1^6 ■ LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, x 



within twenty years the ideal here sketched was to a great 

 extent reaHsed, as any visitor to the Natural History Mu- 

 seum at South Kensington can see for himself. 



The same principles are reiterated in his letter of Janu- 

 ary 25, 1868, to the Commissioners of the Manchester 

 Natural History Society, who had asked his advice as to 

 the erection of a museum. But to the principles he adds a 

 number of most practical suggestions as to the actual struc- 

 ture 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 describ- 

 ing the ideal catalogue for a geological museum. 



Jan. 25, 1868. 

 The Commissioners of the Manchester 

 Natural History Society. 



Scheme for a Museum. 



Objects. — I. The public exhibition of a collection of speci- 

 mens large enough to illustrate all the most important truths 

 of Natural History, but not so extensive as to weary and con- 

 fuse ordinary visitors. 



2. The accessibility of this collection to the public. 



3. The conservation of all specimens not necessary, for the 

 purpose defined in ( i ) 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 4° 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. 



For very large specimens — e.g. a whale — the case could 

 expand into the curators' part without encroaching on the public 

 part, so as to keep the line of windows regular. 



