22 June 1874 – 28 June 1874

C, and I walked on the Chelsea Embankment. He praised Wren, always a favourite of his : ' I was some years in Chelsea before I took particular notice of the Hospital, and then I perceived it to be an honest, dignified structure, admirably adapted to its uses. St. Paul's is a very fine thing.' I hinted that the visible Dome is but a wooden shell covering something like a glass-house chimney ; C. did not take any notice of this fact, but went on with his eulogy, ' I remember (this was on his first visit to London) catching a glimpse from Cheapside of the huge Dome, its gold finger pointing to Heaven ; human creatures creeping about (I one of them) on our petty errands. It was and is the grandest building I ever saw,' For Westminster Abbey, or for any Gothic building, C, I think, cared nothing.