President of the Oxford Society for promoting the Study of Gothic Architecture, and still holding that of one of its Vice-Presidents, he might be allowed to express the great satisfaction that all the Members of that Society would feel in the assistance rendered at the present Meeting towards the full developement of the principles of Architecture. It was highly gratifying to him to see the vast improvement that had taken place during the last few years in the style of Ecclesiastical Architecture: not that professional knowledge of the science was previously wanting, but rather taste to appreciate the talents of those who were fully competent to raise good buildings. It was gratifying to him to think that, to the small Society commenced in the University of Oxford—from which so many others had sprung, and of which the present Meeting might be considered as the full developement—was owing, to a great extent, the general improvement that had taken place. However great he might feel the desire to enter fully upon Architecture, he felt he could not do justice to the subject; he must however observe that buildings should not be studied for the purpose of making mere servile imitations, but that their structure should be modified for purposes more in unity with present times. There was a higher object than the mere study of ancient buildings for the sake of admirable principles evinced in the harmony of their proportions, there should be respect had for sacred things, and a higher appreciation of those great truths which the art was calculated to support. In the research after Ecclesiastical Antiquities, they must not only revere sacred things and sacred places, but endeavour to promote a noble rivalry with a bygone age, in favour of a purer faith, and shew their gratitude to Him, from whom they received all wherewith they were enabled to promote His glory. The recent revival of Gothic Architecture in this country had been without parallel, and he rejoiced to see the noble efforts made by individuals in erecting buildings at their own expense—not with a niggardly feeling, by giving merely that which they could spare out of their own superfluity, but by contributing with a liberal hand, in order to make the house of God worthy of the holy object for which it was designed.
Lord Ashburton then moved a vote of thanks to the Marquis of Northampton, for his kind attention in presiding over the meeting. This was carried unanimously.
The Marquis of Northampton expressed his acknowledgments for the kind feelings displayed towards him by the Meeting, and to the noble lord for the manner in which he had introduced his name. It was true that he had come from a distant part of Europe on purpose to be present on this occasion, but, though he had somewhat shortened his stay on the continent, yet he did not feel that he had made any great sacrifice of pleasure. Whatever churches he might have seen in Germany, he could assert that none was more worthy his attention than the noble cathedral at Winchester; and it was worth while to come from any part of Europe to hear the noble address from the Dean of Westminster. A great deal had been said about architecture; but let it not be supposed that their pursuits were confined to
