Thirty-four years have elapsed since the few pages which follow have been out of print in their present form.

A third edition of the little volume was published in 1861 by an editor, at a time when I was deeply engaged and unable to attend to any unnecessary work. After it had been printed I was much concerned to find that Mr. Ruskin's Letters had been omitted, being informed that they were to be separately published. Since that time I have taken no further interest in issues of the volume, for its value mainly depended on the Address being accompanied by Mr. Ruskin's Letters, and the Letters by the Address. I have been repeatedly pressed of late years to reissue them together. For this and for other reasons I consent. These reasons are closely related to the state of Science and of Art in the middle of this century, and specially to Mr. Ruskin's connexion with the advance of modern Thought and Education. Now that the building, incomplete as it still is, is devoted to the actual work of Science, the history of its Art is practically forgotten. The Address was given in 1858, by their desire, to Architectural Societies while the Museum was still in course of erection. There were two reasons why the building excited their attention.

The one, a general interest in the progress and development of Scientific Education in the old University.

The other, interest in the manner in which the edifice was being erected, and in the persons who were concerned therein.

It was widely known that the object, and the method of carrying it out, were then violently opposed in the University.