30 



at least under one roof, much of that important knowledge which is 

 wituin the means and scope of any country Museum, so that every 

 visitor to it might easily find therein both pleasure and profit on 

 natural science in general and on the natural features of the 

 locality in particular. The Museum would then also be in a 

 condition to fulfil one of its leading ofiiies, as a centre for the 

 meetings, lectures, and conversations on the natural history and 

 antiquities of the district, and in this mode be available for con- 

 tributions in furtherance of the special objects of local societies, 

 and likely thus to add to the general stock of knowledge. And 

 happily this is now being regularly ventilated and popiilarized in 

 many useful periodical publications. When will the Times, looking 

 beyond the dense and sterile mists of the Education Boards, discover 

 the fair and fertile field of instruction in the Provincial Museums, 

 now lying waste for want of cultm-e ? 



As to such young persons as may show a taste for natural 

 science, it is plainly our duty to give them fail- opportunities of 

 learning how and what to observe ; and for this purpose judiciously 

 conducted Provincial Museums would be eminently fitted. But 

 attempcs to ci-am or foi"ce the tender mind will not be successful. 

 And for this reason we might question the sanguine expectations 

 of the good effects of teaching in provincial or branch schools such 

 curious specialties as animal physiology, light, heat, acoustics, 

 magnetism, and electricity. Yet these were the very subjects, 

 according to a report in the Folkestone Ex2}ress, October 14th, 1871, 

 BO strongly recommended by the itinerant lecturer or inspector of 

 the Kensington Science and Art Department, after he had wai-mly 

 eulogized the generosity of the Government in furtherance of such 

 views. But it is remarkable that there is nothing in the report of 

 his lecture as to how that knowledge of anatomy is to be acquired, 

 which is the very foundation of physiology ; nor of the iise in this 

 and so many other respects that might be derived from Provincial 

 Museums. Indeed, he seemed to ignore them altogether ! And 

 thus, at least, he has taught us what we have to expect from ofl&cial 

 and expensive Inspectors of Science and Art. 



A reference to the " Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne," 

 originally published in 1788, by the Rev. Gilbert White, will show 

 how much even a single individual might achieve for a rural village, 

 and indeed for all time and every place. We cannot expect to make 

 many Gilbert Whites; but with the local Museum properly managed, 

 all its contents plainly marked, and the whole systematically 

 described in the catalogue, we should at least diffuse a taste for and 

 knowledge of natural science. In a collection made thus readily 

 available, and ever before us, the masters and tutors of schools, and 

 other teachers, would be induced by the facilities afforded to bi-ing 

 and help their pupils to the enjoyment of that banquet of free and 

 easy instruction. To many competent persons again it woxdd be a 

 pure labour of love to explain or give lectures on the various 

 departments thereof, and to eniich them by suitable donations. 

 Thus these Museums woiild be rescued from their degraded position 

 of worthless shows, to fulfil some of their best purposes ; and surely 

 this is no more than we ought to expect and have a right to 

 demand, not only for ourselves, but in behalf of the intellectual 

 culture of the rising generation. It seeois amazing that, amid all 

 the Babel of late about public schools, this Museum question has 



