The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-01 00:00:00

ETHNOGRAPHY.

" Your committee have received evidence from
every witness examined on this subject in favour
of the removal of ethnographical collections. Great
additional space would be required, if it be intended
that the British Museum should be the depository
of a complete ethnographical collection, and it is
probable that a more suitable receptacle might be
found for it elsewhere.
BRITISH AND MEDIAVAL COLLECTIONS.

" With regard to the British portion of the col-
lections it is contended that the British Museum is
pre-eminently fitted to be the depository of objects
found in the British islands, and illustrating their
history ; that English archaeologists would deeply
regret to see any severance of these sections from
one another based on an arbitrary principle, and
that a national collection of antiquities is to the an-
tiquary what a collection of fossils is to the geolo-
gist.
" The medireval collections consist of antiquities
illustrating events of history, the progress of art,
or the manners and customs and mental culture of
various nations.
" The evidence received upon the subject of the
retention or the removal of these collections has
been most conflicting, both proposals having re-
ceived the approbation of high authority. But,
having considered the arguments on both sides of
this question, your committee would observe that
the British Museum is a repository in which objects
of historical or archaeological interest ought to find
a place without limitation to any particular time or
country."
The committee then state the demands for in-
creased space made by the keepers of the natural
history departments. They are the largest in the
department of zoology, which requires ten rooms
and a gallery, the dimensions of which are not
stated. For the collection of antiquities—
" The keeper of this department has put in a de-
mand for 61,469 additional superficial feet of floor
space for exhibition."
The report continues :
" Your committee, in contemplating an extension
of the Museum, have been disposed in the natural
history department, in consequence of the gradual
but constant increase referred to, to allow for space
likely to be required within a moderate period of
time; but in the case of the department of antiqui-
ties, from not being able to form any idea of the
character of the accessions that nly eventually ac-
crue, and consequently of the nature of the galleries
and of the light that may be required, your com-
mittee would suggest that while ample place should
be secured for future extension, buildings should
not be constructed with a view to the future, but
for the present, and always on such a plan as would
admit of easy, cheap, and systematic extension.
" The total amount ofspace therefore which would
be required, so far as an accurate estimate has been
laid before your committee, is 81,268 superficial feet.
To this must be added the unascertained space re-
quired, as before mentioned, fer the department of
zoology, and for the studies and working rooms
which have been recommended. On the other hand,
10,000 feet would have to be deducted if the ethno-
graphical collection should be removed. At the same
time it is obvious that the total area thus required
need not be all on one floor.
Whether such space can with due regard to
economy be obtained in connection with the Bri-
tish Museum ?
" It appears from a former portion of this report
the ground immediately surrounding the Museum,
within the adjacent streets on the east, west, and
north sides, comprises altogether about 1.)",.2 acres,
v.:rued by Mr. Sinirke at about £240,000. As the
proprietary interest in all this ground belongs to a
single owner, your committee are of opinion that it
would be a convenient, and possibly even a profit-
able arrangement for the state at once to purchase
that interest, and to receive the rents of the lessees
in return for the capital invested. The state would
then have the power, whenever any further exten
sion of the Museum became necessary, to obtain
possession of such of the houses as might best suit
the purpose in view.
66 PRINTS AND DRAWINGS.--A convenient site
for this department would, in the opinion of your
committee, be provided by the suggested acquisition
lof additional ground on the north side. A building
might there be erected in continuation of the pre-
sent east wing of the Museum, to contain on its
upper floor the mineralogical collections, and on its