The Express.
London, England, 1865-05-12 00:00:00

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

AMONG the most pleasing features of the recent
intelligence from America is the improved feeling
of the citizens of the United States towards this
country. The evidences of this disposition meet
us on every hand, but are especially visible in the
altered tone of their most representative news-
papers. Our attitude and language are better un-
derstood, because more calmness and candour are
brought to the endeavour to appreciate them. This
is no doubt partly due to the altered circumstances
of the Republic. Success has cleared away many
a gloomy feeling which engendered bitterness, and
brought with it a measure of that self-oompleeency
which is so favourable to a benign view of human
conduct. But circumstances have not only im-
proved the situation and temper of the citizens,
they have also contributed to place us and our cha-
racter and motives in a truer light than that in
which they were regarded six or twelve months
ago. The wisdom and sincerity which have
characterized the action of our Government with
respect to the troubles on the Canadian frontier
bare made their impression on the public of the
United States, who know that they could not have
more loyal neighbours than we have proved to be.
The calamity which has recently fallen upon the
Union has proved an occasion for demonstrating
that the people of British America are animated
by the most fraternal feelings for those of the
Republic. The genuine grief which was attested by
the universal and spontaneous mourning in Canada
bra made a profound impression at New York, and
has been accepted as better evidence of the real
spirit of the Canadian people than the outbursts of
• clamorous section of Southern sympathisers in
the province. The character of the reception of
Sir FHIDINICK Bence by President JOHNSON is of
• nature to strengthen the same friendly feeling
between the two peoples. The American
newspapers praise the delicacy and taste
of the British Minister's address, and note
with satisfaction the unfeigned emotion with
which be referred to the event which had
deprived him of an opportunity of presenting it,
according to the intention of his Government, to
President LINCOLN. The assurance that " Her
" MAJESTY has nothing more at heart than to cul-
" tivate relations of amity and good understanding
" between the two kindred nations of the United
" States and Great Britain" is accepted without
reserve, some of the journals treating it as •
declaration of the Queen's personal sentiments
—a construction which, if somewhat =-
diplomatic, is neither unpleaaing nor untrue.
It is a remarkable fact that throughout
this war, while the complaints of the American
newspapers respecting the tone of feeling and
habitual thought of a large and important section
of English society have been bitter and vehement,
they have always held fast the belief that the
throne of this country is occupied by one who has
been their true and constant friend. The kind act
of the QUINN and Primes Cossowr in recalling the
official despatch to Lord LYONS concerning the
Trent affair at the last moment, and after its terms
bad been settled and approved, for the purpose of
softening some of its expressions and making them
more agreeable to the American Government, was
known and often repeated in America with pleasure
a year before Earl RUSSELL mentioned it in the
House of Lords. But there has always been some-
thing peculiar and almost mysterious about the
sentiments which the Americans cherish for the
Quzew. They appear to feel that a bond
unites them to the first Lady of their race, which
neither distance nor difference of government can
weaken. We need not point out how this feeling
will be strengthened by the thoughtful considera-
tion and sympathy which dictated the Quezres
letter to Mrs. LINCOLN.
Two things appear especially desirable just now
in the intercourse of the two nations—the first,
that the people and the public speakers and writers
of each country should cultivate friendly senti-
ments for the other ; the second, that neither
Government should put too great a strain on those
feelings in their dealings with the other. President
JOHNSON has said that the interests of civilization
and humanity require that the two nations should
be friends, and in England that sentiment will be
heartily reciprocated ; but the friendship of
two great nations must be the friendship of
men, not that of children—a friendship con-
sistent with the practical acknowledgment of
divergent interests, and with perfect freedom
of opinion respecting the public acts of one
another. We trust that one of the effects of this
war upon the American character will be the de-
velopment of • calm and well-grounded self-
confidence, rendering the citizens more patient of
criticism than they have sometimes shown them-
selves. The friendship we desire to see con-
solidated will not be complete, for instance, if
it does not recognise the same sincerity of good-
, will co-existing with very different views of the
recent war. Some of our public men, it is well
known, looked favourably and hopefully on the
efforts of the Union Government to recover pos-
session of the seceded States at a time when for-
tune seemed to smile upon its enemies. Others,
either yielding to prevailing opinion, or judging for
themselves, saw no hope of the triumph of the
Free States, and frankly avowed their opinion that
the North ought to desist from its great teak.

The accounts and estimates of the British Mu-
mum were issued this mooting. The exproditnn for the
Ilbacial year ended 314 March last was in ell 97,5381.,
sad a blame was carried to amount for 1865.6 of 36,2421.
2i. 9d. The estimate for out year is 103,1641. The sum
granted for but year was 92,1271. The Increase is accounted
for by a sum of 7,6001., being set down to meet the ex-
penses of further excavations at Sedum, the pur-
slane of the Koitscharow collection of minerals,
end melbas at the sales of the Pourtalk and Bt.
Angelo collections. The total number of Ferman ad-
mitted to visit the general collections, exclusive of readers,
lest year was 432,339. This is lees bail the number in any
year oboe 1869. le 1862 double the number of la at year
visited the museum. In 1861 the number wee 641,886, and
in 1863 440,801. The number of visits to the reading-room
for ties purpose of study or research is also ism Lin year
the visits were 105,899 ; in 1859 they were 122,424 ;
in 1861 130,410 ; and in 1863 107,821. About 4,180
boob seam to have been used in the reading-room every
day. Each reader has °malted as an average 11 volumes
per day. Including music, atlases, and newspapers. 38,842
volumes have been added to the library. Of these 28,426

were purchased.
The additions to the department of manuscripts in the
course of the year are 609 manuecripts, 51 orig
in
charters.
and 71 bar and seals ; to tel Bottom collection 17 menu-
-

