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collections of a more general nature, which, from the very 

 circmnstance of their being general, can only be most imper- 

 fect and fragmentary. Intended as such general collections 

 are to embrace all things, the few things for which space 

 can be found in a building of very Hmited extent have Httle 

 or no connection with each other. 



Too often specimens are mixed together of all kinds and 

 sorts, and fi-om all countries, odds and ends (if I'may use 

 the expression) got, as it may be, by chance, or gift, or pur- 

 chase; which are neither arranged, nor indeed are capable 

 of any such arrangement as can assist the student or instruct 

 the general public. 



I will not repeat all I then said ; but apprehending there 

 are still some who do not entirely fall in with this opinion, 

 may I be permitted to quote a short passage from the Address 

 of the President (Mr. Bentham) of the Linnsean Society, the 

 oldest and chiefest of the Natural History Societies in this 

 country, delivered at the anniversary meeting of last year, 

 serving to corroborate my views, and showing them to be no 

 other than what are held by one of our highest authorities 

 in all Natm-al History questions. In that address Mr. 

 Bentham speaks at some length on what so commonly follows 

 the attempt to get up a general Museum, except in cases 

 where it is "supported at the public expense, or by the 

 annual proceeds of a sufficiently large inahenable capital," 

 He remarks how, after a time, such collections outgrow the 

 means of private scientific bodies; how the "specimens 

 required for study or comparison are encumbered by a mass 

 of trash, presented by persons who do not know what else 

 to do with it ; " how packages, fi-om whicli there is not even 

 a selection made, still less any attempt to arrange their con- 

 tents, are " consigned to oblivion and decay in cupboards and 

 garrets, the members generally taldng no further interest in 

 what they can make no use of." He then passes on to the con- 



