34 
seum, flourishing as a Museum of Natural History, will rally 
around ns Antiquarians also, whereby the benefit will be much 
increased and much public advantage gained. I have to 
tender the grateful thanks of the town to the members of the 
Natural History Society and the other gentlemen for their 
great labours, and especially to the President (Dr. Fitzgerald), 
the Rev. Mr. Acland and the Secretary (Mr. Ullyett), and I 
trust that their exertions will long be appreciated and enjoyed. 
It is gratifying also to see the collections of several of our 
townspeople and friends, and a careful inspection of the col- 
lection of Mr. Robinson, which is before us, will be well 
repaid—much honour is due to all and richly are all deserving 
of the best thanks of the town. I do thank you all, and with 
best and hearty wishes for success, I declare this Public Mu- 
seum for the town of Folkestone to be duly opened. 
Dr. FrrzGERALD said on looking round the room he could 
do no less than congratulate the whole town on the formal 
opening of the Museum, and he could do so the more heartily 
because he knew the heap of dirty rubbish which had been 
‘ brought into the shape they saw before them; he had nothing 
to do with the work himself. In the first place he thought 
the thanks of the town were due to the Mayor and Corpora- 
tion, who had made a very liberal grant of money to prepare 
the place for the reception of the articles; the Town Clerk 
had also made his best exertions in the matter, in fact he had 
been indefatigable; to Mr. Springall, the Town Surveyor, 
they also owed a deep debt of thanks, and they were under a 
very heavy obligation to Mr. Acland, who had used his utmost 
exertions, and with the able assistance of their excellent 
Secretary (Mr. Ullyett), had been able so far to complete the 
work. They had also a great deal of assistance from several 
other members, amongst whom were several ladies. He 
might mention that they hoped in time to have room to add 
an antiquarian branch to the Museum, which was a study that 
greatly interested many, and would increase the attractions of 
the place. (Applause). 
Mr. W. G. S. Harrison (the Town Clerk) said he had 
been asked by the Mayor to give the Meeting a little idea of 
how they became possessed of a Town Museum. In the town, 
lived some years ago a gentleman of the name of Samuel J. 
Mackie, who devoted the greater portion of his time to making 
