BRITISH MUSEUM. (Hansard, 14 March 1831)

Mr. Bankes
moved that a sum, not exceeding 14,451l. should be voted to defray the expenses of the British Museum.

Mr. Jephson
complained that the public were not sufficiently accommodated in the library and reading-room department. Those were closed on a Saturday, which, he conceived, was not necessary. As the subject had been referred to last Session, he wished to ask, whether any alteration would be made in the attendance of the officers of the Museum?

Mr. Bankes
said, it was necessary for cleanliness, and in order to preserve regularity of arrangement, that the library should be closed one day in the week. He believed the Museum was open to the public as many hours as any other institution of a similar description. In fact, he had inquired, and found that the attendance at the Museum was greater than the attendance a similar institutions at Paris.

§ Sir John Wrottesley
complained, that though he was most anxious to visit the library of the Museum, he never had the opportunity. Saturday was the only day which Members of Parliament had to spare from their public duties during the Session, and on that day the library was closed. Although cleanliness was a good thing, that might be done on a Monday as well as Saturday. He would rather that six-pence or a shilling should be paid for admittance; and then, he was sure, the public would have easier access.

Mr. Warburton
saw no reason why the reading-room should not be open on Saturday, though it might be necessary to keep the other rooms closed on that day.

Mr. Hume
acknowledged the utility of the British Museum. The only question was, whether it might not be rendered more useful? He was sorry to perceive that the number who visited the establishment had greatly diminished. Instead of 112,000, 127,000, and 132,000, the number which, it appeared, had visited the Museum in former years, the number last year had fallen down to 68,000. He thought the Museum ought to be open on 433 a greater number of days. Besides holidays it was shut up on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Mr. Jephson
suggested, that the catalogues were too expensive. Catalogues of a cheaper description would certainly be an improvement.

Mr. Wilks
said, it appeared that only 1,890 persons visited the reading-rooms in a year. The average could not be above fifty persons in a week. It would be satisfactory if these rooms were thrown open on a Saturday, and the number was too limited to produce any serious inconvenience.

§ Sir John Wrottesley
called for a distinct pledge from the hon. member for Dorsetshire that the reading-room should be open on Saturday. If that pledge was not given, he should divide the House.

Mr. Bankes
said, the trustees were anxious to comply with every request they could. He could assure the Committee, that the day the library was closed was not an idle day, as all the officers of the establishment were employed that day. As the other trustees must be consulted, he could not pledge himself as the hon. Baronet called on him to do; but, as far as his recommendation went, it should be in favour of the suggestion of the hon. Baronet.

§ Sir John Wrottesley
hoped, when the Report was brought up, that the hon. Member (Mr. Bankes) would be able to give a distinct answer.