-As < ' ^ ' ’ *i'.- ^ ■ w*.' '■ v" Vi- • ■•■ ' 6 H ■ .:;.. 1 *'/' ■ 7 ' 4 •- 2 ^^' -' ■ ' •-. " . ' ■ •■■< if-'.. -■■ ■* •■ • - ' Jf!v -rf. ■ - , ^ N * ^ .i. . - .V irir V* '■■''ssr w; .^' ■ ■ %■' ^ l|(iv ♦ ♦ ^t- '■ ^ 1, -*' ' . ♦> - V # ;4 - ,' 'n-- i- .V V •if .4. ^?Ns. # * -fVr -irU.. t • . > ’.C'f \ - <5 4 - Frontispiece. D s: X CJ •n . O ^ jy) (S d ^ ^ cli Cu pose him, or to interfere with the respect, in which I have always held his father’s memory. IMr. 111. W. Pugin’s attack consists of a sweeping assertion that, both in the original and the subsequent designs for the New Palace at Westminster, the late 3[r. A. W. Pugin was the “ Art- Architect ”* of the New Palace at AVestminster, my father only inventing the plan, and retaining the power of accepting or refusing the designs made for him. It will be observed that it amounts practically to the imputation of a systematic fraud on the public, primarily to Sir C. Barry, but (I must add) secondarily to the late Mr. Pugin himself, whose moral character is herein sacrificed by his own son, in order to raise an artistic reputation, which hardly needs any increase. Ihitting aside all irrelevant matter, this assertion divides itself into two main parts, the first relating to the compe- tition drawings of 1835, and the second to the assistance subsequently rendered to Sir C. Barry after his appointment * I leave it to architects and architectural critics to determine how far such a tlivision of the architect’s work is possible — how far its two elements, which arc certainly capable of being distinguished, can be actually separated without tlie certainty of conllict and eventual failure. 6 THE ARCHITECT OF THE as Architect of the New Palace at Westminster in carrying put his designs. On each of these I propose, first to give Mr. E. W. Pugin’s statement, next to examine the evidence on which he bases it, and thirdly to adduce positive evidence distinctly contra- dicting it and estcMishing the true facts of the case. t A few subsidiary matters may be with advantage treated j in an appendix. J (A) The Competition Designs for the New Palace at Westminster. The statement of Mr. E. W, Pugin on this subject was originally made in the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette ’ of August loth and August 27th, 1867, repeated in the ‘ Times ’ on Sep- tember 7th, 1867, and finally reiterated in his recent pamphlet. The original statement ran as follows : — In 1835 my father made for Sir C. Barry the designs, “ whicli obtained the competition ” (sic). “ He had previ- “ ously been engaged in preparing designs for the same com- “ petition for Mr. Gillespie Graham, for which he received 300 guineas, and he did not accede to Sir C. Barry’s appli- ‘‘ cation till he had obtained Mr. Gillespie Graham’s consent. In order that my father’s touch might not be detected in two separate sets of drawings, many of the designs were “ re-drawn in pencil by Sir Charles, as Mr. Talbot Bury can “ testify. For these designs, which included the whole of the ‘‘ elevations and sections, together with some of the views, my father received 400 guineas.” In his pamphlet he says, ‘‘ I maintain that he actually “ originated and designed the whole of the elevations of the ‘‘ Palace — that he made the sections and working drawings ‘‘ for every portion of the building, and that generally every ‘‘ detail, both externally and internally, was his work.” (I.) It will be observed that in his original letter he relies on the testimony of Mr. Talbot Bury, an old and intimate NEW PALACE AT WESTMiNSTEIJ. 7 IVieiid of Ill's father, and a gentleman of establislied reputa- tion. Jt is almost incredible tliat lie should have ventured to do so, knowing what evidence I\fr. Bury was [irepared to giv^e, and actually did give, in the following letters, addressed to the ‘l^all Mall Gazette ’ and the ‘ Times.’ “To TiiK Eiiitor of tiik ‘Pall Mall Gazettk.’ “ 8in, — Having liccri out of London for some time, 1 have only now seen a letter of Mr. E. Welby Pugin’s, which appeared in your ])a[)cr of the ir)th inst., in wliich my name is brought forward as unexpectedly as, I think, unfairh". “Mr. E. Welby Pugin says: — ‘In order that my fither’s ‘ touch should not be detected in two separate sets of drawings, ‘ many of the designs were re-drawn in pencil by Sir Charles, as ‘ Air. Talbot Bury can testify.’ If that has reference to Sir Charles’s original design for the Houses of Parliament, I must give it a mf)st positive denial. At that time I was in constant and intimate communication with Mr. Pugin ; I had been assisting him in the preparation of Air. f»illes[)ie Graham’s drawings, which were comjileted before Air. Pugin touched any drawings for Air. Parry. Air. Pugin was staying at my house wlicn he first wcut to see Air. ikirry on the subject of the Houses of Parliament drawings, and on his return he told me that he had seen ‘ a very remarkable design, the plan being most ‘ ingenious and com]U’ehensive, and the elevations treated in a ‘very original and effective manner;’ he added ‘that Air. Barry ‘had sought to give an Italian outline to Gothic details, and, ‘though he should i)robably not have treated the composition ‘ in that manner, the general effect would make a noble work, ‘and he anticipated a decision in Air. Barry’s favour.’ “ It was not until Sir ('harlcs Bariy had completed his design in pencil, including elevations and sections, that Air. Pugin had anything to do with his work. Sir C harlcs had been engaged on his design, while Air. Pugin was working on Air. Graham’s drawings, and the assistance he subsequently rendered was undoul)tcdly confined to details extending very much over the whole building. The drawings enumerated in Air. Pugin’s diary were details, prepared for the purpose of obtaining tenders, not made till after Sir Charles’s original design had been selected. • “ I can most positively deny the statement that the letter 8 THE ARCHITECT OF THE wliicb. Mr. E. W. Pugin says was written at the ‘ solicitation of ‘ Sir Charles Barry,’ was written . under any kind of pressure. Mr. Pugin was constantly at my liouse when he was in London, and he told me distinctly that ‘ the public letter he wrote to ‘ the “ Builder ” was simply an act of justice on his part, to , remove an unfair and false statement which gave him credit for ‘ a design made by another.’ “ When Mr. Pugin at a later period was appointed to take charge of the wood-carving works, I frequently called upon him at Millbank, and ho has on those occasions shown me large detail drawings prepared by Sir Charles Barry himself, which he was engaged to see properly executed. I remember very distinctly seeing the drawings for the Throne, and fittings for . the House of Lords, and those for the Speaker and the House of Commons. With respect to the stateulent that Mr. Pugin was unwilling to enter into the competition on the ground of his being a Koman Catholic, I know it to be most incorrect, as ?\[r. Pugin himself told me that ‘ he thought it much wiser to ‘ make sure of the amounts offered to him by Mr. Graham and ‘ Sir Charles Barry, rather than risk the loss of his own time ‘ and money in so large and uncertain a competition.’ “ Nothing but a sense of what is due to the memory of two great men could have induced me to enter into a correspondence on this subject. I believe it is as unfair to Mr. Pugin’s memory to lay claim to merit, which he himself in a voluntary and honourable spirit had repudiated, as it is to Sir Charles Barry’s memory to seek to disparage the power and ability which he most undoubtedly and undividedly brought to bear on this great work. “ I am. Sir, your obedient servant, “ Talbot Bury. “ 50, Welheck-street, Cavendish-square, August 19, 1867.” “ To THE Editor of the ‘ Tibies.’ ^‘SiR, — In Mr. E. Pugin’s assertions respecting the Houses of Parliament, published in the ‘Times’ of the 7th inst., he has thought fit to introduce my name ; and as, in justice to myself as well as to other parties, an explanation is required, I trust you will allow me the advantage of a little of your valuable space for that purpose, more particularly after the lengthy statement he has been permitted to make in your columns. “ Mr. E. Pugin observes that ‘ my statements have been simply NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 9 ‘ mot witli countor-Ktatements, for to say that the contradictory ‘ and partial assertions of ^lessrs. Talfx^t Eury, Wolfe, Ac., in any ‘ way prove themselves or each other, is mere folly.’ lie also states : — ‘ 'iTie evidence they give of Sir Charles Barry’s com- ‘ petition drawings being in pencil is correct. My father’s ‘ competition drawings were also in pencil ; and this gives great ‘probability to Mr. Talbot Bury’s revelation made to me on the ‘ nth of August last, that “ many of m}^ father’s designs were ‘“re drawn by Barry, so that the same touch should not be de- ‘ “ tected in his and in Mr. Gillespie Graham’s designs.” ’ Now, this statement of a ‘revelation,’ on which some stress might be laid by those uninformed of facts, is positively and altogether untrue, as on the evening to which he refers, when he was in my house for a half-hour, I clearly stated that ‘ my old friend, ‘ his father, had never worked on i\Ir. Barry’s competition ‘ drawings,* but ho assisted him in the details of the internal ‘linishings of the rooms;’ so this is a wilful misstatement to which my name has been added. The assertion that the com- })etition drawings of ^Ir. G. Graham and Sir Charles Barry were ‘ finished in pencil ’ evinces his utter ignorance of facts (certainly jAIr. E. B. was not one year old when this took place) ; and is likewise untrue, and without any foundation, as 1 worked with A. W. I’ugin on the designs for Mr. G. Graham, having made the plans and sectiors, and I affirm that they were made in Indian ink. I saw Sir Charles Barry’s drawings at the same time, and they were finished in light Indian ink, in a style peculiar to himself. I must hero ol)serve that no one saw the set of designs wo were engaged on for Mr. G. Graham, but our- selves ; so that ]\Ir. E. Pugin cannot plead that he has been mis- informed on the subject. “ \\ hat Sir C'harles Barry’s designs for Trentham (a mansion erected for the late Duke of Sutherland) had to do with the Houses of Parliament is a question too difficult for me to make out ; I cannot see any similarity between them as regards their purposes, and most assuredly there is none in their respective styles of art. Among other statements made by Mr. E. Pugin is, that his father had an ‘ idea of competing for the Houses of * I see that IMr. E. Pugin comments on these words, wliich, separated from what I have said elsewhere, might be misunderstood. I meant, of course, on the competition designs as such; as, in fact, I said in my previous letter — “It “ vas not until Sir 0. Barry had completed, his design in pencil, including “ elevations and sections, that Mr. Pugin had anything to do with his work,” 10 THE ARCHITECT OF THE ‘ raiTiament that is without foundation, as he stated to me ‘ he ‘ thought it much wiser to make sure of the amounts offered to ‘ him by Mr. Gr. Graham and Sir Charles Barry, rather than risk ‘ the loss of his own time and money in so large and uncertain a ‘ competition.’ “ Mr. E. Pugin asserts, likewise, that his father made a set of designs and drawings for the Houses of Parliament before those made for Mr. G. Graham were commenced, and that ‘ these com- ‘ petition drawings were lost sight of from the day they were ‘ mounted,’ and ‘ they were the designs for which Sir Charles ‘ Barry paid 400 guineas,’ and ‘ were subsequently engrafted on ‘ Sir Charles Barry’s ground plan.’ This statement, from first to last, is an invention, and untrue, as A. W. Pugin did not make any plan or design for this building until I went to his house at Salisbury to assist him in Mr. G. Graham’s set of drawings. He then put his first ideas on paper respecting it, and I worked them out. He had no notion of the design Sir Charles Barry had in hand. In the design on which we were engaged A. W. Pugin confined his plan of the building to the limits of the existing ground, whereas Sir Charles Barry’s encroached a long way into the river, thereby gaining a great additional space and area. This great and essential difference in the designs is conclusive evidence of their being the work of two minds. A. W. Pugin was staying at my house (after Mr. G. Graham’s drawings were completed) when he first went to see Mr. Barry’s plans and designs for the Houses of Parliament, and on his return he spoke to me of them, and communicated to me, in very laudatory terms, the mode Mr. Barry had adopted to gain the necessary space for the buildings, which he stated he had overlooked ; he likewise gave me a description of the elevations and general peculiarities of the design. This confutes Hie preposterous assertions made by Mr. E. Pugin as to the originator of the executed designs, and put to silence the false statement that there was another design for the Houses of Parliament which has ‘ been lost sight of,’ &c., and was used by Sir Charles Barry. “ Mr. E. Pugin states : ‘ Another entry shows that my ‘ father was engaged on “ sections ; ” will my opponents infoini ‘ me whether “ compositions, compartments, and sections ” mean ‘ only details ? and will Mr. Talbot Bury, who is so in earnest ‘ in describing these and other drawings merely as “drawings ‘ “ for tenders,” reconcile this absurd depreciation with the fact ‘ that “ drawings for tenders ” means working drawings, &c. ? ’ NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 11 “ In reply to tlicso observations, wliich the public generally cannot understand, and care nothing about, I have only to state that as A. AV. I’ugin was my most intimate friend, we were frequently at each other’s houses, and that 1 knew all the Avork lie did for the Houses of Parliament from first to last, and I can affirm that he never laid any claim to the design for that build- ing ; his public repudiation of it, Avritten under no pressure (the fair copy of which Avas Avritten at my house), he said, was nothing but ‘ an act of justice to Sir Charles Barry,’ and I am now only defending the eharacter of my friend in Aundicating him from a charge of falsehood, Avhich AA^ould be the case if his j)ublic statement was at variance Avith that made to his friends generally. In that document he states clearly ‘ that 1 am en- ‘ gaged hy him (Mr. Barry), and him alone, to assist in pre- ‘ paring working drawings and models from his designs of all ‘ the Avood-carAungs and other details of the internal decora- ‘ tions,’ and ‘in fulfilling the duties of my office I do not do ‘ anything AvhatcA^er on my OAvn responsibility,’ and, ‘ in fine, ‘ my occupation is simply to assist in carrying out practically ‘ iMr. Barry’s oAvn designs and aucavs in all respects.’ These (quotations from Mr. A. W. Pugin’s letter to the editor of the ‘ Builder,’ Seqdember 3, 1845, confirm qiositiA’ely my assertions, and 1 am surq)rised Mr. E. Pugin can, in the face of his father’s puldishcd assertions, make statements A\diich, if correct, must disgrace his father’s memory. Mr. A. W . Pugin had fairly earned enough laurels of his OAvn, and his mind AA^as of too high an order to Avear honours to AAdiich he had no claim. “ Two men, great in architecture and in art, haA"C qiassed aAvay, avIio in life enjoyed each other’s friendshiqi. Peace be to tlieir memories ! and Avhatever may be the merits of the Houses of Parliament, the great AA^ork A\diich Sir Charles Barry has alone designed, he had the Avisdom to apqu’cciate the talents and to enlist for certain qmrts of it the serAuces of Mr. A. AV. Pugin, Avho was haqiq)y in Avorking Avith one who was so intimately his friend, and to Avhose opinion on matters of art he paid such deference, and for Avhom lie had the greatest resj)ect. “ Your obedient servant. “Talbot Bukal “ 50, Welhech-street, Cavendish-square^ Sept. 14, 1867. “ i^S. — Absence Irom town has qDreA’^eiited my sending an earlier reply to Mr. E. Pugin’s letter.” 12 THE ARCHITECT OF THE These letters are so important, that I give them in extenso, although they anticipate matters to which I shall refer after- wards. It must be, moreover, observed (for no reader of our opponent’s pamphlet would infer it) that Mr. Talbot Bury was actually Mr. E. W. Pugin^s own witness, an intimate friend and cordial admirer of his father, who would not will- ingly have said a word to compromise, even in the slightest degree, the name of Pugin. It would be difficult for any witness to contradict more completely the statement, which he was called upon to prove, and Mr. E. Pugin accordingly has no resource except to depreciate and to abuse him. (II.) In his letter to the ‘ Times,’ another scrap of so-called evidence is produced from a notice in the ‘ Morning Post ’ at the time of the competition : The drawings of Mr. Gillespie Graham by the same hand, which appears to have assisted ‘^No. 64,” (Mr. Barry’s) “are masterly and entirely peculiar.” This shows (what has never been for a moment questioned) that Mr. A. W. Pugin (as is stated on p. 196 of the published ‘Life of Sir C. Barry’) assisted him in detail drawings and perspective views under the pressure of time in the com- petition. It is curious that Mr. E. Pugin does not see how it contradicts the daring assertion that Sir Charles fraudulently copied his coadjutor’s drawings, in order to make them appear to be his own. (III.) In the pamphlet he collects on pp. 9-14 a number of letters, apparently chosen with an idea of making quantity a substitute for quality (three being anonymous, and some others given only in part), in no one of which does the writer sjpeah from any actual hnowledge of his own. Some are from mere hearsay of what was “ generally believed,” others from vague occasional sayings of Mr. A. W. Pugin himself. They are letters which make a fair show in a pamphlet, but which no official tribunal would receive for a moment. A short reference to these will suffice. The first letter con- tains no evidence at all. It is practically anonymous (signed “ J. A. II.”), and merely contains a criticism on my father’s Islington churches, and the cheap church built in Hatton Gar- NEW PALACE AT WESTMINRTEIL i:; den ill 1832, with an inference that he conld not liavo designed the New Palace. In much of the criticism I believe that my father would have joined. But the inference could only have been made by one ignorant of the extraordinary capacity of growth ill my fatlier’s mind, to which I have referred in writing his ‘Memoir.’ And according to all laws of evidence it is absolutely destroyed by any one piece of direct testi- mony, such as is given abundantly below. It would not bo difficult to retaliate by estimating Mr. A. W. Pugin’s powers of conceiving the design of a great building as a whole. The other letters profess to contain evidence, and I proceed to examine its value. An “ Ex M.P.” expressly says “ I cannot offer you any “ direct evidence in justification of this impression, but my “ recollection is that it was generally accepted.” Mr. Grieve’s letter (A) contains a reference, somewhat vague, to a confidential statement of Mr. Pugin. On this, see Mr. Pugin’s public and private denials. Mr. Shaw’s statement (B) merely shews that between 1844 and 1852 Mr. Pugin was at work for my father, and does not refer to the competition drawings at all. Letter C is anonymous, and therefore deserves no notice. In D Mr. Baldwin Wood has “ always understood ” that Mr. A. W. Pugin “ had a leading part in tlie design,” &c. (Tliis letter is not quoted in extenso.) In E Mr. Chapman informs us that a similar statement was “ in the mouth of every one connected with ” a building of Mr. Pugin’s at Nottingham. One statement in this letter is directly contradicted by Mr. Earp’s letter in the foot-note below. In F Mr. Hogarth speaks of mounting Mr. Barry’s drawings under Mr. Pugin’s direction, and of a declaration of 3Ir. Pugin’s that he had intended to compete. On letter G I simply refer to a letter given in the note from 3fr. Earp.