282 The Oxford Museum. 



hope and gain, from the increase of scientific light, is only begin- 

 ning to be gradually understood at Oxford, as elsewhere. It is 

 pleasant to observe, at the time when Cambridge is inviting 

 Prof. Owen to deliver a lecture on Comparative Anatomy, so 

 interesting a phenomenon as the completion of a Scientific Mu- 

 seum in Oxford. Its ultimate success, no doubt, will' depend more 

 upon the ability and energy of the Professors and its practical and 

 liberal character than upon the beauty and symmetry of its stones. 

 Yet the outward visible fact makes us hopeful of the inward 

 spiritual grace. Taking into account the influence which such a 

 Museum may have in training future clergymen in principles of 

 sanitary science, and modernizing future legislators and country 

 gentlemen, the importance of the fact cannot be over-estimated. 

 Still more, if, as we hope, working men are to be admitted to the 

 Lectures of the Museum :— for why should not Oxford offer 

 advantages to all, like Edinburgh or Glasgow?— and what may 

 we not hope from our highest University when we remember 

 that a Watt, a Ferguson and a Livingstone have been produced 

 from the Scotch school of science? 



The Oxford Museum consists of Schools of Chemistry, Natural 

 Philosophy and Anatomy, — and is provided with suitable append- 

 ages in the shape of Lecture-rooms, laboratories, a library and 

 reading-rooms. The large sum of 30,000/, was voted by the Uni- 

 versity for the object ; and after public competition, the Gothic 

 design of Messrs. Dean & Woodward was chosen as being on the 

 whole most suitable for the purposes of the foundation. The sum 

 voted allowed no margin for ornament, and barely provided the 

 shell of the building. — What was wanting, however, the munifi- 

 cence of many persons, illustrious from position or learning, has 

 supplied. Her Majesty set a noble example by offering to give 

 five of the statues with which it was proposed to adorn the corbel 

 of the arcade. Mr. Ruskin gave 300/. for the decoration of the 

 windows ; — Dr. Acland, one of the earliest promoters of the build- 

 ing, followed by eminent scientific men, gave shafts or capitals — - 

 money for inscriptions or sculptures, as their taste inclined : — the 

 nnder-graduates and bachelors gave statues ; — and even Cambridge 

 Professors forgot their ancient rivalry, and contributed what was 

 wanted. Not the least pleasant feature is to note among the 

 contributors the names of some of the workmen who have been 

 allowed to carry out their own designs. Conspicuous as contri- 

 butors and workmen are a family called O'Shea, who have beau- 



