the Deity. In size it exceeds every other, it being calculated that it would hold twelve buildings like New York's Trinity within its walls. Its dome is so lofty and widespread as to make visitors feel little beneath it. In various directions are seen that incongruous mixture of noble, half-ruined edifices, squalid huts, and commonplace-looking houses, which render modern Rome unlike any other capitol on the globe.

THE COLOGNE CATHEDRAL. - On the 14th of August, 1880, the last stone of the great Domkirche of Cologne, the last stone of the great Domkirche of Cologne, the foundations of which were laid more than six hundred years ago, was put in its place, and the grandest conception of the Middle- Age Gothic Cathedral builders stands at length complete in all its parts.

This stupendous structure is the largest, and architecturally the purest of the German-Gothic churches. It is believed to purest of the German-Gothic churches. It is believed to have been begun about the middle of the thirteenth century. It stands on the site of an older church, built in the ninth century and destroyed by fire in 1248. The architect is unknown, though the original design has been attributed to Gerhard von Rile. The work on it was carried forward with more or less rapidity up to the time of the Reformation, when it was entirely suspended until about fifty years ago. completed, was consecrated in 1322. In 1509 the north and The choir , the first part south aisles of the nave had only been carried up to the capitals of the columns . A wooden roof was then thrown over them, and in this state the building remained, with only enough repairing to keep it from going to ruin, until the early part of the present century. ving Much of the indifference of the German people with respect to the completion of their noblest cathedral was doubtless owing completion of their noblest cathedral was doubtless owing to the fact that the original designs had been lost, and it seemed impossible to surmount the difficulties of structure presented by the two colossal towers with slender open-work spires which were to be the crowning glory of the edifice. But this obstacle was removed by the happy discovery of the design of the main building at Darmstadt in 1818, and subsequently of that of the two towers.

This discovery aroused new interest in the great cathedral. The repair of the building was commenced in 1830.

Large sums were appropriated by the Government to carry on the work, and money was also raised for the purpose by private subscription, and by an association called the Dombauverein, with branches throughout Europe. The amount required to complete the building was estimated by Zwirner, the architect employed to supervise it, at between four and five million dollars. In 1842 the foundation stone of the transept was laid by the King of Prussia . Six years later the nave, aisles, and transept were consecrated, and in 1863 the whole interior was thrown open. From that time on the work has been pushed rapidly forward, until at last, in this "utilitarian age," the splendid dream of the unknown architect is fully realized, a veritable "poem in stone."

The building is 511 feet in length, by 231 in breadth. The towers reach to the imposing height of 511 feet, and the west reach to the imposing height of 511 feet, and the west gable, corresponding to the width, is 231 feet high. The choir is 161 feet high, and the central nave rises to a height of 144 feet, with a breadth of 44 feet. Externally, the building has a CALLIOTHE a