* * This letter was addressed by Mr. Earp (unsolicited) to my brother, IMr. Cliarles Barry. Jawutrij 1, 1868. Sir, — Having seen in Mr. Pugin’s pamphlet an extract from a letter written by me, in answer to an inquirj' from him — it being the concluding portion of a 14 THE ARCHITECT OF THE In letter H j^Irs. Thornton speaks of “remembrances of “ conversations in old times between ” Mr. Pugin “ and her “husband,” and correctly surmises that such remembrances “would not be of use.” In letter I ]Hr. Osmond simply declares, with perfect ac- curacy, that 8ir Charles Barry spent an evening at Salisbury in 1835, and that he believes that he recognised some drawings of Mr. Pugin’s in my father’s competition designs. In letter J ]\Ir. Yoysey merely states, on the authority of his brother, that Mr. Pugin’s authorship was considered “ as an acknowledged fact.” Of all these letters there is only one of any consequence, and even this derives its importance, not from its intrinsic value, but from the name, “ J. K. Herbert,” subscribed to it. When, however, its statements are analysed, they amount simply to this — that some drawings for the work were made in Mr. Herbert’s presence, which is entirely consistent with the true statement of the case ; that Mr. A. W. Pugin fre- quently said (what is also perfectly true, and quite consistent business letter written in a hurried and, I must confess, thoughtless manner, but which I never imagined would be made public, and used as evidence in support of a subject one in my jDosition could have no knowledge of — I feel it my duty to explain this matter, I was never employed upon or in connection with the Houses of Parliament, but was with Mr. Myers, under whom I gained my knowledge of the late Mr. Pugin. , The sense in which I used the words “ Art-Architect” was solely in reference to what I only knew to be Mr. Pugin’s position there, the designer and superin- tendent of the wood-carving. I have not, nor ever had, the slightest knowledge in what manner he was connected with that building other than in this dejDartment, and my letter distinctly disclaims the possession of any other knowledge. I’or me to express an opinion on the subject the pamphlet deals with would evince a presum])tion 1 am far from possessing. I trust you will kindly accept this explanation in the spirit in which it is tendered — that of removing the disagreeable impression it cannot fail to have produced in your mind to find such a letter used as testimony in support of a » cause you would know I was utterly ignorant of. To my sur])rise 1 see in a preceding letter, signed by IVlr. William Chaiunan, my father alluded to as having in conversation contributed to form the opinion he has therein expressed. My father, who is with me, says he never remembers to have heard such an opinion exj)rcssed, and emphatically denies all recollection of any such conversa- tion ; also 1 never, as is asserted, worked at St. Barnabas Church, Nottingham. 1 am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Tiio.mas I'Iarp. Chnrlcs liarrij, Ksq. NEW PAT.ACE AT WES^l'MlNSTEP. If) witli ]\[r. Talbot Biiry’s statomoiit) tliat the payment was of much consequence to liini, and that he thonglit it better to make sure of the money ; that his drawings were based on the general plan (how could they be otherwise?); that in the letter of 1845, Mv Herbert traced the hand of Sir C. Barry, on which I need only refer to the fact, to be shown hereafter, that it was actually based on a draft suggested by Mv. A. W. Bngin himself. The only other notable point is a statement of Mr. Herbert’s “indelible conviction,” which, with all due respect, I venture to think of comparatively slight value, when set against the evidence of eye-witnesses, who were professionally engaged in carrying out the work, or confidentially advising my father on the great features of the design. Few things can more clearly show the poverty of IMr. E. W. Pugin’s evidence than the stress which he is forced to lay on such letters as these. I cannot tell whether his father may have made any unguarded statements, especially in the latter years of his life, which may have been misunderstood or exaggerated by the natural partiality of friends. But I do not see how such vague reports can be pressed against the documentary evidence of his explicit denials, given on tlie authority of Mr. Ferrey, Mr. Kichardson, Mr. Talbot Bury, and Mr. A. W. Pugin himself. As to the “ common “ rumours,” these simply indicate the danger foreseen by my father, and, as he always thought, sufficiently provided against by positive testimony, and by Mr. A. W. Pugin’s voluntary disclaimers. (lY.) But after these evidences he relies greatly on his father’s diary. In his first letter he referred to the entries in that diary for 1836, apparently forgetting that the competition drawings were sent in on December 1, 1835, and that these references were therefore simply absurd ! He has since found out his error ; he has corrected it without acknowledgment, and now gives a long series of entries from the diary for 1835. But this leads him to a greater difficulty still ; for he asserts that Mr. A. W. Pugin “ began working on the Parliament 16 THE AECHITECT OF THE house drawings for Mr. Barry on the 15th of May,” when it is well known that the conditions of the competition were not announced till the end of Julij* He asserts also that Mr. Barry was at Salisbury on September 1, 1835, when my father’s own diary | proves him to have been in London, and to have called on various persons there ; and on November 2nd-8th, when the same document states that he was in town, working (as we know) night and day at his own design. J What is the explanation of these extraordinary errors? When we examine the quotations from the diary given on p. 15 of his pamphlet, we find (it is true) many entries of “ drawings for Mr. Barry,” but no word about the Parlia- ment House in connexion with them. The fact is that they w^ere drawings of fittings and furniture for the Birmingham Grammar School. This Mr. E. W. Pugin might have known, had he compared dates ; but it is proved to demonstration by a comparison of my father’s diary with Mr. Pugin’s. Thus in the latter we read — Ajpril 28^7z., “ Began Mr. Barry’s drawings May Sth, “ Left Sarum May 10th, Saw Mr. Barry in the former I find — May 9th, “ Birmingham “ School, Mr. Pugin here with drawings of furniture.” * The following is a copy of the notice referred to, from the ‘ London Gazette, July 24th, 1835 : — “ By order of the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Woods, &c. » NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. “ Notice to Architects. ■ “ The Commissioners of His Majesty’s Woods, &c., inform Architects, intending “ to furnish designs for erecting the New Houses of Parliament, that such “ designs must he delivered into this Office on or before the 1st day of Dec. next. “ Designs to be addressed to Thomas Chawner, Esq. Particulars, with plan, “ will be furnished for £1, between 2 and 4 on 27 July, and following days, till “ Saturday 24 August.” t This diary of Sir 0. Barry is kept in ‘ Richards’ Daily Remembrancer ’ with great brevity, but extreme accuracy, not even the shortest journey being- omitted. We sliould be hapi)y to produce it before a proper tribunal, and should bo glad to see Mr. Pugin’s produced at the same time. The entry on Sept. 1st, 1835, is as follows : — “ Visited the Duchess of Sutlierland with design for S.W. drawing-room “ chimney-piece, which was approved. Called on Westmacott with it, and gave “ him instructions. Called on Chantrey respecting Trentham monument. ’ i It is curious that on Nov. 7th, 1836, my father (as his diary shows) was at Salisbury. I suspect that there is some confusion in Mr. Pugin’s diaries between 835 and 1836. NEW PALACE AT WESTMIN8TE1L 17 Ao-ain, in Mr. Pugin’s diaiy, 1 liiul — Maij “ Pegjui “Mr. JWy’s work May 2m, “KSent oft* Mr. Pa,rry’s dniw- “ ings.” My father’s diary says — May 2Is^, “ Iftriningliain School, received drawings from Pugin.” Blit tlie most curious point, and one wliich Mr. E. W. Pugin onglit to liave understood, is this. In Mr. Pugin’s diary 1 find — September 2nd, “Sent off drawings of Dining Boom to “ ]\[r. Barry.” Now, what could the “Dining Boom”. have been in a general design for the New Houses of l^lrlia- ment? Turn to my father’s diary, and we find— Se 2 )temher 2dth, “ Arrived at Salisbury from Bowood at half-past four. “ Mr. Pugin at the White Hart to receive my dinn-tions as to “ designs for the furnishing of Dr. Jeune's House ” (at the Birmingham School). This, even if taken alone, fully explains the “Dining “ Boom,” and the “ drawings sent to Mr. Barry ” on Sept. 25th, Sept. 29th, and Oct 2nd. But we are not left to con- jecture on this matter. It appears by Mr. Pugin’s diary that Mr. Bury was engaged from Sept. 11th to Oct. 3rd on Mr. Gillespie Graham’s drawings, and he expressly testifies, in a statement to be given hereafter, that Mr. Pugin was at work at that very time on drawings for the Birmingham School. This evidence, coming from a perfectly independent source, proves still more clearly the truth, wliich might tie inferred from the diaries. All these quotations from the diary are therefore absolutely irrelevant. But to proceed. The next extract from the diary for 1835 corresponds in part with my father’s diary, and, in part, is quite irreconcilable with it. Mr. Pugin’s name is first found in Sir C. Barry’s diary in connexion with the New Houses of Parliament on October 12th-17th, 1835, when he was at my father’s house drawing. It was to this visit (I have no doubt) that Mr. Talbot Bury refers, as the first time when he saw the general design, at which Mr. Barry had been at work ever since August. It is' curious that, though Mr. Pugin’s own diary confirms this, as given onp. 17 of his son’s pamphlet {October 12th-llth, c 18 THE ARCHITECT OF THE “ Drew at Mr. B’s.”), yet that Mr. E. Pugin, because he wishes to discredit Mr. Bury’s account, says at the top of the same page : — Mr. T. Bury finished Mr. Graham’s drawings on ‘‘ October 3rd, and my father did not leave Salisbury for London before Kovember 19th.” (!) So also the statement that Mr. Pugin was engaged at Mr. Barry’s on “ working drawings ” and “ views ” from Nov. 22nd-29th is perfectly, and even curiously, consistent with the statement of Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Bakewell given below. But on Nov. 2nd, the diary given by Mr. Pugin states Mr. Barry arrived,” when (as I have said above) my father’s diary proves him to have been in town. There is clearly some strange confusion here, which cannot be removed, unless the two documents can be (as we have always desired they should be) produced and compared. It was to such inaccuracies and confusions as these, that I before referred, when I asserted that Mr. E. W. Pugin must have (I did not say intentionally) ‘‘ misdated or misquoted ” his father’s diary.* I still must 9 -ssert most emphatically that * The inaccuracy of Mr. E. W. Pugin’s writing is so great as materially to impair its credit. I give some instances of detail : — On p. 34 he states that I charged him with “ misdating and misquoting ” letters. I never did so ; I used those words only of his references to liis father’s diary, and I conceive that I have justified them. On p. 37 he speaks of my father as “ about to touch 5 per cent, on tliree “ millions of money,’’ when a comparison of the Letter VII. which he quotes, shows that the expression there used is a mere joking allusion to a previous letter of Mr. Pugin’s ; for, of course, my father never did receive 5 per cent., and never did spend on the New Palace three millions of money. On p. 43 he speaks of the fact that cartoons were designed by Mr. A. W- Pugin for the windows of the House of Lords, as disproving the statement that the “ detailed drawings were prepf.rcd at Thames Bank,” when he must know that the reference is to stained glass, which was invariably put into Mr. Pugin’s hands, and which is seldom included by any architect in “detailed ‘ drawings.” On p. 46 he conceives, by a curious logic, that the fact that Sir 0. Barry meditated resignation in 1850, disproves Mr. Charles Barry’s statement, that he had the same idea in 1845. Those who have read the record of my father’s troubles at the latter period will have little difficulty in understanding, why he at times thought of lesigning. In reference to the request for advice as to some terminals to “ the flying “ buttress to the Central Tower,” contained in the Letter XT. quoted on p. 48, NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 19 his references, as they at present stand, are worth nothing at all to his purpose. I have shown that much of the diary has obviously nothing to do with the matter at all ; and tliat the rest, even when accurate, is utterly insufficieiit to prove Mr. E. Pugin’s point, while it is perfectly consistent witli the account given by Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Talbot Bury of tlie assistance actually rendered by Mr. A. W. Pugin. So much tlien for the diary, on which so much stress lias been laid. I think that after this analysis of its contents few will be inclined to attach much value to it, or to the use which has been made of it. It will hardly be believed by those who have not carefully followed the controversy, that this is the whole of the evi- dence on which Mr. E. Pugin bases his charge. A numl)er of letters from persons, not one of whom can speak from per- sonal knowledge; a witness (Mr. Talbot Bury) who flatly contradicts him ; and a diary, which is mostly irrelevant ! I cannot wonder that in his letter of August 26th to the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette,’ he should say, “ It is not without considerable « regret, that I find myself compelled to enter into a state- ment of facts, which would have been better told when the he calmly adds in his letter to the ‘ Times,’ “the designs for which I find, hy “ reference to the diary, my father made in 1835,” apparently ignorant of the fact that the Central Tower formed no part of the original design, and was added long after, to meet the requirements of Dr. Eeid, who was appointed in 1840. On p. IIG he says that “the Kev. A. Barry addressed the ‘Times,’ saying “ that all Sir 0. Barry’s letters, diaries, &c., had been placed in his hands.” “ I accordingly applied to him for the seventy-six letters.” Now, I never said a word about “ letters ” in my postscript to the letter to the ‘ Times ’ (which, I see, is quoted on p. 113 loithout the between the windows of the Victoria Tower. And III. Tlie Clock Tower, and the new front in Old Palace Yard. “ On the letters generally I may I'emark tliat some of tlicm were evidently written to Mr. Pugin as the representative of the contractors, Messrs. Hardman, Minton, and others, who, as is well known, employed Mr. A. W. Pugin to make out their large cartoons and full-size working drawings, from which the articles supplied by them were manufactured. This circumstance is illustrated by such entries as the following in my father’s Diaries : — 1851. Aug. 28. — Accompanied Pugin and Hardman over the works, de- termining as to models of lighting, and giving them orders for chandeliers, brackets, &c. , , Oct. 80. — Accompanied P. over the works to inspect patterns of chandeliers. , , Aug. 22. — At Worsley. Pugin and Hardman called. 1852. Jan. 15. — Letters to Pugin with orders. , , Feb. 11. — Mr. Minton here respecting his disagreement with Pugin. 1844. Lee. 11.— Mr. Pugin here with parts of railing for House of Lords : — Lbs. per lb. £ s. d. , , , , A. W. P. — 22 Small vanes 3s 3 6 0 52 Large vanes 3s. lOd 9 19 4 16 Crowns 5s. 4d 4 5 4 , , Lee. 12. — Report to the Board as to employment of Mr. Pugin “ I will now take the three points above noted seriatim. “ I. The flying buttresses of the Central Tower. This refer- ence does not apply, as Mr. E. Pugin would have us to suppose, to the design of these features, but only to the manner in which they should be terminated. I prepared the working drawings for them, and perfectly recollect the question in debate at the time, which was, whether each flying buttress should terminate, as at present, with a square crocketted pinnacle, or with a supporter carrying vanes and badges, like the lions on the two pedestals at the entrance of the Victoria Tower. Both designs were tried on the model of the tower by Mr. Mabey, and when the selection was made, I sponged out from the draw- ing of the tower the animal terminals, and inserted the pin- nacles. With the relations then existing between Mr. Pugin and my father, it was natural that Sir Charles should mention to him, as he did to my knowledge to other friends, the question he was then solving, and his letter does no more than this. When Sir Charles wrote his. letter he asked iSIr. Pugin for 44 THE ARCHITECT OF THE sketches of the animals. If they were given, a glance at the tower will show that they were never carried out. “ II. The panels flanking the galleries between the windows of the Victoria Tower. These features of the tower might well escape attention, as they are in the corners next to the octagon turrets, and Sir Charles’s anxiety about them shows just the reverse of that which Mr. E. Pugin seeks to prove. Nothing, in fact, can demonstrate more conclusively the care and attention Sir Charles bestowed on every insignificant portion of his great work, than his care about these panels, which might have been finished almost in any way, without affecting the design of the tower, and which, in my opinion, might have been left altogether plain with advantage. It happens that I myself made the work- ing drawings for the open galleries of the Victoria Tower, and the first idea for the panels in question was a shield and sceptre on a background of foliage. This was modelled and carved by Thomas as it now exists. Sir Charles, in his letter to Pugin, speaks of crowned shields and supporters, and possibly Pugin may have made a sketch of them as requested ; however that may be, they were never so executed, but Sir Charles’s original idea was carried out. “ III.. The Clock Tower and new front in Old Palace Yard. The letter of 23 Feb. 1852 says, ‘ I am much pressed respecting ‘ the Clock Tower and the new front in Old Palace Yard, as the ‘ building is at a stand, in respect of these portions of it, for ‘ working drawings. I cannot bear that you should be bothered ‘ on the subject.’ Mr. E. Pugin twice describes this as an appli- cation to his father for working drawings for \the completion of*~\ the Clock Tower, omitting the context. I would ask any candid person if confidential letters so treated cannot be made to prove anything. “ The fact is, as I believe. Sir Charles’s letter does not refer to the Clock Tower at all, but to the Clock Tower and front in Old Palace Yard. The great Clock Tower was not finished till 1857, and Sir Charles could not therefore have represented it in 1852 as waiting for drawings for its completion. On the other hand Sir Charles was, as I remember, designing at this time the Old Palace Yard front, and, in his Diary of February, 1852, 1 find a reference of his being engaged on ‘ the clock and tower in Old Palace Yard' “ The central feature of this front was always intended by * These words, though italicised by Mr. E. Pugin, as if quoted from Sir Cliarles’s letter, do not appear therein. