These principles fixed in his mind, he left Italy, well acquainted with Greek, Egyptian, and Italian architecture, and with his interest and attention already attracted to the reviving Gothic. The work of life was now to commence in earnest; he was resolved to enter it fettered by the traditions of no single school, ready to think and work for himself. It will be easily seen that the hopes with which he had gone abroad had been fully realized. The very fact of his travels gave him a position in the eyes of the world, of which he might easily have made much more, had he carried out his intention of publication. He had gained acquaintances in the artistic world and in ordinary society, and his character and talents excited a general expectation that he would achieve fame and success. But the really important advantage was the kindling in himself of artistic energy and a sense of power, and the extraordinary development of his mind in knowledge, criticism, and ideas. Most men are conscious of some period in their life on which such an awakening influence acts, when the boundaries of thought seem to expand, when new ideas and powers make themselves felt, and the idea of some great object in life is definitely grasped. Such a period is one of intense happiness and of priceless value. It came to him during these three years of travel, and he returned to England a changed man. CHAPTER III. EARLY PROFESSIONAL LIFE. 1820-1829. Early difficulties and failures--Thought of emigration--Non-publication of his sketches--Holland House--Revival of Gothic--His Manchester churches, and their peculiarities--Marriage--Church at Oldham--Alarm at Prestwich Church--Designs for King’s College, Cambridge--Royal Institution at Manchester--Gradual relinquishment of Greek architecture--St. Peter’s Church, Brighton--Sussex County Hospital--Petworth Church--Queen’s Park, Brighton, his first Italian design--Islington churches--His relations to church architecture generally--Removal to Foley Place--Subsidiary work--Travellers’ Club--General character of his life at this period.