most disorder. The almost entire absence of any Museum 

 records, too, is under any circumstances, except, of course, 

 their accidental destruction, utterly inexcusable. 



The grave question of the provision of larger space for the 

 accommodation of the Museum had for many years occupied 

 the attention of both the Trustees and the Faculty of the 

 College, and in November, 1881, the Trustees concurred in a 

 memorial to the Legislature, looking to the purchase of the 

 building on Wentworth street, near King, then known as the 

 Military Hall, now the Armory of the German Artillery. 

 This memorial was "presented and referred" at the opening 

 session of each House on November 22, 1881, (The News and 

 Courier, November 23, ) but I find no further mention of it, 

 though its presentation probably resulted in the passage 

 "without debate" on the last day of the session of 



"AN ACT TO Create a Museum of Natural History in the city of 



Charleston. 



"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 

 tives of the State of South Carolina, now met and sitting in General 

 Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That a Museum of Natu- 

 ral History in the City of Charleston be, and the same is hereby, created, 

 to be under the control and management of a Board of Commissioners, 

 as hereinafter provided. 



"Sec. 2. That the said Board of Commissioners shall consist of the 

 Mayor of the City of Charleston, the chairman of the Board of Trustees 

 of the College of Charleston, the Dean of the Faculty of the Medical 

 College of South Carolina, and four other persons to be appointed by the 

 Mayor of Charleston for the term of four years and until their succes- 

 sors are appointed. 



"Sec. 3. That five members of the said Board shall constitute a quo- 

 rum, and the Mayor of Charleston shall be the Chairman thereof. They 

 shall hold their meetings at such times as the Board shall, by resolution, 

 or as the chairman or vice-chairman, shall appoint. And they may 

 adopt, alter, or amend such regulations as they may think proper for the 

 establishment and development of the said museum. 



"Sec 4. That in order to procure a suitable location for the exhibition 

 of the contents of the said museum, the said Board may purchase and 

 hold in fee simple to them and their successors, any real estate not ex- 



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