How a national museum of natural history might be built and arranged with advantage / by R.A. Peacock.

  • Peacock, Richard Atkinson, 1811-
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: How a national museum of natural history might be built and arranged with advantage / by R.A. Peacock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    APPENDIX. Extract from ‘The Times,’ July 6, 1872.—H.M.’s Government purchased from the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, for 120,000Z., land, of which the value is not less than 280,000Z., to be applied to Science and Art. ‘ A district post-office has been erected upon it,’ Mr. Bowring loquitur. Lord Elcho said, ‘ the Contract [for the Natural History Museum] was not taken a fort- night ago.’ Mr. Ayrton said Captain Fowkes’ Design was suc- cessful, it was to cost 430,000Z. When he died Mr. Waterhouse was employed, who is preparing working di-awings. Government fixed the cost at 350,000Z. This debate arose in the House of Commons, on the question of voting 40,000Z. towards the expense of the new Museum, which was carried. The following are copies of three letters received by the present writer from Dr. I. E. Gray, whose long experience as keeper of the Zoological collections of the British Museum, makes his opinions valuable. In consequence the preceding Memoir has been re- written, adopting his suggestions, which was easily done. His objections were easily removed by removing the causes of them. If the Arts and Curiosities were transferred to the Museum now about to be contracted for, as Dr. Gray proposes, there would then be room perhaps at the British Museum to exhibit the Natural History collections, including the unexhibited portions, a little longer, namely, until the Library requires greater space:— British Museum, April 2nd, 1872. Dear Sir,—Thanks for your kind ofier to show mo your draw- ings of what you think requisite for a Natural History Museum. The space proposed is very small, not more than wo have at present, and there is a great want of room for the uncxhibited portion of the collection, not nearly as much as wo have here. I should have no objection to see your papers and draiviugs, but