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the new cathedral of St. Alban’s is to be restored. It is from that 
point I proceed to start. 
In opening this paper I feel that I need hardly detain 
you at any length upon the origin and development of “ Restor- 
ation,” for those amongst you who are conversant with the 
mere elements of the question will be aware that its primary 
cause was due to the so-called Gothic revival—which took place 
some thirty-five years ago, and which spread like wildfire through 
Europe amongst the clergy and laity of all denominations. Nor 
was such a result in any way surprising; for after the dormant 
state in which ecclesiastical affairs had remained for at least three- 
quarters of a century, it was only natural that a period of bustle 
and commotion should follow, and the reasonable hope of Art was 
that when the time for change came, it might be brought about by 
a true spirit of regeneration ; but, unfortunately, the actual reaction 
was caused, not by calm and logical conviction, but by prejudice 
and passion; not by thought and knowledge, but by contracted 
views and ascetic enthusiasm ; and thus the new movement, bereft 
of any wise controlling power, burst all limits of restraint, and 
carried devastation and destruction throughout the length and 
breadth of its course. It is the fashion amongst the later writers 
on this subject to ascribe to the clergy the chief blame for the 
origin of that mischief, which is now admitted by all parties in the 
controversy to have been done either in a greater or less degree. 
It is not my province to absolve the clergy from any offences which 
they may have committed, but in common fairness I must honestly 
say that if they have erred in an architectural sense, they may 
claim most illustrious and powerful laymen as accomplices, for in 
the very earliest days, when the frenzy for restoration began to 
make head, two most capital crimes against ancient buildings were 
committed by legislators and lawyers. 
I will state to you briefly the facts upon which I rely to prove 
the truth of this allegation. When the Palace of Westminster had 
to be rebuilt, after the fire of 1833, the taste of the Lords and 
Commons determined to adopt a style of architecture in imitation 
of the Gothic of the Tudor age. An architect of great abilities 
NS A eS ey ee re 
