Duplicate Rpecimens," regret to report that such means hayc not 

 yet been acquired ; though it is hoped that the steady prosperity 

 of the Society will enable it at some future time to carry out the 

 intentions expressed in the Kule. Meanwhile, as so much misap- 

 prehension concerning the objects, and misapplication of the funds, 

 prevail in connection with local museums, your Honorary Secretary 

 gave an adilrcss on the subject, which was published in the Annual 

 Eeportofthe Society for the year 1871, also in "Nature" and 

 Beveral other scientific journals about that time ; and in " Land and 

 Water," May 11, 1872, he extended his observations to Natural His- 

 tory Museums on the sea coast. But attention is stUl needed to the 

 whole of this topic,* which is one of much importance in rational 

 instruction, though at present too generally regarded with an in- 

 difference lamentably at variance with the interest entertained of 

 late in school boards and other organizations for teaching. Hence, 

 while the necessity lasts, your Committee may continue to draw 

 attention to it from time to time, hoping thus to promote a good 

 cause, and believing that this course is calculated to show how use- 

 fully local museums might be conducted to extend and advance the 

 desirable object, which we have all so much at heart, of intellectual 

 culture 



A little consideration would prove that the municipal rates now 

 squandered in support of those miscellaneous and motley gatherings 

 and incoherent medleys, vaguely called Museums, would suffice for 

 the formation and maintenance of Museums worthily so named, and 

 admirably adapted by j udicious selection and arrangement to forward 

 the education of our youth, and the direction of all classes of the 

 people in the study of natural science. But, so far from promoting 

 this worthy end, the managers of many provincial museums seem to 

 understand nothing more than the establishment of unmeaning 

 curiosity shops, better fitted to amaze the eyes and puzzle the brains 

 of the groundlings than to convey rational amusement and instruc- 

 tion to the people. Thus the study of the sciences of natural 

 history is rather retarded than advanced, and the prevailing igno- 

 rance is maintained and confirmed ; while Professor Boyd Dawkins, 

 in his last address to the Literary and Philosophical Society of 

 Manchester, as noticed in "Nature," December 7, 1876, still 

 laments that a country museum in Britain is frequently " a large 

 sort of advertising bazaar, or a receptacle for miscellaneous curiosi- 

 ties unfitted for a private house." 



On the contrary, local Museums should be adapted to the best 

 mental culture. They ought to have a few good preparations, 

 whether exotic or native, to exhibit plainly the general principles 



* So still think the scientific journals of the metropolis, as shown by their 

 approval of this Report soon after its appearance in the " Kentish Gazette," Feb. 

 6, 1877. And in the same newspaper, Feb. 20, a leading article informs us that 

 Mr. Mundella has already promoted a bill on the subject in the House of Coquuoub. 



