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

s& SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 1, 1860.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

The report of the ,select committee appointed to
inquire how far and it 2 what way it may be desir-
'-le to find increased space for the extension and
arrangement of the various collections of the Bri-
tish Museum, and the best means of rendering them
available for the promotion of science and art, has

been published.
The questions discussed by the committee were
"I. Whether all the collections in the British
Museum should be retained in the present locality,
or whether any and which of them should be re-
moved elsewhere ?
" 11. What amount of space is requisite for the
proper accommodation and exhibition of the collec-
tions proposed to be retained, and of those likely to
accrue within such a period as it is prudent to pro-

vide for ?
" 111. Whether such space can, with due regard
to economy, be contained in connection with the
British Museum ?
" IV: What structural conditions in the build-
ings provided are indispensable for the proper ar-
rangement of the collections ?
" 1. Whether all the collections in the British
Museum should be retained in their present locality,
or whether any and which of them should be re-
moved elsewhere ?
__ '

1. Natural History Collections—The remova,
of the natural history collections, from the discus-
sions that have taken place both in Parliament and
among the trustees of the museum, and from the
general interest which this question has excited
both in the scientific world and among the public at
large, primarily engaged the attention of your com-
mittee.
" The arguments against removal may be sum-
med up as derived :
"1. From the central position of the British
Museum.
" 2. From theadvantages of connection with the
great national library.
" 3. From the expense involved in the construc-
tion of a new Natural History Museum, and the
transfer of the collections to it.
" 4. From the risk of injury to valuable speci-
mens, and the interruption to scientific inquiry
consequent upon time unavoidably requisite for
packing, transporting, unpacking, and rearranging
the collections."
The evidence taken was almost unanimous against
the removal of the natural history collections, which
are the most numerously visited. The report asserts
the necessity of retaining these different collections
in connection with the library; should they be re-
moved the purchase of a special library of reference
would be indispensable. The estimates of the ex-
pense of the construction of a new Natural History
Museum, and the transfer of the collections to it,
are given. They are the same as those presented
separately to the House of Commons in February
last. Three sites have been proposed—one a por-
tion of the land in the neighbourhood of Kensing-
ton, belonging to the Royal Commissioners for the
Exhibition of 1851 ; the second, the present site of
Burlington House; the third, a plot of ground near
Victoria-street, Westminster. The cost of the first
site would be .E 53,750 ; the site of Burlington
House covers an area of only three acres, and the
new museum would require five-and-a-half acres ;
in Victoria-street more than sufficient space might
be obtained at the rate of £7,000 per acre. Ground
enough might also be obtained in the immediate
vicinity of the present Museum, but only at a cost
of £240,000.
The formation of a special library of reference for
the natural history collections would be about
£30,000 and the addition of all new works would be
constantly required. The nation would have to sup-
port two librarians and a double staff of attendants.
As to the building, according to the system of
arranging the collections approved by Professor
0 wen, who states that " varieties are now as im-
portant as species," and that all comparisons are
best made by " stuffed specimens," the edifice would
cover 10 acres, if containing galleries on one floor ;
if on two floors, five acres. With this eminent ex-
ception, all the other scientific naturalists who have
been examined, including the present keepers of all
119
i 65 the departments, think that an exhibition on so
)9s large a scale would be needlessly bewildering and
56 fatiguing to the public, and be an impediment to
187
;58 the studies of the scientific visitor. They there-
fore recommend a limited, though liberal, exhibi-
-24 tion of the collections, on the principle of arrange-
is7 meat technically described as "typical." The re-
-351 port adds :
153
!1.4 "In deciding between these conflicting opinions,
n 6 your committee think it impossible to overlook the
34
85 weight due to economical considerations. A vain-
-187 able assistance to their judgment on this point has
been furnished by the report of the special commit-
'34 tee of trustees appointed Nov. 26, 1859, from which
it appears that quite irrespectively of the cost of
.35 ground, which necessarily varies in diffe-
)9o rent localities, the expense of a building cover-
-163 ing five acres and a half would probably amount to
7,745
7,785 about £567,000. To this must be added the ex-
-26,175 pense of fittings. Your committee, therefore, recom-
-1'767 mend the adoption of the more limited kind of ex-
-7,122
34,7:14 hibition advocated by the other witnesses, in pre-
ference to the more extended method recommended
3
.by Professor Owen."

