PRESENT STATE OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 24:9 



the public fpirit of individuals, would fliortly Supply us with 

 the ehoiceft fpecimens from every quarter of the globe ; and 

 at this very moment thoufands of valuable fpecimens are 

 rotting in obfcurity, for want of a national Mufeum to receive 

 them. 



The arrangement of this eftabliflimcnt requires confiderable Arrangement of 

 knowledge and ability; it would therefore be the higheft pre- the colleaion - 

 fumpiion in me to attempt to dictate on the fubject. I fliould Five clafles. 

 conceive, however, that the whole collection might be advan- A " ima >5 ve &~ 



& tables j minerals; 



tageoufly feparated into five dalles. The firft might compre- curiofities ; ob- 

 hend the animal, the fecond the vegetable, and the third the J e£ls of "'• 

 mineral kingdom ; the fourth might comprehend objects of 

 pure curiofity, and fuch as were illuftrative of the ftate of 

 fociety, of arts, and of manufactures of various nations ; the 

 fifth might comprife fuch objects as tended to the improve- 

 ment of, or were limply illuftrative of the arts, feiences, and 

 manufactures of our own country. 



In the arrangement pf the objects of natural hiftory, I would Natural hiftory. 

 fuggeft that the mod extenfive fcale mould be aflumed, and that Sub i eas * 

 fpaces mould be left for the infertion of fuch objects as were 

 wanting, and were likely to be procured : the places of thefe 

 objects fliould be fupplied by accurate drawings or models, if 

 pouible. To each object might be attached its proper name, 

 both in Latin and in Englifli ; and a defcriptive catalogue of Catalogue 

 the Mufeum fhould be printed, which might at the fame time 

 ferveasan introduction to the ftudy of each clafs. 



The donations of public fpirited individuals fhould be foli- Donations, 

 cited for this eftabliftiment, as for the library ; and the names 

 of the donors fhould be regularly inferted in the public prints. 

 The committee fliould alfo be empowered to difpofe of fuch 

 duplicate fpecimens as might be fent, by public auction. 



A laboratory for the preparation of objects of natural hiftory Laboratory, 

 fliould be annexed to the eftabliftiment ; and the committee 

 might be directed to offer premiums for improvements in the 

 art of preparing and preferving thefe objects. The committee 

 might alfo be enjoined to publifh concife directions for travel- 

 lers, for collecting, preferving, and tranfporting the different 

 objects they might meet with ; copies of this work fliould be 

 given to all who might requeft them. 



I am inclined to think that if this eftabliftiment was conducted Confluences of 

 >n an extenftve and a liberal fcale, it would fliortly comprife £ lch a " e * ten T 



molt 



