{5} In allusion to these military predilections, his professional friend and associate, Mr. R. C. Hussey, thus writes, “These really remained with him to the end of his life. He would always converse readily and with animation on military subjects; and his wife observed that if he saw a soldier approaching, he would cross the street in order to get as near to him as he could.” An old friend of Rickman’s told me that he once met at dinner, at Dublin, an officer (I think a major in the army) who said an extraordinary thing had occurred to him, for he once came across a Quaker who knew more about his (the major’s) regiment than he did himself. It need scarcely be added that the Quaker was no other than Mr. Rickman, our architect. {6a} I may here relate an anecdote of my own personal meeting with Rickman. I was once travelling in a stage coach, and had drawn the conversation gradually into an architectural channel. One of my companions, an elderly gentleman in Quaker costume, after some general remarks, addressed me as follows:—“Young friend, thou seemest to have some taste for architecture,—where did’st thou pick it up?” My reply was, that the little I knew of the subject had been gleaned from the perusal of Mr. Rickman’s clever work on Gothic Architecture. “Indeed, friend,” continued my querist, “is that verily so? Then, I am Thomas Rickman.” {6b} This Church (writes Mr. Hussey) was erected under the Church Building Commissioners, very soon after they were appointed; and it was under their auspices, indeed, that he commenced his Church building. He used to say that when he had an interview with these functionaries, he enquired how large a projection he might give to the Chancel. The reply was, that two feet was enough for a Chancel; and two feet is given to it in this Church. He is buried in the graveyard of St. George’s Church, where a monument, erected by subscription, exists to his memory. At this time of day masons were so little accustomed to work Gothic windows, that no one would give an estimate for work of this kind, consequently no contract for a Gothic Church could be made. As this would not suit Rickman or the Church Commissioners, he had a set of patterns made for cast iron Windows, and these he used for all the windows in St. George’s Church, except the east window, which is of stone. St. George’s is in the Decorated style. {7} The architect here named was the father of the Rev. T. N. Hutchinson, formerly Vice-Principal of the Chester Training College, and now second Master of King Edward’s School, Birmingham. The members of the Chester Archæological Society need not to be reminded how thoroughly the architectural tastes of the father are inherited by the son. {8a} Article on Rickman in Knight’s _Cyclopoædia of Biography_.