BONNES BOLTHES OF ADMINISTRATION.
WE congratulate Mr. Pennethorne on his having received, without any stooping to the vulgar ordeal of competition, the highest prize that the British Government had to bestow on any architect. T e country need he under no apprehension that the new Foreign Office about to be erected under his auspices will be in any respect unworthy to stand under the shadow of the Victoria Tower. It is quite true that Mr. Pennethorne strangely omitted to place any design on the walls of Westminster Hall, when two hundred of his brother architects accepted the invitation of Government to compete for the erection of a Foreign Office. On that occasion designs were produced which were of a high order of merit, and attracted general admiration. But the official mind remained stolidly indifferent. Even as Solon beheld unmoved the magni- ficence and wealth of Crcesus, so did the sagacious Lords of the Treasury disregard these wonders of architectural skill. Their "premiums" were for the competitors ; but their choice has fallen on Mr. Pennethorne.
Some persons might ignorantly imagine, that out of two hun- dred elaborate and, very varied designs, the result of an European competition, one at least might have been found acceptable to my lords of the Treasury. Those who think so fail to appreciate the gravity of the circumstances, and the splendid opportunity pre- sented to the Government for putting down the principle of competition. To have selected the official architect without in- viting rivalry, would have been comparatively unimpressive. But to proclaim an European contest, to invite architects to spend time, money., and intellect in elaborating their own conceptions, as though for the very purpose of passing them over with contempt, was a sublime conception of the official mind, to which future men of routine may perhaps look back as marking the heroic age of administrative pedantry, stupidity, and. obstruction. The architects who entered into the competition of last year have been most ungenerously treated. They did not come for- ward to obtain premiums, or merely to display their own ability, or amuse the public with an exhibition of works of art. They were invited by Government, and worked in the full faith that the best design would be adopted and carried out by the nation. In this they have been altogether deceived. Of course the de-
cision cannot and will not stand; but it is interesting as showing with what evil genius the cause of administrative improvement has to contend.
It may be a curious inquiry, whether it is more agreeable to the official mind politely to swindle the body of European archi- tects, or to torture to death an individual brave sailor without connexions, and with nothing save splendid services to recommend him for advancement. Poor Mr. Roberts made the descent on the Crimea possible by his heroic exertions. The object of the enthusiastic admiration and recommendations of the commanders, military and naval, he was allowed to sink broken-hearted into the grave ; sick, literally and without metaphor, to death of longing for the promotion which Sir 31. Berkeley led the House of Commons to believe had been conferred on him. It never was conferred, and the only reason ever given for the refusal was the broken health caused by the unhappy man's exertions and dis- appointments. Truly the "unconnected" patriotism of English- men must be great to bear up against the thousand and one humiliations inflicted on it by di:Weis.
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