The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-25 00:00:00

BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr. GREGORY rose to move for a select committee to
inquire how far and is what way it might be desirable to
led increased epos for the extension and arrangement of
the various eollsetiooa of the British Museum, and the beet
means of rendering them avaiLible for the promotion of
science and art. Lest year he made a motion very similar
to the present see, which was carried by a large majority,
and he could only say that the aunt neensity which then
exalted for inquiry existed et the present moment. He then
elbowed upon the testimony of Profaner Owen that not •
mingle specimen of the collection in his department could be
exhibited for sciestiffe . The head of the ornitho-
logical department mid that the specimens in his keeping
were hidden from the public, and were perishing from damp.
The magnificent collection of prints were also abut out from
W public eyes for want of space. The marbles from
Carthage and the &iniquities from Guides remained in the
package* in which they were brought to the Meseum.
There was a more baptism state of congestion in the Mn.
seem at the pretest time than when be had proved these
facts. It we. well known that valuable bequests would be
made to the Museum but for the state in which it was.
It had now become absolutely necessary to inquire if the
oollectioes ought not to be separated ; and, if they were
separated, where they should be placed hereafter! He
further urged that the duplicates should be transferred to
the province. es the nucleus rA collation. ; set that lee.
twee us subjects of @atone.. 1014 flatland history ahoUld bs
established at the Museum.
Mr. KIN NAIRD seconded the motion, which he be-
lieved the government did not intend to oppose. The evi.
deuce takes Is fore the committee of which he was a mem-
ber, showed the necessity of such en inquiry as his boo.
friend sow asked for. There were many grave objections to
the contemplated removal, which ought to be fully consi-
dered. He believed that duplicate specimens and books
might he given with advantage. He also suggested
the expedieucy of inquiring whether the lower part
of the Museum might not be lighted, so as to
enable persona to visit the collections there by night.
He suggested that it would be advaotageous if the British
Museum were. ..namely opened at night when the working
classes had leisure to visit it.
Sir 0. LEWIS had so objection to that portion of the
motion alma had been agreed to in a previous session, and
whist was not carried into effect because of the dissolution
of parliament. He differed from the hon. gentleman in the
detinctiou he attempted to draw between the separation of
the collectlou and the removal of e portion of at to some
other place under • plea for re-arrangement or enlarge-
ment. If the Museum was to be enlarged and new buildings
erected for the better accommodation of the collection, it
sirtizsZsy upon words to call that a separation. Having
many of the meetings of the trustees, and many of
the committees of the trustee' w!len the subject was con-
sidered and thACUMICKI fully, hi. conviction was that it would
be a great advantage to the management of the Museum
if • removal of • part of the collection took place, and he
wee also convinced that any large addition to the present
site uf the Museum could not be obtained without as ex-
penditure ouch as the House of Commune would not be
lately to sanction. The question was altogether one of
"Len. TURNER observed that if five acres and a bell
surrounding the present Museum were purchased, and the
building OA planned by the architect erected, the oust would
be 807,00 W., and if five acres and • half were taken at Ken.
.ingtoo, awl the mine plan was there carried out, the ex.
pense would he 594,30 W. Now, he held that the country
was nut prepared under existing circumstances to spend
either the one or the other of these sums upon the prop used
object. He believed that all that was necessary might I
be accomplishol by purchasing the row of houses on the
south side of Montague-place, which might be done at no
very pert expense, au!, upon the additional ground so oh-
taMed • buddiug might be erected, on the ground fluor of which all the heavy articles of antiquity might be arranged, while the room above might be devoted to the lighter arti-
cles.
This would afford ample mom in the preseLt building
fur the ex ten,ieu of the natural history collection, and all
other purposes required. He spoke of the miserable pay-
ment male to the otheers of the Museum, whose claima for
increased remuneration deserved attention, and, in conch'.
sea, oh.-reed that he thought the pmpeed inquiry would be useful, and was glad the committee was to be
appointed.
Colonel SYKDI considered the present situation of the
Museum the must convenient, but for the iuttltutiou to be
really useful it ought to he avaittWe t, the working classes
I at those hours at which only they ttotthl avail themselves of
its advent ogee—vie., at night. The Museum should be
within certain centres of populatieu. They had an instance
in the East India Museum at the ludia-huine, which had
been visited by about 200,000 persons within the last two
years. He thought the breaking up of the natural history
department if the British Museum would he very injurious.
Lord PALMEID3TON quite concurred with those who
stated that this was a question of expense. It turned on
that, and the fact of its being a queetiou of expense, he
t, was a sulkiest reason to emuunt for that presence
whir the hon. gentleman who made the motion retested
to, of certain members of the government at a meeting of
the trustee., at which this question of expense was to be
take, into rotpeleration. lie was not able generally to
attend the meetings of the trustees, but understanding that
a questi.n af considerable impegince was likely to come
on be felt at his duty to attend uo The occasion on behalf of
the flovernseent and us behalf of the public. And when
his bon. files I drew a contrast between the opinina of the
working member...l the bogy of trustees and the members
,4 the government he wished him to bear in mind this dia.
traction, that the working trustees had 00 'Menotti) emitter
except the interest of the Museum and the considerstion of
what might teett accomplish the for which the
Museum wn. reabliehel, but the members of the govern.
met were u eipinaible to that house sad the country for
mosauree causing expense. and he thought they would have
bees vary mush seglecting their duty if, knowing that •
question was likely to be channeed by the trustees involving
possibly c. greet eu Mtion of expense to the public, they had
not attended for the purpose of hearing the argwmwnta that
might be brought forward, and stating on their part reasons
why they thought that expense should not be incurred. He
quite agreed that if the question amply were, would they
minter in the present Museum everything that was there
enlleeted, with Owes additions which from time to time
were made to the different eolleetions, within the building.~
sad if that aril,' be dorm withoot any espouse to the pub-
lic, thelouhtedly it would be preferable 10 continue the old
collection. sad to place the progreseve additions in the pre-
sent huildiair. No one, he thou ;M, would prepare untie-
ce...rile to subdivide sad remora portions of the collection
t,, soother ote. But they were informed that the
building would not hold the collarless that were now