390 KECOKDS OF THK AUSTKALIAN MUSEUM. 



following February, by W. J. Stephens, Esq., M.A., late Fellow of 

 Queen's College, Oxford, and Head Master of the Sydney Grammar 

 School-55. 



The address spoken of before was made to His Excellency at a 

 levee held on the 19th January. The all-important paragraph to us is 

 the following-^'': — 



" We are very sensiV)le of the very vahiaV>le services which yon have invana))ly 

 rendered to it [the Museum] and to the Cause of Science generally during 

 the whole period of Your Excellency's administration of the Government. 

 Your constant attendance at the meetings of the board, the anxious 

 desire which you have ever evinced to promote in every possible way the 

 Scientific objects which the institution is designed to foster ; the courtesy 

 which has at all times distinguished Your Excellency when presiding at 

 the Trustee meetings, and your numerous valuable donations to the 

 institution all constitute claims on our gratitude, which we feel it to be 

 our duty to acknowledge in terms of unqualified satisfaction." 



Amongst the more important acquisitions made about this time was 

 that of a collection of minerals and ores from Mr, Louis Saemann, of 

 Paris, which arrived in 1861. The purchase was i-ecommended by the 

 Rev. W. B. Clarke, the Legislature having granted a special appropriation 

 of £200 for the purpose'^57. 



After the death of Mr. Pittard a heated discussion, extending over a 

 long period, took place between the Trustees and the Government as to 

 the body i^esponsible for the appointment of a Curator. This appears to 

 have commenced by the Colonial Secretary (Honourable Charles Cowper) 

 requesting to be informed-^s of the manner in which the vacant position 

 might be advantageously filled. The Trustees in reply stated their 

 intention of taking immediate steps to fill the vacancy'^59^ Xn the Colonial 

 Secretary's reply occurred this significant passage : — 



"You will .... understand than any arrangement proposed will be 

 subject to the approval of the Government-''"." 



To this the Trustees, under date of 5th December-, I'eplied hy quoting 

 the 7th clause of the Act of Incorporation, which gave, and still giA'es 

 them power " to appoint all Officers and servants of the Museum-''^." 

 The Colonial Secretary interpreted this clause verj- differently by 

 restricting the Trustees' privilege to those appointments-'^- : — 



•-•55 Annual Report for 1802 (1863-4), p. 1; Minutes, 6th Februaiy, 1862; 

 Letter-book, ii., p. 46. 



-'•'« Annual Report for 1860 (1861), p. 2; Letter-book, i., p. 235. 

 -57 Minutes, liith June, I860; Letter-liouk, ii., p. 15. 



iO.fil 



■iS'' Letter of 31st Oct., 1861; Minutes, 7th Nov., 1861; Document L.B. ■ 



1 

 40.61 



•-■'» Minutes, 8th Novc'inber, 1861; Document 15.15. 



2 



40.61 



■Mi) 2nd December, 1861 ; Documents ()l-4745 and 15.15. 



3 

 40.61 

 -'"i Document 15. Ii. — -; Letter-hook, ii., p. 25. 

 17 



lo.(il 



'-'«-■ Letter of 11th December; Documents ()1/517!» and 15.15. 



<) 



