— 45 — 



death carried him off on 18th April 1840, at the age of 

 41 years. 



We all know or should know that on the recommen- 

 dation of his friends and his colleague in the Society of 

 Natural History, his widow presented all her husband's 

 collections to his native country. The preparations for 

 then- custody were made at Grovernment expense, and they 

 were deputed in one of the rings of the Boyal College, 

 where they are now. On the 14th October 1842, the 

 Museum was opened to the public and this is the date of 

 the f oimdation of a Museum in Mauritius It was visited 

 on that day by Sir W. and Lady Gromm and several of 

 the most influential persons of the time. 



The management was entrusted to W. Boyer, a 

 distinguished naturalist, and a taxidermist was allowed 

 him wh(jse pay was contributed for one half by Govern- 

 ment and for the other half by the Society of Natural 

 History. These two constituted the whole establishment 

 — for, already, strict economy was the order of the day. 



The first few days were a splendid success, after the 

 visit of Sir W, and Lady Gromm other fashionable visitors 

 wrote down their names. The Establishment was deser- 

 vedly popular, and its success lasted a reasonable time. 



It lasted, in fact, much longer than the life of a 

 rose— but gradually, when going out of fashion it ceased 

 to attract as a novelty. The star of the Museum set 

 paler and paler, visitors ceased to flow in and a total 

 eclipse followed. 



On the other hand Boyer*s position was not without 

 difficulties as, besides his care of the Museum, he held a 

 class at the Royal College. But his success was, it may 

 be remembered, not equal to the expectations which had 

 been formed— as he had to teach in another language 



