SKETCHES BY A PRACTISING ARCHITECT. 223 



still more youthful aspirants, who, dazzled by the 

 splendors of an architectural portfolio, seek to ob- 

 tain pecuniary means and a happy existence by 

 architectural practice, the " too solid" truth of the 

 foregoing picture may serve for a wholesome inti- 

 mation, as to what they may expect in entering upon 

 a profession, which, less than any other, has a hold 

 on public sympathy, and which more than any other 

 is liable to the meddhng of individual whimsicahty. 



To enlarge a little on the Paynaught patronage. 

 Still more liberal in affording opportunities for the 

 gratuitous display of an architect's fancy in making 

 plans and drawings, are corporate bodies and select 

 committees. Franklin says, ^' an assembly of great 

 men is the greatest fool upon earth.'' It may be 

 also said, that a committee of rich men, though they 

 may be individually liberal, is the meanest of man- 

 agers. Some public edifice is to be erected. A 

 chairman and tableful of delegates are appointed to 

 protect the interests of the town, and secure the ex- 

 ecution of something that shall be worthy of it. It 

 is resolved that an architect shall be " consulted." 

 He is summoned accordingly. A few questions 

 from the chair seem to constitute the consultation ; 

 for scarcely are they answered, ere he becomes a 

 sort of target for the sharp-shooting wits of the 

 committee, who, in contempt for breathing-time and 

 reflection, let fly upon his bewildered senses all kinds 

 of fragmental ideas, till his brain becomes as a 

 sponge-cake fretted all over with split almonds. 



He trusts, however, in the subsequent effort of 

 judgement, which the silent atmosphere of his study 

 may enable him to make. He sketches, alters, cor- 

 rects — at length decides, completes his plans, and 

 draws up a careful statement of the principles which 

 have governed him in their formation. Though it 

 has been out of his power entirely to fulfil the 

 opposing wishes of the committee, he has yet, he 

 trusts, effected so satisfactory a compromise between 

 the impossibility of pleasing all and the partiality of 



