President’s Address. 191 
department, nor is this necessary, as there is really not much 
room for controversy with reference to their treatment. 
Only to two things need I refer. The first is, that fossils 
exhibited in a “geological” collection are there for the 
purpose of being looked at from their geological, rather than 
their biological, aspect, and should consequently be arranged 
in purely stratigraphical order. The second is, that I once 
heard it proposed that the section-models, used for illustrating 
local geology, should be constructed and manufactured out 
of the actual rocks occurring in the district to be illustrated. 
I mention this proposal without comment. 
In bringing these remarks to a conclusion, I wish you 
expressly to understand that they refer to large public 
museums, such as we may expect to find in towns of 250,000 
inhabitants and upwards, and which are reasonably endowed 
with means for their maintenance. Small museums require 
of course special treatment, but one great principle is at the 
bottom of the whole idea of a museum. 
It is this—A museum is a place where people who wish 
to study may find the material necessary for such study. 
But I have no faith in the idea of its being a place where 
people, who have no natural inclination for the studies con- 
cerned, may, by theatrical display, be induced to cultivate 
an inclination which they would not otherwise possess. 
I have now, gentlemen, performed the last duty in connec- 
tion with the occupation of this chair, to which three years 
ago you did me the great honour of electing me for the third 
time, and in vacating it this evening, I again thank you most 
heartily for that honour, and for the friendship and good- 
fellowship which I have experienced from the members of 
the Society during the long period for which I have been 
connected with it. 
