MEMOIR OF SIR HANS SLOANE, BART. 19 



" 17. That the committee, in the alterations which they have suggested, 

 do not mean to convey a charge against the trustees, or against the officers of 

 the museum, whose talents, good conduct, and general and scientific acquire- 

 ments are universally admitted ; and they are aware, that where imperfec- 

 tions exist in the collections, those imperfections are mainly attributable to 

 the very inadequate space hitherto available for their exhibition, and to the 

 limited pecuniary means at the disposal of the trustees; and they are of 

 opinion that the present state of the British Museum, compared with the 

 increasing interest taken in it by all classes of the people, justifies them in 

 the recommendations contained in the above resolutions. 



" 18. That the committee having taken into consideration the Petition 

 presented to The House by Mr. Charles Tilt, and referred to the Commit- 

 tee, which Petition prayed for public assistance hi the preparation of a work 

 from the medals in the British Museum, and having taken evidence on 'the 

 said subject, consider that in no way can they more satisfactorily discharge 

 the duty confided to them by the reference in question, than by simply lay- 

 ing before the House the minutes of evidence so taken, and ordering the Pe- 

 tition of Mr. Charles Tilt to be placed as an appendix to that evidence, and 

 to these resolutions." 



The trustees proceeded to consider these resolutions, and having 

 adverted to each of them in order, resolved as follows : — 



u 1. With respect to such matters in the first five resolutions as appear to 

 call for the intervention of the trustees, this committee recommends the se- 

 veral points to the serious consideration of the general board of trustees, 

 whenever the occasions arrive for giving practical effect to these resolutions. 



2. With respect to the 6th resolution, this committee advises the immedi- 

 ate appointment of a sub-committee of trustees to make a personal survey of 

 the Museum, and in conjunction with the beads of the existing departments 

 and with such other gentlemen employed in the Museum as it may be 

 thought expedient to consult, to take into consideration and report to the 

 general board the best mode of giving effect to the said resolution. 



* 3. With respect to the 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, and 14th resolutions, the 

 subjects matter of which appear to be connected together, and have reference 

 to new internal arrangements which may be immediately necessary, this 

 committee is of opinion that the consideration of these resolutions, and of the 

 best practical mode of giving effect to the recommendations which they in- 

 volve, should be referred to the same sub-committee to which the 6th reso- 

 lution is referred. 



•' 4. That a special memorandum be made of the recommendations contain- 

 ed in the 8th resolution with a view of ensuring the attention of the trustees 

 to them on the first opportunity of vacancies. 



" 5. With respect to the 12th resolution, this committee understands that 

 measures have been already taken for giving effect to the recommendation 

 contained therein. 



" 6. This committee is further of opinion that a general meeting of the 

 trustees should be convened at the earliest practicable period, for the pur- 

 pose of deliberating upon the recommendations contained in the 15th resolu- 



