The swell keys are continued down to PEDALS-Compass from GGG, to DD or 19 1. Double open Diapason-largest pipe est G of the Piano Forte 2. Open Diapason 3. Principal of metal 19 Pipes. 19 1. Coupler to connect Pedals to Great Organ. 2. Coupler to connect Great Organ to Choir Organ. 3. Coupler to connect Great Organ to Swell. Total 32 Stops, 3 Couplers. A Pedal to draw out at once in the Great Organ, the Cornet. A Pedal to push in at once, all the above stops. Height of the Organ 31 feet, width 19 feet, depth 13 feet in centre, which projects 2 feet beyond the body of the instrument. Total, 32 stops, 1809 pipes, 3 couplers, 1 tremulant, 2 pedal movements. The weight of the whole instrument is nearly eleven tons. It would cost to construct such another, about 6,000 dollars. "And well I love the organ's notes to hear Or mingled swell of many tongues; the while And wafted by her breath, as on the steam BELLS. "And hark! up the soft wind comes another sound, a merry peal of bells. Ignorant I am of other music, but I know how I love that sound."-Scenes in our Parish. WITHIN the steeple is a ring of eight bells, which were purchased in London in 1754, at a cost there of £560. sterling. The whole weight of these bells is 9000 lbs.; the largest weighing 2040 lbs. They are always chimed on Sundays and holydays, before divine service; and upon public occasions, when request is made. A few years since the largest of these bells was broken, and it was necessary to send it to London to be recast, at an expense of nearly four hundred dollars. Upon this bell is the following inscription, viz: “CHrist CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA. This bell, and the rest of the peal, were cast by Lester and Pack, of the WhiteChapel Bell Foundry, London, 1754. Recast at the same Foundry, by Thomas Mears, 1835." On each of the other bells is simply the inscription, "Thomas Lester and Thomas Pack, Fecit 1754." They were brought to this country in the ship Myrtilla; and it is said that "the man who put them up, came over in the same vessel, having assisted in making them in London. He refused any compensation for his trouble, on account of the particular attachment he felt for this work of his hands. He merely requested that at his death they should be muffled without charge. This was accordingly done, not only in his case, but that of his wife."* The following further particulars are taken from a Philadelphia paper, and appear to be confirmed, so far as any mention is made of them, by the records of the vestry. "The chime of bells now belonging to Christ Church, in this city, was brought from England by a Captain Budden, without charge of freight. Being the first set of bells that had reached this country,† they attracted great attention, and when put into the steeple were rung for some time for the gratification of the natives. In order to afford the country people an opportunity of hearing these wonderful sounds, it was agreed to have the bells chimed on the evenings preceding market days; and crowds of the country folk' would repair to the church in order to witness the operation of ringing, a curiosity which the ringers took care to turn to their own advantage, by claiming a fee. We have been told by an old and highly respectable citizen, that Captain Budden became so important a personage, from having been the bearer of the bells, that they were universally rung whenever his vessel arrived in port."+ There are few sounds more delightful than that of the music of a chime of bells, "chanting their heaven-inviting notes," on a bright and cheerful Sunday morning, as we bend our footsteps to the house of prayer. It is what the pious Herbert calls " "angels' music," inviting us to the temple of the Lord, and attuning our hearts, by its cheering sounds, to thankfulness and praise. * Christian Journal, vol. viii. p. 127. + This is a mistake, the chime of bells in Christ Church, Boston, was imported in 1744. + Christian Journal, vol. xi. p. 377. |