Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Iviii. (191 3). 11 



authorities had to make almost a fresh start in some 

 sections. 



It must be acknowledged that as trustees the Univer- 

 sity have more than carried out their trust. Tlie work 

 of the Natural History Society is being carried on much 

 more efficiently than it was, and the necessary cost is 

 much more than the Society could have afforded, even in 

 its most prosperous days. The endowment fund provided 

 for the sale of the Society's property has been augmented 

 by the gift of ^10,000 from the Whitworth Legatees, one 

 of whom was Mr. R. D. Darbishire, for long an active 

 member of the Natural History Society, and a grant of 

 ;^400 made for several years by the Manchester Corpora- 

 tion has been increased to^^Soo. 



The Manchester Museum is one of the finest museums 

 in the country, and it is the only really important museum 

 in South-East Lancashire. It is absolutely public, in the 

 sense that the public have daily and free access to it. Yet 

 the public, as represented by the City Council, contribute 

 towards its cost only ;j{^8oo per year. Other great cities 

 have built museums and maintain them out of the rates. 

 Manchester alone has left the provision and maintenance 

 of its Museum to a private society and a university. It is 

 a cheap arrangement for the city, but scarcely fair either 

 to the University or the Museum. Although it is only 

 recently that the Corporation grant has been increased, 

 it is not too soon to point out that the grant is still 

 inadequate. It is unworthy of the Corporation to spend 

 so little in maintaining one of the greatest educational 

 forces in the city. 



For a student the old Museum had its value, and I 

 have spent many pleasant and profitable hours in it. The 

 general public were, it may be confessed, more interested 

 in a few curiosities which owed their presence in the 



