12 



ACCOUJNTTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



average numbers in the room counted at certain hours of the 

 afternoon have been : — 



4 P.M. 

 349 



5 P.M. 



257 



6 P.M. 



182 



6.30 P.M. 

 118 



7 P.M. 



129 



7.30 P.M. 

 95 



The number of volumes supplied to readers was 1,269,720, 

 as against 1,226,126 in 1890. 



The fluctuation in the numbers of the students in other 

 Departments is slight, except in the case of those working in 

 the Galleries of Sculpture. The number of these students 

 has fallen from 11,686 in 1890 to 6,625 in the past year. This 

 reduction, however, is to be ascribed to the adoption by the 

 Royal Academy of Arts of more restrictive regulations for 

 persons seeking to be admitted as Art Students. 



Presentations of Museum publications, including reproduc- 

 tions of drawings by Old Masters and casts of antique engraved 

 gems have been made to Free Public Libraries, Local 

 Museums, and Art Schools throughout the United Kingdom. 



The following 

 Museum : — 



are among the principal donations to the 



From the Egypt Exploration Fund, sculptured blocks from 

 Bubastis, and a perfect monolithic column and other antiqui- 

 ties from Heracleopolis, in Egypt. 



From the Cyprus Exploration Fund, various antiquities 

 from Cyprus. 



From Robert Chignell, Esq., a British gold tore, found at 

 Dover. 



From Seiiorita Llanos Keats, a collection of letters of the 

 poet Keats to his sister, 1817-1820. 



From Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes, autograph works of George 

 Eliot. 



From Mrs. Elizabeth Cruikshank (by bequest), a large col- 

 lection of etchings and drawings by George Cruikshank. 



From Lady Charlotte Schreiber, a collection of historical fans. 



From Thomas Keay Tapling, Esq., m.p. (by bequest), a very 

 extensive collection of postage-stamps, envelopes, and postal 

 forms, of all nations ; together with the sum of 1,000 1, to 

 defray the cost of their arrangement. 



The following are the publications issued by the Depart- 

 ments at Bloomsbury during the year, viz. : — 



Continuation of the General Catalogue of the Library, 

 folio, 23 parts, viz. : — Ireland : Leval-Licska ; Lictardus-Linde- 

 mayr; Linden-Liturgical; Liturgisches Archiv-Locke ; Lockel- 



vitz-Londolianus ; 



