. Notice of British Naturalists. 145 
derfully made, as may beget wonder and amazement in any be- 
holder,” &c. e Dodo was preserved in this collection. Mr. 
Ashmole presented the whole to the University of Oxford, where’ 
it still remains; and it has of late been much enlarged by the 
munificence of its present Curator, Mr. Duncan. — 
The next collection was Dr. Woodward’s, which became the 
foundation of Sir Hans Sloane’s; and the whole was purchased, 
in 1753, by the British Parliament, and is now known as the Brit- 
ish Museum. Another collection, once much celebrated, was that 
in possession of Sir Ashton Lever,* who died in 1788, and which 
was sold by auction in lots, and dispersed in 1806. 
But still museums were very far from being common or popular 
in any part of Europe. London was, at the period we refer to, as 
how, a place of general resort for scientific men, and a large num- 
ber of such persons were collected there. ‘The celebrated Bishop 
Horsley, the learned and able antagonist of Dr. Priestley, was an 
active member of the Royal Society. Sir Joseph Banks, possess- 
ing the advantages not only of great abilities, but of fortune and 
4 high station in society, constantly exerted himself in this cause. 
~ He and his friends, convinced that without extensive collections 
it is very difficult, if not altogether impossible, to make any great 
Progress in Natural History, were diligently employed in forming 
Societies, and in collecting specimens for examination from differ- 
ent countries, ‘The eminent men of that day, likewise deeply felt 
the importance of bringing together those who pursue the same 
Studies, and they understood that, especially in physics, union is 
Power; that the first thoughts and more transient discoveries of 
Individuals, made known to acircle of scientific friends, may, and 
often do, both save the labor of many, and draw out the energies 
of many more, and that particular subjects being alloted to differ- 
nt observers, on the principle of the division of labor, the ex- 
aminations are more exact and availing. The Royal Society 
had already proved the advantages of such meetings. We owe 
very much to the publication of their ‘ Transactions,’ in which, 
each contributing a little, where otherwise none would have 
Contributed at all, the result is an immense mass of facts, thoughts, 
‘nd experiments, And indeed the British Association for the Ad- 
oe notice of this museum, see Journal of Travels in England, &c. 1805-6. 
of 1, by B. Silliman, 
Vol. xxxvir, No. 1.—July, 1839, bis. 19 
