^9 



"No existing lights would be interfered vvitli, 

 ** as the new' buildings would be about 11.5 feet to 

 " the north of the present buildings : thus leaving 

 "a clear interval equal to about the width of 

 " Portland Place. 



** I beo^ leave to add that, should it be deemed 

 "inexpedient to undertake the whole of this plan, 

 " it would admit of being readily divided : one por- 



tion being carried out now, and the remainder 

 " at some future time. 



By such apian 15,000 feet superficial would 

 " be obtained (exclusive of the basement story) at 

 " a cost of about £40,000, including the purchase 

 **of four houses. 



"9th Nov. 1857. Sydney Smirke." 



Some years ago one of the Trustees suggested 

 to his colleagues that the block of houses opposite 

 the Museum on the south side of Great Russell 

 Street, extending back to Little Russell Street, 

 and bounded on the east by Bury Street, and on 

 the west by Museum Street, should be pur- 

 chased, a special building erected thereon for 

 some one of the large departments of the Mu- 

 seum, with a facade in keeping with the present 

 building, and which would in turn be advanta- 

 geously placed with the present Museum quad- 

 rangle opposite to it. The inconvenience of 

 having the Museum cut into two by a broad 

 street passing between the two buildings, the 



