THE NEW READING-ROOM OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, 25 November 1857, Page 3

THE NEW READING-ROOM OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

[From the Gardeners 1 Chronicle.]

The new Reading-room of our National Museum and Library is a circular building erected, at the suggestion of Mr. Panizzi, in the inner quadrangle of the Museum. It does not occupy the entire quadrangle, a clear interval of from 27 to 50 feat being left all round,

to give light and air to the surrounding buildings, and to guard against possible destruction by fire from the outer parts of the Museum. The dome is 140 feet in diameter, and its height 106" feet. In this dimension of diameter it is only inferior to the Pantheon of Rome by 2 feet; St. Peter's being only 139; St. Maria in Florence, 139; St. Paul's 112; and St. Sophia, Constantinople, 107. The building is constructed principally of iron, with brick arches between the main ribs, supported by 20 iron piers. Upwards of 2,000 tons of iron have been used in the construction. The weight of the materials used in the dome is about 4,200 tons — being upwards of 200 tons on each pier. The roof is formed into two separate spherical and concentric air chambers, extending over the whole surface ; one between the external covering and brick vaulting, the object being the equalization of temperature during extremes of heat and cold out of doors ; the other chamber, between the brick vaulting and the internal visible surface, being intended j to carry off the vitiated air from the Readingroom. This ventilation is effected through apertures in the soffits of the windows, and partly by others at the top of the dome ; the bad air passing through outlets provided around the lantern. In order to obviate the effects of condensation, all the skylights, lanterns, and windows throughout the building are double. The quantity of glass used amounts to about 60,000 superficial feet. The decoration of the interior is an exception to the monotonous and dingy shadows usually adopted in this country. Light colours and the purest gilding have been preferred, so that the building, notwithstanding its circular shape, has an illuminated and elegant aspect. Thi3 vast Reading-room contains accommodation for 300 readers. Each person will have a separate table, 4 feet 3 inchee long, screened from the opposite occupant by a longitudinal division, which is fitted with a hinged desk graduated on sloping racks, and a folding shelf for spare books. In the space between the two, which is recessed, an inkstand is fixed, having suitable penholders. Thus the whole table is free from writing implements or other embarassments, and every precaution is taken to preserve the books if the readers use but common care. The framework of each table is of iron, forming air-distributing channels, which are contrived so that the air may be delivered at the top of the longitudinal screen division, above the level of the heads of the readers, or, if desired, only at each end pedestal of the tables, all the outlets being under the control of valves. A tubular footrail also passes from end to end of each table, which may have a current of warm water passed through it at pleasure, and be used as a footwarmer if desired. The Catalogue tables, with shelves under, and air-dis-tributing tubes between, are ranged in two concentric circles around the central superintendent's enclosure or rostrum, the latter being fitted with tables, ticket-boxes, and with dwarf partitions surmounted by glass screens, dividing a passage leading to the surrounding libraries. The pedestals of the tables form tubes communicating with the air-chamber below, which | is 6 feet high and occupies the whole area of the Reading-room. It is fitted with hot-water pipes, arranged in radiating lines. The supply of fresh air is obtained from a shaft 60 feet j high, built on the north side of the north wing above 300 feet distant, communicating with a tunnel or sub-way, which has branches or " loop lines " fitted with valves for diverting the current either wholly through the heating apparatus, or through the cold-air flues, or partly through either, as occasion may require. The air channels are of a sufficient capacity to admit a supply of fresh air for 500 persons at the rate of 10 cubic feet per minute, and at a velocity not exceeding I*o foot per second. For summer ventilation steam pipes, placed at the summit of the roofs and dome, will be heated, and extract the foul air when the external and internal temperature is unfavourable for the purpose. The present number of volumes in the Museum is upwards of half a million, exclusive of the separate tracts, pamphlets, and manuscripts, which are not yet catalogued or computed. It is calculated that the inner library shelves in galleries within the Dome-room will contain 80,000 volumes. Two lifts are placed at convenient stations for the purpose of raising the books to the level of the gallery doors. The bookcases are of novel and simple construction, the uprights or standards being formed of malleable iron galvanized and framed together, having hard wood inserted between the iron to receive the brass pins upon which the shelves rest. The shelves are formed of iron galvanized plates, edged with wainscot and covered with russet hide leather, and having a book-fall attached. They are fitted at each end with galvanized iron leather covered, and wadded pads placed next the skeleton bookcase framing, to prevent injury to the binding when the books are taken out or replaced. Throughout the interior of the Dome-room, except against the external walls, the book-cases are double, the books being placed back to back, a lattice of iron work being fixed for their longitudinal separation. The only exception is in the case of newspapers, a single range of which necessarily occupies the spaces of two ranges of books, 3,000 superficial feet of cases being provided for newspapers. For convenience of access to the galleries, the staircases have been placed so that, throughout the building, they are within 40 feet of each other. The building contains three miles lineal of book-cuses, and which in all the cases are 8 feet high ; assuming them all to be spaced for the averaged octavo book size, the entire ranges form 25 miles of shelves. Assuming the shelves to be filled with books, of paper of average thickness, the leaves placed edge to edge would extend about 25,000 miles, or more than three times the diameter of the globe ! The cost of the building will be about i £ 150,000, including the fittings and furniture, aud the necessary shelves for the working of the existing library establishment. The amalgamation of the several catalogues, which are drawn up on various plans, with one catalogue prepared on a uniform plan, is proceeding rapidly. Letters A, B, C, D, E, F constitute about one-third of the entire catalogue, which will be comprised in 500 volumes. This portion completed will be placed in the new Reading-room on its opening. The main entrance into the new Reading-room is direct from the Great Hall, and there are secondary

entrances from the King's Library and the Great Northern Library rooma.

