Durham University Museum. 331 



for them, rich as the neighbourhood abounds in botanical spe- 

 cimens. There are other scientific persons who delight in the 

 study of botany, which is a healthful and beautiful study, 

 leading to the contemplation of Nature's works in the most 

 lovely forms, in the fields, the woods, and mountains. Again, 

 the important subjects of mineralogy and geology. We have 

 no receptacle for mineralogical specimens. In the increasing 

 traffic of the country, it is of the highest importance we should 

 have a proper knowledge of the minerals of the county. The 

 commercial prosperity of the county depends so much on its 

 minerals, it is quite time we had a receptacle for the registra- 

 tion of local information. The doctor then read an extract 

 from Cuvier, speaking of the importance of the study of mi- 

 neralogy in showing the formation of organic beings. He 

 then proceeded to speak of fossil remains, the relics of an ante- 

 diluvian world; a splendid department of natural history 

 opened for our information ; tracing in those remains the same 

 design and mechanism which exists in our day. Herculaneum 

 and Pompeii are explored for any relic to teach us the arts 

 and customs of an ancient people ; old deeds and records are 

 pored over to give us the manners and habits of our ancestors ; 

 but, when we find fossil remains of animated beings, which ex- 

 isted before the deluge, imagination dwelling on the past is 

 surpassed by the realities of nature, and we arise from our 

 studies thankful for the blessings of the beautiful world we en- 

 joy. Let us, then, have a museum to contain these specimens, 

 and to encourage and promote the science. So far as the 

 plans are formed at present, it is intended to have monthly 

 meetings for the reading of essays on English as well as foreign 

 natural history, and the occasional giving of lectures. It is 

 intended to make the society as generally useful as possible ; 

 a place where scientific men can meet to receive and impart 

 knowledge; become more known to each other, and assist each 

 other ; where men of varied capacities can have scientific in- 

 tercourse, cultivating good understanding and kindly feel- 

 ings. It will have another advantage : in this scientific 

 institution differences in religious opinion will not be known, or 

 spoken of: the heated breath of political controversy will have 

 no resting place in this temple of science ; and at the close of 

 a harassing day's occupation, here will be repose, with no 

 rivalry, but in the advancement of science and scientific pur- 

 suits." {The Nottingham Journal, April 8. 1836.) 



Durham University Museum of Subjects of Natural History. 

 — The museum of the Durham University was established in 

 the beginning of 1835, when a large and well-preserved coL- 



b b 2 



