An Architect in Exile. By Bernard Whelan. (Burns and Oates.)
—This is a volume of essays taking its title from the first, which is, perhaps, the least attractive of the set. Among the best we should put "The Oldest of the Arts," which is, according to Mr Whelan, that which he himself practises—it is a disputable position—and " The Physiognomies of Counties." But the most interesting of all is that on Pugin, whose enthusiasm for Gothic—the essay bears the title of the " Gothic Renas- cence "—sometimes verged on fanaticism. It was one of his dreams that he might see St. Peter's rebuilt. Mr. Whelan tells us that having found a crack in the dome of the groat church, he went down on his knees to thank God for it. Italian things did not please him. We are reminded of a story told in " Mr. W. G. Ward and the Catholic Revival." A priest habitod in a shabby Roman cope told Pugin on one occasion that he was engaged in prayers for the conversion of England. "My good friend," said the apostle of Gothic, "what is the good of praying for the con- version of England in such a cope as that ?"
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