script" and 3 edema charters.
The acquisition in the departments of Greek and Roman
antiquities include, of course, the purchase of the statues
from the Farness Palm, at Rome. There Is also a collection
at antiqaties from Cemirius, in the Nand of Rhodes.
where extesaye excavations have been carried on by Mr.
Fioe•Goesul Biliotti and Mr. Salzman. 2,667 coins and
medals, of which 1,360 are Greek, have been procured dar-
ing the year. la the report of Professor Owen we meet
with the usual complaints respective the spot aiiittod to
the sattual history collections, whisk makes the labours
of the staff in mart to a ism proportion of the
specimens to the business of conservatioo ; " whereas,"
says the professor, " the purpose of the collation is to be
instructively exhibited or arranged miler conditions of light
and aeoem Militating seisattho inquiry and °Kaman.
Not only tat 7=l, tirds, and the minerals should
be shown in serial sequins, hot surf other
Mat of Mara history ; nor ought the bulk
of the specimens in certain of these to be a bar to
oath display ; for it is only in a anneal or British Museum
that adequate specs for such means of advancing na-
tural scam can be afforded or conned." Of the total
number of addition, 12,974 to the department of aatotal
history, 7,688 are registered in the department of soology,
4,651 in the department of geology, and 634 in the depart-
mot of mineralogy.
Amongst the additions to the depart meot of geology the
most intereatiog in relation to questions as to the antiquity
of man, and the cranial and dental characters of primitive
moss, are the partly petrified romans of the men who inha-
bited the limestone caverns of the South of Frans at the
period when chamois, bouquetin, wild horse, reindeer,
the great extinct ox, kr., existed, and especially the
reindeer, abounded, in that part of Europe ; and at
a period when the use of metals being unknown,
the primitive implements were chipped Bina, by means
of which diverse weapons and instruments, Mind-
iag needles, were manufactured from the bones and antlers
of the Mute captured and killed for food. On sons of
those bone instruments the reindeer and horse bad been
delineated in outline, with much truth and spirit, and these
are probably among the earliest examples of the graphic
art. The value of this series of human remains, discovered
at Braniquel by the Vicomte de Latin in 1863, depends
upon the care and accuracy with which every material fact
as to "matrix," " position," "chemical condition," &c.,
of the crania was ascertained, on which a conclusion
as to their contemporaneity with the remains of
the extinct animals could be satiefaetorily arrived
at. To this end the cavern was visited by the re-
porter in January and February, 1854 ; the human remains
were inspected, and others were then exposed in sit ii, it'd
one almost entire cranium was removed and transferred to
the British Museum, with the large mass of breccia, de-
tached at a depth of four feet from the stelarmitic Soot of
the cavern, and exhibiting, with other human remains and
numerous implements, conditions of imbedding identical
with those of the bona and teeth of the Cero tut forandus
and 800 prisonnius.
A large series of skulls of different races of 'agrees that
are brought to the coast near the month of the Gahm, and
skies and skeleton of the gorilla, chimpanzee, and the
African sea cow, or manatee, have been received from M.
Do Malta The oast of the nest-building ohimpsasse,
end remain of other mammal* transmitted from the
Gaboon by M. do Chains, have been presented by John
Murray, Esq.

THE ROYAL MAIIEII4.—IE appears from a par.
lismentary return issued this rooming that the Meows and
NM of the Royal Mariam, I/Wading the Arlin/ay dirisios.
ea sham, was 8,712 on the Ist of April, 1864, and 8,970 on
the Lt of April this year. The number effective and
available for embarkation was 8,069 in 1864, sad 5,674 this
year.
On Wednesday evening a Conservative dinner
took place at the Rumex Hotel, Tunbridge Wells. Mr.
W. 0. Iferleed presided ; about 200 of the leading cos-
*mystices of the district were present. The meeting was
addressed by Lord Holtneedale, ILP. ; Mr. W. H. Dyke,
the conservative meditate for West Heat; Mr. W. W.
IBurrell and the Hoe. R. C. Abbott, conservative emai-
dates far East 11011060 ; flit C. Blunt sad Mr. Christie.
conservative candidates for Lewes ; Mr. Roberteoa, the
conservative candidate for Heating', end many other
gentlemen.
LIVERPOOL, MAY IL The extra Cunard steamer
Palestine, from New York on the 29th alt., pained Holy.
head at 4.30 p.m. today. Bar mows has been anticipated.
PAUPER Noises la Woniaoussa.—Tbe Poor
law Board hes just lased a circular to the guardians and
direstors of the poor. rani,' attention to she rsepsweible
mature of suiting is nick sad lying-in wards, and areas the
disoottinnanos of the raceme of employing pauper nurses.
The circular mays • nurse shield be • person of e
xperimme
in she treeteneet at the sick, of peat respectability of cha-
racter, sad of diligent and dmereas habits. Such a parson
cannot discharge the duties of the Mace singly, but must
have minim/to of others of both saxes. sad there is merosly
i lees need of the same qualities is the purism else am to be
assistants than el them required for the shied same. Helen
it is neeessery that amuse shield hesdsgetsigy remiss-
rated, and that they should be /mesh/Med after a strict
J0968140.5/6 of their qmiiimadeas for the saes. The board
' °sadder it of the highest imeseteass that tie seeitheati io
the DIUMIS 6110041 ales ba paid parmae. By zrolagagpsid
pirsoes, guardisas will hem aa per-
sous wham 4110111/01160011 br tbe4=rakree mewl, caw.
used. sad they will else be able he lesidreash pmeous
responsible for negligence or inieraaduet, as is the ars of
superior officers of workhouses. Where pauper inamtes are
directed to eat 01 amistant caress there is so stimulus, as
tad of earaelty. sad so respossihilk far asgilipeam.