1844.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



217 



solidity of the ancient phalanx, so much to be admired in the Pantheon 

 of Agrippa, and which might and should be attended to in the portico 

 of the British Museum, as pointed out in Observation No. 3, vol. Vi. 

 of this Journal. 



Our knowledge of the facade of the New Corn Exchange extends 

 no further than the view given of it in Mr. Leeds' Illustrations of the 

 Buildings of London (a work by the way we should rejoice to see con- 

 tinued), but we promise ourselves much gratification by a pilgrimage 

 to Mark Lane to see the reality. Mr. Smith appears to have been 

 very happy in selecting a substitute for triglyphs ; but over the inter- 

 nal pilaster of the coupled or rather grouped anta, which flank the 

 four angles of the wings, there is none, nor could there well be ; there- 

 fore, they ought, for the sake of uniformity, to have been omitted in 

 the centre of the wings altogether, and some appropriate piece of 

 sculpture should have been introduced on the frieze instead. The 

 Roman and not the preferable Greek method of arranging tlie orna- 

 ment at the angles of the frieze has in this case been pursued — 

 still it is a chaste and beautiful composition. 



II. It is indisputable that all knowledge of the principles of taste in 

 architecture can no longer, like the secret of the Freemasons, be con- 

 fined to the craft; men will now think for themselves, and unless 

 guided in the right course, most probably think erroneously. On the 

 profession it must depend to give a proper bias to public taste. 

 Why does not the British Institute stand forward in the cause, and. 

 instead of making a collection of the works of Vitruvius (which it 

 would have been well for good taste had his works never been dis- 

 covered) give the public a popular guide to instruct students, just as 

 far and no further, than would be necessary to ground a perception of 

 the beauties of architecture. This field in architectural literature is 

 almost untrodden, and promises a rich and abundant harvest. Of all 

 the works which we have of this description, Mr. Hosking's Treatise 

 is the best, but it does not go far enough for the purpose. If that 

 accomplished architect could be persuaded to remodel it on a more 

 extended scale, the work could not be undertaken by one better qua- 

 lified ; of which, in the treatise alluded to, he has given ample proof. 



III. I fear that a glorious opportunity may be lost in the facade of 

 the British Museum. I don't know how it is, but the tone (as painters 

 would say,) of Sir Robert Smirke's compositions is cold, the Post 

 OflSce for instance — this does not occur in the facade of the Terminus, 

 already alluded to in this paper. I think it must partly arise (though 

 not in the case of the Post Office,) from the columns not being fluted, 

 and the absence of sculpture on the frieze; indeed, it would be better 

 to omit columns altogether unless they can be fluted. It is worthy of 

 observation that in a drawing the want of fluting is not felt, as the 

 draughtsman can easily give shade enough to the picture, but which 

 shall in vain be looked for in the solid. In this respect models have 

 a great advant.ige over drawings, more particularly with those who 

 profess "to understand nothing of architecture;" and, unfortunately, 

 committees of selection are for the most part composed of professors 

 of the science of ignorance, men perfectly innocent of any knowledge 

 of the subject on which they are called to sit in judgment. Sir Robert 

 himself who is attacked from all quarters on account of the Museum, 

 if deficient in the talent of pleasing, h is at least, it must be admitted, 

 like Lord Burleigh, a great talent for silence. 



Ctunmore, Dublin, 

 June, 184 i. 



MR. BARRY— THE LORDS, and the PARLIAMENT HOUSES. 



Mr. Charles Barry, the Architect of the Xew Houses of Parlia- 

 ment, has it seems, incurred the displeasure of some members of the 

 Upper House of the Legislature, and for aught we know, of some of 

 the Lower One also, on the subject of some matters connected with 

 this building. For the greater part of five days has be been subjected 

 to the trying ordeal of a Select Committee of the House of Lords, ap- 

 pointed to inquire into the progress of the works. 



The complaint against Mr. Barry would appear to be generally 

 comprised under three heads : first, they are impatient for the com- 

 pletion of their house, and seem to think that if a proper number of 

 workmen were employed in the various departments connected with 

 the fitting up of the interior, that they would be able to sit in it bv 

 the nest Session of Parliament. Secondly, they have taken objection 

 to various details connected with the internal arrangements of the 

 building, more immediately connected with their own portion of it, 

 which ihey alleged invoh-ed considerable deviations from the original 

 plan ; and thirdly, they came to the conclusion that Mr. Barry had not 

 authority for those alterations. 



