's public works. This was in 1661. He lost no time in
starting in his new profession, for in 1663 he designed the chapel of
Pembroke College, Cambridge, which his uncle Matthew gave, and the
Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford. This, then, brings him down to the
survey of St. Paul's above named. It was carefully made, and presented
in May, 1666. How he designed to rebuild some portions which were
decayed, to introduce more light, to cut off the corners of the cross
and erect a central dome--all this boots not now to tell. The plans
were drawn, and estimates were ordered on Monday, August 27th, 1666.
But before another week had passed an effectual end was put for many a
day to all plans for the "repair of the cathedral." Pepys begins his
diary of September 2nd with the following words:--"Lord's Day.--Some
of our maids sitting up late last night to get things ready against
our feast to-day, Jane calls us up about three in the morning to tell
us of a great fire they saw in the City; so I rose and slipped on my
night-gown and went to her window, and thought it to be on the back
of Mark Lane at the farthest.
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