ETHNOGRAPHY.
" Your committee have received evidence from
iee every witness examined on this subject in favour
47
4:3 of the removal of ethnographical collections. Great
'52 additional space would be required, if it be intended
63 that the British Museum should be the depository
66
66 of a complete ethnographical collection, and it is
--t59 probable that a more suitable receptacle might be
)23 found for it elsewhere.
.04 BRITISH AND MEDIEVAL COLLECTIONS.
35
[
522 " With regard to the British portion of the col-
Dl9 lections it is contended that the British Museum is
3,61 pre-eminently fitted to be the depository of objects
so 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 mediaeval 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 may 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 of space therefore which would
be required, so far as an accurate estimate has been
laid before your eommittee,is 81,268 superficial feet.
To this must be added the unascertained space re-
quired, as before mentioned, far 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,
withn the adjacent streets on the east, west, and
north sides, comprises altogether about 51 acres,
valued by Mr. Smirke at about £240,000. As the
proprietary interest in all this ground belongs to a
single owner, ycur 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 eaten.
sion of the Museum became necessary. to obtain
possession of such of the houses as might best suit
the purpose in view.
" PRINTS AND DRAWINGS.—A convenient site
for this department would, in the opinion of your
commit te!y, he provided by the suggested acquisition
of additional ground on the north side. A building
might there be erected in continuation of the pre-
-ent cast wing of the Museum, to contain on its
upper floor the mineralogical collections, and on its

lower the prints and drawings, with adequate space
both for their preservation and exhibition."
The plans of Mr. Smirke, Professor Maskelyne,
and Mr. Oldfield are adverted to :
" Your committee have reason to think that if
any of these plans were adopted, involving the
purchase of not more than two acres of land, with
the requisite buildings and alterations, the cost
would be about £300,000. If, however, only this li-
mited portion of land should be at once required, it
is probable that the price of what remains would
be enhanced. If the whole were to be purchased,
as your committee have already recommended, the
cost above stated would be, of course, increased.
" The cost of land and buildings required to
carry out the plan for the removal of tie natural
history collections to Kensington, according to the
estimate contained in the report of the special com-
mittee of trustees, which was founded on the as-
sumption that 5 acres of land are necessary,

would amount to £620,000.
"To this sum would have to be added the ex
pense of a departmental library, of packing and re•
moving the collections, and of the extensive fittings
and cases required in the new museum—expenses
all forming part of the first cost of this plan, and
independent of the additional annual eharge for
augmentations of the departmental library, and for
the maintenance of the requisite staff both for that
library and for the greatly enlarged public gal-
leries of exhibition.
If, however, the limited principle of exhibition
for the natural history collection should be adopted
less land would be required, and the estimate for
buildings might be greatly reduced.
" But neither of these arrangements would ob-
viate the necessity of providing the addiConal space
required for the department of antiquities at the
British Museum.
"Your committee can form no accurate estimate
of the cost if either of the other two sites before
mentioned should be selected.
" Under all these circumstances, and upon a full
consideration of the evidence adduced, your com-
mittee have arrived at the conclusion that sufficient
reason has not been assigned for the removal of any
part of the valuable collections now in the Museum,
except that of ethnography and the portraits and
drawings, as previously recommended.
" With regard to the last branch of the reference
—namely, the means by which the collections in
the British Museum may be made most available to
the interests of science and art, it has been sug-
gested that lectures should be delivered in connec-
tion with the Museum ; but your committee are of
opinion that though it would be of the greatest
advantage that the meaning of the various collec.
tions should be rendered as intelligible as possible
to the public, yet it is questionable whether the
conversion of the Museum into an educational in-
stitution would not be a departure from the prin-
ciple on which it rests. Your committee look on
the British Museum as primarily being a great
consultative repertory."
The conclusion of the committee is decidedly
against the proposal for giving lectures in the
Museum.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE METROPO•
LI27AN BOARD OF WORKS.

The annual report of the Metropolitan Board of
Works has just been issued, from which the follow-

ing are extracts :
" The Board have to state that during the year
which has elapsed they have directed their con-
tinued and anxious attention to the prosecution of
important works, and, notwithstanding the strike
of the workmen, the great increase in the price of
building materials, the long continuance of heavy
rains, and the operation of other causes calculated
to impede the execution of extensive public works,
their progress upon the whole has been of a de-
cidedly satisfactory character.
" The Northern High Level Sewer is fast ap-
proaching completion. The line will extend from
near the foot of Hampstead-hill to a point on the
River Lee, near Old Ford, being with the branches
about eight miles in length. When finished it will
complete the interception of the waters descending
from the high grounds of Highgate and Hampstead,
and, while effecting a general improvement in the
local drainage throughout its entire length, it will
relieve Hackney and the adjacent districts from the
evils arising from the foul condition of the open
watercourse by which they were intersected.
" The high level sewer south of the Thames was
commenced on the 26th December,lBs9. This work
will extend from High-street, Clapham, to Dept-
ford-creek, a length of about 9 miles 2,940 feet, tra-
versing in its course Stockwell, Camberwell, Peck-
ham, and New Cross.
" The course which will be ultimately selected
for the low level sewer north of the Thames will
depend upon the decision at which Parliament may
arrive with respect to the embankment of that
river. The Board have on former occasions ex-

pressed the opinion that it would be most important
to construct this sewer in conjunction with a
Thames embankment but whether that can be accom-
plished or not depends on the provision which may
eventually be made by Parliament for defraying the
cost of the embankment. As the period within
which the main drainage works are to be finished is
fixed by Act of Parliament—namely, the 31st of
December, 1863, it becomes of extreme urgency that
an early solution of this important question should
be arrived at. _ _ _

