necessary work rooms that ought to be connected with it. The addi- 

 tions in progress will give us eight large rooms, besides four rooms on 

 the ground floor. Three Professors and one College Society require accom- 

 modation—one of the new rooms aught [sic] to become the Library— 

 and the Library that is now on the same floor, with some of the new 

 rooms that may be assigned for work rooms for the museum, would furn- 

 ish accommodations for the largest museum that we can for a long time 

 well hope to collect. The expense of these rooms may be said to be al- 

 ready incurred. The contract for them is made— an intelligent keeper, 

 it is strongly and truly said is the soul of a museum. He is the living 

 principle that adds to it and preserves it from decay. He must be de- 

 voted to science and possess the intelligence and ability to make his de- 

 votion available; such a person as would be fit for the office would not 

 probably be obtained at a smaller salary than twelve hundred dollars— 

 and the incidental expenses of the museum cannot be put at less than 

 three hundred dollars annually. 



"The yearly regular expenses therefore may be estimated at about 

 fifteen hundred dollars and it is believed that at present that amount 

 cannot be raised by private subscription, and under existing circum- 

 stances, could only be permanently provided by an annual appropriation 

 by the city. It is confidently believed that such an appropriation would 

 be amply compensated by the advantages which a well regulated and well 

 sustained museum would bring to the city. It would aid greatly in ex- 

 citing and rewarding a spirit of research and accurate enquiry among 

 all our students of Natural History. It would furnish us with new and 

 accurate information of the changes which have taken place in the different 

 accessible strata of our State, and of the inhabitants in all the departments 

 of nature, by which these strata have been successf uly occupied. It would 

 assist the agriculturist in studying the nature of his soil, and suggest the 

 means of stimulating its fertility. 



"It would bring us into direct relations with the distinguished natural- 

 ists of this country, and of Europe, and be a point of attraction to them 

 under favorable auspices, and maintained with that zeal and ability, 

 which it would surely deserve. It would be an ornament and an honor 

 to the city and to the State. 



"There are many important views connected with this subject, sug- 

 gested by Mr. Holmes, in his valuable communications which, if the 

 main subject, the Museum, can be obtained, may well be associated with 

 it, and would certainly gi-eatly extend its influence and usefulness. 

 They would add nothing to its expense, and might, it is believed be so 

 arranged as at some time hereafter, in a great measure to supply the 

 means of its support. 



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