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTEIL 45 Sir Charles to be a clock tower, as he found that the great clock could not be seen from this portion of the Palace. At the time the letter was written, Sir Charles intended to have carried up the centre rather higher, so as to be more of a tower than it is at present, but it now displays the face for the clock which he intended to place in it. Mr. Pugin may, under his arrangement with the contractors, have had something to do with the tiles, stained glass, and metal-work, of this part, as of other portions of the Palace, though from the dates hereafter given, tliis is scarcely possible ; but with the design of the building he had nothing whatever to do. All the working draAvings for it, from the foundations to the roof, were prepared in the office by myself and under my directions. I saw my father make the original sketches, from which we worked, and discussed, from time to time, every feature with him. I particularly remember suggesting the advancement of 7 or 9 bays in the centre, with a cloister over the footway. PTe sketched out this and other designs, but his rooted dislike to advanced centres resumed its sway, and he retained the j)resent straight front, only consenting so to recess the alternate bays, as to get more light and shade than he originally contemplated. The heraldic and carved details were, in all cases, modelled and carved by Mr. Thomas from Sir Charles’s designs. “ A few dates will make this clear. Mr. Pugin Avas seized by his sad malady prior to 1852, and the melancholy necessity arose of placing him under restraint on the 25th I^eb., 1852. My father’s studies for the Old Palace Yard Ihoiit, ivMch I saw Mm make, and wMcJi I now possess, are dated March, 1852. The details were all got out by myself and others in the office ; and are thus dated — ‘Basement, May, 1852; Ground Floor, ‘Dec. 1852; Principal Floor, April, 1853 ;’ and so on. As Mr. E. Pugin is anxious that I should give him dates, I haA^e much pleasure in doing so. “ Having noAV dealt with my father’s letters published by Mr. E. W. Pugin, I proceed to comment on a statement of his own that he saw his father make the design for the present false ceiling of the House of Commons. It happens that I possess this design, which is in pencil and drawn from first to last by my father. The drawing contains a plan and sections of the upper part of the House of Commons to a scale of 4 feet to an inch, with elevations of the end and side completely filled in. There are also sections of all the mouldings one quarter full-size. Full directions for every part of the Avork are written on the draAving 40 THE AKCHITECT OF THE in my father’s handwriting. I well remember his doing it, and his taking it to Thames Bank, and as it is fortunately in pencil, his touch can be recognised at once. I perfectly recollect the circumstances under which it was made, and my father explain- ing to me an ingenious arrangement he proposed for obtaining a large amount of sectional area for the ventilating apertures. This arrangement, which has been carried out, consisted of fixing the panels to double ceiling joists, several inches apart, and lowering the ribs below the face of the panels by means of blocks corresponding with the carved bosses. The vitiated air passed through the aperture thus formed behind the ribs and between the ceiling joists. The drawing was not inked-in because of pressure of time, but it was given to me, and its details were worked out by me and others in the office, and are shown on our drawings for the alteration of the House of Com- mons, dated Sept., Oct., and Nov. 1850. “ It is only as a specimen of Mr. E. Pugin’s inaccuracy that this circumstance is worth referring to, for there can be little honour to be gained from the design of this unsightly mutilation of my father’s work, which he always considered had been forced on him with unnecessary precipitation, and ever regarded with intense dissatisfaction. “ I will now supply Mr. E. Pugin with some more dates. The Clock Tower was not finished, as I have before said, until 1857 ; the Central Tower in 1855; and the Victoria Tower was unfinished when my father died, in I860. Mr. E. W. Pugin represents Sir Charles to be seeking fi om his father drawings for ‘ the comple- ‘ tion of the Clock Tower ’ in 1852, five years before such drawings were needed. Assuming for the sake of argument that such drawings were asked for and given (which they were not), the tower as it is now executed cannot, even on that supposition, be the tower which Mr. Pugin designed. Between 1852 and 1857, my father designed the tower over and over again ; his designs were modelled by Mr. Mabey, and again and again laid aside. In his Diaries I find repeatedly such entries as — 1852. Oct. 22. — On studies of Clock and Central Towers for models. 1858. Feb. 7.- — On details of Victoria and Clock Towers. , , April 30. — On working drawings of Clock Tower. Gave orders for model. , , Aug. 22. — On details of design for Clock Tower. Instructing Mabey as to model. , , Sept. 10. — On modification of design for Clock Tower, giving orders for mode], and to Thomas as to statues. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER, 47 1853. Sept. 16. — Giving orders to Quarrii for modifying design for Clock Tower, and orders to Mabey accordingly. 1854. Jan. 7. — At working drawings of Clock Tower. , , April 11. — On sketches for roof of Clock Tower. ,, Dec. 11.— Correcting working drawings for top of Central Tower. Gave Quarm design for top for modelling. 1855. Feb. 5. — Making drawing for varying top of Clock Tower. , , Sept. 26. — On design for dormers of Clock Tower. , , Sept. 27.— On design for dial for Clock Tower. , , Nov. 27. — On design for top of Victoria Tower, &c., &c., &c. These selections are made from liimdreds of similar entries from 1836 to 1860, and prove the time and infinite study which my father gave to every detail of his work. Yet this is the man whom Mr. E. Pugin wishes to hand down to posterity as obtaining designs from another architect, surreptitiously copying them, and then going forth to the world in borrowed plumes. During all the years I have named I was not only his professional representative, but 1 lived at home both then and previously, and knew all he did, working late and early, the first in the house to rise, the last to go to bed. I now possess many of the designs referred to in the above extracts. They differ widely from each other, and are without an exception drawn by Sir Charles himself, in many cases in pencil in his usual beautiful style. He was incessantly engaged upon them, and never left a new idea untried, so that at no time during the years that elapsed between Mr. Pugin’s death and the completion of the tower could I have confidently predicted the appearance it would ultimately assume. The same remarks would apply to the other towers, and all other parts of the building. My father not only designed but drew out himself in detail the whole of the ornamental iron- work on the top of the Clock Tower, and I have his working drawing which is very large, to the scale of one inch to the foot, with every detail correctly shown upon it. I recollect Mr. Powell’s coming from Messrs. Hardman, and taking orders direct from my father for all this work. I have spoken of my own knowledge of all that took place in his office after 1850. As regards the preceding period I must rely on other evidence, but it would require extraordinary testimony to convince me that my father was at one time a willing copyist and slavish adopter of other men’s ideas, and at another the most earnest, painstaking, and fastidious designer I have ever known, requii'- ing, as Mr. Pugin himself tells us, to see before he was satisfied ten ways of doing the same thing. 48 THE ARCHITECT OF THE “ I Rave avoided saying anything on the other questions raised by Mr. E. Pugin, which refer to a period beyond his own and my personal experience, and I will not follow his example of press- ing hearsay evidence into the question.^ I have spoken of that which I know, and, if further evidence be needed, I can refer to the following gentlemen, who can corroborate my statements — Mr. Meeson, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Deville, Mr. Pressland, Mr. P. G. Smith, my father’s assistants in his office with me ; Mr. Quarm and JMr. Ruddle, the clerks of works ; Mr. Mabey the modeller, and others. “ I wish to add one word, in conclusion, as to the work that was really done by Pugin, and the advantages to the building derived from his great talent. I have been most reluctantly drawn into this controversy by Mr. E. Pugin, not because I fear to meet his assertions, but because it is difficult to do so without conveying an erroneous impression to outsiders, that in defining what his father really did, I seek in any way to depreciate his services. This I have never done and never will do. I have always thought that Pugin has received less than his due as a pioneer in the revival of Gothic architecture ; and, although some works of to-day may seem to many superior to the best works of Pugin, it should never be forgotten that Pugin’s genius, energy and zeal have helped to make them possible. His knowledge of Gothic detail was greater than my father’s, and he thus became foremost of all in assisting him with his great work in his own special department. It is, however, no disparagement of Pugin’s genius to say that the work as a whole was beyond his grasp, and differs in every particular from what would have been expected from him. * As a specimen of Mr. E. Pugin’s mode of controversv, I mny refer lo p. 34 of his pamphlet, where, after liaving isolated an expression of mine from its context, from my previous explanations, and the subsequent correspondence, he thinks it not unbecoming to accuse me of saying what is “ positively false,” and (in a further issue) “ wilfully untrue.” Again, in the Appendix, he states that he believes we still possess and detain letters which we have assured him we have never seen or heard of. Controversy under such circumstances is impossible ; and I can only leave the question of the credit due to our respective statements to the decision of those who know us both. Mr. E. Pugin further says of himself, p. 32 1 began working in my fatl.er's office whcji “ I was but seven years old, and I have a distinct recollection of seeing and “ being engaged on designs for the Houses of Parliament from 1844 ” He has certainly the advantage of me in the earliiiess of his reminiscences, and of his hitherto unknown services, for he must liave been about ten years old in 1844. His statement, iiowever, is directly contradicted by Mr. Talbot Bury, p. 90. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER, 49 Pugin fully recognised this, and says in one of his letters (quoted hereafter), ‘ I can do you no service except in absolute ‘ detail' and however Mr. E. Pugin may take exception to his father’s words, they are perfectly true. But, within the limits traced out by himself and explained in his letters now published, Pugin’s help was invaluable. His fancy, fertility of jtcncil, and treasure of precedents were inexhaustible and freely drawn upon. Any competent architect can go through the Palace, and see at a glance where Pugin’s hand is visible, and, though I must altogether reject Mr. E. Pugin’s unauthorised claim that his father was in any sense of the Avord arcliitect of tlie Westminster Palace, I must cheerfully admit tliat tlic woi’k owes much to his genius, and shall always consider tlie con- nection between my father and Pugin equally lionourablc to both and advantageous to the public. u Yours &c “Edavahd M. Baury.” The subjoined letter is simply confirmatory of the above, though written previously : ’■‘'New Wimbledon Boad, Merton, S., Jan. Gtli, 18G8. “Dear Sir, — I see in the pamphlet recently issued by Mr. Pugin a portion of a letter by the late Sir Charles Barry (numbered 35, and dated Feb. 23rd, 1852), Avhich aiipears intended to give the impression to a casual reader that Sir Charles was dependent upon Mr. Pugin for the design and working drawings of the front in Old Palace Yard as well as for some portion of the Clock Tower. “ Such an impression would be entirely erroneous, I was in Sir Charles Barry’s office in 1852 and following years, and Avith others there, under Mr. Edward Barry’s guidance ; and, Avith constant reference to Sir Charles in person, I assisted in pre- paring most of the general drawings, and the Avhole of the details for the front in Old Palace Yard, and this Avas done solely from sketches and details by Sir Charles Barry’s OAvn hand. I was equally engaged on the upper half of the stone- work of the Clock Tower and its roof, yet I did not, either at the commencement or during the progress of these Avorks see a single sketch or detail from Mr. Pugin’s pencil, save for stained glass or ornamental metal finishings. “ It is clear to myself therefore that the letter No. 35, simply owns in Mr. Pugin a valued assistant, but nothing more. “ I am, dear Sir, yours truly, “ Bev. A. Barry, D.D." “ Edward C. Pressla.vd. 50 THE ARCHITECT OF THE I add also a letter from Mr. Bayne, respecting the roof of the House of Commons made under his direction at the Thames Bank workshops. “ 16a, Great Smith Street, Westminster, January 20th, 1868. “ Sir, — I remember Sir Charles Barry bringing to me at Thames Bank the pencil drawing of the false ceiling of the House of Commons. I suggested several practical modes of con- structing the ribs, and Sir Charles and I settled all the details together. Mr. Pugin had nothing whatever to do with it, and I believe never saw it, except as regards the pendants, upon the details of which Sir Charles consulted him ; the design of the pendants is, however, clearly shown on Sir Charles’s own drawing. “ I am. Sir, yours truly, “ E. M. Barry, Esq.^’ “ Ed. Bayne. I think that these communications will dispose of these last quotations and statements of Mr. E. W. Pugin. I have been forced to examine all these letters in what may seem wearisome detail, because they are absolutely the only evidence deserving the name, which Mr. E. W. Pugin gives to support the latter part of his charge. I am not therefore surprised that, feeling how entirely the letters here quoted (39 out of, as I learn from his solicitors, a much larger number) fail to prove his point, he is forced to lay great stress on certain letters, which he states that he lent to Sir C. Barry in 1852, under a promise to return them, which was never kept. Of this subject a full ex- amination may be found in the Appendix. All I am con- cerned to notice here is this — that, supposing all Mr. E. W. Pugin’s statement accurate, it has at best a secondary force. Inferences as to what those letters may have contained cannot stand for a moment against the positive testimony, which it will be my duty to bring forward. (I.) First and foremost comes Mr. A. W. Pugin’s own letter of 1845, to which reference has so often been made. “ Sir, — As it appears by an article in the last number of the ‘ Builder,’ as well as in notices contained of late in other pe- riodicals, that a misconception prevails as to the nature of my NEW PALACE AT WESTMINS'I’EIL M employment in the works of the New Palace at Westminster, 1 think it incumhent on me, in justice to Mr. Barry, io state that I am engaged hy him, and hy him alone, with the ap])roval of the Government, to assist in preparing working drawings juid models from his designs of all the wood-carvings and oilier details of the internal decorations, and to jirocurc models and drawings of the best examples of ancient decorative art of the proper kind, wherever they are to be found, as specimens foi* the guidance of the workmen in respect of the taste and feeling to be imitated; to engage with artists and the most skilful workmen that can be procured in every branch of dccoi-ativc art; and to superintend personally the practical execution of tlic works upon the most economical terms, compatible with tlie nature of it and its most perfect performance. In fulfilling the duties of my office, I do not do anything whatever on my own responsibility; all models and working drawings being pre- pared from Mr. Barry’s designs, and submitted to him for his approval or alteration, previous to their being carried into effect ; in fine, my occupation is simply to assist in carrying out practically Mr. Barry’s own designs and views in all respects. Trusting to your fairness in giving insertion to this letter in your next number, ^ o- o “ i am, bir, &c., “ London, Sept. 3rd, 1845.” Wkldy Pugin. To this letter Mr. E. W. Pugin has devoted some pages of elaborate pleading. But it cannot be explained away : even if it stood alone, no ingenuity could evade its plain meaning. It originated in Mr. Pugin’s own suggestion, as will be clearly seen below ; it was drawn up, after consultation with his friend Mr. Talbot Bury, and subsequent reference to Mr. Barry and Mr. Wolfe, in order to put a stop, once for all, to certain rumours, attributing to Mr. Pugin more than his proper share in the actual work of the New Palace. Mr. E. W. Pngin has remarked that it makes no reference to the authorship of the competition designs. Of course, it does not : for no question had ever been raised upon that subject. Ten years had elapsed since these drawings were made, and no one had ever dreamt of referring to them any other hand than ]\rr. Barry’s. But on the engagement of Mr. Pugin upon the actual work. E '1 52 THE ARCHITECT OF THE it was inevitable (as I have said elsewhere) that rumours should arise, exaggerating the amount of his service and influence. My father deliberately risked this danger, for the value of help which he thought highly beneficial to the public service, knowing that Mr. A. W. Pugin would not arrogate to himself any undue credit, and never supposing that any of his representatives would do what he would have scorned even to think of. It is perfectly futile to endeavour to explain it away, as “ written under pressure ” and “ to save “ Sir C. Barry’s reputation.”"^ It is a reflection on Mr. A. W. Pugin’s character to suppose that he would publicly tell a falsehood, because previous fraudulent arrangements required it. It is strange that his son should think that he thus honours his name ; and equally strange that lie should not already have seen, that this denial does not stand alone, but is only one of many denials on his part testified to by un- exceptionable witnesses. But I am able now to say that it does not stand alone, even among written documents. In searching for the letters above referred to on the demand of Mr. E. W. Pugin, my father’s executors have discovered a few letters of ^Ir. A. W. Pugin’s, of the existence of which we were unaware.f They are private letters, written confidentially, where no pressure could be used, and no conventional saving of appearances demanded. I think the quotation of a few of these will set the question at rest for ever : — * This has been done, on the authority of a Mrs. Mares, in the ‘ Times ’ of Sept. 15th ; and Mr. E. W. Pugin is very angry because I claimed that “ her “ antecedents be examined and her credibility be tested by cross -examina- “ tion,” — to which (I added) “ we are perfectly willing to submit our own “ evidence.” He chooses to infer that this is a “reflection on her character.” But this inference, like some others, is perfectly unwarrantable. Mrs. Mares does not specify her claims to be considered as an authority, nor has Mr. E. W. Pugin supplied the omission. Her evidence is flatly contradicted by Mr. Talbot Bury (see pp. 96, 97) ; it is irreconcilable with Mr. A. Pugin’s own letters. What other course, except the one which I suggested, can be followed, if we would establish the truth ? f Notice of this discovery was instantly given to Mr. E. W. Pugin ; oppor- tunity of verifying the letters offered ; and copies promised, if he, on his part, would give us copies of all letters of Sir C. Barry's in his possession. The offer was curtly refused. