xn. 



In October, 1891, the Rer. J. W. Tottenham gave his 

 munificent gift of his private Museum to the Museum, 

 and after the removal which was carried out by me, 

 Mr. Rufford threw himself vigorously into the task of 

 arranging the specimens. Geology and Conchology and 

 kindred forms of Hfe had his peculiar care. Con- 

 chology was weU represented in the Tottenham collection. 



At an early stage of the history of the Museum, the 

 Bradnam collection of local fossils from the Town Hall 

 formed part of the original nucleus, to this was added the 

 Beckles' fossils, mostly from the Wealden strata. A 

 strong reinforcement was now to be added to our loc£il 

 collection by the loan of Mr. Rufford's private collection, 

 which being added to from time to time, has given a 

 marked geological character to the Museum, and caused 

 it to be respected by geologists and men of science who 

 visit the town. 



At the opening of the Museum in the Brassey 

 Institute, on Tuesday, August 16th, 1892, I made a few 

 remarks from the platform in which after mentioning 

 donors and lenders I said, " I must now turn to those who 

 have given what is perhaps as valuable as money — that is 

 time and dearly-bought knowledge. I must in the first 

 place mention Mr. P. Rufford, our Hastings geologist, a 

 gentleman well known in the scientific world for his 

 researches amongst our Wealden flora ; this gentleman 

 has given up nearly his entire time since the month 

 of May to arranging our specimens, both geological and 

 otherwise. As I have been intimately associated with 

 him during the last few months I can say that our 

 Museum could scarcely have taken shape without his 

 single-minded enthusiasm for science." 



Mr. Smith Woodward, representing the Geological 

 Depai-tment of the British Museum, referred to the 

 discoveries of Messrs. Charles Dawson and Philip RufEord 

 in the Wealden strata, and stated there was evidence that 

 very soon their work would surpass that of Gideon 

 Man tell, the great Sussex geologist. 



On November 17th, 1893, Mr. Rufford was unani- 

 mously elected a member of the Museimi Committee, from 

 which time lie became one of its most useful and energetic 

 members, identifying himself thoroughly with its interests, 

 and sparing neither time or trouble in any work he might 

 Mt hime«lf to accompliiiJi. 



