xxiv Proceed i)igs of the South African Philosophical Society. 



Tulbagb, between 1750 and 1760. (It is interesting, by tlie way, 

 tbat the old Court-bouse at Tulbagb has a somewhat similar porch, 

 a sketch of which I am able to show you.) But age is a matter of 

 comparison, and 150 years is old in proportion to the age of the 

 Colony. Holland might as well cease to reverence its old 

 buildings, which are little more than three centuries old, because 

 those of England go back to the twelfth century, which again 

 w^ould appear quite modern in comparison with those of Italy. 

 The old Colonial architecture of the Southern States which is now 

 so much reverenced by the Americans is very little, if at all, older 

 than the earlier buildings of Cape Colony. As to the plaster, it is 

 well to remember that, with all our modern knowledge and science, 

 we have introduced nothing better to build with in Cape Town, and 

 also that the Eomans, and in some cases the Greeks, plastered their 

 buildings. The architectural merits of the Town House may 

 perhaps be a matter of taste ; it certainly lacks height and a fine 

 roof, but we could wish that some of the modern buildings in Cape 

 Town possessed more of the elements of good architecture which 

 this does. I think the prejudice against it, with some people, arises 

 from its bad and dingy colouring, and partly from its present 

 business associations. (Laughter.) All this, however, will or can 

 be changed. I speak wdth the more confidence as to its possible 

 improvement in appearance as, having spent some time of my life in 

 the restoration of old buildings in England, I know how often one 

 has been completely surprised at the result of restoration upon a 

 building of what seemed a most unprepossessing nature. I should 

 be the last to let reverence for the remains of the past stand in the 

 way of any real public progress or improvement, but it is difficult to 

 see how this really exists in the case under discussion, and I trust 

 that this Society will see its way to make a vigorous protest." 

 Proceeding, Mr. Baker suggested that the building should be pre- 

 served with the object of having it converted into a museum, and 

 concluded by formally moving that the Society draw up a petition 

 for presentation to the City Council asking that the old portico be 

 restored. 



The President said he had the very greatest sympathy with wdiat 

 had fallen from Mr. Baker. They had very few ancient memorials 

 in this part of the world, and he thought they would be very foolish 

 and very wa^ong if they allowed these old landmarks to be destroyed. 

 He would be very glad to see the Town House retained as a museum. 

 There were many old things still left in the Colony which could be 

 acquired and stored in such a museum. He felt sure that it could 

 thus be made extremely interesting to visitors to Cape Town. The 