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 53 [Endorsed by Sir C. B., 16tli June, 1841.] (ct) “ Nottingham, Thursdaif. “ My dear Mr. Barry, — On Saturday last 1 was suddenly seized with an attaek of English eholera, wliieli has prostrated me, and I can hardly hold myself up at all. I am getting better now, that is, the actual complaint is stopped, but I never was more pulled down. I got j^our letter at Nottingham. / am sure I can never do you real service except in absolute detail ; you should fully make up your mind as to every arrangement and then turn the small work over to me. It is next to impossible for me to design any abstract portion of a great whole in the same spirit as you have conceived the rest, and I know it is only a waste of time in mo to attempt it. As to the bratishing above panelling, 1 could make fifty patterns, and same for pendants, Ac., which sliould mostly consist of figures. The stalls at Amiens would furnish an infinite variety for the position of figures in ])cndants, hold- ing scrolls, Ac., and these can only be done at l.ouvain by the Flemings, the same men who executed the stalls at Antwerp. I can do you far more service by adopting the best examples and getting them carried out in execution than by making a lot of drawings which could never be worked from. Uemember, I never made a drawing which was of any real use to you yet, and it is a dreadful loss of time to me, incessantl}" occupied as 1 am with Church work, to attempt it ; as I said hefoi'e, 1 can do you no good except in actual detail, and in that more hy ferreting out the fine things that exist than composing new ones. I expect to be in town by Tuesday, and will come over to you immediately, that is, if I am strong enough to travel. « Ever 3^011 rs most sincerely, “A. AVki.by Pugin. “You must go to Antwerp and Louvain this year. If }^ou wished it particularty, I might manage to go with you, as I know the men.” I make no comment on this letter, except to call attention to the passages which I have italicized, and to ask any reader whether such passages could have been written if a tithe of Mr. E. W. Pugin’s assertions Avere correct. (h) The next letter is written in 1845 ; the first few sen- tences alone are important, because they refer to a main principle of the design as emphatically Mr. Barry’s own, and as one against which the writer had protested as a matter of theory : — THE AllCHlTECT OF THE ;)4 [Postmark 5 Aug., 1845.] “ Basel, August 1. “ There is nothing I have seen to compare to Basel, except Knremhurg. Lots of fine iron work — such clocks in leaden turrets ! Do not you envy me ? “My dear Mr. Barry, — have arrh^ed safe at Basel, and begin to return on Saturday. I have seen a great deal in a little time, and much that will be applicable to the great work. After all there will be nothing like it, for the largest of the old works are small in comparison, and not half so well carried out ; and I must own that I think you are right in the principle of repetition of hays. All the great town-halls are certainly so, and I have paid particular attention to this point. You know I never hold out after I am convinced, and now I can advocate it conscientiously. The best modern architecture I have seen is the railway from Mann- heim to Strasbourg. The stations are beautiful — all constructive principle. If the roofs had a higher pitch, they would be almost perfect. I have seen some splendid metal-work in brass and iron, and have taken a fresh supply from the fountain of me- dieval antiquity ; you ought really to be forced away for two weeks to this country, it would do you a world of good, and you would fetch up the actual time afterwards. Eemember life ebbs away, and every year some fine old thing is destroyed. You ought, as a positive duty, come to these countries now and then. I am so up to everything that I could give you such directions that would enable you to see a vast deal even in two weeks. I expect to be back about the 19th of this month, and I shall come direct to you. I left them plenty of work at Thames Bank well explained, so I think they will get on well till I return. If you decide on the upper tracery panels it will make a deal of work both for joiners and carvers. I thought you would be glad to know where I was, and therefore I have sent you these few lines, and I only wish I could persuade you to follow my example. There is a great deal of fine old heraldry about the buildings in Basel and in Alsace. I see so much that I did not know of at all, that it really appears as if we know less the longer one studies ; and I suppose, by the time one is very knowing indeed, Ave shall be almost past profiting by the knowledge. « yours most sincerely, “ A. Welby Pugin.” (c) The third has no date of any kind ; but is evidently NEW PALACE AT WESTiMlNSTER. 55 written at the time of his appointment (at a salary of 200Z. a year) to superintend the wood-carving. As Mr. E. Pugin has represented this appointment as an attempt to secure independence against Mr. Barry, it is important to observe how entirely he considered himself not as indei)endeiit of the architect, but responsible to him and to him alone. (I may add that the salary and other payments much more consider- able, generally passed through my father’s hands) : — “ Saturday (^Post-mark Amiens). “My dear Mr. Barry, — 1. By to-morrow, Monday’s, night coach, I will send you all the detail drawings in pencil for the three rooms you give me : general portions I'l scale, details real size. I hope they will be what you wish. “ 2. You will find a rough pattern crown in London to offer up for the west front ; it was delivered to Mr. Groves, the clerk of works. “ 3. I want another order like the last to send off with another man to squeeze. “ 4. I purpose coming to London next week and see after the carvers. “ 5. 1 gave Wailes a good blowing up for his heavy glass and bad greens, and he has offered to finish another specimen on a different principle at his own cost, to which I have agreed. It will be well to think of some ’of the square badges for the river front windows. “ As we have now begun in good earnest with the work., I wish to state exactly my views on the subject to prevent any misunderstanding. First, for the 200Z. a year, I agree to furnish drawings and in- structions for all the carved ornaments in wood that may be required. Secondly, that all travelling expenses whatever con- nected with the above work are to be paid extra to that sum. My residence being at Eamsgate, my journeys to London must be considered as travelling expenses, and paid accordingly, unless I am compelled to take the journey for other purposes not connected with the work. Thirdly, I am empowered to send persons to collect squeezes, &c., and all expenses connected with that object, or the purchase of original models, to he paid from time to time according to the accounts I will furnish you, and all journeys which I make for the purpose of finding out proper models. Fourthly, all drawings for glass, metal works, and tiles, &c., will be paid for in the estimates of the same, 56 TPIE AECHITECT OF THE according to the rates we agreed. Fifthly, you must include the expense of preparing these detail drawings in the estimate of the fittings, and I will furnish you with the cost of them as you may require. Sixthly, I am only responsible to you in all matters connected with the work. I act as your agent entirely, and have nothing to do with any other person. “ I mention these things that we may have a perfect under- standing at starting, for it is a great work and will occupy the greater part of my time. There will he upwards of 1000 detail drawings of ornaments for the carvers in the House of Lords alone ; hut I need not speak of these matters to you, who know as well as I do what is required, only I mean to devote all my energy to the business, and, of course, it must answer my pur- pose. I have increased my shop at Ramsgate, so that I shall he ahle to have all the figures and difficult parts modelled under my own eye ; this will cost me about 200/., hut I don’t mind expense and trouble if we can obtain a good result. “ I expect the railing will he in London by the time I come up, so that a compartment may he tried. “ You will see in the drawings of Peers’ Conference Room I have indicated stencilling in the panels of ceiling. I think you should introduce this, it is so easy and cheap, and yet so effective for inscriptions, &c. “ Ever yours, most sincerely, “ Welby Pugin.” (c?) The fourth and fifth letters are the most decisive of all. The former is undated (except ^‘Saturday”); tlie latter, evidently following it, has postmark “Kamsgate, June I2th, “ 1845 ” (Thursday). They most effectually dispose of tlie extraordinary theory, set up in order to explain away Mr. A. W. Pugin’s published letter of 1 845 : — “ Morning Steamer, Saturday. “ My deak Mr. Barry, — Since I saw you last night, I have been informed that some most exaggerated statements respect- ing the nature of my employment at the Palace of Westminster have appeared in one of the papers. I need not tell you how distressed and annoyed I feel at it, for I have always been most careful to prevent any misconception on this head. I have most distinctly stated that I was engaged by you and for you * to carry out into practical execution the minor details of the deco- * The italics here are in the original. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 57 rations according to yonr designs, that I did nothing whatever on my own responsibility, that everything ivas submitted to be approved or altered by you; that in fine, my occupation was simply to carry our your views in the practical execution of the internal detail. I can assure you, I wish to serve you in this work with tlio greatest fidelity ; no one can better appreciate your skill and judgment than myself, and no man has ever borne more sincere and willing testimony to them than myself. Now, if you think right, I will make a formal denial of these statements to put an end to all nonsense. I have not seen the article, but Mr. ( 'race told me that one of your clerks had mentioned it to him ; it will therefore be easy to know when and where it appeared, and I really think it would be as well to state the real state of the case. I will send you my contradiction for your approval. I am sure you know me too well to imagine that such state- ments would give me anything but great pain and annoyance ; but I should like at once to disabuse the public, and let tliem know the true nature of my employment at the Palace. I’ray let me hear from you about this. “ I sent yesterday a whole cart-load of casts from Thames Bank to the works at Westminster. I hoj^e all these will bo taken great care of, that they may be united in one great col- lection when they are done with, and they may form the com- mencement of a great national gallery of Art. “ Ever yours, most sincerely, “ Welby Pugin. “ I see in the ‘ Times ’ this morning that Eeid and Barry (M !) came in for their share of blame in the Lords.” [Postmai'k of Bamsgate, June 12th, 1845.] “ Mt dear Mr. Barry, — 1. I enclose you what I think will be a sufficient contradiction, and being short and simply worded is more likely to answer its object. “ 2. I have at last succeeded to my entire satisfaction in the enamel colouring of the armorial plates ; the enamel is now sunk below the surface in hollows, and the effect is very rich and good. You will soon have a perfect panel up. I think we shall do this time. “ 3. I have found some unforeseen difficulties in setting out the full-sized drawings of the tiles according to your alteration. 58 THE ARCHITECT OF THE The double squares come in very badly when reduced to the stern reality of square, and the inscription letters, now they are enlarged, won’t come in at all. I will send you all my diffi- culties set out. I wish Lord Brougham had to set it out himself. I expect I shall hear about the stained windows to-morrow. “ Ever yours, most sincerely, “ Welby Pugin. “ The ‘ Builder ’ has now a rather extended circulation, and amongst that class of people whom we would not wish to be wrongly informed on the subject. But I leave the matter en- tirely in your hands. “ There are now ten additional carvers at Thames Bank, all on the ceiling. Do you approve of the panels I last sent you ? ” [Enclosure.] “ Sir, — My attention having been drawn to an erroneous paragraph, which appeared in your journal, relative to the nature of my employment at the New Palace at W estminster, I take an early opportunity of stating that I am not engaged in any work connected with that building on my own respon- sibility, but am simply superintending the practical execution of the internal details and decorations of Mr. Barry’s design. Nothing is done without his entire knowledge and approbation, nor is anything put into execution that has not been previ- ously arranged and designed by himself. “ I remain, Sir, your obedient servant. To the Editor of .” “Welby Pugin. It will be seen, by the first letter, that the notion of denial arose in Mr. Pugin’s own mind, without any communication with Mr. Barry ; that he himself suggested taking some public steps, and offered to send for approval a formal contradiction. It will be seen, by the second letter, that Mr. A. W. Pugin actually does (what Mr. E. W. Pugin suggests that he would have done, were our statements true) “ write himself a plain “ straight-forward letter, absolutely denying the truth of the “ report.” I presume that my father did not at this time accept the offer so unhesitatingly made. Subsequently on a revival of the report, the letter of Sept. 6th, 1845 was written — differing from Mr. A. W. Pugin’s own proposed form, only in stating NEAV PALACE AT WESTMINSTEIL 59 more emphatically what Mr. Pugin did actually do, and being certainly less trenchant and emphatic. I do not know whether any impartial person ever has accepted ]Mr. E. W. Pugin’s theory as to the letter ; but, if so, his acceptance will hardly survive the comparison of the private and public documents. These last quotations will (I think) be sufficient to show how entirely consistent Mr. A. W. Pugin was in his descri})tion of his actual work at the New Palace. I may add that the letters generally are those of a confidential and important subordinate. These letters, being private communications, I ])rint re- luctantly, because the publication of my father’s letters has made it absolutely necessary to do so. They are sufficient in themselves to demolish IMr. E. W. Pugin’s elaborate fabric. When Mr. A. W. Pugin, in letters private and confidential, declares that he “can do no service except in absolute detail,” and that “ he never yet made a drawing which was of real “ use,” that Mr. Barry “ must make up his mind to every “ arrangement,” and that he “ acts as Mr. Barry’s agent,” “doing nothing on his own responsibility” — when he volun- tarily offers to publish the statement that “ his employment “ at the New Palace,” is “ simply superintending the practical “ execution of the internal details and decoration of ]\[r. “ Barry’s design ” — it is an insult to common sense to assert that he was the real “ Art- Architect ” of the building, and that he and his correspondent were engaged in a fraudulent attempt to conceal the truth. ( II.) I hardly know whether any further evidence can be actually requked. But it is necessary to put on record, once for all, the testimony of men intimately acquainted with every portion of the work really done. I subjoin accordingly, first, a statement from Mr. Wolfe, corresponding to that made by him under the former head ; and another from my brother, Mr. Charles Barry, wPo was then acting as my father’s assistant. These will give the testimony of those who saw my father’s own private work. I add next a scuies 60 THE ARCHITECT OF THE of letters from those who saw the same work, both in course of preparation in the office, and in its actual execution. These letters are from the following gentlemen, all of whom were my father’s assistants, many of whom are now architects of extensive j^ractice and high reputation : — Mr. E. E. Banks, Mr. John Gibson, Mr. G. S. Clarke, Mr. Brakspear, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Wright, and Mr. F. H. Groves ; from Mr. Grissell. Sir M. Peto, and Mr. Field, the contractors for the work of the buildings ; from Mr. Quarm, for many years chief clerk of the works ; from Mr. Bayne, the superin- tendent of the Government Works at Thames Bank, and from Mr. Philip and Mr. Clayton, who were connected with the detailed work carried out there ; from Mr. Mabey, who modelled over and over again every important part of the building, and from Mr. Garland, who made out the full-sized models for the carvers. It will be obvious, from a mere inspection of this list, that the writers are men, whose names are a sufficient guarantee for the truth and the accuracy of their statements. It is impossible that such a transaction as that which Mr. E. Pugin imagines could have taken j)lace without their knowledge, and I do not think that he will venture to question the truthfulness of their evidence. Pakt II. “No sooner was Barry appointed architect of the Houses of Parliament than, important alterations having been resolved on, he had entirely to remodel his original design. In archi- tectural features, this second design was not essentially dif- ferent from the first ; and, like the first, it was, to my know- ledge, made by Barry himself without assistance from Pugin. “ But as careful estimates were about to be prepared, Pugin was engaged to make drawings of details (some of which I recently saw) on a scale necessary for the information of the surveyors. “ In making this second set of details, Pugin had not only Barry’s own drawings and directions to assist him, but all the main lines of his work were set out for him. In a bay of the NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. (I I river front, for instance, he had the height and width of the bay, the level of the cornice, string courses and other hori- zontal lines, and the position, size, and general design of the windows. Thus he had nothing to do but to draw his outlines from these data and then fill in the detail of mouldings and tracery ; and, where required, the heraldic and other details merely ornamental. “ The estimates were finally completed, I think, in 1837, and up to that time Pugin may have been engaged in making explanatory drawings. But whatever work Pugin may have done on this second design, certain it is it shared the fate of his labours on the first. All were swept away by the formation of a third and final design, so different in character from those preceding it that every drawing, even of their details, was rendered useless. Yet this, the design executed, of which I myself witnessed the introduction of every important feature, was made, drawn out, and in progress of executioii, during the very years when, according to Mr. E. W. Pugin’s own state- ment, his father was not in communication with Barry. So that when Pugin resumed his employment under Barry, he had nothing to do but to carry out the works specified in his letter of 1845. Of all his previous labours, not a trace exists in the Houses of Parliament.'^' “ Mr. E. W. Pugin has stated that in 1837, his father, being disgusted because the execution of his designs had been en- trusted to Mr. Thomas, became estranged from Barry and refused to work for him till he had received a direct appoint- ment from Government. “Now of this estrangement neither have I, nor has. any member of Barry’s family, the slightest recollection, and we do not believe that, at least on Barry’s side, it ever existed. But certainly it could not have been brought about by the cause assigned by Mr. E. W. Pugin ; for not in 1837, nor till some years later, had Barry any drawings by Pugin — applicable to the work in progress — nor did he then regard Thomas as more than a clever stone-carver. “ Pugin, for some years, ceased to Avork for Barry — but it * Many of the most important alterations in the design were made l)y Barry while he was staying with me in tlie country, in the autumn of 18.38; and for many years afterwards the people of the house we lodged in used to sliow tlicir guests “the very table on wliich Mr. Barry and his friend drew the Parliament “ House.” Other changes were made hy Barry in my own liouse, to whicli he occasionally retired for uninterrupted study. 