" The claims in connection with the purchase of
property taken for the purposes of the high level,
and outfall sewers north of the Thames between the
25th of March, 1859, and the 25th of March, 1860,
were 40 in number, and amounted to £58,539 18s.
After negotiation these claims were settled for
£36,111 ss. The sums claimed on the south side of
the river for the same period were £20,912 165., 12
out of 14 claims being settled for £10,035. The re-
maining two claims are still pending.
" Among the works of the Board a wrought-iron
tubular bridge has been constructed over the Lime-
house-cut of the River Lea navigation in connection
with the Victoria-park approach.
" The Board have directed their attention to the
disposal and utilization of sewage-matter, and,
though nothing has been submitted to them which
enables them to speak with any definiteness upon
the subject, they are willing to hope that the period
may not be far distant when some satisfactory re-
sults may be arrived at which may augment the
means at present available of adding to the fertility
of the soil, and at the same time to become a source
of revenue to the ratepayers.
" As regards the Southwark and Westminster
communication the Board have proceeded with as
much expedition as was practicable for obtaining
possession of the property required for the improve-
ment. The sum paid or agreed to be paid for the
property in the locality in question during the year
ending the 25th of March for the purposes of the
street was £110,374, 175., making the total expen-
diture under this head up to the same date
£222,232, lls. Bd., the claims amounting to
£306,512 8s; ld. These included 102 freehold and
copyhold estates, and 71 leasehold interests and
goodwills.
"The ground for tho Covent-garden approach
has, with one exception, been entirely cleared. The
claims for this property amounted to £157,725 17s.
Bd., which have been settled for £92,849 14s. Bd.
" During the year the board contributed to the
cost ofimprovements promoted by the Commissioners
of Sewers for the city of London and Westminster
District Board by the purchase of property for
widening and otherwise improving the following
localities :—Upper and Lower Thames-street, Fet-
ter-lane, Budge-row, Leadenhall-street, Little
Knight-rider street, Sise-lane and ,Pudge-row,
Bread-street and Old Fish-street, Lelgavrence-lane
and Cheapside, Primrose-street, Queen street and
Maiden-lane, and Rochester-row, Westminster.
" Towards the end of this year the new offices for
the board will be finished, and the improved passage
into St. James's-park from Spring-gardens completed.
" The receipts of the board during the year end-
ing 25th March, 1860, amount to £670,193 14s. 7d.,
while the payments during the same period amounted
to £594,288 14s. Bd.
" The attention of the board was engaged for
several months in the investigation of a claim upon
them by:the War Department of the sum of £24,212
17s. 3d. for the expenses incurred by the Ordnance
Department in the survey of London, ordered by
the late Commissioners of Sewers. This claim had
been for several years outstanding, and several ap-
plications were made by the Ordnance Department
to the Commissioners for payment, but as they had
no funds available for the discharge of the demand
it had remained undischarged. The Government
became urgent fora settlement, intimating that it
would become their duty to i effort to legal proceed-
ings in the event of further delay, and it became in-
dispensable that the question should be finally dis-
posed of. The board felt that, having regard to the
fact that other towns had been supplied with de-
tailed surveys at the public cost, and that the me-
tropolitan taxpayers had been large contributors to
the expenses of such surveys, they had strong
equitable grounds entitling them to the remis-
sion of a substantial part of the claim. Much
correspondence and protracted negotiations
with the War Department and the Treasury
ensued, and the chairman of the Board having been
placed in communication with the Government
upon a compromise was eventually
that the Board should pay £lO,OOO out of the main-
drainage the
rate, in satisfaction of the claim, the War
Department retaining the plates and copyright of
the suivey, but undertaking to supply the Board,
the Commissioners of Sewers of the city of London,
and the several vestries and district Boards of the
metropolis with as many copies as they should re-

quire at the rate of is. per sheet. This arrange-
ment was a satisfactory settlement of a trouble-
some question, which at one time threatened to in-
volve the Board in litigation, the issue of which
was, at least, doubtful, and the terms on which the
matter was adjusted must be regarded as equivalent
in themselves, and extremely advantageous to the
rate-payers.
" The Board cannot conclude this account of their
labours during the year without adverting to the
magnitude and cost of the works required for the
improvement of the metropolis, to the inadequacy
of the funds at their disposal for meeting those de-
mands, and to the urgent necessity of providing
them with additional sources of revenue, and they
entertain the earnest hope that their representations
on this subject may receive attention in the proper
quarter, and result in practical measures by which
they may be effectually enabled to carry out the
pubic improvements so urgently required."