The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-19 00:00:00

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

In reference to St. George's Hall, and its lamented archi-
tect, a lively interest is created elsewhere as well as in
Liverpool, as will be seen from the annexed excerpts from
the Builder to which we willingly give a place :
" Mr. Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, who, although cut off at
the outset of life, has secured for his memory a lasting
reputation. We have been favoured by Mr. R. Rawlin-
son with copies of a number of letters from Mr. Elmes,
mostly on the subject of St. George's Hall, from which we
shall make some selections. Mr. Rawlinson says, in his
communication to us,—Mr. Elmes was not great by acci-
dent : he studied unceasingly and earnestly : the com-
passes he chiefly used were his eyes, and every line wag
considered with reference to adjoining lines, and to the
whole. His mouldings are Greek in character, but they
are essentially his own, nevertheless. In appearance Mr.
Elmes was gentlemanly and refined ; as ajockey would say,
" showed breeding." He was of middle stature, light
complexion, fair hair, and bluish grey eyes. In mixed
company, and before strangers, he was silent, quiet, and
observing : but with those he loved or respected, he was
cheerful, talkative, and pleasant. Enthusiastically fond of
good music—Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn were
his great favourites, and he could not bear that one note
should be misplaced. Architecture and music he loved
most. Painting and sculpture came in for a secondary
share of notice. Although Mr. Elmes was retiring, he
was neither shy nor diffident. He could speak, and to the
point, either to individuals or to committees, and was
ever ready and prompt with the requisite information or
explanation. He could also defend or advocate with
clearness, force, and ability. All good men loved him,
and with bad men he had as little as possible to do. a
great
his character could be known, as his work can
seen, it would be more admired by all those capable of
appreciating true greatness."
'dea as to the
interesting, as conveying Mr. Elm. ownsdes'itha not been fol-
The following letter to Mr. R. Rawlinson, is Par6icularlY
internal arranment when finished. It
1846. lam glad
lowed out :—" London, November
ft
sh I would rather have
you seem to like my granite
i.s
them in their present Lq"
the linost gorgeous scagliola with
and honesty, all capless
though they be,
'contemplated the finished structure,' that
when you t
tta/hans that were ever designed. I hope
nd, but that you stood on the
trheearle cement
ws
glancing along the
judge's platform in one . your eye
either side, in all the richness
ranges of ruddy columns on
ocargPfii n at
eeeuert,
and strong co communicating
with the hall, whose broad and richly coffered soffite
throws -a shadow upon the grey columns beneath, said
forms the middle distance,—it pierces
the atmosphere
of the great hall, passes the corresponding opening
into the other court, without distinguishing a particle of
detail from the great distance, and finally rests upon
the judge's throne in the other court. Such, my dear
friend, is a faint expression of what I hope and trust some
day we may see together. I have no doubt it is altogether
below the standard which your imagination has led you to
expect; but believe me, no thought nor labour on my part
dual be spared to make it worthy the admiration of la