212 BRITISH MUSEUM. 



quiry respecting their special competence is surely not impertinent ; 

 and, at any rate, a regular attendance on their duties is quite indis. 

 pensable. That the visits of the Trustees have not been regular, 

 nay, have been scandalously irregular, may directly be proved ; for 

 out of sixty-three committee meetings of Trustees, held during the 

 years 1832-3-4, five did not attend at all, five others attended fewer 

 thanjive meetings, nine attended" less than ten times, and seven less 

 than twenty times. Lord Farnborough attended fifty-five meetings, 

 the bishop of London and Mr. Tyndale forty-two, and the arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury thirty-six ; and these Trustees were in truth 

 the acting trustees or managers of the place. Surely such a state of 

 things ought not to last; for no four men out of thirty-five, be they 

 who they may, should be invested with such dangerous power. With 

 respect to their competency for the specialities of their office some 

 doubt may be reasonably entertained ; for, with reference to science, 

 it would be difficult to find a single name among the whole entitled 

 to express a scientific opinion, and on subjects of learning andvertu,and 

 on the antiquities, the professed hobby of the aristocracy, not more 

 than seven or eight can claim to be regarded as thorough scholars, 

 much less to have a voice in deciding the merits of books and manu- 

 scripts, which require the examination of the most experienced pro- 

 fessional talents. But it may be said that the chief officers of the 

 house assist them in forming their decisions : why then do they not 

 act ex-ojficio as members of the board ? And, if the Trustees say that 

 the officers* opinion is consulted and acted on, they could not object 

 to resign all except a financial connection with the establishment to 

 resign all except what properly belongs to trustees. Such a proposal 

 would be rejected with insult. But, supposing the officers' opinion 

 to be consulted, is their body, we may well ask, so composed that the 

 first opinions in the country could have been had on the subjects of 

 their respective departments? Let the reader who is conversant with 

 the really scientific men of the country, and who knows them from 

 their works as well as their titles, look at the list of the officers look 

 at the list and decide how many have been elected because they 

 were the most competent men that the country could furnish. With 

 respect to the official trustees, it is quite right that his Majesty's 

 government should have a check on the proceedings of the council, 

 and they should always have a seat at the Board ; but, surely, thirteen 

 out of thirty-five are rather too many. With the family trustees we 



