It is most difficult to bring home to the minds of men that the 

 education and culture of the people is as essential to their happiness and 

 the welfare of the community as drainage and a good water supply is to 

 their health : the one brooks with no trifling, for typhoid and epidemics 

 quickly assert their peremptory demand for improved sanitation ; the 

 other is not less urgent in its claims for consideration, if its direct appeal 

 is less dramatic. Strikes, lock-outs, socialism, and social unrest and 

 discontent, are in a large measure but the expression of that want of 

 confidence and iutelligence (the result of education) which can alone 

 enable people to grasp the industrial problems which arise every day. 



It is, therefore, not placing the claims of these institutions on too 

 high a level to say that, next to the consideration for the health of the 

 people, they make the first demand upon the liberality of the ratepayers. 



Plans have been prepared for a new Library for Everton ; the site 

 selected is convenient to a large population ; and there is no doubt that 

 it will not only be highly appreciated, but will do excellent work. 



In the Museums we have sustained a great loss by the death of the 

 Rev. H. H. Higgins on the 2nd July, 181)3. He was associated with 

 our Museums for the long period of '67 years, IG of which he was 

 Chairman of the Museums Sub-Committee. It may with truth be said 

 that he lived for these institutions ; and in the careful and intelligent 

 classification of the specimens, the popular descriptions attached to them 

 bringing them within the grasp of the ordinary visitor, we see the man 

 of science, yet deeply imbued with the necessity of bringing home to 

 the minds of the people the life-history of each specimen. The life of 

 Mr. Higgins, his large catholic views, his intense love of natural history, 

 his anxiety to instil this love into others, the pride he took in the 

 Museums, if ever written, will form the memorial of a Liverpool man 

 than whom few have been more distinguished and few more useful. 



Our Museums have been enriched during the ])ast year by a very fine 

 collection of Agates, bequeathed by the late Earl of Derby ; and the 

 interest attaching to the collection has been much enhanced b}- the 

 descriptive catalogue prepared at the expense of the present Earl. 



Two large rooms in the basement of the building, on the west side, 

 are being fitted u]) for the reception of the ethnographical collection, 

 which is very complete and will prove a very interestiiig addition. 



II 



