CHAPTER VII.

Temporary Embarrassments-Pugin's Marriage, and his Wife's Death -Buries her at Christchurch Priory Church-Intention of building a House at Christchurch-Abandoned through his Father's interference-Seeks another Neighbourhood, and builds St. Marie's Grange, near Salisbury-Intimacy with Mr. Osmond-Indignation at the modern alterations in Salisbury Cathedral-Commences Correspondence with Mr. Osmond by a Letter from Wells.

WHILE carrying on the business which terminated in the failure just mentioned he suffered much anxiety, for his pecuniary resources were inadequate to meet many of his engagements; and at one time he was seized for the nonpayment of rent, and placed in a sponging house near Chancery Lane. It was late one summer evening in the year 1831 that his father rushed in an excited state to Mr. Weale and Mr. Hogarth, the well-known architectural publishers, begging that they would go with him to Cursitor Street and become security in a bond for the payment of his son's debts, so that he might be released from confinement. Fortunately their interference was successful, and young Pugin was spared the misery of a night's lodging in durance vile. This occurrence was particularly distressing to his father, and he always referred to his son's embarrassments with horror; for in all probability he must have become bankrupt but

for the final discharge of his liabilities by Miss Welby, his aunt. The failure in this business scheme fully determined Pugin henceforward to stick closely to the exercise of his profession in a regular manner, for he had sense enough to see that he was not fitted for commercial enterprise.

Although his time and attention were necessarily much occupied during this brief but unlucky period, he still found opportunities for occasionally visiting Covent Garden Theatre to see how matters were going on, and to enjoy a little conversation with the Messrs. Grieve, with whom he still kept up an acquaintance. It was about this time that he met Miss Garnet, a grandniece of Dayes the artist. After a very short courtship he was married to her in 1831. His choice was not pleasing to his father and mother, but they did not withhold their sanction to the match, fearing to thwart him in a matter of such delicate nature; but it is due to her memory to add that for the short time she was his wife, she showed a most affectionate regard, and exercised a beneficial influence over him.

Augustus was yet a minor, and for a considerable time after their marriage he and his wife resided with his parents in Great Russell Street; and here in May, 1832, she became the mother of her first and only child. Unhappily she died in her confinement, but her infant daughter survived. This melancholy event was a fearful blow to his sensitive mind.* It might have been

In an extract from one of his mother's letters to her sister she says: I feel somewhat desolate to-day, for I am without either father

supposed that as his wife was a native of London he would have chosen some metropolitan churchyard for her last resting-place, but, as stated by his mother, he selected the ancient Priory Church, at Christchurch, Hants, for her burial-place. A vault was there formed in the north aisle of the choir, and on the 15th of June she was buried. The spot is now marked by a black marble slab, inlaid with a beautiful brass cross, and bearing an inscription copied in the note to this page.

or son.

My son travelled by the night coach for Christchurch, and my husband went this morning; the funeral, which will be merely placing my poor Anne in the vault, will, I suppose, take place on Friday. It was my intention, as a consolation to Augustus, to have attended myself, but I feel the journey would be beyond my strength. He is to sleep in a double-bedded room with his father, so he will not be left alone at night, that is the dread hour. I have never left his bedside since the death of his wife, nor known what an unbroken night's rest was before last night. Wretched he will be, grieved to the soul, but in this world, where fortitude is so necessary, he must strive to obtain it; and may Almighty God, of His infinite mercy, sanctify unto him all his sorrows! I frequently think how often he used (before he was fourteen years of age) to say, "My own dear mother, how happy I am! nobody can be happier than I." Alas, alas! look over the six years which have passed since that period, and we find a whole life of woe, such as is rarely experienced by the generality of men, huddled into it. From his works and his woes he has already experienced a long life, and when he dies he will not die without some dignity, and have his name perpetuated.' Scratched on his watch is found the following beautiful inscription: 'This day, May 27th, 1832, my dearest Anne died unto this world, but lived unto God.'

This slab was laid down in the year after his conversion to Roman Catholicism, and the inscription concludes with the pious aspiration common to such Catholic memorials. It is the only instance in which he adopted his triple Christian name, Augustus Welby Northmore, and there may be observed also the French prefix of de to his surname. The inscription runs thus: Here lieth the body of the first and beloved wife