22 AUGUST 1868, Page 3

Dr. Hooker took occasion during his lecture to condemn the

way in which local museums are built and located. They are usually ordinary houses, imperfectly lighted, huddled away in dirty streets, and filled with the dust which destroys collections. They .ought to be circular buildings, with cases radiating from the windows to the lighted centre, the upper rooms to be reached as in the Kew palm-houses, by light iron staircases. The best site is a large open space, well grassed, and planted with trees, vegetation being the greatest obstacle to the collection of dust. We may aid to this, that wherever there is room, as there is in Norwich, if the citizens like to utilize the environs, a Crystal Palace, smaller but solider than the one at Sydenham, would make an almost perfect museum, and be cheap too.