JUN •::7 189e 



NATURAL SCIENCE 



A Monthly Review of Scientific Progress 



No. 76— Vol. XII— JUNE 1898 



NOTES AND COMMENTS 



The Museum of Practical Geology 



The House of Commons Committee on the museums of the Science 

 and Art Department lias reported unanimously in favour of trans- 

 ferring the collections of rocks and fossils from the museum in 

 Jermyn Street to South Kensington. The removal of the collec- 

 tions from the present headquarters of the Geological Survey 

 has long been foreseen as inevitable. Those who know the con- 

 ditions under which the vast accumulation of specimens, constantly 

 being added to by the energetic officers of the Survey, is housed, 

 and the difficulties of space, lighting, and so forth under which the 

 scientific staff of that establishment has to work, as well as the 

 great danger from fire, will not regret the removal of the collections 

 and offices to some safer and more spacious quarters ; least of all 

 we imagine will such a change be objected to by the members of 

 the Survey themselves. It is no doubt possible that some of the 

 public, who find the present Jermyn Street Museum within easy 

 reach, may complain of its removal to the wilds of South Kensing- 

 ton ; indeed, protests have already been raised. But really it is 

 more important that all the specimens should be accessible to a 

 few than that only a few of them should be accessible to many. 



But before expressing a final opinion upon this recommendation 

 of the Committee, we should like to know what they mean by South 

 Kensington, or even that portion of it which they designate as " on 

 the west side of Exhibition Eoad." We will take it for granted 

 that they do not mean the Imperial Institute, although even that 

 establishment has found defenders lately. Neither do we suppose 

 that it is contemplated to make a simple translation of the Museum 

 of Practical Geology along with the offices of the Survey ; for 

 although there is ground still unoccupied at South Kensington, it is 

 already appropriated for the future growth of institutions already 

 on the spot. The intention, therefore, must be to incorporate the 

 collections of the Survey with one or other of the existing museums 



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