Crinoline in Rhyme. — A lady with a crinoline was walking down a street her feathers fluttered in the air, her hoops stuck out some feet. She walked the earth as if she felt of it she was no part and proudly did she step along, for pride was in her heart. She did not see a curly dog which walked close by her side all save the curly tail of which her crinoline did hide. His tail the dog with pleasure shook, it fluttered in the wind and from the lady's crinoline 3tuck out a foot behind. A crowd the tail did soon espy, as it waved to and fro and like a rudder seemed to point the way the maid must go. The curly dog right pleased was he the quarters he had got and walked beside the lady in a kind of doggish trot; Each step the lady now did take served to increase her train while those who followed in her wake roared out with might and main. Some held their sides, they laughed so hard, and others fairly cried while many even still confess that they'd "like to have died." But still the lady sailed along in crinoline and pride unmindful of the crowd behind or dog close by her side. But soon another dog espied the tail which fluttered free it so provoked his doggish ire he could not let it be. But with a deep ferocious growl for battle straight lie went and 'neath the lady's crinoline both dogs were quickly pent. They fought 'tis said one hour or more, the lady nothing knew but with her head erect sailed on, and did her way pursue. Some say she never would have known at all about the fight had not one dog mistook and gave her " limb " an awful bite. But since that day, 1 heard it said, that lady ne'er was seen upon the street with so much pride and such a crinoline.

The well-known author of " London Labour and the London Poor," and the "Great "World of London," recently gave a lecture on " The Oddities of London Street Life." It commenced with a graphic description of a Lor> don market on a Saturday night. The audience were then introduced to some of the characters of the London streets. First, to the Punch and Judy man, who told the story of his life, and disclosed many facts relative to the singular profession by which he is enabled to exist. He did not appear particularly attached to his line of life ; but when asked why those who followed it so seldom gave it up in favour of more congenial employments, he said, " Punch and Judy's a trade what you can't get out of very easy. People fancies you knows too much [a laugh]. Besides, the boys would recognise you behind the counter if you wos in a shop, and would holler out, ' Why, there's Punch and Judy sarving out the customers" [laughter]. He described Punch and Judy as a dramatic performance in two acts. It wasn't a tragedy or a comedy j but they called it " a drammer." It could be varied to suit the tastes of audiences. Some families would have it all sentiment. " They won't," said the man, "have no ghost, no coffin, nor no devil, and that's what I call spilin' the performance altogether" [laughter]. He stated that Porsini was the first and Pike the second street-performer. " Their names,'* he added, "is handed down to prosperity. They both died in the workhouse, and in course I shall do the same " [laughter]. Formerly the business was very profitable ; the men would earn as much as £5 per week, all the year through, and sometimes as much as £2 10s. a day ; but now, owing to the march of intellect, the men often show twenty times a day without taking enough to live on. A good day seldom yields more than 55., to be divided between the two men. They take on an average 3d. a show. But the performances are of various lengths. " One kind," said the man, "is what we calls short show ; we gets the ha'pence and we hooks it" [laughter]. There are, however, what they call "long pitches," frequently at the corners of the streets, "and then we takes Is. on the average, and more if it's to be got. We never turns away nothin"' [laughter]. It appeared that wet days were the most profitable, when there was a good steady Scotch mist falling ; but not when it rains cats and dogs. On wet days, when the children cannot get out, parents will often order the show to be exhibited before the windoAv for their amusement, and that pays. Some neighbourhoods are much better than others. The city will not answer at all, nor will those parts where there are many chapels. " I did once, though," said the man, " start opposition to a street preacher in the New Road, and it took uncommon well to be sure ; but Punch and preaching is two opposite creeds" [a laugh]. Some inquiry as to the kind of audiences who best supported the drama elicited the reply, that boys always abounded and got the best places, " but then they've got no mouey, cuss 'em, and wot's wuss they'd foller us for miles. Soldiers we don't like ; they aint got no money neither, not even so much as pockets. Nusses aint no good." He added that there were as many as sixteen Punch and Judy frames throughout England ; of these eight were at work in London, and the rest in the country. The men are all acquainted with each other, and a constant communication is kept up between them. — Mr. Henry Mayhem on " oddities of London Street life."

Surveying for a Railway in the Dark. — At one point the vigilance of the landowners and their servants was such that the surveyors were effectually preveuted making the surveys by the light of day ; and it was only at length accomplished at night, by means of dark lanthorns. M. Lecount mentions another instance of a clergyman, who made such alarming demonstrations of his opposition, that the extraordinary expedient was resorted to of surveying his property during the time he was engaged in the pulpit. This was accomplished by having a strong force of surveyors in readiness to commence their operations, and entering the clergyman's grounds on one side at the same moment that they saw him fairly off them on the other ; by a well-organized and systematic arrangement, each man concluded his allotted task just as the reverend gentleman concluded his sermon ; so that, before he left the church, the deed was done, and the siuners had all decamped. — Smiles* s Life of Gcorye Slephenson.