[Robert Willis et al.], ‘Report to the Syndicate for Museums and Lecture Rooms, University of Cambridge’, 31 December 1853

The annual Program published under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor, shews that the majority of the Professors deliver their Lectures in places not originally intended for that purpose, and that the actual number of real Lecture-Rooms is exceedingly small. The teaching of Astronomy, the Mechanical and Physical Sciences and their practical applications, and Chemistry, is divided amongst the Lucasian, Chemical, Plumian, Lowndean, and Jacksonian Professors. It appears from the evidence of the Anatomical Professor’, that the buildings appropriated to his subject require considerable additions, for the purpose of separating Human Anatomy from Comparative Anatomy, and for the accommodation of the new Professor, required by the increased work added by the establishment of the Natural Sciences Tripos. The selection of the site for the Building in the Botanic Garden must be made with care, so as to interfere as little as possible with the employment of the remaining ground, and on this point the opinion of the Architect must be taken.