BARRY, Sir Charles (1795-1860). Architect of the Houses of Parliament etc.
Autograph Letter Signed to J. Allen, 1½ pages 8vo (note of identification in ink at the head), Foley Place, 23 July 1834.

'... it is scarcely necessary for me to say that I intend to have th honor of being present at the dinner on Saturday. I write however in case it hsould make any difference in the previous arrangemnets as to numbers of courses etc.'...' [was Barry a notorious glutton?]

The year 1834 was a significant one for Barry, although he was yet to know it. On 16 October of that year the Houses of Parliament were gutted by fire, setting in train the events leading to his appointment as the architect of the new building (for which much of the work was in fact done by A.W.N. Pugin).
[No: 24955]