BRITISH MUSEUM. 211 



provided for by the act of 26 George II. Those of the Townlej, 

 Elgin, and Knight families are nominated under the respective acts 

 by which the collections they represent were acquired. The act for 

 the appointment of the presidents of the Society of Antiquaries and 

 the Royal Academy, as official trustees, passed 5 George IV. That 

 for the nomination of a royal trustee (who, in the first instance, was 

 the duke of Gloucester) passed 2 William IV. 



The following are the regulations under which the Museum is 

 maintained at the present moment for public use. It is open for 

 general inspection every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in every 

 week, from the hour of ten till four, except in the Christmas, Easter, 

 and Whitsun weeks, during the month of September, and on four 

 single holidays. Tuesdays and Thursdays in every week are devoted 

 to artists and other students in the different departments. Foreigners 

 and artists are also admitted during the month of September. 



The reading room of the Museum is open from ten till four every 

 day except on Sundays, and except for one week at Christmas, 

 Easter, and Whitsuntide respectively, and on the four single holidays 

 already mentioned. Persons desirous of admission send their applica- 

 tions to the principal librarian, or, in his absence, to the senior under- 

 librarian, who either admits them immediately, or lays their applica- 

 tions before the next general meeting or committee of trustees. 411 

 persons who apply for this privilege are to produce a recommenda- 

 tion satisfactory to a trustee, or an officer of the house. 



We have thus, by a concise statement of historical and other cirr 

 cumstances, put the reader in possession of those facts which are pre- 

 requisites to the proper understanding of the question respecting the 

 competency of the Establishment, under its present economy, to satisfy 

 the public wants. It now remains for us tp point out the defects of 

 the Museum constitution, and to show why it is not fully available, as 

 it ought to be, in the promotion of national education. 



The Museum constitution is not a subject of such interest to the 

 public generally that our readers can be expected to know much of 

 it ; but its reformation is absolutely necessary to all improvement, in- 

 asmuch as every evil may be traced to the inefficiency of the governs 

 ing body as the first cause. The trustees, take them individually 

 as men illustrious by birth, education, and talent, are worthy of the 

 highest respect ; but, when they are to be considered as the legisla- 

 tive body of an Institution dedicated to national education, some en- 



