'490 , LETTERS FROM ENGLAND. 



with religious edifices; thougli I doubt eten that, with such a'g:feat 

 church and state empu-e as Russia growing up, and aheady casting 

 a gigantic, though yet vague shadow over Europe. But here is cei'- 

 tAinly a flat denial of the opitiion, in this new legislative hall of 

 Gi:eat Britain — quite the masterpiece of modern Gothic architecture 

 (excepting perhaps the cathedral of Strasbourg). Concisely, this vast 

 pile, not yet finished, covets, with its courts, about eight acres of 

 ground. Ten years have been consutned in its erection; and as 

 many more will probably be required for its oompTetioX' You inust 

 remember, too, that not only have as many as 3000 meti been eni- 

 ployed on it at a time, but all appliances of Steam-lifting and o&fer 

 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, thaii th^t of any 

 English examples. The stone is a hard liraestone from YorkslaiTe, 

 of a drab color ; and the dedOrative sculptul-e 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 picture'squeness in middle-age examples, th^t 

 one almost limits the pointed style to this compass. But Mr. Barry 

 has conclusively shown that that ekgance^-^-whioh is always and 

 only the result of fine proportions — is a bea,uty of which Gothic archi- 

 tecture is fully capable. "Of the splendor of the Houlse of Lords, and 

 the richness and ehasteness of many other portions pf the building, 

 you have already had many aocdtmts. I will therefore only say, at 

 present, that so carefully has the, artistic efiect 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' it 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 baimony throughout, which- must be seen to be thoroughly ap- 

 Ipreciated. 



The profession has often iburid fault with the employment of a 