62 THE ARCHITECT OF THE was for this simple reason, there was no work for him to do ; and it was not till about the time when he received his ap- pointment under Government that his services were again required. It is true that some time after Pugin had been at work, Barry, finding that serious inconvenience and delay were caused by Pugin’s absence and uncertain movements, did give direct instructions to Thomas, who was always on the spot, to proceed with the stone-carving. Pugin may have been annoyed at this, but he continued for a long time afterwards to superintend the other works mentioned in his letter of 1845. “ With regard to this letter, I will explain that up to a short time before it was written, Barry had never thought it necessary even to suggest to Pugin a disclaimer of his having had any hand in designing the Houses of Parliament. For he well knew that Pugin himself had never failed to contradict any rumour to that effect (and sometimes, as I knew, in his usual forcible language) whenever and wherever they reached him. But when, in the course of a debate in the House of Lords, a peer happened to speak of Pugin as “joint-architect,” both Pugin and Barry thought it expedient to publish the letter of 1845. “ But in drawing up this letter, it never occurred to any of the parties concerned to re-assert Barry’s title, as against Pugin’s, to the authorship of the original design for the Par- liament Houses ; for that title, having been for ten years undisputed, was considered indisputable ; and surely if there had been any tenable ground for disputing it, it could not have escaped the keen eyes of disappointed competitors. But although they did not fail to perceive, and to make the most of, the fact that some of Barry’s drawings had been prepared by Pugin, they never ventured to ascribe the design to him. For in truth, although the hand of Pugin was plainly visible, the most lynx-eyed critic could not detect a trace of his mind.* “ Mr. E. W. Pugin, finding that large sums were occasionally paid to his father by Barry, assumes that they must have been paid as the remuneration for services of a more valuable kind than has yet been acknowledged. But the fact is, that all the large sums mentioned by Mr. E. W. Pugin were paid at dates * As to an extraordinary statement made by a Mrs. Mares, that, immediately after writing his letter of 1845, Pugin bitterly complained to her that he had been forced to disclaim what was really his due, I can only say that statement is altogether at variance witli the sentiments Pugin just at this time expressed to^ myself and others. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTEP. OH subsequent to his father’s appointment by Government, and were paid for works specified in his letter of 1845, some of which, the purchase of casts, for instance, required a consider- able outlay. The money was entered by the bankers as paid by Barry because, to the best of my recollection, the payments made by Government for Pugin’s services passed through Barry’s hands.* * As nrncli stress has been laid on this matter by Mr, E. W. Pugin, I sub- join a copy of the counterfoils of the cheques paid to Mr. A. W. Pugin, from 1844-1852 1844. £ s. paid by Office of Works) ) 135 10 0 Aug. 15 th. A. W. Pugin, Esq. Half year to July 6 th 100 0 0 Nov. 10th. ,, On account 100 0 0 1847. Aug. 24th. A. W. Pugin, Esq. Cartoons for windows of 1 50 0 n H. of Lords j Oct. 16 th. , , On acet. of Stained Glass ... 50 0 0 1848. Jan. 14th. A. W. Pugin, Esq. On acet. of Cartoons, &c. . . . 100 0 0 March 28th • ? » » > 5 > 100 0 0 April 28th. , , Balance for Casts from 1 104 n n Amiens j U \J June 9th. , , On acet. of Cartoons, &c. ... 100 0 0 July 20th. ,, Half year to Midsr. 97 1 8 Aug. 20th. , , On acet. H. of Lords Cartoons 150 0 0 Oct. 30th. , , On further acet. of , , 200 0 0 1849. June 19 th. A. W. Pugin, Esq. Balance for Cartoons for) 120 0 Q Stained Glass j 1852. Jan. 10th. A. W. Pugin, Esq. 50 0 0 The whole amount paid was thus 2325Z, 3s. 2d. Of this, except the first and last cheques, lOOZ. in all, it is plainly shewn that all were mere advancef, throiigh Sir C. Barry, of public money, for the salary and expenses connected with the wood-carving and the cartoons for the stained glass, — A. B. 64 TPIE ARCHITECT OF THE “But one of the most extraordinary statements made by Mr. E. AV. Pugin is this, that his father assisted Barry in making designs for Trentham Hall. “ Now, with the exception of some alterations to the small church there, all the work Barry did at Trentham was Italian — a style in which, I believe, Pugin never drew a line, unless, perhaps, to give point to some of his humourous ‘contrasts.’ Indeed, he held Greek, Eoman, and all their derivatives, in such utter abhorrence that when at Pome, as he once told me, he was looked upon as a heretic, for he denounced St. Peter’s itself as pagan. However Catholic Pugin may have been in other matters, in art he was undoubtedly a sectarist. “ There is one more point in Mr. E. W. Pugin’s statements, upon which I think it right to remark. He speaks of work done by his father for Barry at the Birmingham Grammar School, in terms which may lead some persons to suppose that he had a share in designing that building. But his work there was of precisely the same nature as that he did at Westminster. It was confined to drawings for fittings, furniture, and orna- mental details. The designs for the building, like those for the Houses of Parliament, were made and worked out, even in struc- tural details, by Barry alone ; and on that, as on other similar occasions, I had full opportunity of watching the origin and pro- gress of Barry’s ideas, from his first sketch to his perfect design. “ In conclusion, and in order to put a stop to all future asser- tion or insinuation that Pugin, after his return to work on the Houses of Parliament, had a share in designing any part of them, I declare, that up to the final completion of the build- ing, every part, even the minute detail of the architecture, as distinguished from mere decoration, was designed by Barry alone. Abundance of Pugin’s woik — and admirable work it is — may be seen throughout the building, but it is all of the kind described in his letter of 1845. “The bays and attic of the river front, the two towers, in short, all the important parts of the building, were not only worked out by Barry in innumerable sketches and drawings, but they were, under his immediate and constant supervision, carefully modelled and remodelled in plaster. The models were kept in sancto, and there, locked in with his excellent modeller Mabey, and occasionally myself, Barry studied and finally settled every detail that could, in the slightest degree, affect his design— a likely man, truly, to adopt the designs of another ! NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER, ()5 “ Mr. E. W. Pngin may persist in claiming for his fatlio.r what his father, both in public and in private, refused to claim for himself. But by all persons who worked Avith or foi- Barry, and especially by myself, Avho kncAv not only what lie did but what he thought, the assertion that Pugin, or any otlicr person, had the slightest claim to share with Barry the credit of design- ing the Houses of Parliament must be declared preposterous.* .“The extraordinary statements which Mr. E. W. Pugin lias thought proper to put forward and maintain, must have been made in utter ignorance of the facts, but such ignorance, con- sidering the means at hand of ascertaining the truth, must surelv be deemed inexcusable. ^ t v- “ JOilN L. \\ OM'K. “20^/i September, 1867.” Pai:t III. “ Upon again considering Mr. Pugin’s statements, I notice one upon which, as it is possible it may have some influence on persons who have not studied Barry’s works chronologically, it may be worth while to make some remarks. “We are told, that in order to be convinced it was fiom Pugin that Barry derived his knowledge of Gothic architcctui o, we have only to compare his earlier works, erected in the days of his ignorance, with his later works, designed under the guidance of a master. But Avith regard to his great Avork at Westminster we are spaied the trouble of comparison, for . Mr. E. W. Pugin has boldly asserted that it was the Avork, not of the advancing pupil, but of the master himself. “ Now, it was perfectly true of Barry, as of many other men eminent in art, that to the end of his days he Avas constantly learning. And, as from the study of books and buildings, so from his intercourse with Pugin, he derived much valuable knowledge, which unconsciously influenced his future works. But from neither books, buildings, nor men, was he ever knoAvn to copy. His mind was creative ; and copying Avas repugnant to his nature.t * Mr, E. W. Pugin has declared in one of l)is letters, that he does not accuse the witnesses opposed to him of wilful misrepresentation, but that they were not aware there was a secret influence at work by which Barry Avas con- stantly inspired and guided. But this influence must have been subtle indeed to have remained unknown to one wlio, by some of Barry’s assistants, was called his “ familiar,” t Mr. E. W. Pngin has admitted that “Barry was never satisfied till Jic liad “seen ten different ways of doing one thing.” Is that tlie trait of a copyist? THE ARCHITECT OF THE Of) “ Barry was continually advancing in knowledge of his art ; and when he had to make his design for the Birmingham Grammar School, which, as I have stated in my former remarks, was completed without the aid of Pugin, he had already acquired a mastery in Gothic architecture which, with his habitually unceasing study, and the help of draughtsmen pro- ficient in Gothic detail, might have enabled him to complete his Westminster Palace, as we now see it, without the aid of Pugin. “ When Pugin was first employed by Barry he was a young man (of three and twenty), little known except as the author of some excellent works on Gothic details. But what had he then done as an architect ? He may have completed his house near Salisbury, but that was not a work likely to have induced Barry to select him as his instructor. And what are the works upon which, even now, rests his reputation as an architect? The most important of them is, I think, St. George’s Cathedral in Southwark. But who, with that work before him, can believe that its architect could have designed the Houses of Parliament ? “ The truth is, that neither Pugin nor Barry arrived at excellence per saltum ; and I have frequently heard them in- dulge in good-humoured banter of each other’s early works. Pugin sketching laughable caricatures of a Commissioner’s church, and Barry retorting with allusions to Pugin’s work at AVindsor Castle — work of which he was so heartily ashamed, that he declared it ‘a crime he must expiate in purgatory.’ “ But is it conceivable that Barry, who had, it is acknow- ledged, a master mind, could adopt the designs of an assistant whose principles in art were directly ojqiosed to his oAvn ? AVith Barry, order, symmetry and, above all, unity, were es- sential principles of composition in every design whose import- ance made grandeur attainable. But by Pugin, these principles were either disregarded or anathematized as heretical. Indeed, in the many discussions I had with him on the subject, I con- fess it appeared to me that his one essential to perfection, equally in men as in things, was this — to he Gothic. “ A grande idee, like Barry’s — a vast design, in which every feature was ‘ but a part of one stupendous whole ’ — could have presented itself to Pugin’s imagination only as a nightmare. Barry, it is well-known, belonged to the classical school, ITigin to the school now in the ascendant, the romantic ; and if both NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. ()7 had been great poets instead of arehitects, Barry, perhaps, might have composed a ‘ Paradise Lost,’ but Pugin ‘ Canterbury ‘Tales.’* ^ _ “John L. W olfh. “ September 26 , 1867 .” “ I have read Mr. Pugin’s pamphlet with attention, but I can find little more in it than he had previously put forward in numerous newspapers — nothing, in fact, that in any judicial inquiry would be received as evidence. Ilis extracts from Iiis father’s diaries and Sir Charles Barry’s letters prove no iiKjrc than what has never been denied — that Pugin did much work for Barry, and that Barry appreciated botli the work and tlie workman. But the assertion, that much of the work done con- sisted of original designs, rests merely on assumption, inference, hearsay, or tradition. “ I leave it to others to comment on the evidence hitherto adduced on either side. But I think it right to say that, when the above statements were written, I had held no communica- tion with any of the witnesses, except those who were members of Sir Charles Barry’s family. No number of witnesses could have altered a statement of facts that had occurred within my own knowledge and recollection. “ There is but very little I need add to my former statements, but as Mr. Pugin has asserted that almost the whole of tlio internal fittings of the Houses of Parliament was designed by his father, I must add, as to some important parts of those fit- tings in which I took particular interest, that the ceilings of the two Houses were the subject of frequent discussion between Barry and myself ; and I can say, that the general designs, the arrangement of beams, brackets, and panelling, and even their sections, were the work of Barry himself ; and when Pugin was employed to make the working drawings, he had little more to do than any architect in Barry’s position must have delegated to a chief clerk. “ The throne was originally designed Avith a spire-like canopy of tabernacle- work ; but fearing it would interfere Avith the frescoes to be placed aboA^e, Barry requested Pugin to draAv out a throne in harmony with the general style of fittings he had determined to adopt. Pugin’s design, Avhich I Avell remember. * While Barry was still in the zenith of his fame, his former rival, Cockerell, said to him, “ Oh ! Barry, you are now ‘ the favourite of the market,’ hut “ mark my words, you may Live to see yourself, like Soane and Smirke, out of “ fashion.” F 2 G8 THE ARCHITECT OF THE had much the appearance of a heavy half-tester bedstead ; but Barry so altered it in proportion and arrangement of details, that when it was returned to Pugin to prepare the working drawings, little more remained of the original design than the general form. “ December, 1867.” John L. Wolfe. “ 1, Westminster Chambers, >S^.TF., 23 January, 1868. “ My deak Alfred, — I have read the statements of Mr. Wolfe which are to be published in the ‘ Peply ’ to Mr. E. Pugin’s pamphlet, and although they of course not only embrace the period on which I am able to speak, but a much earlier one, I yet feel that a few words from me will seem naturally to be expected, in relation to the time (1840 to 1847) during which I lived and worked at home continuously. During nearly the whole of this period, I was not only assisting in my father’s office on the drawings for the Kew Palace at Westminster, and others of his works (in company with my old friend and present partner Mr. Banks), but was also acting for him in the con- fidential relation of secretary, in which capacity I necessarily became aware of all his correspondence, and also with all his pecuniary transactions. I was also living at home, and with him, not only during official hours, but at all other times, seeing how in early morning and till late at night, he was devoting his every thought and energy to his works, among which of course his ‘Great Work’ took by far the largest share of his time. During the same time, I think I may venture to say, that the late Mr. Pugin never paid him a visit at which either I was not present, or with the nature of which I was unac- quainted, and from this constant intercourse, I feel I am able to repeat with most perfect confidence all that I have said in my letters to the ‘ Times.’ I mention these facts in order to show that I was placed in a position to give weight to my unhesitating assertion, that the extraordinary theory advanced by Mr. E. Pugin, that his father furnished Sir Charles at the outset, and from time to time, with designs which he, in some secret time and place, copied, and put forth as his own, deceiv- ing thereby his own office assistants, is utterly an assumption on his part, and untrue in fact. It would have been physically impossible for such a course to have been followed without my knowledge (as is considerately suggested by Mr. E. Pugin), NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSI’EK. ()J) during tire years of wliicli I speak ; and since during that same time, the detailed designs of every part of so inucli of the building as was then in progress, were studied by my father, designed and re-designed over and over again by his own hand, and in my presence, modelled and re-modelled, till his ci itical taste was satisfied, it seems unnecessary to say more to cstablisli his undoubted claim to the whole of the New Palace at West- minster with all its merits and demerits, as to which opinion seems at present divided. “ That Mr. Pugin was of essential service to my father as an accomplished master of all the details of Gothic arcliitecture, and that he designed and drew out for execution mucli of tlie purely ornamental detail with which the building abounds, neither would I, nor any of us, hesitate to acknowledge ; and further that his friendship, enthusiasm, and energy was C(jn- stantly of the greatest comfort to my father, under tlic strain of mind and body put on him, is also most true : but that Pugin ever made a design, in the proper sense of that word, for tlio whole, or any important feature in the building as now exist- ing, is equally untrue. It may suit Mr. E. Pugin speciously to urge, that the minor decorative details of a building in fact, by their aggregation, really constitute the building ; but the hollowness of such an argument may safely be left to the judg- ment of any candid person, whether professional or amateur. It may safely be asked whether a building which is nobly designed in mass — well arranged as to plan — well proportioned in its exterior and interior features — depends mainly on its detail and decorations for its impressiveness and character ; and whether it will not have all these effects, even were the detail poor or faulty. And the converse is equally true, that no amount of elaborate detail will redeem a building from ugli- ness and ill effect, if its proportions externally and internally are bad. “ With respect to the Great Work itself, taken as a whole, and with reference to the period at which it was executed, I have no fear that the dispassionate verdict of the majority of those able to judge, not only at present but also in future ages, will place it among the architectural marvels and triumphs of the world. Did I not feel this conviction, the thought that my father for it sacrificed ease, comfort, pecuniary benefits, health, and I may even say his life, would be inexpressibly sad ; and it is almost too great a tax on my powers of self-command t<* 70 THE ARCHITECT OF THE discuss at all calmly the claim now put forth by Mr. E. Pugin when both the principals are taken from us, both of whom could and, I am sure, would have been one in denying ‘ toto coelo,’ a claim, which is, as regards my father’s fame and reputa- tion, as cruel as it is untrue. “ With respect to the Victoria Tower, as to which Mr. Eer- gusson has lately hazarded the theory, that the change from its original design to its present shape might be due in some degree to Mr. Pugin’s influence and devotion to elaborate de- tail, Mr. Wolfe’s narrative of the long study and train of designs which were made for this great feature, and which gradually resolved themselves into the Tower as we now see it, will be sufScient answer. I can myself corroborate that narrative, as it relates to the time when, as I said, I was aware of all that was going on. “ I do not propose to discuss the question whether Mr. Per- gusson’s strictures upon it are correct or not, as each person who takes sufficient interest in it will form his own opinion ; but for this, as for all other features of the design, I must repeat my assertion that Sir Charles, and no one else, is re- sponsible. “ Yours, ever afiectionately, “ Charles Barry.” ( III.) The following letters are those received by us from gentlemen actually engaged in carrying out the work of the New Palace under my father’s direction, in daily and hourly communication with him. I could easily have increased the number, but I would admit no letter which does not sj>eaJc from intimate personal hnowledge. The first are from his chief pupils and assistants : — (a) 1, Westminster Chamhers, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W., “ August 21, 1867. “My dear Edward Barry, — Mr. Wolfe has shown me his letter to you respecting Mr. Pugin. I was, as you know, the head of your father’s office immediately after the period of the competition ; I can therefore confirm every word of Mr. Wolfe’s statements as far as they relate to that time, and I could refer to many corroborative circumstances, did space permit me to do so. