490 LETTERS FROM ENGLAND. 



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 vague shadow over Europe. But here is cer- 

 tainly a flat denial of the opinion, in this new legislative hall of 

 Great Britain quite the masterpiece of modern Gothic architecture 

 (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 em- 

 ployed on it at a time, but all 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 color ; and the decorative sculpture is elaborate and beau- 

 tiful in the highest degree. What particularly charmed me, was 

 the elegance, resulting from the union of fine proportions and select 

 forms of modern cultivated tastes, with the peculiarly grand and ve- 

 nerable character of Gothic architecture. One is so accustomed to 

 see only strength and picturesqueness in middle-age examples, that 

 one almost limits the pointed style to this compass. 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 archi- 

 tecture 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 deal- 

 er's ; but every detail that meets the eye has been especially design- 

 ed for the building. The result, as you may suppose, is a unity 

 and harmony throughout, which must be seen to be thoroughly ap- 

 preciated. 



The profession has often found fault with the employment of a 



