WESTMINSTER SCHOOL DORMITORY, 
229 
many ways, but happily not in all, these two Deans 
resembled each other in character. Both were men of 
powerful intellects and of exhaustless energy ; both were 
eager to remove abuses and to attack prejudices ; and 
both possessed the gift of persuasive eloquence. Dean 
Buckland, however, was eminently truthful: the most 
splendid speech Atterbury ever delivered was in vindica¬ 
tion of his innocence when charged with intriguing for the 
Pretender. Yet it is known that he had been plotting 
with the Jacobites all along, and on the death of Queen 
Anne had even offered Ormond to proclaim the Pretender 
at Charing Cross in his lawn sleeves. 
In 1713 the School dormitory was in the monks’ granary 
on the west side of Dean’s Yard. “ The gaping roof and 
open windows freely admitted rain and snow, wind and 
sun; the beams cracked and hung with cobwebs, the 
cavernous walls with many a gash inflicted by youthful 
be adequate to the costs of the contemplated improvements, which are 
estimated at from ,£3,000 to ^£4,000. 
“ 6th. It is intended in no degree to diminish the present expenses 
of the Dean and Chapter, and that all reductions of charges that may 
arise from better management shall be for the benefit of the Queen’s 
scholars. 
“ The Dean and Chapter having ascertained that the present dormitory 
was built more than a century ago, by contributions from persons 
educated at Westminster, in addition to large grants from the Crown 
and from Parliament, have thought it reasonable to appeal again to the 
Crown and to old Westminsters of the present time for their aid to 
render more accordant with modern manners the building which has 
hitherto, with much inconvenience, been applied to the manilold 
purposes of station, study, and dormitory. 
“ William Buckland (Dean). 
“ June 24 th, 1846.” 
