14 



ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



VIII. — General Progress at the MuseUxM, Bloomsbury 



For some time negotiations have been in progress for the 

 purchase by the Trustees of the British Museum from His 

 Grace the Duke of Bedford of the houses and gardens 

 immediately contiguous to the Museum premises on the east, 

 north, west, and south-west. The houses number sixty-nine, 

 and the ground measures five and a-half acres. A bill for 

 the purchase for the sum of 200,000L passed through Parlia- 

 ment and received the Royal Assent in the last Session. The 

 purchase will be completed forthwith. 



There has been a satisfactory increase in the number of 

 visitors to the Museum in the past year, the total being 

 578,977, which exceeds the number of visitors in any of the 

 preceding five years. This increase is chiefly due to day 

 visitors ; but, at the same time, the number of evening 

 visitors, though much below the average, has slightly 

 recovered during the year. 



The conversion of the old Coin and Medal Room into a 

 room for the exhibition of Gold Ornaments and Engraved 

 Gems has been completed, and the transfer and re-arrange- 

 ment of these collections has been commenced. 



A selection from the collection of drawings and engravings 

 by Old Masters, which was deposited with the Trustees of the 

 British Museum by the heirs and executors of the late John 

 Malcolm, Esq., of Poltalloch, has been exhibited, side by side 

 with examples from the Museum collection, in the Depart- 

 ment of Prints and Drawings. 



Progress has been made in extending and improving the 

 labelling of the exhibits in the several Departments of the 

 Museum. 



The number of persons using the Reading Room during 

 the year 1894 is the highest on record, the total number of 

 visits having been 202,973, a daily average of 670. 



The average numbers of persons in the room counted at 

 certain hours in the afternoon have been : — 



4 P.M. 



5 P.M. 



6 P.M. 



6.30 P.M. 



7 P.M. 



7.30 P.M. 



363 



283 



186 



126 



141 



96 



The number of volumes supplied to readers was 1,470,191, 

 J against 1,402,815 in 1893. 



There 



