On the whole, the north or entrance front is very much like Sir Charles’s original design, except that this design had no attics nor basement story. The southern and eastern fronts have far less resemblance to what was at first proposed by him, as it was here that the inaccuracy of the information supplied to him did the greatest mischief. It was the only work of any size, with which he was connected in Scotland. He had given designs for an alteration of Drummond Castle in 1827, and for alterations of Drumlanrig Castle in 1840. But in neither case were his ideas carried out. It will be seen from this enumeration, that his Gothic works, though not numerous, were varied in character, embracing buildings of collegiate, ecclesiastical, and domestic style. After 1837 his Gothic study was devoted to, and almost absorbed by, the works at the New Palace at Westminster. The progress visible in these lesser buildings, both in detail and in power of treatment, was partly introductory to the greater work, and partly derived from it. In it mainly his Gothic architecture must be tested. The other works merely show that his studies in Gothic were not confined to that one style, or to those principles of arrangement and composition, which he there considered to be rendered necessary by the circumstances of the case. CHAPTER VI. THE NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. Plan of the Chapter. Section I. HISTORY OF THE COMPETITION--Burning of the old Houses of Parliament--Opening of the Competition for the New Building--Award of the Commissioners--Approved by the Select Committee of the Houses--Protest of the advocates of Classical Architecture--Critical controversy--Personal attacks on Mr. Barry--Meeting of unsuccessful Competitors--Presentation of Petition by Mr. Hume--Opposition quashed by Sir Robert Peel--Protest against it by Professor Donaldson and others. Section II. PROGRESS OF THE BUILDING--Difficulties as to the Foundation--Commission of Inquiry as to the Stone to be used--First Stone laid--Unavoidable delays--Committee of the Peers--Generous support of Earl of Lincoln--Committee of the Commons--Appointment of New Palace Commissioners--Appointment of Dr. Reid--Difficulties arising therefrom, and arbitration of Mr. Gwilt--The Great Clock--Competition and success of Mr. Dent--Professor Airy and Mr. E. B. Denison referees--Mr. Denison the chief Director--His tone and method of controversy--The Great Bell and its disasters--The Fine Arts Commission--The Architect’s exclusion from it--His scheme for the Decoration of the Building--The Scheme of the Commissioners--Its ideal excellence and practical drawbacks--Connection with Mr. Pugin--Real nature of the aid given by him--Mr. Thomas and the Stone Carving--Mr. Meeson and the practical Engineering--Other assistants in the work--Opening of the