116 PAPERS, ETC. 



nioment before we part on the alternative. Suppose you 

 were to allow those ancient glories to be removed, and 

 that the very best and most accoinplished architect of tbe 

 age were to superintend the introduction of other Orna- 

 ments, or the erection of another fabric. How would you 

 yourselves regard his work after he had finished it, and 

 perhaps had done his best and efFected his mightiest? 

 You would think it, perhaps, clever, perhaps grand, 

 perhaps artistic and striking. This is all that even you 

 yourselves could think it. A grey fragment of the former 

 ediüce would be really dearer to you than all the rest. 

 Never could you regard the new as you did the old, itself 

 hallowed and hallowing all that was united to it. You 

 would look upon it with different eyes, and think of it 

 with different hearts. Stay your hand, I entreat you, 

 while you yet possess your ancient treasure : aftcr the visit 

 of the spoiler you will look and long for it in vain. Ten- 

 derly watch its signs of decay. Protract its duration as 

 long as possible. And keep it faithfully — keep it reli- 

 giously — keep it inviolately. Kesist all attempts to 

 " restore." The solemn ruin shall breath what no restora- 

 tion can ever reveal. For, once more — and never be the 

 maxim forgotten — Restoration is Destruction, and 



A MONUMENT RESTORED IS A MONUMENT DESTROYED. 



