At this time the Parliamentary Grant for the building of new Churches called forth a host of aspiring Gothic architects; amongst them Thomas Rickman appeared, and gained the first prize for a design, which was afterwards executed for St. George’s Church at Birmingham. {6b} Hitherto he had not been a _professional_ architect; and having no practical experience in the constructive department of the art, he was unable to undertake the exercise of it until he had associated with himself Mr. Henry Hutchinson, a gentleman who supplied this defect. {7} He then entered upon a large field of work, and was the popular Gothic architect of the day. Amongst the many Churches which he designed and erected in different parts of the kingdom may be mentioned Oulton, near Leeds, Hampton Lacy, in Warwickshire, St. David’s, Glasgow, and St. Jude’s, Liverpool. He also erected the Chapel and Asylum for the Blind at Bristol; and, in 1827, the new building of St. John’s College, Cambridge. Rose Castle, the palace of the Bishop of Carlisle, was also restored by him. In 1830, Mr. Hutchinson died; and four years after, Rickman took into partnership Mr. R. C. Hussey, a gentleman who is now employing his talents on the restoration of St. John’s Church, Chester. In 1835, he married his third wife, Miss Millar, of Edinburgh, by whom he had a son, and who survived him. At this time he had relinquished his connection with the Quakers, and attached himself to the sect of the Irvingites, to which he continued to belong until his death, which took place in 1811. The characteristics of Thomas Rickman’s mind were great intelligence and quickness of perception; considerable powers of method and arrangement; and indefatigable industry in investigation. He was physically strong and active, and capable of enduring great bodily fatigue. He cannot however, be said to have possessed much imagination, or inventive genius. His work on Architecture is one that displays rather acuteness of observation, and energy of mind, than power of conception; and the character of the buildings which he executed indicates the same accuracy of imitation from authentic examples, and the same want of originality and fertility of invention. “But after all abatement is made, it must be granted that to Rickman, more than to any other man, is due the great advance which within the last few years has been made in the knowledge and appreciation of Gothic Architecture in this country.” {8a} AN ARCHÆOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHESTER, BY THOMAS RICKMAN. {8b}