§ MR. B. SAMUELSONasked the Right honourable Member for the University of Cambridge, Whether the Trustees of the British Museum have considered the best mede of arranging the Natural History Collections in the new buildings at South Kensington; whether their attention has been directed to the evidence given before the Royal Commission on the Advancement of Science, in which it is recommended that the collections should be placed in cases closed hermetically in front where they are displayed to the public, but accessible to students from working galleries at the back; whether they will fit up one or two galleries experimentally on this or some analogous plan before removing the entire collection; and, whether they will exhibit models or drawings of their proposed arrangements in the Library of the House of Commons before they are finally decided on?
§ MR. WALPOLE,in reply, said, the Trustees of the British Museum had their attention drawn to this matter three years ago, and they referred the evidence given before the Royal Com- 1440 mission on the Advancement of Science to their officers, who unanimously reported that the adoption of the plan in question would be so objectionable in many respects, and, indeed, so impracticable, that they could not recommend it. Since Notice of this Question had been given the Trustees had again referred the matter to their officers, who adhered to the opinion they gave three years ago. With regard to the formation of hermetically sealed cases, they would very much interfere with public convenience, and no great advantage would be derived from them.
§ MR. B. SAMUELSONasked, If the right hon. Gentleman would lay the Report of the officers of the Museum on the Table?
§ MR. WALPOLEwould have no objection to produce both Reports.