Vivian, George: A letter to W. R. Hamilton, Esq., with remarks on some passages in his second letter to the Earl of Elgin, on the propriety of adopting the Greek style of architecture, in the new Houses of Parliament (London, 1837)

14

return to the taste and modes of times which we
imitate in nothing else, and which were exploded
in every country in Europe, the moment their eyes
were opened to something better. It was on this
ground, that in drawing a picture of what a Gothic
House of Parliament was likely to be, I purposely
made it an imaginary one—nor indeed was it pos-
sible for me to do otherwise. I had only seen Mr.
Barry's Designs twice — once at his own house (a
sketch of it) in a crowded room, and once with the
others in the Royal Academy apartments; and
since their removal, we are told (I know not whe-
ther true or falsely) that they have undergone many
and very material alterations; consequently, any
knowledge I could have had of its peculiar charac-
teristics then or now, I could only have acquired
from others: and this I have studiously avoided,
unwilling to be biassed, or guided in my opinions
by those who might either flatter or disparage.
Some of the printed criticisms on those designs
have been sent to me, but I can hardly say that I
have read them. With regard to the choice you
made, I had no right nor wish to erect myself into
a critic, and I have already said to Mr. Barry, in
reply to some observations he has addressed to me
on my letter, that as far as I was capable of forming
an opinion, I thought that you had selected the
most imposing, the most elaborate, and that which
was upon the whole the most acceptable, because
the least Gothic amongst its rivals (of course putting