As there seems to be an impression growing up in the mind of the public that the above Society is actuated by feelings of disregard for the structural preservation of ancient buildings, and as such an impression is likely to seriously interfere with the important objects which they have in view, I have been requested by the committee of the Society to ask you to insert their most emphatic denial of any such sentiment on their part. The urging on the public of the necessity of doing structural repairs to ancient buildings in time to prevent decay and keep out wind and weather is one of the primary objects of the Society; and they have on several occasions had to deplore, in the case of ancient buildings brought under their notice, that money which ought to have been expended on the structural repairs has been worse than wasted in utterly destroying the beauty and historical value of the interiors.

Letter to the Architect, 19 April 1879.