The name of Thomas Rickman is familiar to every student of Gothic Architecture, as the author of the clearest and most comprehensive text book on the subject. He was the first to elucidate the true characteristics of Gothic Architecture, and reduce them to a simple and intelligible system. The nomenclature which is now universally received, was first brought into use by him. For though he adopted the title of “Early English” from Miller, who had suggested it in 1805, {3b} and that of “Decorated” from Britton, who applied it in his description of Malmesbury Abbey, in 1807; {3c} yet he was the first person who really gave substance and meaning to those terms by assigning to each its proper characteristics. The term “Perpendicular” he himself invented, as describing the features of the later style. Thus, arranging the whole series of Ecclesiastical buildings in this country under the four divisions of Norman, Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular, and accurately defining the special and distinctive features of each, he became in fact the founder of the modern science of Gothic Architecture, the author of the Grammar by which the study of it is still regulated and pursued. Rickman therefore deserves a higher place in the temple of Fame than he appears at present to occupy. The habit of laborious and patient investigation, the sound and discriminating judgment, the faculty of nice and accurate comparison, which enabled him, wholly unaided by the science or labour of others, to work out for himself that simple yet clear and comprehensive system, which secured this branch of architectural science from the ignorance and bad taste of preceding centuries, and established it on a fixed and certain basis, ought to place him in the foremost rank of men who have contributed to the advancement of useful knowledge. As the history of his life and labours is but little known, it may be an acceptable introduction to the reading of this Report on Chester Cathedral, if we preface it with a short biographical Memoir. * * * * *