It is not necessary, or even desirable, that this collection should consist of articles of fancy: it ought to be composed of all those fabrics which, although at first rare and costly, have ultimately become objects of habitual consumption by large classes of the community. Another purpose of great importance to which a portion of such a building might be applied, is the construction of convenient theatres for the delivery of lectures, and for the discussion of questions of interest. The want of such buildings in the western part of the metropolis has long been felt, and acts injuriously on the progress of knowledge. In the present state of society, oral statements of the great principles which govern it, illustrated by striking facts drawn with judgment from varied sources, would, if delivered with ability and good taste, attract large audiences. Even science itself might be rendered popular by such means. Yet if any highly gifted person, qualified for such a task, were willing to devote to the subject the time necessary to assure the success of his efforts, he would now be stopped at the very threshold, for he could find no convenient theatre in any part of the west of London, which he could hire for the delivery of such a course of lectures. The only theatre capable of holding 1,000 persons, is that of the Royal Institution in Albemarle Street. Let us suppose the lecturer capable of attracting 1,000 subscribers, each willing to pay a sovereign for a short course of lectures. How would the sum thus raised be divided? He could lecture at that theatre only by the permission of the Managers, who would scarcely pay him more than 100_l._[15] for the course. The 1,000_l._ therefore, which the public would willingly pay for the instruction they received would be thus divided:— To the intellect which charmed them £100 To the rent of the room in which they listened 900 ------ £1,000 ------