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specimens, samples, and exhibits of the commercial products likely to be specially valuable in particular localities. There should also be an organization to connect the Imperial Institute with the provincial centres, by lectures, conferences, the circulation of specimens, and other means. It is hoped that the Institute may lead to the organization of high Schools of Commerce, such as are now established in the chief commercial towns of most continental countries, but which have as yet, unfortunately, no existence in the United Kingdom. (6.) The building will also advantageously afford accommodation for (a) comparing and examining samples by the resources of modern science, and (&) the examination of artisans under the various schemes already existing for the promotion of technical education. Space should also be provided for occasional exhibitions of separate industries, or of the special industries carried on in great provincial centres ; for example, there might at one time be an exhibition of iron manufactures, at another of pottery, at another of textile fabrics, &c, which would tend to stimulate improvement in the different departments of industrial life. This object might be assisted by separate exhibitions of the handiwork of artisans. The committee, having detailed the general nature of their suggestions under these heads, desire to add that they do not anticipate the exhibits in the collections remaining unchanged. They contemplate that as improvements are made from time to time, the later and better results would displace those out of date. They have had to consider how the space should be distributed between the United Kingdom on the one hand and the colonies and India on the other, and they recommend that whatever portion of the buildings is not required for purposes manifestly common to both should be allotted to the two sections fairly in equal parts. C.—Government of Institute. The committee recommend that a new body, entirely independent of any existing organization, should be created for the government of the Institute. This body should be thoroughly representative of the great commercial and industrial interests of the Empire. The colonies and India should have a fair share in the government of the Institute, and each colony should have special charge of its own particular department, subject of course to the general management of the entire institution. The method of carrying this out would be prescribed by the charter after full consideration by Her Majesty in Council. D.—Site. The committee being fully conscious of the advantage of a central position for the Institute, have considered the various possible sites, and have, as far as has been within their power, obtained estimates of their cost. To carry out the several objects which the committee have indicated, a large space is necessary. The committee have been unable to find any such suitable site in the central parts of London, except at a cost which, looking at the probable amount of subscriptions, would, after the purchase of the ground, leave a sum wholly inadequate for the erection and maintenance of the buildings, and for carrying out the objects of the Institute. The site of about five acres recently secured for the new Admiralty and War Offices is valued at £820,000, or rather over £160,000 per acre; that now vacant in Charles Street, opposite the India Office, is less than an acre, and would cost at least £125,000 ; probably another acre might be secured by private contract, so that the value of a limited site in this position would not be less than £250,000. It lias been suggested that a single acre not far from Charing Cross might bo obtained for £224,000. Two and a half acres on the Thames Embankment have been offered for £400,000; and it is stated that six acres may be procured from Christ's Hospital at £600,000. Another good central position has been suggested consisting of two and a half acres, which has been valued at £668,000. It is, of course, probable that these sites might be obtp.ined at somewhat less than the prices asked; but, allowing for this, it is obvious that the purchase of any adequate area would involve the expenditure of a quarter to half a million. The committee have therefore been forced to abandon the hope of obtaining a central site within the limits allowed by any probable subscription. The attention of the committee was then drawn to the property at South Kensington belonging to the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851. This property was bought out of the profits of that Exhibition with the express object of offering sites for any large public buildings which might be required for the promotion of science and art. Under these circumstances, the committee submit to your Eoyal Highness that the Imperial Institute may well establish a claim for the grant of a site of sufficient magnitude of property bought and reserved for public institutions of this character. Though sensible of the objections that may be urged against the situation at South Kensington the committee think that the advantage must be obvious of obtaining a sufficient site virtually free of cost, so that the whole of the subscriptions may be devoted to providing a building for and establishing and maintaining the Institute. The committee, whilst guided in the recommendation of a site by the considerations they have indicated, think it right to add that there are some incidental advantages connected with that at South Kensington. In that locality are combined the City and Guilds Technical College, the Eoyal College of Music, and the Government Museums and Schools of Science and Art which ought to be in immediate proximity to an Imperial Institute of the character which we have described. The technical character of the collections and exhibitions of the Imperial Institute has a natural connection with collections of science and art in the Government museums. E.—General Observations. An Imperial Institute for the United Kingdom, the colonies, and India would fail in its chief object if it did not constantly keep in view that it ought to be a centre for diffusing and extending knowledge in relation to the industrial resources~and commerce of the Empire. The necessity for technical education is now fully appreciated, because the competition of industry has become in a great measure a competition of trained intelligence. The committee, hcwever, do not recommend