§ The next vote proposed was 2,824l. 2s. 6d. for the expenses of the Museum of Economic Geology in Craig's court.
§ Mr. Humedoubted the propriety of having a separate establishment of this kind on so small a scale as that which was proposed. He did not see why this collection might not be placed in some part of the British Museum. He was sure that two or three old houses in Craig's Court would not be found to answer this purpose. He wished to know whether this collection was to be confined to mineralogy alone? and he thought that, as they had commenced, they ought to make an establishment that would be a credit to the country. He would rather propose, that the Government should suspend this vote until an opportunity was given to have the subject considered by a committee.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequerwas sure that his hon. Friend would not object to grant a sum of money for a purpose of this nature. The expense was very small, and the object was to collect together specimens of materials employed for working purposes. This collection originated in the suggestion of Mr. De La Beche, who was engaged in the Ordnance geological survey, and he stated that we were unacquainted with the mineral treasures of the country. He suggested that it would be easy to obtain specimens of marbles, of working stones, and different articles which it would be useful to have collected for the information of the Commissioners of Woods and Works. It was afterwards decided that the collection should be thrown open for the information of other parties. The hon. Member had said that this collection might be placed in the British Museum. This had been considered. It was to be recollected that this museum was to be used as a repository for the mining records, and on communication with the parties they objected to have those records placed in the British Museum, and preferred they should be deposited in a separate establishment. He admitted that the establishment was on a small scale, but the expense was also small.
§ Mr. Humedid not object to the expense, but he wished to see an establishment that would be creditable to the country. It was a reproach to England, owing so much to manufacturing industry, that there was nowhere to be found a collection of machinery and mechanical models, such as were to be found in other countries. He objected to any temporary establishment; and he thought the best way would be to allow the matter to be considered by a committee.
§ Lord J. Russellsaid there was already such a number of articles in the British Museum that a geological collection could not be placed there with advantage. He was a member of the committee when George 4th made a present of his library to the country; and though he was in a minority, he had pressed on the committee the propriety of establishing another library in a different part of the metropolis, as there were many duplicate copies in the British Museum. He thought that it would have been useful to have enabled persons in different parts of the town to 1191 gain, by patient research and freedom of access, that knowledge which was so desirable and so useful.
§ Viscount Sandonhoped that there would be no difficulty in acceding to the vote, as the arrangement proposed was only a temporary one. By agreeing to this vote they would not be precluded at a future time from considering whether they ought to conduct the establishment on a more extensive plan. He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman what were the mining records to which he had referred?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid that they were maps of the mines, showing the grounds which had been worked in the different mining districts. The object was to have these records deposited in some central place, where they might be easily referred to.
§ Vote agreed to.