MUSEUMS. F 
interest and support, without which, we, at any rate, cannot hope 
to attain the object with which this great institution was founded 
and maintained, and has now been extended and enlarged. That 
object is, first, the demonstration of what science has already 
attained, and secondly, the extension of the bounds of knowledge in 
the future. The interest and support of the inhabitants in general 
is essential to us, the sinews of war are indispensable, and we are not 
without a hope that by showing you what has been done with your 
money you will recognise that it has been spent to the best of our 
ability, at any rate, with the object of awakening the intelligence 
and arresting the attention of the great mass of the people. I do not 
propose to weary you with a description of this great Museum. It 
has been described in a recent report by Dr. Meyer, Director of the 
Museum of Dresden—I am quoting his actual words—as ‘next to 
London, the most comprehensive, and in all respects one of the best 
in Great Britain.’ There could be no higher authority, and, I 
venture to think, no higher praise. But indeed, you have only to 
_ look around you; ‘Si monumentum requiris, cireumspice. My 
business to-night is otherwise. I want in a very few words-——I am 
g limited to a very few minutes—to indicate why it is we have a 
$ Museum at all, and what its use and object is. I regret that one of 
___ the Masters of Science whom we have expected is not here to speak 
-h 
Po 
with his own authority on the point. We had hoped to have had 
the advantage of the knowledge and experience of Professor Ray 
_ Lankester, Director of the National Museum of South Kensington, 
_ to instruct and charm us: and for myself, as an old pupil of his, I 
had hoped to sit again at his feet and drink in the magic of his rare 
lucidity and strength. He is not with us: and you must bear with 
me if I give you, not my own ideas merely, but the collected views 
b _ of those who know what museums are, what they should be, and 
what they are for. 
_ “The object, as I understand, of large museums like our own is 
: two-fold. First~TI shall give it you with, as far as possible, the 
very words of authority-—‘ to serve the needs of the general public 
_ through the display of attractive exhibits, well planned, complete 
,and thoroughly described; and thus to stimulate and broaden the 
minds of those who are not engaged in scholarly research, and to 
