The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-10 00:00:00

THE NETV HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

The Barry and Pugin controversy has sud-
denly taken a curious turn. The drawing
which the Messrs Barry put forward, conclu-
sively to prove their fathei 's authorship of the
" throne," has not only failed them, but proves
in a still more conclusive manner that not
Barry but Pugin was the author. For the
photograph of the drawing which serves as
the frontispiece of Dr. Barry's work bears
the initials " A. W. P." The discovery of these
initials is due to the familiar eye of Mr. Her-
bert. In this terrible collapse of the Barry
case, the Firm puts forward its boldest brother,
known as the "fearlessly asserting" Barry,
ever ready with a direct denial of everything
that tells against him. Accordingly, Mr.
Charles Barry "fearlessly asserts," after care-
fully re-examining the drawing with a magni-
fying glass-Ist, that there are no letters at all
on the drawing ; 2nd, that they are clearly-
W. P." for Prince of Wales. But Mr. Her-
bert, without the aid of a magnifying glass,
recognizes the familiar initials. The editor of
the Standard also, after having carefully
examined the photograph published by Mr.
Barry, declares that there is no possibility of
doubt that the letters "A. W. P." are to be
found there, and asks Mr. Barry to explain if
"W. P." clearly stands for Prince of Wales,
what does the " A." stand for ? No doubt
Mr. C. Barry, who " fearlessly asserts " with
the same breath that there are no letters at
all, and that they are clearly "W. P.," will
be able, in answer to the question of the
Standard, fearlessly to assert what "A." stands
for. The discovered initials are, indeed, super-
fluous proof to those at all familiar with Pug,in's
style, for his strongly-marked in dividuality
is stamped on every line of the drawing for
the " throne." Initials, dates, letters, diaries,
are but secondary proofs, the primary proof is
that the peculiar and distinctive characteristics
of the Houses of Parliament are in harmony
with the works and genius of Pugin, but not
with the known and avowed productions of
Sir Charles Barry. But Mr. Herbert's dis-
covery of the initials has settled the contro-
versy. The following is Mr. Herbert's letter
addressed to the editor of the Standard:—
" Sir,—l would gladly have made a bridge of
gold for Mr. Barry, as I do not doubt that he
believes that his father made the design from
which the photograph in Dr. Barry's pamphlet
is taken. I would, however, ask him whether
his father was in the habit of inserting in his
own designs the initials of Augustus Welby
Pugin ? I ask this because I find in the upper
part of the profile of the canopy of the throne,
between the pinnacles, on the left of the photo-
graph, the separate initials, "A. W. P.," which
my old friend had the habit—l might say the
providential habit—of dropping into all kinds
of places in furniture, hangings, metalwork,
(35c. This is not a question of " imagination."
Every person who will use his eyes may see
(even in the small photograph) the initials,
and all the world may judge whether I have
given testimony in matters entirely unknown
to me.—l am, sir, your faithful servant, J. R.
HERBERT.-7, G rove-end-place, St. John's
Wood-road, Feb. 3."—Westm iaster Gazette.

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