156 



MR. DOWNINGS LETTERS FROM ENGLAND. 



artisans and manufacturers in the museum, 

 who had been attracted thei-e solely to inves- 

 tigate some matter connected with their busi- 

 ness, in the productions of the loom or the 

 workshop. 



In short, I left Kew with the feeling, that 

 a national garden in America might not only 

 be a beautiful, but a most useful and popular 

 establishment ; one not too dearly bought, 

 even at the expense bestowed annually upon 

 Kew. 



The New Houses of Parliament. — I 

 spent a whole morning with Mr. Barry, the 

 distinguished architect of the new houses of 

 Parliament, in examining every part in de- 

 tail. It is a common feeling that the age for 

 such gigantic works in architecture as the 

 Gothic cathedrals, has gone bye. Perhaps 

 this may be the case, with religious edifices ; 

 though I doubt even that, with such a great 

 church and state empire as Russia growing 

 up, and already casting a gigantic, though yet 

 vagae shadow over Europe. But here is 

 certainly a flat denial of the opinion, in this 

 new legislative hall of Great Britain — qiiite 

 the masterpiece of modern Gothic architec- 

 ture, (excepting perhaps the cathedral of 

 Strasbourg.) Concisely, this vast pile, not 

 yet finished, covers, with its courts, about 

 eight acres of ground. Ten years have been 

 consumed in its erection ; and as many more 

 will probably be required for its completion. 

 You must remember, too, that not only have 

 as many as 3000 men been employed on it at 

 a time, but all the appliances of steam-lifting 

 and other machinery are used besides, which 

 were not known in the days of cathedrals. 



The style chosen by Mr. Barry is the 

 perpendicular, or latest decorated Gothic — 

 the exterior, rather very nearly akin to that of 

 the beautiful town halls of the Low Countries, 

 than that of any English examples. The 

 stone is a hard limestone from Yorkshire, of 

 a drab colour ; and the decorative sculpture is 



elaborate and beautiful in the highest degree. 

 What particularly charmed me, was the ele- 

 gance, resulting from the union of fine pro- 

 portions and select forms of modern cultivated 

 tastes, with the peculiarly grand and venera- 

 ble character of Gothic architecture. One is 

 so accustomed to see only strength and pic- 

 turesqueness in middle-age examples, that one 

 almost limits the pointed style to this com- 

 pass. But Mr. Barry has conclusively 

 shown that that elegance — which is always 

 and only the result of fine proportions — is a 

 beauty of which Gothic architecture is fully 

 capable. Of the splendor of the House of 

 Lords, and the richness and chasteness of 

 many other portions of the building, you have 

 already had many accounts. I will therefore 

 only say, at present, that so carefully has the 

 artistic effect of every portion of this vast 

 building been studied, that not a hinge, the 

 key of a door, or even the candlesticks on the 

 tables, has been bought at the dealers ; but 

 every detail that meets the eye has been 

 especially designed for the building. The 

 result, as you may suppose, is a unity and 

 harmony throughout, which must be seen to 

 be thoroughly appreciated. 



The profession has often found fault with 

 the employment of a florid Gothic architec- 

 ture for this building. Certainly, it looks 

 like throwing away such delicate details, — to 

 pile them up amid the smoke of London, 

 which is, indeed, already beginning to blacken 

 and deface them. But, on the other hand, 

 the beauty and fitness of the style for the 

 interior seem to me unquestionable. The 

 very complexity appears in keeping with the 

 intricate machinery of a government, that 

 rules an empire almost extending over half 

 the globe. 



Picture or a Nobleman's Seat. — I 

 shall finish this letter with a sketch of a no- 

 bleman's seat, where I am just now making a 

 visit ; and can therefore give you the outlines 



