337 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
A ROYAL COMMISSION ON MUSEUMS. 
In The Nineteenth Century for October, Lord Sndeley, 
who has the welfare of museums so much at heart, has a paper 
on the need for ‘ A Royal Commission on Museums,’ which 
should have the approval of every one interested. He 
writes : — ‘ On several occasions in recent years I have 
endeavoured to formulate some considerations on the public 
utility of museums. I am anxious now to urge that inquiry 
should be made by a Royal Commission to ascertain how far 
this great national asset is being utilised to the best public 
advantage. The value of the contents of our museums and 
picture galleries is estimated by competent authorities at no 
less a sum than eighty millions sterling. We spend on their 
annual maintenance rather more than three-quarters of a 
million ; and it is freely stated that the nation receives 
neither an adequate return for this great expenditure, nor is 
able under the present system to enjoy its property and to 
learn the place of it in the history of mankind.’ 
VISITORS. 
‘ The latest returns show that the museums and galleries 
in this country are visited annually by betw^eb^B 4 n^aa 4 . ten 
million persons. It is believed that if 
treasure-houses were more fully develo^fg^Tf the attact . 
of these stores of wonder and beauty were made more widely'? \ 
known, the number of those who enjoy pfem wouk| by (Jgpa^ed ^v| 
and trebled. But it has been strangely difficult fo arou^e 4 he 
Government to a sense of the educatmna^vpotentialities of 
these collections. Four years ago it even 
to expose them to dreadful danger. The mt^or^^of-^tlie 
public is short ; but it is not yet forgotten that in 1918 Ministers 
actually proposed to use the British Museum as offices for the 
Air Ministry, and thus to make its irreplaceable treasures 
and the great national library a certain mark for any hostile 
air raid. It is true that this dangerous proposal was made in 
war-time, when it was held that everything must give way to 
national emergency. Happily, even amid the manifold 
preoccupations of war the voice of the country made itself 
heard against so reckless a project ; but it was not until the 
matter was brought before Parliament in the House of Lords 
that the proposal was withdrawn. The mere fact, however, 
that it was made shows how little appreciation the authorities 
have of what ought to be regarded as one of the most important 
educational agencies of this country.’ 
1922 Nov. 1 
Y 
