CATHEDRAL AT MAYENCE.

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THE Cathedral of Mayence was built in the early part ofthe ninth century 5 but like most of the splendid ecclesiasticaledifices of the continent, it has suffered from repeated acci-dents by fire, and has consequently been, in part or almostentirely, rebuilt. It was burnt down for the sixth time in1793, when the French garrison, under general Doyré, wasbesieged by the Prussian army under general Kalkreuth :since that period, it has only undergone temporary repairs,and been covered in with a roof of boards : but a subscriptionis now making in Germany for the purpose of restoring itto its ancient splendor. In the semi-circular projection, atthe east end of the cathedral, we remark a singular and veryperfect specimen of the Saxon or early Norman architecture,whilst the towers and superstructure are evidently of Gothicand comparatively modern date. The whole of the east endof the pile forms a very picturesque object] but in otherviews of the Cathedral, the forms are heavy, inelegant anddevoid of picturesque or noble character. The Cathedralcontains some curious monuments, amongst the most re-markable is that of Fastrada, the fourth wife of Charlemagne,who died at Frankfort in the year 794.