THE COUNCIL. 3 



Lave made to meet the altered circumstances in which the 

 establishment is placed. 



No considerations either of economy or convenience have 

 been allowed to compete with the purpose of public instruc- 

 tion. To exhibit every thing which the Society possesses, 

 with the exception only of its Books and Coins, as com- 

 pletely and constantly as possible, is the object which has 

 been kept in view. 



The admission of visitors has been made more open and 

 unreserved than is perhaps the usual practice of similar Insti- 

 tutions ; and the Council have the satisfaction to add, that 

 no loss or injury whatever has hitherto been sustained, from 

 following this liberal course. On the other hand, if among 

 the many thousand persons who have visited our Museum, 

 there are those whose inspection of its contents has cither 

 promoted their enquiries, or diverted them from less elevated 

 and beneficial pursuits to feel an interest in any part of the 

 mechanism of nature, the object of the Society is so far 

 attained. 



Neither is such a system altogether unfruitful in enrich- 

 ing the Institution itself, and producing the remuneration ^of 

 a corresponding return. The attention of the public is thus 

 directed to its objects and wants ; the liberality of its admis- 

 sions is repaid with interest ; its collections are remembered 

 by distant friends ; the stranger is heard from again as a 

 benefactor, and the hoard of the private collector yields 

 up something to the public use. 



B 2 



