936 REPORT—1896. 
feet wide, divided into a nave and two aisles across the breadth, and into bays of 
16 feet along the length. A blocked doorway in each bay would allow of opening 
laterally, into added buildings, for expansion of any section. It should be well 
lighted, about one-fourth of the roof to be of glass. The walls should be low— 
say 10 feet—so that the area of lighting would be near the objects. 
The essence of the scheme is that the site shall be ordinary agricultural or 
wooded land, so that a space far larger than is likely to be wanted can be utilised 
for irregular expansion as any section grows ; while all that is not actually in use 
for galleries will continue to be productive, as before, Thus every possible need 
of the future can be accommodated without incurring more immediate expense 
than is now requisite, and without any loss of interest on capital not utilised. 
For this purpose it would not be unreasonable to secure abont 500 acres, in view 
also of the probable rise in the value of land for building as such an institution 
grew. On this land galleries of 54 feet wide, built in blocks of 100 bays or 1,600 
feet length at once, should be placed at about a furlong apart. This would allow 
of each gallery expanding on either side for about 250 feet of outbuilding. 
Each gallery should have in the middle of its length a policeman’s cottage 
(fire-proof), with its windows looking along the inside of the gallery. 
Srrp.—tThe site should be within about half an hour's journey from London. 
Flat, for view along the galleries. Healthy for residence. Fairly dry, and sandy 
if possible. Wooded, so that belts of trees should occupy the spaces between 
the galleries, and thus reduce the effect of wind and rain. Near a railway ; 
but, for cheapness, far from a station, as the institution would soon claim a 
station for its own use. A siding for goods should be provided. 
Firrines.—No glass cases would he required, except for a few objects that 
needed to be kept dry by lime. There would be little dust in a wooded country, 
without any internal heating, and with air all filtered on passing in. Where glass 
was desirable, large loose sheets could be laid over boxes or shelves ; cost about a 
tenth of the price of the cheapest cases. Thus specimens could be put out of 
reach by having strips screwed down to secure the glass. 
REGISTRATION.—Perhaps a system of photographic registration would be 
cheapest, as it would be worked on large groups of objects, continuously in a fixed 
place and in routine. Such register photographs should he to one of two or three 
definite scales; and they should he sold, thereby helping the cost of the registration. 
Constitution.—A body of Trustees would be supreme. One possible system 
would be for one Trustee to be nominated by each of the following persons :—The 
Principal Librarian of the British Museum, the Director of the Natural History 
Museum, the Director of the South Kensington Museum, the Presidents of the 
British Association, the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries, and the 
Anthropological Institute. Such nominees to hold office for seven years each, 
retiring in rotation, but capable of re-nomination. Active men with snfficient 
time to attend to the work might thus be obtained to represent the various interests 
involved. 
The Keeper should be solely an administrator and organiser, and not a specialist 
in any line. 
Acquisitions.—Any object might be refused by the Keeper, subject to an 
appeal to the Trustees. 
Objects might be deposited by any public body or private person, the legality 
of their removal to the Repository being provided in the constituting Act. 
All objects deposited for over thirty years, without claim and re-deposit, 
should become the property of the Trust. 
Unless depositors make conditions, any duplicates may be lent to any public 
museum by the Keeper, sanctioned by the Trustees. 
No responsibility will attach to the Trustees for the safety or condition of any 
object deposited. 
Presented objects may be kept together in any system required by the donor 
for thirty years. 
Objects found together, or required to illustrate each other, shall be perma- 
nently inseparable. 
