286 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
people; but the obelisk in question lies in dishonour among low 
huts in the outskirts of Alexandria, and might well be spared to 
ornament one of our capital cities. In a conversation with Mr 
David Laing, the well-known antiquary, about it, he suggested 
the open space in front of the British Museum as the most appro- 
priate for it. Still, it might not be sufficiently seen there' — further 
west might be better, or in our Charlotte Square. 
I corresponded with Mr Newton, the keeper of antiquities, British 
Museum, about the obelisk, and he writes — “ It seems to me that 
if, by public subscription, a sufficient sum could be raised to trans- 
port this obelisk to England, it would be a just matter of national 
satisfaction ; but you will understand that, while this may be a 
case fully justifying an appeal to the public for a subscription, it 
may not be one sufficiently strong to justify the trustees and officers 
of the British Museum in moving in the matter officially, because 
we have to make so many applications to the Treasury for grants 
for excavations, &c.” 
I communicated with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navi- 
gation Company regarding the means of transporting the obelisk, 
and the secretary for the managing directors states — “ We would 
beg to suggest that the matter should be referred by you to the 
Foreign Office, whose agents have made all the necessary calcula- 
tions on the subject, and without whose permission nothing could 
be done.” 
The Foreign Office was accordingly communicated with, and an 
answer was returned that the matter is now under the consideration 
of Lord Stanley. 
The eminent civil engineer, Professor Macquorn Bankine, was 
asked what he thought of the means of transporting the obelisk, 
and he said — “ I regret I cannot form any opinion whatsoever as to 
the best way of transporting the obelisk without having detailed 
information which, I believe, I could not obtain except by visiting 
the spot where it lies. The subject is undoubtedly one of very 
great interest, and I should very much like to be present when it 
is discussed.” 
In the Koyal United Service Institution, London, I found thir- 
teen large plans, carefully drawn, illustrating how, by means of 
inclined planes, a flat-bottomed vessel, machinery for raising the 
