The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-16 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

A " LARK."—Mr. Charles llamilton, 45, Char-
lotte-street, Fitzroy-square, was charged with wil-
fully damaging a window-blind to the amount of
108., at a coffeehouse, 3, Cremorne-road, Chelsea.
Geo. Pratt, 209 T, said that at half-past one this
morning! was on duty at Cremorne-road, and saw
the prisoner with others ; he was drunk. He
jumped up at the blind of 3, Cremorne-road, tore
it down, and with it the stick, which was broken. I
took him into custody, and he said it was merely
a lark.

Mr. &lie fined him 10s. and 20s. damages, which
was imtnediatelypaid.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

The number of persons who visited the British
Museum in 1867 was 445,036, a larger number than
in any other year since the Exhibition year, 1862.
If we add the 103,469 visits of readers to the read-
ing room, and also the admissions to the print-
rootn, coin-room, &c., and to the galleries of sculp-
ture for the purposes of study, the total becomes
556,317. It is estimated that 1,256,860 volumes
were consulted in the reading-room, or 4,304 per
day for the 292 days on which the room was-open ;
and as the average number of readers was 354 a
day, the number of books consulted averaged over
12 books for each reader per day. Among the
noteworthy acquisitions of the department in the
year is a collection of nearly 200 volumes of
Spanish plays and poetry, mostly of the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries, presented to the Museum
by Mr. Chorley. Among the additions in the de-
partment of maps is a Japanese map of Japan,
made by the Japanese Government, and presented
by the Deputies of the Tycoon to Mr. Kingdon,
by whom it was presented to the Museum. Many
valuable acquisitions have been obtained in the
department of manuscripts in the year, and prepara-
tions have been made for commencing a general
catalogue of all collections in classes of subjects.
The acquisitions in all the departments have been
numerous and important. The department of coins
and medals has secured some ancient and some
mediaeval coins, and has not omitted to obtain
more modern specimens thlt may become scarce
—a gold coin (22 pesos) of Maximilian, late Em-
peror of Mexico ; a £3 gold piece of George IV.,
A.D. 1894 ; a silver coin struck at Lucknow, by
the rebels, in 1857 ; a complete set of notes of
the paper currency of the United
visitedlite thedStates during
the Civil War. 10,587 persons Blacas
collection of gems in 1867. Professor Owen
and 813 to
0f1867 to the department
9,156 togeology,
orefpo zoology,r reports 81228additiotn_isiaitn
that of mineralogy. The department of prints aud
in esreatt e
of
fa mthoeng its
RoyalacqAucisaidtieomnsy ine atthaa_
draarwain
g perfect
year
n u
gues from 1769 to 1849, illustrated with upwards
of 2,000 prints and etchings, presented by Mr.
Anderdon ; also a full-length portrait of Queen
fe
Elizabeth in State dress, by William Rogers, a
contemporary artist, no other impression of which
is known to exist ; and many other engravings and
drawings of great interest. The vote for the Bri-
tish Museum this session is to £99,380, an increase
of £3,934, the item for retired advances being trans.
ferred to another part of the Civil Service esti-
mates. Half the vote is for salaries; a fourth,
£24,305, for purchases and acquisitions; the resi-
due for bookbinding, printing catalopes, furniture
repairs, and 4144441 expenses,