324 OPENING ADDRESS.—MACGREGOR. 
and nearly half contain both local and general collections. With 
regard to their contents, nearly half are devoted for the most 
part to Geology, about one fourth are devoted largely to Zoology, 
and about one tenth are chiefly archeological. So far as support 
is concerned, 50 of them draw their funds from a special muni- 
cipal rate; 63 are supported by local societies and institutions ; 
30, by colleges; 5, by general Borough funds; 8, by government, 
and the balance by endowments, annual subscriptions, &c. The 
United Kingdom thus possesses quite a large number of Pro- 
vincial Museums; but the committee from whose report I have 
quoted, state that they have not found one which attained to 
their ideal of what such Museums ought to be; and with the 
object of stimulating them to greater efficiency, they sketch the 
ideal at which such Museums should aim. That the value of 
the influence of such Museums is recognised, is shown in the 
report of the Royal Commission on Scientific Instruction which 
recommended, in 1874, that efforts should’be made to supply the 
deficiencies of existing Museums, and that typical Museums 
should be organised in connection with Science Schools throughout 
the kingdom. 
With regard to the Museums of the United States, I have no 
definite data later than 1876. The reports of the Commissioner 
of Education shew that between 1872 and 1876, the number of 
Museunis reporting to the Education Office had increased from 
50 to 79, that the number connected with institutions of learn- 
ing had increased from 35 to 44, and that the annual expenditure 
on Museums had increased from $46,550 to $145,520. Though 
definite statistics are not available for a later date than 1876, it 
is well known that of late years our neighbours have been making 
great progress in Museum organization. Ina report made by Mr. 
Ball of the Museum of Science and Art of Dublin, he states that 
he was much impressed with their system, thoroughness and 
astonishing vigor, and with the gigantic extensions of their 
spheres of usefulness to which they looked forward in the future. 
In the Australian Colonies, Museums are regarded as important 
factors in promoting industrial progress; New South Wales, for 
example, having sent a Commission to Europe some years ago to 
