112 PJLPEKS, ii.1V. 



left behind is our treasure and delight no longer ; but, 

 with all the smooth outside which he may have given it, 

 nought eise but literally, " a mockery, a delusion, and a 

 snax-e ;" or, if I may quote my own words in another place, 

 "a hypocrite in stone and plaster, as despicable in its way 

 as a hypocrite in flesh and blood ! " 



Permit me to cite an example in this very county, an 

 example of which indeed 1 can scarcely bear to speak with 

 patience. For the sake of brevity, I select one single 

 object — an object, however, which used to possess for me 

 very many and sacred charms — I allude to the fönt of 

 St. James's Church, in Taunton. It was one of those fine 

 octagonal fonts of the fifteenth Century, with which most 

 ofusmust be familiär, adorned with niches, figures, and 

 quatrefoils. When the church was " restored " to its 

 present condition, the fönt was not permitted to pass 

 without its share of the general outrage. On a subse- 

 quent visit I could not so much as recognise the dearly- 

 loved relic. It also had been "restored;" that is, all its 

 ancient peculiarities had been obliterated, the chisel had 

 passed over its entire surface, an Italian artist in plaster 

 had supplied some figures, which were stated to be pro- 

 duced " without violating the true character" of the monu- 

 ment. A handbill, issued on the completion of these 

 atrocities, magniloquently asserted that the fönt had been 

 " restored to its original perfect state," and that the said 

 restoration was " accomplished in a manner highly credit- 

 able !" This is precisely the kind of ordeal to which many 

 of our churches have been ruthlessly subjected, an ordeal 

 which has been followed by a result similar to that in the 

 case of the fönt of St. James's, whose proper synonyme 

 is— destruction ! 



May I add, without offence, that in this same town of 





