of life, upon its respective pediment.  The upper parts, which blend with the arch-like construction, are filled with small statues, upon pediments, having a sort of brilliant, fretted appearance.  All these figures are representations of characters in Scripture.  Again, above this archway, forming the central ornaments of the sharper angles, are the figures of the Almighty, the Virgin and Child, and Solomon.  In front, above the door way, upon a flat surface, are four sculptured compartments; devoted to scriptural subjects.  The same may be said of the right and left porch.  They are equally elaborate, and equally devoted to representations of scriptural subjects.  They will have it, that, according to tradition, the daughter of Ervin de Steinbach, the chief architect of the western front, worked a great deal at this central porch, and even sculptured several of the figures.  However this may be, the tout ensemble is really beyond any thing which could be satisfactorily conveyed by a written description.

We now cast our eye upon the second division of this stupendous facade; and here our attention is almost exclusively devoted to the enormous circular or marygold window, in the central compartment.  It is filled with stained glass—­and you are to know that the circumference of the outer circle is one hundred and sixty-English feet:  or about fifty-three feet in diameter; and I challenge you to shew me the like—­in any building of which you have any knowledge!

Perhaps the most wonderful part of this structure is the open filigree work of the tower, immediately above the platform:  though I admit that the spiral part is exceedingly curious and elaborate.  Of course there was no examining such a wonder without mounting to the platform, and ascending the tower itself.  The platform is about three hundred feet from the pavement.  We quitted this tenement, and walked straight forward upon the platform.  What a prospect was before us.  There flowed the RHINE!  I felt an indescribable joy on my first view of that majestic river.  There it flowed ... broad and rapid ... and apparently peaceful, within its low banks.  On the other, or eastern side of it, was a range of lofty hills, of a mountainous character.  On the opposite side of the town ran the great chain of hills—­called the VOSGES—­which we had crossed in our route hither; and of which we had now a most extensive and unobstructed view.  These hills were once the abode of adventurous chieftains and powerful nobles; and there was scarcely an eminence but what had been formerly crowned by a baronial castle.[208] Below, appeared the houses of Strasbourg ... shrunk to rabbit-hutches—­and the people ... to emmets!