18 MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 



satisfactory condition — many of them badly prepared, 

 badly put up, and badly arranged, while almost all were 

 far from clean. He had them thoroughly cleaned 

 and otherwise put into a satisfactory condition, and 

 re-ari'anged the whole collection, re -labelling every 

 article. The labelling of 4000 articles was of itself a 

 most laborious undertaking, occupying many months. 

 Almost all the labour, except the actual cleaning and 

 the manual work of transport to the new hall, was 

 done by his own hands. In one of his most interesting 

 reports to the Curators — interesting as throwing light 

 on the capacity and character of the man — he says that 

 he must practically do all the work himself, " as no 

 benefit would be derived from the interference of 

 others." The labels in his own neat handwriting are 

 still to be seen attached to many of the preparations 

 which remain in the order in which they were left 

 by him. 



During the year 1832 the removal and re-arrange- 

 ment were completed ; and the College, it is believed, 

 recognises to this day the work then done as of 

 permanent value to the INIuseum — the system of 

 arrangement adopted by MacGillivray being still 

 adhered to. 



The work thus accomplished by MacGillivray 

 was specially acknowledged by the College in terms 

 that leave no room for doubt as to its efficiency and 

 value, as appears from many of its minutes. In a 

 minute, dated 2nd August 1832, it is recorded that 

 " Mr. Wood said there could be but one opinion as 



