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| Keywords: Freeman's Journal 30 January 1863 Letter by J. J. McCarthy.png Letter to the editor by J J McCarthy which appeared in the issue of Freeman's Journal on 30 January 1863 p 4 Scan downloaded from the collection British Newspapers 1600 “1900 of Gale 1863-01-30 J J McCarthy Transcription THE VANDAL RESTORERS OF SAINT PATRICK'S <center><small>TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN</small></center> 183 Great Brunswick-street Jan 28 Sir ”My letter to the Dublin Builder was not sent to the Freeman's Journal because the subjects of discussion were opinions expressed in the Ecclesiologist a London architectural magazine of high repute I merely referred incidentally to a proposition of the Freeman for the material alteration or removal of the Lady Chapel an idea which I suppose you have abandoned as you have made no reference to it since my objections to the suggestion have appeared The argument of my letter was briefly this ”that as a committee composed of such gentlemen as the late Primate Beresford the Duke of Leinster Lord Dunraven the Rev Dr Todd and Dr Petrie the first of Irish antiquaries would not undertake the restoration of St Patrick's without the advice of an architect it seemed a rash and impossible undertaking for Mr Guinness solely I then referred to certain restorations of modern renovations of the building to the destruction of some of its original features and to entirely new works for which there is no authority in the ancient Cathedral in order to show that the professed scheme of restoration is not adhered to I certainly should not have claimed a place for that letter in the Freeman's Journal had Messrs Murphy's reply appeared in the Dublin Builder only It is a strange idea of fair discussion that of publishing an answer and suppressing the arguments that called it forth A bold flat contradiction or groundless statement is no argument; and these are the staple of your and Messrs Murphy's replies with a considerable seasoning of personal abuse in the latter Take an example The pile of rude masonry which separated the transepts and choir from the nave and which supported the organ intercepting the view was not only not a rood screen but was not even in the position which a rood screen should occupy Now hear the committee of which Dr Petrie was a member on the same subject ” The organ stands on the base of the ancient rood screen which still remains the old rood stair case leading to the present organ loft Vide the prospectus of the restoration by the committee We can form some idea of the intelligence of the present restorers of St Patrick's by their mistaking what a committee of learned men have unequivocally decided to be a rood screen for a pile of rude masonry Again these buttresses referred to have been built exactly according to one finished under Mr Carpenter's superintendence The buttress quoted as an authority was not restored under Mr Carpenter's superintendence or direction Those restored by Mr Carpenter belong to the lady chapel and the east end of the choir They afford a good example of his manner of restoration constrasted with that of the present restorers It is rather too much to expect the concoction of a letter in reply to facts and refutations of which the foregoing are examples while the letter to which they profess to be answers is carefully suppressed The question of the architectural merits of the restoration of St Patrick's have now however been fairly raised and is taken up by art journals which habitually admit views and arguments on both sides of a question provided they are accompanied by irrelevant and abusive personalities and the imputation of unworthy and dishonourable motives <br/> ”I am Sir your obedient servant <br/>J J M ˜CARTHY PD-old-100 J J McCarthy Restoration of St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin 1860 “1865 1863 newspapers Letters to the editor | ||||
