The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-23 00:00:00

_StTPPLYt

The kenos then went Into committee of supply.
Mr. WALPOLE in moving • vote ci 100,4141. for the
British Museum explained that the estimate showed min-
imum, as compared with last year of 3,0001. under the
bead of salaties, and a decrease of 2,7001. in the
sum ter spaded pm-poem. The increase was owing
pertly to the noommeoclation of • committee of
the house and partly to the retirement of the
keeps r d entiquitim, whisk led to the department being
placed under thine keepers Waded of one. The salaries of
some dithers bad also been increased ; and the Museum was
now placid more warty on the same footing as other di-
phthongal" af the state so reprded the remuneration
received by the different °flea (Hear, hear.) The sum
for special purposes included an item for the purchase of •
coolleetion belonging to the lags Lord Northwiek, and an-
other for • saleable set of maaucripta belongiag to the
Duke of Lauderdale • but perhaps the most valuable pur-
abaft of all was a beiZutifnl mineral collection, which would
maks that department of the Moans almost unequalled.
The committee were now asked for 10001. for • collection
of Oriental manuscripts, which be believed contained im-
portant materials at history. The Museum bad unfor-
tunately lost two trustees, Lord Aberdeen and the Duke
of Sutherland, and one of the vacancies had been supplied by
the election of the Duke of Northumberland. Two
committee', which ware appointed last year, made certain
recommendations with regard to the British Museum. The
first, the committee appointed to inquire into the South
Kensington Museum, recommended that the British
Mueum should be open in the evenings, for the benefit of
=employed in the day-time. The trustees of the
am were anxious to carry out that recommendation if
the thing were feasible. He hoped the committee had read
the valuable repot which had been made by the unfortunate
Mr. Braidwood, of the Fire Brigade, whose lamented
death was a j. 60111. loos to the country. (Hear, hear.)
That report, which was upon the table, ought to be cats-
fully studied, as it contained in a small compass all the in-
formation on the subject. The trustees referred to Mr.
Braidwood and their architect the gouda' whither it was
manilas, consistent with safety, to apes the Museum at
night Mr. Braidwood said that by means of which
the belldivei couldag ally
.b• eff y Bait',modaed, hadlly the pro-
CP td a tivatkixo it MON near, the roof,
• a , iling and the timber, and that if the place took fire
when so dried nothing oould dap the progress of the flames.
(Hear, hear.) He also said that no animal or vegetable
coolleotions could long bo presorted while awed to
the deleterious influence of gas, and that gas discoloured
and other stones, and that it was impossible after-
wards to get rid at the discolouration. Mr. lb aidwood
further 'bowed that no precautions could be taken to pre-
vent the poedbility of explosion by gas in such • building.
Hader thew eiroometanese the trustees felt that it would
not be ode to comply with the wish of the committee. The
other committee, which was appointed to inquire into the
British Museum, reported that it was the duty of
the trustees to consider whether any separation of
the collections should take place, or whether ac-
commodation could be provided in the museum
for the different oolleetioes without nth se oration.
The trustees rderred to the government to ascertain their
opinion on the subject, but owing to the pressure of thence'
upon them they had not been able to give a specific answer. It
was, however, impossible that the valuable collosthacii an-
tiquities which had within the last three days received •
valuable addition could rennin longer Is the gime sheds
where they were Dow placed, instead of being properly ex-
hibited to the public. (Hear, bear.) The 6111111111 had
not only to consider what additional space was sow re-
quired, but what would have to be provided prospectively.
For himeeli, he did not think the country would grudge any
mineable sum which might be asked for in order that the
present collections might be properly exhibited. (Hear.)
Mr. GREGORY said he was perfectly aware of the res-
ew now plead on the fioancial measures of the govern-
meat, mad be had such • dread at shreds and patchwork
that he should be very unwilling to be a party to any mea-
sure which should be incomplete is itself. Doty and un-
sightly as were the couservoitariss in which the sculptures
round the British Museum were contained, be thought it
better they Would remain and be extended further than
that a faulty, nasightly, sad inartistie plea of enlargement
be adopted by the trustees. The scheme recommended
'1 by the committee was to purchase the houses on the
wt., west, and north aides of the Musa= ; and it
wee shown that the government would do an ovuoncical
thing for the state by parchuinig these houses and remit-
' log the rent from the lemees. Nothing could be more on-
, wonky of or dewagata to the cautery than to have ini-
' perfect morns for the exhibition of ancient sculpture. But
It wee brood that throughout London there was a growing
iodination fee local museums, and if this should spread it
was possible that parts of the oullectione might be removed
and thus space might be gained. Proposals had been
made for removing the drawiop of the old muters ;
sad he himself had, without seem, proposed that the
medicevid collections should be placed elsewhere. The pro-
position had been negatived by the committee ; but he ad-
bored to the view that this arrangement would be very
desirable. It was mot fair to the country that two collec-
tions should be maintained together at a great expense ; •
single collection was likely to be far better in quality than • j
divided aoa ; and bequests were mom likely to be made to
a single collection than to a double ow. He was aware that
there was great difficulty in separating what ought to be
*ma it the British Minim from works of medueval art.
(Half, hear.) Bet Mr. Newton had throws out a hint,
showing that a canon might be laid down—perhaps rather
a vague one—but still effectual for the puree. He pro-
Fto draw • distinction between Christie art and
art. The line of demarcation might be difficult, but
itestariased.was only IL:
ifnewaniyosta.ncesbethiahtonanhytdtouhebtproLulhd
antiquities reprosesting the history of the nation ought to
be Maimed in the British Museum, whether they were ants- !
Christian or post-Christian. But he had heard rumours
that it we the intentioe of the government next yyssalfr to
remove the whole or part of the oatmeal history seileotioue
from the British Museum. He thought that any attempt
of Oda sort would be viewed with great dlemthiaotion by
the Gonna. (Hear, bear.) U the pevernma wer• to
attempt anything of that sort, he believed they would_ be I
met by adverse vote, ea IS the case of theaUempled rer
seal el the Noticed Gamy *tree M Beadagtoe. The
disapproved by Mama Gray, Mar-
sh wWaterbotue, Prelerser ad others. 1,
Professor Owes himself, The way mese midrib those in
favour et svPusslol owld VA% deelesed that be should