The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-14 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

Ma. EDITOR—The BRITISH MUSEUM is a 6
Institution, the success of which every one who desires .44-
preservation and improvement of Literature, Science, and the
Arts in this-Country, Must be anxious to promote and to ex.;
tend the means it possesses of diffusing general knowledge..
• The recent munificent present of his AlAJEstir will itthf
greatly to the stores of Learning already ,contained in . the
British Museum, and it may be confidently expected that isr.-
dividual gifts and collections from •tilne. to time will continue
to accumulate,. and be concentrated and preserved for the belie fit of Posterity, under. the - protection of. this great National
Establishment, where also they will become the means of con-
veying to distant ages,; a knowledge of the learning, taste, and
liberality of the respective Contributors. . .
It having beets stated to bethe wish of some persons, that
an entirely new and magnificent structure shoultibe raised on a
scale worthy of the purposes for which it is intended, on Op-
scite of the present building, may, it not be asked, Why de-
itroy the present huilding P In itself magnificent, substantial;
and capable of being enlarged in the same style of composi..
tion, to any extent that may be thought necessary -as circuni-.
stances may require.
I am, Sir, a frequent Visitor to the Museum, as it grinds
subjects of the most instructive contemplation, and rational
amusement to be found in the Metropolis ;. and hearing that it is
prbpoaed to. call for designs for thdrititended structure through
the medium of Advertisements and general competition amongst-
draughtmen, and to offer premiums ..for the designs most -.up_
prOved of, it has Occurred to nie that it might, for various rea.,
be desirable, to take another course.
If the sums which are to -be expended in rewards, are to t)
commensurate with the object to be Obtained, they aright to be
of considerable amount ; and at this time, when economy is so,
'greatly to be desired in all that regardsthe expenditure of funds
supplied by the general community, that expense may with.
proyriety be avoided.

A: *diction of Architects might be made to prepare the det
signs; or the three. Crown Architects attached tc; his ,Majesty's
&Nord of Works, who have each of them a salary equal in
amount to the late..SUrvel or General's? rllight be called upon flit
that purpose.' The latter are ./ submit the proper persons to be
applied to upon this occasion, both ort account of theirsituati;; n
and high professional character as Artists, and as possessing
from their great experience and long practice, the requisite'
knOwlege to litthem for the execution of the design that might,
be prepared ; thus the nation might expect to obtain not only
the most eligible design, bat obtain it without incurring ttzlje
additional expence. • •
To these csnsideratitins, it is desirable to draw the attentiv
of those who have authority to command the services that
have suggested; and as your Paper has ever proyeil itself tlio`
zealous Auxiliary of Literature and the Arts, LhaVe confidence.
that you will readily afford your assistance, by inserting this
Letter from, Sir,
A AVELLIVISHER to the ARTS, SCIENCES arid
LITERATURE: of the COUNTRY. ,