GENERAL PROGRESS AT THE MUSEUM. 17 



Not only will the flooring itself be better preserved, bnt 

 there will also be less accumulation of dirt and dust, with 

 resulting benefit to the collections. 



New wall-cases have been fitted in the Third Egyptian 

 Room ; and a partial rearrangement of the Egyptian 

 Antiquities, incorporating important additions recently 

 acquired, is in progress. 



The substitution of new wall-cases in the Asiatic Saloon 

 and the addition of a gallery in the Prehistoric Saloon, in 

 1900, have afforded scope for the rearrangement of the 

 Oriental porcelain and for the display of the prehistoric 

 exhibits on more scientific methods. These works are now 

 being carried out. 



A temporary exhibition of manuscripts, coins, and relics, 

 illustrating the life of Alfred the Great, was on view for 

 some weeks in the autumn. 



Among the most noteworthy acquisitions in the several 

 Departments, the following may be mentioned : — 



Important Egyptian antiquities from very early graves 

 at Abydos have been presented to the Department of 

 Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities by the Egypt Explo- 

 ration Fund ; and the Department has also acquired by 

 purchase numerous other antiquities of the same character. 

 It has also secured a further considerable collection of tablets 

 from Babylonia of a very early period, including documents 

 in the Sumerian as well as in the old Babylonian language. 



To the collections of the Department of British and 

 Mediaeval Antiquities have been added : The very valuable 

 collection of Gaulish antiquities formed by M, Leon Morel ; 

 a series of remains, including bronze ornaments and pottery, 

 from the Ticino valley, presented by Sir John Brunner, 

 Bart., M.P. ; and a remarkable early Christian bowl of glazed 

 potteiy, with other objects, the gift of anonymous donors 

 who desire to be styled " The Friends of the British 

 Museum." 



Among the acquisitions of the Department of Coins and 

 Medals are a fine collection of ancient Gaulish coins, 

 comprising the issues v>f more than sixty different tribes ; 

 and a considerable series of Roman Republican denarii. 



The Department of Printed Books has continued to add to 

 its fine collection of incunabula ; it has also acquired a con- 

 siderable number of valuable English books of the loth, 

 16th, and 17th centuries ; and it has added to the series 

 of early printed music some examples of more than usual 

 importance. 



130. . B 