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINS'rEK. 71 “ There is no doubt that Sir C. Barry derived valuable assist- ance in carrying out the details of his designs from ]\lr. Pugin, Mr. Thomas, and the rest of his stalf, many of whom are now architects of celebrity, and might claim as I’casonably as IMr. Pugin now does for his father the credit of having designed the Westminster Palace. “ I remain, dear Edward, yours truly, “ Kobt. K. Banks, “ For fifteen years chief assistant to the late Sir Charles Barry. “ E. M. Barry, Esq., A.B.A.’' I subjoin the letter referred to : — “ August 20, 18()7. “ My dear Friend, — I will explain as precisely as 1 can, the nature and extent of the assistance derived from Ihigin in de- signing the Westminster Palace, and as it is well known tliat 1 was almost daily and nightly with ymur father during the i)rc- paration of the competition designs, and that I was cognizant of, and consulted upon, every stage of the work, I trust I may be accepted as a competent witness to the facts I have now to relate. “ It was not till after your father had originated, and, with his own hand, drawn out the general design, both in plan and elevation, that Pugin’s assistance was obtained. Pugin, then, under your father’s instructions, and from his designs, made, besides some perspective views, drawings, mostly in pencil, of the details of the building. During this process I often saAV him at work, and heard his amusing criticisms of your father’s ideas, which were frequently opposed to his own. For this reason most of these drawings (for which and for some subse- quently made Pugin received 400 guineas) were ultimately set aside, and when the competition drawings were finally prepared, although some of the least important of them were drawn by Pugin, they did not exhibit a single feature designed by him. This I positively declare. “ Your father was, of all men I have known, the one least likely to adopt other people’s ideas of art ; but there is no doubt that Pugin’s valuable suggestions and criticisms may have helped to modify his views, and contributed to the production of new ideas. “ I hardly need say that the building as executed bears little 72 THE AECHITECT OF THE resemblance to tlie competition design ; but I may add that the most important changes in it, those indeed which determined its character, were made by yonr father alone, while he was with me in the country, and not in communication with Pugin. “ I will now explain the reason of Pugin’s direct appoint- ment by the Government, and also the application of his letter to the ‘Builder’ in 1845. The appointment was suggested and recommended by your father, with the view of securing to his friend a position not likely to be affected by any change in his own relation to the Goveimment, which at times appeared critical. The letter to the ‘ Builder ’ was intended to put an end, once for all, to such claims as arc now advanced, and it was written by Pugin in concert with your father, after con- sultation with me, not only to refer to the x)ast, but to explain publicly the state of the case for the future. The statement made by Pugin that his occupation was to assist in carrying out your father’s designs is strictly and literally true of the whole of his connection with the Houses of Parliament. “ I would go into further details if necessary, but I have perhaps said enough to show that Pugin acted in complete subordination to your father, and, in the matter of competition, strictly as an assistant draughtsman, although one of the highest order. “ Pugin was not the man to accept, still less to claim, the credit due to others ; and I can state most positively that he never to my knowledge advanced any assertion at variance with his own clear and carefully worded letter of 1845. “ Deati Dr, Barry, — As I perceive you are about to publish a reply to certain statements made by Mr. E. W. Ihigin, my personal knowledge and experience may be of some service. “ \ou are perhaps aware that I had the good fortune of acting under the immediate direction of your highly-gifted (0 Great Queen Street, Westminster, Janiiarij 24th, 1868.* * This letter ’’sfrom Mr. Gibson, the well-known architect, who was included in the invitations to the recent Law Courts Competition. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 73 fatlier, as pupil and assistant, from tlio middle of 1835 (when I was for a sliort time at the building of the Birmingham Grammar School) until the autumn of 1844; and during tliese nine years I saw, and had a great deal to do witli, the drawings as modified, and those for the estimate, as well as the details for the New Houses of Parliament as executed, wliieh were designed by him in this manner, lie would make plan after plan, sketch after sketch, and was never satisfied until lie laid tried to improve whatever he had in hand (wliethcr it was in Italian or Gothic) ; he never rested before he obtained that symmetry and proportion for which he is so justly celebrated ; in fact, I have often rubbed out and re-drawn many times over, his own views and directions, and I have seen drawings, aftei' all this consideration, sponged out at night, and found he had re-drawn on the same paper, on my arrival the next day, a new design ; and this would often be repeated, so that the cost to him in disused designs and detail drawings must have been some- thing enormous, up to the time I left in 1 844,when the great bulk of the building was far advanced. At the early time to which I have alluded (1835), there were very few who knew anything about Gothic architecture except himself, Pugin, and a few others. Now your father had not only designed, but had already nearly completed, the exterior of what may even now be con- sidered a very good specimen of Gothic architecture (I hero allude to the Birmingham Grammar School). I have seen no evidence adduced showing that Barry even knew Pugin as early as 1833, in which year he competed for the last-named building ; in fact Pugin could not have been much more than twenty years old at that date. I refer now more particularly to this building, and I am not singular in my opinion that its fa 9 ade, as designed by Barry in 1833, was the germ of his first design for the Houses of Parliament, and I well recollect one of the commissioners, who selected the original design for the Houses of Parliament, stating to his friends in my presence that Barry had rather repeated himself. “ That Pugin made drawings for Barry in 1835 no one dis- putes, but I much question that he designed for him. “ Again, with regard to the designs prepared for ‘ tlio esti- mate ’ of the Houses of Parliament, I maintain that not only were tracings of ‘ the plans ’ sent to Mr. Pugin for his guidance in making out details, when he did not work at the office, but also sections and elevations of those parts which Barry designed 74 THE ARCHITECT OF THE and wished Pugin to detail, all of which, so far as I know, were set aside in carrying out the work. “ Barry was the last man to depend upon others for designs ; hut I do know this, that Pugin assisted as others did with an earnest goodwill in the vast amount of work for which Barry was solely responsible. “ I am yours, very truly, “ John Gibson. “ Dr. Barry ^ Cheltenham.^’ (c) “ 20, Cockspiir Street, Pall Mall, S. W.,* “ 24:th January, 1 868. “ My dear Barry, — I am very glad to have an opportunity of bearing testimony from my own personal knowledge and obser- vation of the duties performed by your late father as the sole architect and designer of the present Palace of Westminster. “I was placed with him in the year 1840, and remained with him as pupil and assistant till the year 1848. In the first three years I acted as his amanuensis, and had the charge of his cor- respondence, and consequently was placed in a most favourable position to watch his various labours at the desk or the drawing board. In fact during this particular period I was constantly at his elbow I might say. “ The drawings of the river front, the various internal courts, the two Houses of Lords and Commons, the Royal Gallery, the Central Hall, St. Stephen’s Hall and Porch, the Royal Staircase, the Victoria Tower to a height of 130 feet, the Central Tower complete, and the Clock Tower to the corbelled parapet underneath the clock face, were positively executed (making several thousands in number) in the eight years I was with him. Your father, with an industry and energy unparalleled, with an amount of resource in design and a facility of rapid execution with his pencil rarely equalled, supplied all the art and most of the constructive brains for these drawings. Kot content with sketches to small scales to give to his assistants, many drawings and details to the largest scales were prepared in pencil by his own hand, and given to us to ink-in and send out to the * This letter is also from a well-known architect, who was asked to compete for the National Gallery and the Law Courts, and whose statements will carry great weight witli the Profession. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 75 works. Few in tliat office bad tbe temerity to offer him sug- gestions at all, and fewer still at any rate from an art point of view. So singularly was his mind constituted, and so tlioroughly did he rely upon his own resources, that rather than, as ho thought, waste time in giving directions to his suhordinatcs, ho would make the drawings himself and send them into tho office for completion and copying previous to delivery to the con- tractors. “ Up to the period of the appointment of the late Mr. Pugin as superintendent of the wood-carving at Thames Bank ^VorkH about 1844 or 1845 (I write from memory only as to tho dates) I never saw a drawing or detail of stone-work of Mr. Pugin’s used in the office. There were some 30 or 40 drawings prepared ante- cedent to my connection with jmur father, hut an inspection of their peculiar character and manner would he quite sufficient to satisfy the most superficial observer that they bore no re- semblance to the present building as executed, other than being in the style of the 15th century work. “ So far as regards the stone- work of the building in its deli- cacy of detail inside and out, the designing of its towers, and tho grouping of its masses, no one can with truth lay the slightest claim to being the author of its merits or defects but your father. “ With regard to the internal finishings of tho building, tho decorative wood and oak-work, I can speak also from the same personal knowledge, that he alone made the designs of all tho main features of the work, and his ruling mind governed even that which was not the actual production of his own hand ; on this point you must have plenty of evidence by the drawings still in your possession. “ That the late Mr. Pugin gave your father most valuable assistance in much of the details of the fittings and finishings has never been disputed ; but that his assistance was solely con- fined to his own specialite of decorative detail in wood-carving, metal- work, furniture, paper hanging, and polychrony, cannot on the other hand be gainsayed by those who were engaged in the work in other capacities, and had opportunities of seeing tho services performed by that talented man. “ As one instance of the antagonism of views exhibited by tho two men in the style of treatment of the decorative finishings of the House of Lords I well recollect seeing a drawing by the late Mr. Pugin, which he sent to your father, being his idc'a for the 76 TPIE AECHITECT OF THE Throne. If this is in existence it will convince the most sceptical how thoroughly monastic, as distinguished from civil or domestic, the character of Mr. Pugin’s designs were in most cases whenever he acted independently of your father’s sketches and instructions. “ The drawing in question exhibited a gorgeous piece of taber- nacle work, partaking of the character of a bishop’s stall in a cathedral, and which your father unhesitatingly put aside and substituted the present throne, designed by himself as more in accord- ance with its intended purpose. “ I understand your brother. Dr. Barry, is preparing a reply to the pamphlet of Mr. Welby Pugin. I am glad of it, as in the interest of truth, and in justice to the most distinguished archi- tect of his day, such pretensions on the part of Mr. Welby Pugin in favour of his father should now and for ever be disposed of. “ With the overwhelming testimony of living witnesses that can be produced of the personal labour of your father on the designs of the New Palace at Westminster, the drawings and correspondence by his own hand in your possession, I am confi- dent that when both sides are heard the verdict of the public (for that of the Profession has been given long ago) will not be long withheld as to who was the designer and architect of the Houses of Parliament — Sir Charles Barry alone, with the subor- dinate aid of several principal assistants and a large staff, or the late Mr. Pugin without a staff, but with one very zealous but in- discreet assistant who shall be nameless. “ Yours truly, “ G. Somers Clarke.” (d) “ Sir,* — I have not seen Mr. E. W. Pugin’s pamphlet, — but I have carefully read and re-read the correspondence in your journal respecting the ‘ Westminster Palace.’ I venture to think that you will allow me a few words on the subject, to supply some information of consequence, that has not yet appeared in your correspondence. I became an articled pupil of the late Sir C. Barry in June, 1836, and was amongst those in his ofSce, who were draughted off to Westminster soon after, to engage in the working out of the designs for the great Addressed to the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette ’ (but not inserted, as the editor consi- dered the controversy closed) by another old pupil of Sir C. Barry. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 77 building in question, where I remained for a period of six years. I was therefore intimately acquainted with that wliich pertains to the undertaking, and this is my title to bo he;ird. “ Up to the period I commence with, and in reference to the ‘ Competition Designs,’ the letter of Mr. Talbot Bury and that of Mr. J. L. Wolfe will be sufficient, I am sure, with every right-thinking man to establish the late Sir Chai’lcs ]>ai-i-y’s claim to all the merit of the original designs. 1 may say, more- over, that the substance of their statements was well understood in the office at the time, and I believe them to be strictly and faithfully correct, viz., that Mr. Augustus Welby Bugin was simply employed to work out the designs furnished to him, as any other clerk would have to do, and as indeed he afterwards did in my time. “ It is not generally known, but it is a fact that must be named, the ‘ Competition Designs ’ ivere not in any one imrticular carried out, excepting perhaps the broad features of the phin. After the competition decision, from what cause I cannot say, the whole aspect of the design was changed from a grand, mas- sive, castellated building to one of a light, elegant, and more domestic character, and thus Pugin’s works, whatever they may have been in the original drawings, expired. “ A revised design ensued, and I can distinctly affirm, from personal knowledge, that this v/as prepared by the head and hands of Sir Charles Barry himself, and consisted of four eleva- tions most wonderfully drawn to a scale of 40 feet to the incli ; these designs were worked out again to a larger scale by the same master-hand before they were passed over to Mr. Pugin, who was employed to make the larger scale drawings required for the surveyor’s quantities only ; in this work, it is but fair to say, that his great rapidity of execution proved eminently useful, under the pressure of the Government to determine the probable cost of the undertaking speedily. On the completion of these drawings Mr. Pugin disappeared from the scene, and was not again employed to my knowledge for maii}^ years ; but then was recommended by Sir Charles Barry to the appoint- ment of superintendent over the wood-carving establishment. Simultaneously with Mr. Pugin’s disappearance and the com- pletion of the estimates founded upon authentic information, that proved the practicability of carrying out an ornate build- ing within reasonable expenditure, disappeared also the desiyns and drawings that had been used, including of course all those pjrepared by Mr. Pugin. 78 THE ARCHITECT OF THE “ No sooner had the difficulty regarding the cost of, and the obtaining of instruction to proceed with, the building been got over, than Sir Charles Barry commenced again with intense earnestness, not simply revising the designs already made, but by producing new ones — and new ones again differing totally from their predecessors, and these again were perpetually undergoing change, as he studied and re-studied, balancing the parts and harmonising the whole up to the very day of exe- cution ; and this incessant study and labour, I doubt not, ex- tended through his whole life, and throughout this great and tremendous undertaking. The result is indeed great and glo- rious — a building that has brought, and will throughout ages bring, honour to this nation and to the profession to which it belonged. “ Within my own time I can safely say, that not one frac- tion, not so much as a single moulding in the work executed was designed or ever drawn by Pugin, and I believe that this will apply as fully and as truly to every other portion of the executed work since my time ; for I hold it to be a thing impos- sible, knowing the self-contained mind of this truly great archi- tect, that he could for a moment allow himself to be trammelled by any man as an architectural draughtsman. “ I am, Sir, “ Your very obedient servant, “ Manchester^ Aug. 30, 1867.” “ W. H. Brakspear. (e) 160, Hope Street^ Glasgow, 25 September, 1867. “ Sir,* — Does any one dispute that Mr. Pugin assisted Sir Charles Barry in making the competition drawings for the Houses of Parliament ? “ I suppose that Pugin’s was the best assistance that Barry could obtain at that time. Some of the drawings were entirely from Barry’s own hand, and from Pugin’s known works there can be no doubt were of Barry’s own designing, being as unlike that master’s style as Gothic from Italian work. It was not difficult to discover Barry’s own drawing, for even as a draughtsman he was very prominent. As Pugin could only have assisted in these drawings as a paid clerk, or as a friend. Addressed to the ‘ Builder,’ but not inserted. