The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-15 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Among the vast multitudes who visit our na-
tional museum every year, how many know that it con-
tains a single coin or medal ? That many would desire
to see them, if aware of their existence, is evident from
the fact that half a dozen coins cannot be exhibited in a
dealer's tray without as many heads constantly round
them, and also that there are few persons who have not
made some little collection of such articles. It is well
known that the Medal-room is not very accessible ; and
when -an entry has been obtained, it is not easy for any
one who is not a foreigner to view much of its con-
tents. There are, doubtless, some advantages in any,
system which has been long continued, though not ob-
vious to every one. Now, granting this to be the case,
yet the public rooms might be supplied with a collec-
tion, sufficiently attractive and instructive for ordinary
observers, without the slightest disturbance to the old
regime. This might be accomplished by making the
duplicates available. The Museum frequently obtains
entire collections of coins at a time, either by purchase
or bequest, and the consequence is, that there are hun-
dreds upon hundreds of duplicates stowed away as lum-
ber, not awaiting a sale, but altogether as useless as if
they had remained in the earth. When a desirable ob-
ject is offered at the Medal-room, but rejected for want
of funds -no uncommon occurrence—the officers have
not power to exchange one of these serviceless duplicates
for it, and thus enrich the collection at the cost of an
encumbrance.

The gems of the Hamilton and other collections,
which formed a very attractive subject in the Gallery
of Antiquities of the old building, have been removed
from public inspection to a closed room in the new struc-
ture. I cannot guess the reasons for this deprivation.
The Portland vase, since it was mended, has shared the
same fate, but as this is private property its seclusion
may rest on different grounds.--I remain, &c.,
CUI BONO.

THE CHOLERA.

( From the General Board of Health, Nov. 14.)
METROPOLIS.

The returns from the divisions DL MT of the Metro-
politan Police and the Thames division give 13 new
cases and 6 deaths.

On the 11th inst. Dr. Milroy had an interview with
the guardians of St. Saviour's Union upon the subject
of the public health of the parish. For some weeks
past the number of deaths from cholera in this and
the adjoining districts has been steadily on the in-
crease. The Sanitary Committee have been energeti-
cally at work in the removal of surface nuisances, and
have organised a staff for the inspection of every
house in the unwholesome localities ; but the condition
of the sewerage is alleged to frustrate their labours more
seriously than any other cause. Particular mention was
made of one sewer which was declared to be full up to
the arch with deposits several feet in depth, and ex-
haling at various points the most poisonous effluvia.
The incurably bad state of the dwellings of the poor
in many of the courts and streets in St. Saviour's parish,
is another grave difficulty with which the guardians have
to contend ; for they complain that they have no power
to deal summarily with such property.
Dr. Milroy urged the appointment of two additional
medical officers, and advised the board to provide, a
a place of refuge for the inmates of such houses as might
require to be thinned or emptied together.