370 NATURAL SCIENCE. Dec, 



Trustees for Local Museums. 



At the opening of the Epping Forest Local Museum, Sir WiUiam 

 Flower raised the important question of the permanence of such 

 institutions. Remembering how many local museums depend for 

 their success on the efforts and enthusiasm of one or two individuals, 

 whose death or removal is synonymous with the decay of the collection, 

 Sir William asked what guarantee the Essex Field Club could 

 afford that valuable donations to its new museum would always be 

 preserved with the same care that would undoubtedly be bestowed 

 upon them by the first Honorary Curator, Mr. Cole. Unless some 

 guarantee of this kind were forthcoming, he thought that many 

 would-be donors, especially those having archaeological specimens, 

 would hesitate before handing over their treasures to the care of the 

 Club. He did not venture upon any suggestion, and his responsible 

 position as an officer of the British Museum would, perhaps, hardly 

 permit him to refer to any scheme of affiliation of the various local 

 museums with those directly supported by the State. We think,, 

 however, it is high time that some such scheme were seriously con- 

 sidered. A bequest made many years ago to the Bristol Museum 

 was accepted by the Trustees of the British Museum as a reversion, 

 in case at any time the former institution should collapse or fall into 

 destructive neglect ; and when the Bristol Corporation lately under- 

 took the control of this museum, it was necessary first to convince 

 the Trustees of the British Museum of the perfection of their 

 arrangements, before the transfer of the property could be effected. 

 It is too much to expect that the already overburdened body of 

 eminent men just mentioned should undertake similar responsibilities 

 throughout the kingdom ; but we see no reason why a State Com- 

 mission should not be appointed to work in conjunction with the 

 Science and Art Department, the Trustees of the British Museum,, 

 and those of the National Gallery, to maintain a general oversight 

 over all local collections and bequests entrusted to their care. The 

 Commission might be constituted much on the same lines as that 

 dealing with the preservation of ancient monuments. As in the case 

 of the latter, the recognition of the Trusteeship of the State Com 

 mission should be an entirely voluntary matter ; but donors would 

 soon begin to favour those museums where such a guarantee for the 

 safe custody of their specimens existed. 



We could mention many lamentable instances in which a con- 

 trolling organisation of the kind suggested miglit operate with advan- 

 tage to the devotees of natural science. It would be difficult, 

 however, to find a more striking illustration than that afforded by the 

 Moore Collection of Fossils at Bath. No geologist can visit the Bath 

 Literary and Philosophical Institution without feeling deep and just 

 indignation. The specimens are nominally under the care of an 

 accomplished honorary curator of wide experience, universally 

 respected by his fellow geologists ; practically, his advice is set aside. 