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 79 how can any credit as architect he ascribed to him in snch a position ? It could never end were this to ho the case ; tlicro were others whose valuable services to Barry rendered the Palace what it is. One name, Mr. John Thomas, sculptor, 1 may mention. I might as well claim the design of St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, because I was present and assisted in tlie com- petition drawings for that building, being an intimate friend of poor Elmes ; but who will dare to deprive him of all the honour due to his great work ? “ Presume, however, that Barry was totally incapal)le of ]>7'o- ducing such a design as that of the New Houses of I’arliament without the assistance of Pugin, I am perfectly certain that many others besides myself, equally well acquainted with the original designs and the building as executed, know that they do not resemble one another in the slightest degree, beyoiid being a fa9ade and three towers — the centi-al tower being a late addition during Dr. Eeid’s ventilation scheme. During the five years of my apprenticeship I never once saw any of the drawings by Pugin used in making the working plans from which the building was executed ; so much so, I remember that Barry did not even know where these competition drawings had been put, and I can safely vouch they never saw the light of day for many years, being locked up in a box, stowed away among a number of models, when our offices were part of the old Speaker’s House, rendering it impossible that these plans were ever used in carrying out the work. A glance at the original and executed designs, a copy of each of which I have now before me, of the river front with the towers, would convince suffi- ciently the most ardent supporter of Mr. Pugin that the New Houses of Parliament were never designed by him. “ There was a charming set of elevations of the three fronts, in difierent-coloured inks, which were drawn by Barry himself ; it was to them that reference was constantly made for informa- tion during the preparation of the detail drawings. I am con- fident, as I have already stated, that not one of the plans drawn by Pugin were ever made use of ; nor is it possible I can be mistaken, as I could name the author of any draw- ing in the office ; and without any disparagement to Pugin’s talents as an architect, I have no hesitation in asserting that Barry’s drawings represented stone, and Pugin’s iron or roire- worh. “ I have great pleasure in thus calling to my recollection so THE AECHITECT OF THE these circumstances, and hope they may answer the purpose of giving to the late Sir Charles Barry the full credit due to him in every respect, as the highly distinguished architect of the New Houses of Parliament. Surely some of the older pupils than myself now resident in London, will not flinch from adding their testimony to my statements, and prevent any further controversy about our late much respected and talented “ I am yours, “ George Penrose Kennedy, “ Pujpil of the late Sir C. Barry T “ 27, King-street, City, 21th August, 1867. “ My dear Sir,* — In the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette,’ I have read the correspondence up to the 24th inst., and, having some consi- derable knowledge of the early history of the above important work, have the pleasure to add my testimony to those of Mr. Barry, Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Banks and Mr. Ferrey. I was in the office of your father the late Sir Charles Barry. I entered it immediately after the great work was intrusted to him, as superior clerk of the staff employed by him to get out the working drawings of the New Houses, Mr. Banks holding a similar position for works irrespective of this build- ing. My duties, both at your father’s residence and at the office at Westminster, were to work out from his drawings, detail workings, drawings, plans, sections, and elevations, to the same scale as his own, viz. ^ to the foot. During this period the late Mr. A. W. Pugin was occasional assistant at a better salary than my own, and was employed in mahing drawings of parts of the building to enlarged scales, but had for his authority the smaller drawings of Sir C. Barry. I remember particularly a bay of river front, details of wings. Clock Tower, King or Great Tower, ceiling and section of House of Lords and Com- mons, Queen’s Gallery, Eobing Eoom, lobbies, and several other drawings, all of which were known in the office as productions of Mr. A. W. Pugin, and were also known to be enlargements of those prepared by Sir C. Barry himself, existing in the office as studies : from these working drawings the detail estimate * On this letter Mr. E. W. Pugin makes a statement, that it was “indited” by my brother, Mr. E. M. Barry. What could have led him to make this state- ment I know not, but I must add that it is absolutely groundless. master. if) NFAV TALACE AT WKSTMINSTEI?. 81 of cost was made in accordance with the order of Earliamoiit. The position held during all this time by the late Mr. A. W. Fugin was that of an occasional assistant and valued friend, and until lately I have never heard this disputed. “ After the general design and estimate received the approval of the authorities, a portion of the building was ordered to bo carried into execution, viz. the river wall and the river fi-ont, and portions of the wings. The working drawings for all tlio works were made in the office of Sir C. Barry, it being undoi* my charge ; and during this period I heaixl very little of the late Mr. A. W. Pugin as connected with your father ; all tlie details of the works being from the pencil of Sir C. Barry, wlio laboured upon the work with great hicility and the most endur- ing industry, even to the injury of his health ; he re-considered his previous designs and made many important im})rovements. I may add, that during the period I remained with Sir C. Barry I had eveiy opportunity of knowing the enormous labour lie gave to the work, and I speak quite within the truth when 1 say, every part of that portion of the building in my charge had, the designing hand of Sir C. Barry at least ten times over, and 1 believe also the remainder of the structure has had similar labour and thought bestowed on it. “ I know, as a fact, that, although the plan in its general arrangements has remained unaltered, the elevations and sections are very different to the original designs, and no one portion at all accords with any detail prepared by the late Mr. A. \V. Pugin. “ As regards the late Mr. Thomas, he was my personal friend, and consulted me upon his engagement with Sir C. Barry ; his duties were those of superintendent of modelling and stone- carving, and in no way interfered with the later duties of Mr. A, \V. Pugin, who did superintend the wood-carving, I have no doubt. “ I cannot conclude this letter without saying I have seen Mr. Pugin’s pamphlet ” (On the Designs for the iS'ew Law Courts) “ as well as the correspondence, and it is much to be regretted Mr. Pugin has entered into this controversy. IJe cannot from his age know personally anything of the subject, upon which he has been writing, and the tone is of a sjtirit prevailing now among some young professional men, in boasting that the reputation of more experienced artists is mainly owing to their talents ; and bej ond the annoyance to your family 82 THE ARCHITECT OF THE and yourself, the correspondence can have no effect upon the acknowledged and secure reputation and honours of the late Sir C. Barry. “ As regards the reputation of the late Mr. A. W. Pugin, it was established upon different data from those pretended hy his son, and I am persuaded his son’s statement would not havs been permitted had he been alive. “ I can, therefore, only conceive that Mr. Pugin has taken the mischievous course of endeavouring to damage the reputa- tion of Sir C. Barry, and I am equally sorry to say your own likewise, in order, if possible, to obtain a position for himself upon false and pretended artistic wisdom as yet unacknow- ledged hy the public, and bringing upon the profession a great scandal. j dear Sir, “ Yours very truly, “ E. M. Barry, Esq., A.B.A.” “ W. Weight. The following is from Mr. Groves, Mr. Wright’s successor: — (^) “ 9, Craig’s Court, Charing Cross, “24^^ January, 1868. “ Dear Sir, — I n reply to your enquiries respecting my duties, Ac., at the then “ Houses of Parliament ” under the late Sir Charles Barry, I beg to state that I succeeded Mr. Wright in August, 1839, as chief superintendent of the office (on the spot) and the works, and my duty was to inspect the works once or twice a day as occasion required (there being three clerks of works always there, each having a separate portion of the build- ing under their inspection), and the remainder of my time was engaged in the office, &c., making out the numerous drawings required (with Messrs. Gibson, Brakspear, and other assistants and pupils) to be issued on the works for the direction and guidance of the contractors in erecting the building, and I re- mained in this position until April, 1845. “ During the whole time of my engagement I have no recol- lection of seeing Mr. Pugin more than once or twice on the spot, apparently inspecting the works as other visitors did. I have never worked from any of his drawings that I am aware of, nor can I recollect ever seeing them, but always from those of the late Sir Charles Barry, who was almost daily with me direct- NEW PALACE A'r WESTMINSTEIL (^) “ 13, Parliament Street, S.W., 2nd October, 18G7. “ Dear Sir, — M y connection with Sir C. Bariy (then resident in Foley Place) commenced before the completion of tlie Now Honses of Parliament, and I executed work for him at the Travellers’ Club, Mr. Attree’s house at Brighton, and at Lord Tankerville’s at Walton. During the whole term of the erec- tion of the Houses of Parliament I was constantly emi)l()yed for him, at first as manager of the London marble works, subse- quently and for the last twelve years of his life, on my own account. “ During all this time I took all my instructions either from Sir Charles or from his clerk of works, but chiolly from him- self, as I w'orked to his own drawings, which I have repeatedly seen him make and alter as occasion required. “ I had never during the whole period to deal Avith Mr. J’ugin, save on one occasion, when some small spandrel panels in the fioor of the Central Hall of the Houses of Parliament had to be filled in, the tiles intended for them having been forgotten.* 1 n this instance I gave to Mr. Pugin, by order of Sir Charles, the sizes of these panels, that he might forward them to IMessrs. Minton for execution, as I apprehend, after his own designs. “ In all my experience of architects I have knoAvn fcAv, if any, who have devoted so much personal labour to the design- ing the even minute details of their works ; and knowing as I do, the extreme and conscientious attention gi^^en by Sir Charles to the daily and even hourly progress of his great undertaking, and the extent to which he personalty identified himself with its every feature, I can only style any attempt to detract from his well-earned fame as the sole architect and designer of the New blouses of Parliament as simply prepos- terous. j yours obediently, “ W'm. Field. “ Edward M. Barry, Esq., A.B.A.” The following are from Mr. Quarm, for many years the trusted representative of my father at Westminster, and from Mr. Bayne, superintendent of the wood-carving Avorks : — * This passage curiously explains Sir Ciiaiies’s Letter XIV. on page 49 of Mr. E. Pugin’s pamphlet, stating that he forgot the arrangement of the tiles in the angle spaces of this floor. — E. M. 13. 86 THE ARCHITECT OF THE (/) “ Bose Villa, St. John's Boad, Brixton, January 23rd, 1868. “ Dear Mr. Barry, — I liave purposely avoided all correspond- ence throughout the controversy you have had with Mr. E. Pugin respecting the statement he persists in, claiming for his father the merit of the design for the New Houses of Parlia- ment ; and had the matter rested on the question of the design only, I should not have troubled you with this letter, as others have recently disposed of this claim from their early and inti- mate connexion with the building. But, when I find other claims set forth affecting the period of my direction of the works, I cannot refrain from repudiating of my own knowledge all such statements. “ I was appointed as chief superintendent of the office and the works at the building in 1845, have had at least twelve clerks of works and other clerks under my direction, and was responsible for all that was done in every department from that time till the death of Sir Charles Barry in 1860. Being in his confidence I knew every transaction, I can therefore faithfully state that Mr. Pugin had nothing whatever to do with the works during that period, beyond superintending the wood-carving at Thames Bank in the early part of the time, and the extent of his services in that department Mr. Bayne can best explain. Mr. Pugin, however, published in 1845 a proper explanation. With this exception I can state I never saw any drawings of Mr. Pugin’s of the works, except large details for carved work, tile floors, ornamental metal-work and stained glass, which were made by him for the contractors. “ I have seen Sir Charles make hundreds of drawings which I have subsequently carried out, so that I cannot he mistaken ; and as to Mr. Pugin’s details from Sir Charles’s small drawings, I ought to remark that it was .c most exceptional case for any to be executed without being altered by Sir Charles. With regard to the towers particularly, they were all com- pleted before I left the works, and what remained unfinished at Sir Charles’s death I finished under your directions as archi- tect, and I can say Avith confidence that you must have been fully cognisant of all that took place in the building for at least ten years before Sir Charles’s decease, and can therefore bear out my statement. I may remark that the large number of draw- ings as studies made by Sir Charles for years were modelled NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTEK. 87 from time to time by Mr. Mabey (in whose shop I never knew Mr. Pugin to enter), and the incessant toil of Sir Charles in that respect was far beyond any one’s belief but tliose al)out him, and I am certain that Mr. Pugin had iiothing to do witli them. My knowledge of the whole undertaking was so recog- nized by Sir Charles that it was not an unusual tiling if he came to my office during any temporary absence, for liim t(j leave again without going over the works, as lie always con- sidered my presence indispensable ; I am therefoi-e able to state that I do not believe Mr. Pugin either alone or with Sir Charles was on any occasion in the building without my being present, and when there, the visits were always on the subject of the approval by Sir Charles of specimens of wood-carving, stained glass, tile-flooring, or metal- work — the branches which Mr. Pugin had more immediatel}^ under his detailing. 1 never remember any conversation directly or indirectly on the subject of the structure or its details externally or internally. “ I am quite astonished at the outrageous assertions of Mr. E. Pugin, as every one must be with any knowledge of the facts. No one will deny that Mr. Pugin rendered Sir Charles valuable assistance in his department as many others did in theirs, and Sir Charles was not the man not to appreciate it, for he knew far well that in such a gigantic undertaking life was far too short for him to accomplish everything with his own hands. His mind had mastered all its difficulties, and it was for others to assist him in the carrying out the work designed and originated by him. “ 1 consider it a monstrous fabrication of Mr. E. Pugin’s from first to last ; I cannot conceive how it is possible he can persist in it, and it grieves me exceedingly to think of the annoyance that it must have given to those immediately connected Avith Sir Charles and the great work in question. “ And I remain, yours faithfully, “ E. M. Barry, Esq., A.B.A." “ Quarm. (m) “ Great Smith Street, Westminster, September, 18G7. “ SiR,^ — I was much surprised to see Mr. Burton’s statement, that the late Mr. Pugin designed the whole of the fittings for * Addressed to the ‘ Pull Mall Gazette,’ but not inserted. 88 THE ARCHITECT OF THE the Houses of Parliament, and that Sir C. Barry had nothing to do with them. “ I can positively contradict this statement. I was the prac- tical superintendent of the works at Millbank, from their com- mencement in January, 1845, to their close in December, 1859. “ The whole of the wood-work and carving for the Houses of parliament, and full-sized models and patterns for ornamental metal-work, were made at Thames Bank during this time under my direction, and I necessarily had much knowledge of all that Mr. Pugin did, and can with certainty say he never took part in anything but ornamental detail. - “ Mr. Pugin only came occasionally to the works, and almost always accompanied by Sir C. Barry. “ Sir Charles was at the works almost daily, when much was doing, and altei ed his designs again and again. 1 had to model everything for his approval and decision, and I can therefore state most decidedly that both Mr. E. AV. Pugin and Air. Burton are wrong in the claims they put forward. Sir Charles used frequently to make designs for all parts of the work in my presence, but I never saw Air. Pugin do anything but orna- mental detail. “ I well remember the appearance of the letter in the ‘Builder’ in 1845, in which letter Air. Pugin describes, quite correctly, the position he occujned in his connection with the Houses of Parliament ; and as the actual execution of the work ]>assed through my hands, I fim entitled to speak with con- dJie following is from Air. Philip, the well-known archi- tectural sculptor, and shows the opinion of those who actually worked at Thames Bank under Air. Pugin. “ Dear Sn:, — Whatever testimony I can give respecting the point at issue in this unfortunate assertion of claims as to the authorship of the Houses of Parliament by the son of the late Air. I'ugin on behalf of his father, I have ]deasure in plac- hdence. 1 am. Sir, yoin'« Ap awE, “ Practical Snj)erhitendent of the icorhs at Millhank for the Westminster PalaceP (n) West Pavilion, Hans Place, January 26th, 1808. NEW PALACE AT WESTMINISTER. 