12 



The Eleventh General Meeting. 



Mr. Parker said there was a certain degree of truth in their 

 statements on the latter subject, and he himself was somewhat 

 Surprised at the courage displayed in removing the iron bars which 

 formerly connected the upper portion of the central column of the 

 Chapter house with the walls. In many foreign countries they 

 were very common, particularly in Italy. He could not help 

 thinking that it was intended to have had iron bars here, even from 

 the first. It was a bold, but, it appeared, a successful stroke, to re- 

 move them. Any injurious effect would have been felt in six months. 



The Rev. Precentor Lear said the bars appeared to have been 

 added about the middle of the 17th century, but there were hooks 

 in the original pillar, made to receive bars at any time. Before 

 the bars were removed, Mr. Clutton, the architect, took the pre- 

 caution to double the abutments, as throwing greater weight on 

 the outside. 



Mr. Parker said, begging Mr. Clutton's pardon, he thought 

 that a mistake. The buttresses were a part of the original building, 

 and should not have been altered. He did not like any alteration 

 of design. 



Dr. Alexander asked whether bars were not used in Italy, to 

 protect buildings from the effects of volcanic action ? 



Mr. Parker : Partly so, but the arches are very wide. 



The Pev. Precentor Lear said the top of the old central column, 

 with one of the bars and hooks left, would be found in the south- 

 west angle of the cloister. 



Mr. Gambier Parry, on being called for, also made a few 

 observations. His only matter of regret was that sufficient means 

 had not been taken to protect the new work on the walls from damp. 

 Mere slate and cement over a foundation were not sufficient at any 

 time. One great point, in protecting wall painting, was to get a 

 draught behind it. If such a plan had been adopted here, they would 

 not have seen the ruin that was already visible. He agreed with Mr. 

 Parker as to the extreme delicacy of the colouring, but he thought 

 that a little more vigour and courage in some parts would have 

 given a better finish to the work. 



The company then visited the cloisters, and passed thence round 



