The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-08 00:00:00

Local Metropolitan Museums,

A numerous meeting was held on Saturday at the theatre
of the South Kensington Museum, for the purpose of con-
sidering various communications which had been received
by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council on Educa-
tion, respecting the establishment of suburban museums,
and for considering how far the original iron building of the
South Kensington Museum could be made useful for that
purpose. Earl Granville presided, and there were present
Mr. Henry Cole, C. 8., representing the Science and Art
Department; Lord Ebury, Alderman Salomons, M.P. ,
31r. Tite, M.P. ; Mr. Locke, M.P. ; the Hon. Mr. Cowper,
M.P. ; Mr. Ayrton, M.P.; Mr. Harvey Lewis, M.P. ;
Mr. Powell, M.P. ; Mr. Bruce, M.P. ; Mr. Briscoe, M.P. ;
Mr. B. Hope, Mr. Maudslay, Mr. Samuda, Mr. Thwaites,
Mr. Cruickshank, Mr. Godwin, Rev. T. W. Fowle, Mr.
Murphy, and many others connected with various branches
of trade, industry, and art.

Earl GRANVILLE briefly explained that the new building
which had been provided at South Kensington had ren-
dered unnecessary the original iron building, and that the
Committee of Council on Education were desirous of utilis-
ing the structure as far as possible, and having that object
in view they had called the meeting together; and ho
should be glad to hear any suggestions or proposals that
might be made bearing on the subject.

The Rev. Newman Hall, Mr. Brady, Mr. H. Lewis, M.P.,
the Rev. Dr. He*let, and Prof. Rogers respectively advo-
cated tho claims of South London, North-East London, tho
West and North-West of London, Bow, and Southwark.
In the course of a discussion which ensued, it was
ex-
plained that the Government proposed to divide the build-
ing into three parts, and to give one portion to the same
number of localities.

Mr. AYRTOX, M.P., thought that the proposed division
of the building into three parts would be attended with
some practical difficulty, and suggested that six months
should be allowed, in order to see what stepsshould be taken
on the part of the public with respect to the proposals which
might bo made.
Lord EBURY suggested that, in the interval between the
present and next meeting, the Committee of Council should
prepare some lithograph plans, showing into how many
portions the building could bo divided, the proposed area,
and other facts which might be useful in discussing the
question.
Mr. Tim, M.P., referred to the ground plan of the build-
mg, which was displayed upon the wall, and the drawings,
which showed in what manner the building could be di-
vided, and said that it was perfectly clear that it could be
most conveniently formed into three portions, each of which
would be about 90 feet wide and 126 feet long. There was
a considerable amount of valuable material in the building,
which cost originally something like £lO,OOO. With respect
to the value of the portions, each district would determine
for itself how far it was suited for its particular purpose.
He was glad to hear that so many gentlemen in the dif-
ferent districts had expressed themselves favourably to the
establishment of these museums, because of their moral
and intellectual advantages there could be no doubt. The
external structure of the building was certainly its worst
feature, but the interior was well adapted for many useful
purposes of a local museum. As to the proposal that the
Government should find all the money or the site in any
locality, that he was sure could not for a moment be enter-
tained. (Hear, hear.)
After some remarks from Mr. Powell, Mr. Bruce, Mr.
Remington, and Mr. Murphy on matters of detail connected
with the question before the meeting,
Mr. LucRAFT, a working man, said that he had been re-
quested to represent his brother workmen at Hoxton at the
meeting, and to ask, not for charity, but for some justice to
the claims of the district in which he lived, in any assistance
which Government proposed to afford for the establishment
of local museums. He was by trade a cabinent-maker, and if
there was any work which he had to perform that required
more than usual care or forethought in design he and his
fellow workmen had no opportunity of obtaining that in-
formation except by the great loss of time involved in a
visit to and from South Kensington, the journey to which
could not be made in less than three hours, which was too
great a tax upon the time and labour of the working man.
After some further discussion, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., and
Mr. Briscoe, M.P., seconded a vote of thanks to the noble
chairman for the courtesy and ability with which he had
presided over the meeting.
Earl GRANVILLE, in reply, said that he was sincerely
obliged to the gentlemen who had attended to promote an
object which ho really believed to be of great importance.
The Science and Art Department wore not by any means
desirous of establishing a monopoly at South Kensington,
but were most anxious to see district museums supported
wherever they would be useful and agreeable to the inhabi-
tants. So far from losing in their number of visitors from
the establishment of these museums, he believed that many
persons who visited the smaller museums would be the
morn anxious to visit South Kensington. The result of the
meeting had been most satisfactory, although perhaps not
very definite in its results. It had been shown that the
meeting had a right to speak for London, and their opinion
was that it was desirable to establish district museums.
Several gentlemen had spoken of the claims of their dis-
tricts, and they had very properly of course pressed upon
the Government the duty of doing everything. (A laugh.)
But the different claims which had been made for various
parts of the metropolis afforded evidence of the existence of
something like competition in the matter, and this would
have the effect of causing emulation in voluntary efforts.
(Hear.) He fully concurred in the opinion expressed by Mr.
Lucraft of the value of these local museums, and did not
think that he had at all overstated the claims of the work-
ing men, whose cause he very ably advocated. (Hear, hear.)
But it must be borne in mind that in districts where there
were large bodies of workmen there were also large em-
ployers of labour r-nd possessors of wealth, and he hoped that
the wealth aria influence thus enjoyed would be rendered
available lor general purposes of this kind. (Hear, hear.) He
concurredin the proposal to give six months for the conside-
ration of the question, and even if the Government were pre-
pared to come to a decision at once, they were not prepared
to hand over the building immediately. Some gentlemen had
not paid a very strict regard to the old proverb about not
looking a gift horse in the mouth—(alaugh)— and had even
hinted that the building would not be worthy their accept-
ance. (A laugh.) At all events, if the materials wererequired
for any local museum they would have to be paid for. Those
which the Government had at their disposal had cost about
£12,000. Whatever deductions might be made for wear and
tear they would still be valuable. What the Government
proposed was, that on the fulfiment of certain conditions,
which would bo specified, they would give the materials
free of expense on every respective site which might be
decided upon for the purpose of a local museum. (Cheers.)
At the close of the proceedings a number of the visitors
were conducted by Mr. Henry Cole, C. 8., through the gal-
leries and collections of the South Kensington Museum,
and it was explained that the portion of the building avail-
able for the purpose of local museums was twice as large
as the area of Westminster Hall.

REPRESENTATION OF LINCOLN.. Mr. E. Heneage
has issued an address as a Liberal candidate for Lincoln, in
opposition to Mr. J. Bramley-Moore. Mr. lieneago avows
himself a supporter of Lord Palnierston's Government, and
to bo in favour of a just and liberal measure to settle the
question v church rates, and au extension of the. imachige.