The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-12 00:00:00

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr WALPOLE then moved the vote of £92,127 for the
British Museum, and in doing so he callea the attention of
the committee to two valuable acquisitions made by the
trustees during the past year. The first was a most impor-
tant collection of human and animal remains, weapons, &c.,
discovered in the South of France. This cost £l,OOO. The
trustees had also purchased a beautiful bronze lamp, found
upon the site of Julian's palace at Paris; and, since the
estimates were brought in, they had secured for the Museum
some fine works of art from Naples, including a statue of
Mercury, an ancient equestrian statue, and other objects of
peat interest. He did not wish at the present time to enter
upon the question whether the different collections should
be kept together, or whether they should be divided. He
desired, however, to express his opinion that, whether the
Government removed the natural history collection to South
Kensington or not, the matter ought to be finally deter-
mined by next session ; and if the Government came to the
conclusion that the collections should be kept together, he
would suggest the expediency of purchasing all the houses
in the immediate neighbourhood of the Museum, all of which
belonged to the same landlord.

Mr AYRTON thought that if anything could reconcile
one to the anomalous nature of the present vote, it was the
conciliatory manner in which it was proposed by the right
hon. gentleman opposite. But he considered the vote should
be proposed on the undivided responsibility of Government.
He thought it would be desirable if arrangements were car-
ried out by the trustees for opening the British Museum
from seven or eight e';ock in the evening until ten, in
order to suit the convenience of the great bulk of the inhabi-
tants. The suggestion of the right hon. gentleman for
purchasing the ground round the British Museum from the
Duke of Bedford was worthy the attention of the Govern-
ment, and he did not think they could no anything better
than to sell the site at Kensington and apply the proceeds
to the purchase of the ground round the Britiish Museum.
(Hear, hear.) Kensington was cut off by a large unbuilt
area from the bulk of the population of the metropolis, and
it was the most inconvenient place that could be found in
the whole metropolis for a museum. He had read all the
charters, and he saw nothing in them to prevent the Govern-
ment from selling the site of Kensington. (Hear, hear.)
Mr LOCKE thought it strange the hon. member should
have made the, same speech to-night which he had made
last year. The hon. member spoke as if he was always in
the Tower Hamlets. He believed the hon. member never
visited Kensington-gardens—never rode in H yde-park ;
for if he had gone to those places he would have found they
were crowded every Sunday, and if the Kensington Museum
and the British Museum were open on Sunday, they would
be crowded too. He would not mind the charters, for they
were stiff things to read ; but this he would say, that the
Government were bound by the terms of the trust to de-
vote the site at Kensington to purposes of science and art.
Mr WHITE would not go into the question of the ex-
pediency or non-expediency of removing the natural history
collections at the British Museum ; but he thought if the
museum were opened at night it would be of great advan-
tage to the public.
Mr H. LEWIS brought before the committee the hard-
ships of the rule which prevented the attendants at the
museum, whose hours at this season of the year were from
9 till 6, leaving the premises during the whole of that time,
except upon the special permission of the principal librarian,
The lion member referred to numerous letters which he had
received on the subjecr, but declined to name the writers.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the

rule adopted at the British Museum was in strict conformity
with that of other establishments. While admitting that
the House of Commons was a court of appeal for all griev•
ances, he could not help asking whether this particular
grievance ought not to have been, in the first instance,
submitted to the governing body of the museum.
Mr WALPOLE remarked that the opening of the British
Museum at night, when it would necessarily be lighted
with gas, would be seriously injurious to the sculpture and
books.

After some further conversation, the vote was agreed to.
The Chairman was ordered to report progress, and the
house resumed.
INLAND REVENUE STAMP DUTIES BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
lONIAN ISLANDS STATES' ACT OF PARMA-
ME 2,1 REPEAL, itc., BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
MILITARY PAY BILL.
This hill was read a second time.
EXPIRING LAWS CONTINUANCE BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
ISLE OF MAN HARBOURS ACT AMENDMENT
BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
NAVAL AND VICTUALLING STORES DILL.
This bill passed through committee on recommittal.
COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL.
The order for this bill was read and discharged.
The Administration of Trusts (Scotland) Bill was read
a third time and passed,
BLEACHING AND DYEING WOIU ACTS
EXTENSION BILL,
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr IV. FORSTER moved that the bill be read a second
time that day three months.