46 Annals of the Philosophical Club 



address a letter to the Treasury stating what the scientific 

 societies desired, which letter would be sent to the Board 

 of Works in the regular course of business. He had assured 

 Sir R. I. Murchison, to whom he had spoken, that, if their 

 desires could be met, he would warmly support them. 

 Lord Wrottesley had accordingly written a letter to the 

 Treasury, which, by his permission, Colonel Sabine com- 

 municated to the Club. 1 This letter, after recapitulating 

 the history of the movement for placing the Royal Society, 

 with the four chartered societies, in a more suitable and 

 central position than they then held, referred to the 

 occupancy of Burlington House by the University of London, 

 by which, however, as he believed, large accommodation 

 was required on only two or three distinct occasions annually, 

 so that arrangements might be made to meet its needs and 

 those of such societies as could be located in the building. 

 Copies of this letter had been sent to the Duke of Argyll 

 and Lord Harrowby, who had given assurances of warm 

 support ; also to Lord Granville and Lord Stanley of 

 Alderley. The next step desirable, Dr. Playfair and Colonel 

 Sabine had thought, was to inspect the accommodation 

 at Burlington House, which the Board of Works had per- 

 mitted them to do. They found that the University of 

 London had occupied the whole of the central building or 

 mansion house. The wings, still free, are detached buildings 

 between 70 and 80 feet long, of a coi responding breadth 

 and height, the west one fitted up as a kitchen and offices, 

 the east one as a private residence. Supposing the occupancy 

 of the University of London to be continued, there would 

 not be accommodation for the chartered societies with the 

 present arrangements. But they thought that by certain 

 rearrangements of the central block, by converting the west 

 wing into a large hall, and by altering the east one, there 

 might be room for the University of London, and some, if 

 not all, of the societies. These alterations the Board of Works 

 considered practicable. As it appeared important to avoid 

 giving any offence to the University of London, Col. Sabine 



1 A copy of it is inserted in the Minutes. 