89 ing at your disposal. I was introduced by an eminent painter still living to the notice of Mr. Pugin, who engaged me to make models for the guidance of tlie numerous workmen en- gaged in executing the wood-carvings in the workshops at Thames Bank. It was a privilege much prized at tlie time, and not since forgotten, that it was my lot to be in personal communication with Mr. Pugin on nearly all occasions when he visited the works ; his business being to su})])ly designs for the ornamental details of the carving of ceilings. Avail framings, &c., and to see that the models executed during the intervals of his visits had been carried out in accordance and in the spirit of his drawings. That his Avork Avas of the utmost importance, and that his position Avith Sir Charles Barry was of the highest and most intimate character in this special department, there , could not be a shadow of a doubt ; but it Avas also equally clear that Sir Chailes Barry was the chief who exercised the sharpest control not only over iMr. Pugin’s designs, but also of the Avork executed from them. The usual course AA^as that Mr. Pugin visited the works, aAmraging certainly not oftener than once in a fortnight, leaving a great number of sketches executed during the few hours he Avas with us. Sir Charles Barry Avas in the habit of visiting the Avorks two or three times in each week, or oftener ; it continually haj)- pened on these visits that Sir Charles not only set aside and disapproved of Pugin’s designs, but superseded them by designs made by himself. “ From the remarks I have heard Mr. Pugin make upon the exterior I cannot imagine that he was either the author, or that he had the power in any way to control it. I believe his work was entirely restricted to making designs for the orna- mental wood-carvings, metal- work, tiles for floors, and furniture generally. “ My then and now friend Mr. Clayton was my felloAv- worker. Our occupation necessitated a closer and more unre- served intercourse with him than usually happens to the lot of ordinary assistants. Had Mr. Pugin been the designer of the whole structure, I think some inkling of the fact must have oozed out during the period of two years and a half that Ave were so engaged. I am sure that surprise was our mutual feeling when Mr. Pugin’s claims were advanced. AVorkmen are very keen in discovering AA^ho is the real master. I am sure there Avas no other feeling among the men at that time 90 THE ARCHITECT OF THE but that Sir Charles Barry was the designer and supreme head of the work. “ I remain, dear Sir, yours very faithfully, “ J. Birnie Philip. “ E. M. Barry, Esq., A.B.A.” The following is from the head of the well-known firm of Clayton and Bell, and shows, that even in the department specially confided to Mr. Pugin, his subordination to Sir Charles Barry was fully maintained. (o) “ 13, Fellows Boad, Haverstoch Eill, ^^Jan 24th, 1868. “ My dear Sir, — During the years 1846-7 I was engaged at Thames Bank in translating Mr. Pugin’s sketches into the form of models for many of the details of the interior of the Houses of Lords and Commons. “ At this period I saw much both of Mr. Pugin and Sir (Riarles Barry, and necessarily had good opportunity of know- ing in what practical form their minds respectively operated upon this phase of the work. I should signally misrepresent myself by uttering one word that might seem to fall short of the highest admiration of Mr. Pugin’s genius ; but — apart from the question as to Sir Charles’s position as architect of the building in the broader sense — I cannot hesitate to say that the impression left upon my mind from the much I wit- nessed in the production of the said details was that Mr. Pugin’s exuberant invention and singular facility of hand were scarcely more active and potent, even in this part of the work, than were Sir Charles’s cooler judgment and control of general effects. These frequent cancellings, modifications, and changes wrought upon Mr. Pugin’s designs by Sir Charles’s counselling, sketching, and restraining influence generally were often start- ling to me by the extent to which they were carried. “ Of the many who were at the time similarly engaged with me — including Mr. J. B. Philip and Mr. T. Phyffers — I never heard an opinion that did not admit with enthusiasm the force of Mr. Pugin’s abundant fancy, and with equal warmth the power of Sir Charles’s artistic judgment. “ I am, my dear Sir, faithfully yours, “ John E. Clayton. - Edw. M. Barry, Esq., A.E.A.” NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 91 The following are from the architectural modellers at the New Palace ; — (p) 1, 1 a, d 2, Princes-street, Westminster, S.W., “ 12^/i Se^ptemher, 18G7. “Dear Sir, — HaAong read the letters of Mr. E. W. Pngin in the ‘ Times ’ of the 7th inst., and periodicals before, relating to the late Sir Charles Barry and Mr. A. W. Pngin, I feel it to bo my duty and pleasure to state my knowledge and ex})ei’ience in reference to the subject in question, leaving it with you to use as you think fit. I was employed, as you are aware, as fore- man of the modelling department, at the New Houses of Parlia- ment for sixteen years, engaged by Mr. John Thomas in the year 1842, and during that time principally occu})ied in making the small models, of which I had the entire supci’in- tendence immediately under the direction of Sir Charles Barry, working them out in many cases from his dictation and sketches made upon the spot, diverging frequently so far from the original design as to constitute a new construction of entire masses and parts ; for he was frequently disappointed by the elfect of his designs when worked out upon a small scale in a model, which induced him to make repeated alterations directly upon the model itself, without submitting a drawing ; and all such alterations, which, as I have stated, Avere often im- portant ones, were entirely due to his personal control Avithout the intervention of any other person whatever. No one ever accompanied him excepting his esteemed friend Mr. M'olfe, and I am sure Mr. A. W. Pugin never came with him to see the models, and the workshops were locked up CA^ery evening Avlien I went away, and access rendered impossible, so that he could not have consulted with him about further alterations to be made upon them. The models which I made were of the riA^er front, Victoria Clock and Central Towers, Palace A"ard front, the groin ceilings of the Central and St. Stephen’s Halls, and of the Victoria ToAver, besides numerous other portions of the building ; and on all of these, more especially the river front and towers, it was that his repeated alterations Avere made ; several models Avere made for each, and each model Avas sub- jected to immediate and spontaneous alteration in the manner I have prevdously stated. “ I might add Sir Charles Barry’s freedom in design and facility in sketching often impressed me Avith Avonder, and has 92 THE ARCHITECT OF THE left no doubt on my mind that the original source was his own great power. “ I have been much surprised to see that Mr. Pugin claims for his father, on the authority of Mr. Burton, ‘ the conception, ‘ the plan, the elevations, the sections, and the details ’ of the Throne in the House of Lords, and states that he made ‘ no ‘ less than three difierent designs for it’ in 1845. “ All I can say is that I perfectly remember making the block-model from Sir Charles’s sketches in the modeller’s shop on the river terrace at the works of the New Palace. “ Mr. Pugin never came while I was engaged on it, but Sir Charles was with me almost every day superintending my work. The model, after some consideration and minor altera- tions, was settled in accordance with Sir Charles Barry’s draw- ing now photographed. The model was then sent to Mr. Bayne at the Thames Bank workshops. “ Subsequently some of the sculptured detail was modelled and loorhed from Sir Charles’s instructions by Mr. Thomas in our shop, just before the House of Lords was completed, and the work was fixed in its place by me. “ 1 am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, “jEJ. M. Barry, Esq., A.B.A.” “James Mabey. (^) “ 62, Walnut-tree Walk, Kennington Boad, Lambeth, ^^Jan. 24th, 1868. “ Sir, — I was ten years with the late Mr. Thomas, during seven of which I was more or less constantly employed for the Houses of Parliament. “ Mr. Mabey was employed in making the small general models of parts of the building, particularly the towers, and my work was principally to prepare the full-size models for the carvers to work from. The method generally adopted in car- rying out the heraldic models for the exterior of the river front and parts of Victoria Tower and other portions of the building of the New Houses of Parliament (many of which I modelled under the late Mr. Thomas), was this ; there was generally a small drawing made in Mr. Barry’s office showing the general design, which was enlarged by Mr. Thomas and others, and the models were then made in the shops full size, Mr. Barry invariably giving his personal attention to them NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 93 before tliey were carved ; and I conscientiously state tliat I never to my knowledge ever saw Mr. Pugin, and certainly never received any instructions from any one excej)t from ]\Ir. Barry and Mr. Thomas, the foreman never allowing anything to be cast for the carver until he had given his final approval. “ I am, Sir, your obedient servant, “ Thos. P. Garland, “ Bev. Dr. Barry, Cheltenham.” “ ■A.rcUledural Modeller. (lY.) To these letters, written by those engaged with Sir C. Barry, I have only to add the following statement recently sent to me by Mr. Talbot Bury, in confirmation and illustra- tion of his letters on pp. 16, 17, and based upon intimate knowledge of the facts from the other side. I have thought it right to give it exactly as it stands, although again tlie doing so may involve some slight repetition. “ 50, Welhech Street, Cavendish Square, W., Jan. 1, 1868. “Eev. Sir, — I have this day, for the first time, seen E. Pugin’s pamphlet entitled ‘ Who was the Art- Architect of ‘ the Houses of Parliament ? ’ in which I find my name so very frequently mentioned, and observations made of such a nature as leaves ^me no other course than to reply to them, and to explain, more fully than I have hitherto done, the real and true positions existing between your father and my old friend A. Welby Pugin. “ Although I have not the pleasure of knowing you, except by the controversy in the matter of the Parliament Houses, and as the author of the ‘ Memoirs of Sir Charles Barry,’ still I ven- ture to ask the favour of allowing me a few pages in your ‘ Eeply to E. Pugin’s Pamphlet ’ (which I see advertised) so as to give me an opportunity of defending myself from false and dishonourable statements made in Mr. E. P.’s pamphlet. “ May I request your kind indulgence for a few days to pre- pare the MSS. necessary for this purpose ? “ I am, yours very faithfully, “ The Bev. Alfred Barry, D.D.” “ Talbot Buuy. “ In the pamphlet recently published by Mr. E. Pugin, he has thought proper to introduce my name very frequently, and 94 THE ARCHITECT OF THE in sncli a way as demands a further explanation from me, respecting claims he has set up as to the designs for the Houses of Parliament ; and, as his unjustifiable observations and incorrect statements have provoked this reply, he has only himself to thank for it. “ It is not my intention to follow the course of proceeding and reasoning which Mr. E. Pugin has adopted in his pamphlet ; as from first to last it is nothing more than special pleading of the whole case, of misstatements of facts, of unwarrantable assumptions, of garbled quotations from the newspaper cor- respondence mingled with unmeasured abuse of those who have no other desire or object in this matter than to do full justice to the employer and employed on the works of the Houses of Parliament. Of necessity, I must be egotistical to explain how I am in a position to advance statements quite at variance with those published in several papers by Mr. E. Pugin ; as well as how I have been able to obtain more information than himself, and therefore can explain the several small entries in my friend’s pocket-books, which have been put forth as ‘ extracts from diaries,’ and considered as confirmations strong of his own conclusions. “ The most confidential intimacy existed between A. Welby Pugin and myself from the time when I was articled as pupil to his father ; and, on my leaving his father’s office, this intimacy became closer from the similarity of our tastes generally, as well as of our studies in the class of art we were most attached to, and he was always with me at my house when in town, (as his aunt had taken apartments for him at Eamsgate after the death of his father and mother in 1833). He married a second time at the end of 1834, and removed in 1835 to a house at Salisbury, which he had built by a legacy left him by his aunt. Miss Welby. “In the year 1835, when Mr, E. Pugin was not one year old, these designs and drawings to which I have referred as having been made by A. W. Pugin and myself for Mr. Gillespie Graham were prepared, and my friend Pugin was then likewise engaged in making drawings of ornamental carved - work for the Grammar Schools at Birmingham for Mr. Barry, whom he had only recently known ; Mr. A. W. Pugin was then employed, both by Mr. Graham and Mr. Barry, on other works than those of the Houses of Parliament, which accounts for a confusion in the statements put forth in Mr. E. Pugin’s pamphlet as NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTEP. 95 extracts from A. W. Pugin’s ‘diary’ (page 18 to 21). But I have no faith in the correctness of these said ‘ extracts,’ and the deductions drawn from them are proved to he incorrect. Pugin, at that time and for years afterwards, never kept a regular ‘ diary ; ’ he certainly made occasional entries in a small pocket-book, which served him for diary, ledger and all ; and in Perrey’s hook of ‘ Pecollections of A. W. Pugin ’ (page 242), he states, in giving extracts from his small dmr?/ of 1887, ‘unfor- ‘ tunately a great portion of his (Mr. A. W. P.’s) memoranda ‘ prior to that date had been lost.’ This he heard from Mr. E. Pugin, who gave him all the information and documents respect- ing his father, from which he edited the ‘ Memoirs.’ “It is certainly extraordinary, that, on leaving Pamsgatc shortly after the death of his father, and in removing the furniture and effects to three different houses, the so-called ‘ diary ’ of 1835 should not have come to light. It could not he found in 1861, when Mr. Eerrey wrote his hook ; and, when Mr. E. Pugin called on me on the 11th of August, 1867, he stated to me that he could find ‘ no information or record of how ‘ his father was engaged in 1835.’ Whence comes so oppor- tunely this diary which no one has heard of before ? “As regards Pugin’s working on Mr. Barry’s competition drawings for the Houses of Parliament (excepting as I have before explained in my letter to the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette ’), he was not engaged in any way in designing or drawing the plans, sections, or elevations. This I can positively assert, from his own statements to me ; he had nothing whatever to do with them ; and he has likewise told me that he never even suggested to Mr. Barry the principal features of either of the fronts or of the sky-line of the building, such as the Victoria Tower, the Clock Tower, or the Central Hall, but that he was employed solely in the way he states in his public letter to the ‘ Builder ’ in 1845. “In the ‘Life of Sir Charles Barry,’ Hr. Barry gives my friend Pugin all the credit which he ever claimed himself in this building ; he never put forward so absurd an assumption as the claim to being the ‘ art-architect ’ to the Houses of Parlia- ment ; he had too much sense to invent so unreal a title, and far too much honesty to assume it even had it been suggested to him. “ He always expressed himself happy in the employment, and fortunate in having it in a pecuniary light ; as he not only received liberal payment for his drawings of details, but he derived a large income from the interest he had in the metal THE ARCHITECT OP THE 9f) works at Birmingham, where all work of that nature for the Houses of Parliament was executed. “ I was frequently at his house at Chelsea (where he lived after he left Salisbury), and afterwards at Eamsgate ; I saw all the drawings he had in hand, and knew their purposes and destinations. When he was in town he made his drawings and appointments at my house as though it were his own. “ As regards Mr. E. Pugin, he personally can know little of his father’s work for Sir Charles Barry ; he was an infant when the competition took place, he was at school until sixteen, and he was only eighteen on the death of his father in 1852. He had not then left school more than two years, and, therefore, could have seen little more than the drawings for the ‘ paper-cases,’ the ‘ inkstands,’ ‘ umbrella-stands,’ ‘ scrapers,’ and some furni- ture, &c., &c., of which he makes so much. “ A. W. Pugin felt annoyance at the statement published in the ‘Builder ’ in 1845, which he said gave him more credit for the design of the building than he could claim ; he came to town immediately he saw it, and called on Mr. Barry to re- pudiate any knowledge of the authorship, or of its being published, until he saw it ; he then wrote the explanation referred to in my letter of September the 18th, 1867, published in the ‘ Times ’ newspaper. “ In contradiction of this Mr. E. Pugin has published a letter bearing the name of ‘ John Mares,’ stating, that ‘ his wife was ‘ residing at St. Augustine’s Grange when Mr. Pugin returned ‘ from London,’ and says, ‘ it is impossible to describe the state ‘ of prostration in which he entered the house.” In reply to her inquiries as to its cause he said, ‘ I have been up all night — ‘ Barry is in an awful state respecting the reports that have ‘ oozed out about my being the architect to the Plouses, and he ‘ wants me to write a letter to save his reputation ; it is gone if ‘ I do not, and I have no alternative.’ “ I am sorry to be obliged to affirm that this statement is en- tirely at variance with facts which I clearly remember. It does not agree with my knowledge of the circumstances before the letter was written ; for Pugin came straight to my house as soon as he saw the paragraph in the ‘ Builder ; ’ he then went to Mr. Barry and returned to my house where the letter was actually written, nor did he return to Eamsgate till two days afterwards, or come up again at all on this matter. Nor does it agree with my remembrance of the circumstances after the letter was NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. 97 written, for I well remember that he did not return home that night : he dined with me, and we went to the theatre the same evening, he being in remarkably good spirits. We breakfasted and dined together the following day ; he expressed himself very glad that he had been able to set the matter right with Mr. Barry, as the loss of the money paid him for the drawings of details was of great importance to him. When we parted he was in excellent spirits, and I saw nothing of ‘ prostration ’ in perspective. “ Mr. E. Pugin states (p. xiii.), ‘ I have heard these words ‘ from his own mouth (his father’s) ; “ T made Barry’s designs ‘ “ for 400 guineas and Graham gave me 300 guineas for his.” ’ Now I am soriy to have to tell Mr. E. Pugin that as this assertion is untrue, his father never could have been guilty of making it. Pugin did not have 400 guineas from Mr. Barry ; and he told me that the amount he charged for sketches in 18 )5 and part of 1830 was 120Z., which he called a liberal payment for the work done. For drawings of all kinds made in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837, Pugin did not receive over 300Z. Know- ing, as I did, all my friend’s money transactions, I yan make this assertion. “ As regards the letters Mr. E. Pugin has published, they absolutely prove nothing but that Mr. A. W. Pugin was seen drawing details for Sir Charles Barry’s Houses of Parliament. All this was fully and freely admitted by him ; and in Dr. Barry’s ‘ Memoirs ’ of his father, he has done ample justice to the talents and memory of my old friend : he has, in the most open and considerate way, pointed out the relative positions of Sir C. Barry and Mr. Pugin, and the sincere friendship which existed between them until death. “ And what are these letters that Mr. E. Pugin publishes ? Several of them are anonymous. That of an ‘ Ex M.P.’ is worth- less as regards evidence. That of Mr. ‘ Grieves ’ is the same ; he knew Pugin was engaged on detail drawings for the ‘ Houses,’ and speaks of his talents for Gothic architecture. Mr. Shaw’s real acquaintance with Pugin began after 1844, when all the general drawings of the Houses had long been done, and the building nearly up ; in short, all the other letters are those of unprofessional friends or persons employed by Mr. E. Pugin. “ The real fact of the matter is, that Pugin worked for Sir C. Barry as an}^ other clever draughtsman may have done, and in this respect his assistance was always much valued by his H TUK Al^CIIlTPXrr OF THE * "4s^* ^'> ^ •“ *' -•- 5 ' ^-•fi ' >, »• i;»j;ii' ♦ ^ ^ : _ • ^ ^ * J d- ■ - "t ^ ^ \ •■ ^ , • » .» ■*t / ‘Hi .:a. ’;'■ • •* . ' #. „ •'7* w-'t ■ ,r • .,'>• ■••-*. »\ *1 . .’* ' « 3%. ' 4^- fV "*' , ":V'' .. ,*. * .-:« V.,.:,..|t:^ ^ • •> • . . • ■% 1*. T . *.■ / ». . - ._**'^ ♦ r % ■ . ’ ', ' .'f'- iSL • . * • W ^ ,.;-v - *.