I knew it was three hundred and sixty-four feet wide, and consequently wider than the capitol.

I knew that the cross on the top of the dome of the church was four hundred and thirty-eight feet above the ground, and therefore about a hundred or may be a hundred and twenty-five feet higher than the dome of the capitol .-- Thus I had one gauge.

I wished to come as near forming a correct idea of how it was going to look, as possible; I had a curiosity to see how much I would err.

I erred considerably.

St.Peter's did not look nearly so large as the capitol, and certainly not a twentieth part as beautiful, from the outside.
When we reached the door, and stood fairly within the church, it was impossible to comprehend that it was a very large building.