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The Birmingham Aquarium.

to the table tanks, the central transept for a similar purpose, and at the end will be the large Concert or Lecture Room, surrounded by galleries, and capable of holding 1,000 persons. The block of the present building facing New Street will be retained, and converted into a large Restaurant on the first floor, 70 feet long; and the kitchens will be at the top of the building, according to the most approved modern arrangement. Large shops and sets of retiring rooms will be arranged on each side of the New Street entrance; and means of exit in the rear into Worcester Street will be provided for the Aquarium and Concert Room. Mr. J. A. Chatwin, F.R.I.B.A., is the Architect, and the writer is the Engineer. The company have got possession of the site, and the building will be commenced at once.



The Rev. Andrew Bloxam: A Memoir.


By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley. M.A.. F.L.S.. Etc.


There is, perhaps, no country in which so much good work in Natural Science is done in a quiet and unpretending way as in our own. Many persons, scattered up and down the country, are making valuable observations, which are recorded by themselves or others, from time to time, without taking any prominent position in the scientific world. Such was the subject of the present notice, who, whether from modesty or the cares of tuition, did net take a place as a leading Naturalist, though ho might well have done so from the good work he performed, and the numerous reports on various matters which he furnished to journals of more or less importance, though he has not left any great volume behind him to bear witness to his talents. The Rev. Andrew Bloxam, late Incumbent of Twycross, Leicestershire, and, at the time of his death, on February 2nd, 1878, lector of Great Harborough, was the fourth son of the Rev. Richard Rouse Bloxam, D.D., one of the Masters of Rugby. He was born at Rugby, on the 22nd of September, 1801, and was consequently in his 77th year at the time of his death. He entered at Rugby School in the year 1800, leaving for Worcester College, Oxford, in 1820, of which he ultimately became a Fellow. His father had a great taste for archæology, inherited from his relative Mr. Rowland Rouse, of Market Harborough, a taste which descended to his son Matthew Holbeche, the excellent author of "The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture." and other valuable antiquarian works. The author of this notice recollects, when a schoolboy, procuring for the father a drawing of the curious monument to the Loringe family in Oundle Church. Mr. Bloxam's mother was sister of the celebrated artist Sir Thomas Lawrence, and Mr. Purton, of Alcester, the author of "The Midland Flora," his uncle by marriage, so that there was talent and taste on all sides, and it would have been strange if, with these advantages, he had not inherited some good qualities. There were, moreover, circumstances which were highly in his favour. It has been