I must insist on your making a design in the Italian manner, which I am sure you can do very cleverly." Mr.Scott was appalled; the style of the Italian renaissance was not only unsightly, it was positively immoral, and he sternly refused to have anything to do with it.

Thereupon Lord Palmerston assumed a fatherly tone.

"Quite true; a Gothic architect can't be expected to put up a Classical building; I must find someone else." This was intolerable, and Mr.Scott, on his return home, addressed to the Prime Minister a strongly-worded letter, in which he dwelt upon his position as an architect, upon his having won two European competitions, his being an A.R.A., a gold medallist of the Institute, and a lecturer on architecture at the Royal Academy; but it was useless--Lord Palmerston did not even reply.

It then occurred to Mr.Scott that, by a judicious mixture, he might, while preserving the essential character of the Gothic, produce a design which would give a superficial impression of the Classical style.

He did so, but no effect was produced upon Lord Palmerston.