1856 SCHEME FOR A MUSEUM 195 



principles he adds a number of most practical sugges- 

 tions as to the actual structure of the building, which 

 are briefly appended in abstract. The complement 

 to this is a letter of 1872, giving advice as to a local 

 museum at Chester, and one of 1859 describing the 

 ideal catalogue for a geological museum. (Cp. also 



ii. 449.) 



Jan. 25, 1868. 



The Commissioners of the Manchester 

 Natural History Society. 



Scheme for a Museum. 



Objects. 1. The public exhibition of a collection of 

 specimens large enough to illustrate all the most important 

 truths of Natural History, but not so extensive as to 

 weary and confuse ordinary visitors. 



2. The accessibility of this collection to the public. 



3. The conservation of all specimens not necessary for 

 the purpose denned in (1) in a place apart 



4. The accessibility of all objects contained in the 

 museum to the curator and to scientific students, without 

 interference with the public or by the public. 



5. Thorough exclusion of dust and dirt from the 

 specimens. 



6. A provision of space for workrooms, and, if need 

 be, lecture-rooms. 



Principle. A big hall (350 x 40 x 30) with narrower 

 halls on either side, lighted from the top. The central 

 hall for the public, the others for the curators, etc. The 

 walls, of arches upon piers about 15 ft. high, bearing on 

 girders a gallery 5 ft. wide in the public room, and 3 ft. 

 6 in. in the curators'. 



The cases should be larger below, 5 ft. deep, and 

 smaller above, 2 ft. deep, with glass fronts to the public, 

 and doors on the curators' side. 



