The British Museum Explained and Illustrated. [ 



CHAPTER III. THK NEW QUADRANGLE AND THE 



nnST ROOM. 



The necessary alterations that have from time to ' 

 time been made in the IMuseum, have also forced upon ' 

 the trustees the necessity of improvins: the exterior, and j 

 for the better attainment of this object, a new entrance ' 

 and more noble quadrangle has been constructed and 

 nearly completed, at the back of the one now standing 

 of wliicli we liave previously given an illustration. The 

 unfinished state in which it at present remains, through 

 the parsimony of the late government in withholding the 

 funds, renders any attempt at graphic or particular des- 

 cription impossible ; but as doubtless some years will 

 still elapse before the public are honoui-ed witli a view 

 of it, this is tho less necessary. ' When sufficient money 

 is fortlicoming to enable those who are employed to 

 •oceed with the works, the old entrance will be re- 



moved, and this appear in its stead, tlie annexed wood- 

 cut giving a very faithful depiction of the new (|uad- 

 rangle as far as it lias yet been finished. The edifice 

 was originally projected from the designs of IMr. R. 

 Smirke, and savours chiefly of the Ionic order. The 

 facade is ornamented in the centre with a pedimented 

 ])ortieo of six columns, and has a single line of s(]uare 

 windows with pilasters between those on either side of 

 the portico. The exterior of the west wing is also de- 

 corated with a portico, but has no pilasters ; and the 

 east wing, as far as it has lieen completed, presents a 

 corresponding appearance. At the north-east and north- 

 west angles are spacious stone staircases, which appear 

 severally intended to serve as separate places of ingress 

 and egress, a plan whicli, however it may detract from 

 the majestic aspect of the building, will certainly 

 materially increase the comfort of tlie visitors, inasmuch 

 as no confusion amongst them can tlien possibly arise. 



