the australian museum:— 

 fiiactMents of its eauly history. 



By R. Ethertdge, Junr., Curatoi'. 



(Plates x\iii.-xx.) 



I. — Inception and Title. 



It is currently believed and officially stated that the 

 Australian Museum was inaugurated in 183H, and under that 

 name was consolidated by the Hon. Alexander Macleayi, 

 Colonial Secretary (PI. xviii.) Certain it is, however, the 

 Museum was a "going-concern," a small one certainly, but still 

 in existence, some years befiire 1836. 



With whom the idea of establishing a Museum originated it 

 is very difficult to say, for the only )>erson known to us by name 

 was Mr. A. M. Baxter,^ Attorney General in 1828, with an 

 anonymous wi'iter " U," in the " Australian Quarterly' Journal 

 of Theology, Literature and Science," in the same year. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. H. Wright, Librarian, Mitchell 

 Library, my attention was drawn to the following paragraph 

 in the "Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser" of 

 June 28tli, 1828: — 



"The Attorney-General (A. M. Baxter. Esqr.) is resolving on ways 

 ;iii<l means to start a Museum in the Colony. Nothing could 

 be more easy, if the learned gentleman would only tollow up 

 his laudable scheme with that patriotic spirit of which we all 

 know he is so liberally possessed. In such a quarter of the 

 globe as ours, it is a disgrace that we have not long since had 

 a Museum formed. We trust JNlr. Baxter will not be con- 

 tented, until his purpose in this, as well as in every other 

 praiseworthy enterprise, is hapi^ily effected." 



1 Macleay, Alexander— Born 24th June, 1767, Co. Koss, Scotland. In 

 1795 became Chief Clerk, 'Prisoners of War Office; in 1797 head of 

 Department of Correspondence of the Transport Board, and its Secretary, 

 1806-18. In 1825 arrived in Australia as Colonial Secretary, and resigned 

 office in 1836. From 1843 to 1816 was the first elected Speaker of the 

 Legislative Council under the Constitution Act ; died in Sydney, 19th 

 July, 1848, in his 81st year— (Fletcher, Macleay Mem. Vol., 1893. p. vii.) — 

 In all early official documents the family name is spelt M'Leay, not 

 "Macleay" as in general use. It is so written in one of tlie earliest 

 Museum publications — "Catalogue of the Specimens of Natural History, 

 etc., in the Australian Museum," 8vo., 1837, being the first name on the 

 list of those forming the Committee. 



- Information is required regarding this gentleman. 



