>856-8i 
THE COST 
49 
^fous, and ill-lit building, with its three-domed 
skylights, which preceded it, had led to the con- 
•^lusion that the light best fitted for a museum was 
’^hat in which most would be reflected from the 
'objects and least directly strike upon the eye ; 
^nd this was found to be effected by admittance 
the light at the angle between the wall and roof, 
^ut this pi an of illumination is possible only in 
galleries of one storey, or the topmost in a many- 
storied edifice. 
‘ Sir Henry A. Hunt then wrote me a letter 
Conveying his conclusions respecting the plan of 
building discussed with him : — 
“4 Parliament .Street : September 25, 1862. 
‘ “ My dear Sir, — I return you the drawings of 
’■be proposed Museum of Natural History at South 
Kensington. In May last I told Mr. Gladstone 
’•bat the probable cost of covering five acres with 
suitable buildings would be about 500,000/., or 
’00,000/ per acre. 
‘ “ The plan proposed by you will occupy about 
four acres, and will cost about 350,000/, or nearly 
90,000/ per acre. 
‘ “ Having prepared sketches showing the 
Scheme suggested by you, I have been able to 
^irive more nearly at the probable cost than I had 
’be means of doing in May last. But, after all, 
’be difference is not great ; although the present 
estimate is a more reliable one than the other. It 
VOL. II. 
E 