After a careful perusal of all the evidence given upon that commit- 

 tee, we confess we think Mr. Barry has fully justified himself for all 

 he has done — has successfully defended all the interior details which 

 subsequent circumstances had caused to be introduced, and though 

 the Committee came to a resolution to the contrary, we say it with 

 much respect, established that he had suflicient authority for the cer- 

 tain modifications, additions and alterations, made in the plan now 

 being carried into execution. 



With regard to the question of time, it was said that their lordships 

 might use their chamber next February, but it could onlv be done with 

 temporary fittings, which as they could not be ultimately used in the 

 final completion of the interior, would be so much additional expense. 

 The great quantity of rich wood carving that was to be done by hand 

 rendered it difficult to procure a sufficient number of skilful workmen 

 to execute it as expeditiously as it was considered it might be donej 

 and besides a good deal of time was necessary to complete the draw- 

 ings and designs for this interior decoration, it was inexpedient to 

 hurry that part of the work. And it is rather a curious illustration of 

 the contradictory mode by which humanity will sometimes endeavour 

 to accomplish a direct object, that notwithstanding their impatience 

 to have tlieir house finished, the very proceeding of this committee 

 have considerably retarded the building, a number of hands having 

 been discontinued in consequence of some contemplated alterations 

 which their lordships intended to make, and which, if carried into 

 execution, would require a total change in the ornamental designs for 

 the proposed internal decorations. So much for the question of time 

 and expedition. 



Now with reference to the charge of making deviations from the 

 original plan, without authority, it will tend to make such extracts of 

 the evidence as we may hereafter lay before our readers, more intelli- 

 gible, to enter into a brief preliminary history of this original plan, 

 which from all that subsequently occurred, must be admitted now to 

 possess but a very shadowy sort of existence, and also a very vawue 

 sort of indictment upon which to found any accusation. 



After the memorable conflagration which rendered it necessarv to 

 erect a new edifice for the legislative business of this empire, and 

 when a site had been fixed upon, a commission was appointed to 

 examine the various plans that might be submitted to it, and to select 

 one from the same. Of the various plans contributed by the competi- 

 tors for the building of the New Houses of Parliament, Mr. Barry's 

 design was the one finally approved of. It is not easy to trace the 

 complicated history of this original plan, through all its stages, but 

 we will endeavour to be as clear upon the subject as we can. The 

 area of this plan which at first only comprized an extent of 5^ acres, 

 was afterwards increased to 7i acres, and a great deal of additional 

 accommodation for various public offices not contemplated at the com- 

 mencement, was required to be provided. In addition to this, the 

 application also of the new and approved system of warming and ven- 

 ti.atiug, invented by Dr. Reid, was to be introduced ; and subsequently 

 a further consideration was to be entertained with respect to the ren- 

 dering of the New Houses auxiliary to the encouragement and eft'ec- 

 tive display of works connected with the Fine Arts. All these ulterior 

 matters necessarily and naturally led to great subsequent chang'S in 

 the carrying out of the details of the plan ; and as during the progress 

 of these works, a throne changed its occupant, governments were going 

 in and out, —public departments altering their heads — commissions 

 terminating, committees of parliament non-existent, it was not we 

 think just to expect that Mr. Barry should be running about here and 

 there, consulting perhaps inexperienced or incompetent individuals as 

 to the details of the plan which he was carrying out, exercising the 

 discretion which he believed, and which ought to be left in his hands, 

 to the best of his judgment and ability, and still however keeping in 

 view the main features and leading principles of the plan subsequently 

 sanctioned by Parliament. However, we do not by any means wish to 

 convey that he did not consult the competent authorities when it was 

 necessary — for he did do so, and furnished thera with special estimates 

 of any new alteration that was generally ordered. But we contend for 

 it, he was substantially right in reserving to himself the conception 

 and execution of the details. As he observes himself in a statement 

 he made to the Committee, and which we shall furnish by and bye, he 

 alone would be responsible for anything faulty in the building when 

 completed, and that in his opinion all great works were brought to a 

 proper termination only on an individual responsibility. 



On the first day of his examination before the Committee, which 

 was the 21st of March last, Mr. Barry having said that the house might 

 be ready for their Lordships, but with temporary fittings, by the fol- 

 lowing February, proceeded to apprize them that he expected the 

 works would be ready for the iron roof in about six weeks fioni that 

 time, and that they would be covered in in six weeks more ; the cl'iI- 

 ing was to be of painted deal with a fire-proof flooring above. There 



