The Eleventh General Meeting. 11 



Cathedral were originally filled with painted glass, and its des- 

 truction or removal was greatly to be lamented. He trusted, 

 however, that the time was close at hand when it would be restored, 

 together with the colouring of other parts of the building. Colour 

 I was essential to every Gothic structure. In an edifice like that, 

 there ought to be colour on the floor, walls, windows, roof, and 

 indeed everywhere. The best mediaeval restorations yet accom- 

 plished were the Chapter Houses of Salisbury and Chester. 



At the close of Mr. Parker's observations, the company left the 

 Nave and proceeded through the cloisters to the Chapter House. 

 There, Mr, Parker said, they saw everything as perfect as possible, 

 in the way of colouring and decoration. The Chapter House at 

 ; Chester was the only restoration equal to it, and that was done by 

 ■ the same clever man, Mr. Hudson. Those who remembered the 

 i Chapter House at Salisbury 20 years ago must be struck with 

 amazement that so much had been done, and done so admirably. 

 As to the clustered column in the centre, with its marble shafts, he 

 did not see a fault to find with it. The stained glass, too, was 

 peculiarly English, and adapted to our cloudy climate. The thick 

 glass of France and other countries would have been inconsistent. 

 The figures, they would observe were of an aerial character — merely 

 . in outline — which was characteristic of no other kind of glass. As 

 to the colouring of the vault, he had no doubt that it was strictly 

 in accordance with its original character. It was more simple than 

 the French vaults, and he had no doubt that all Mr. Hudson's 

 work had been carefully studied. Taking it as a whole, he had 

 never seen anything more conscientiously or better done. 



Earl Nelson remarked that Mr. Hudson visited the place many 

 years ago, as a lover of painted architecture, and took copies of 

 many things which became obliterated before the restoration was 

 commenced. It was from those drawings alone that they were able 

 to identify them. He wished to ask Mr. Parker's opinion on a 

 statement made by a Society of Bristol architects depreciating the 

 • west front of the Cathedral, as well as the design of the Chapter 

 | House, saying that the outside was the weakest part of the struc- 

 ture, the buttresses being very poor. 



