6o 



NATURE 



[May 1 7,- 1900 



example, the first to demonstrate the evolution-iry history 

 of patterns, or of certain decorative features from realistic 

 originals. He placed together, side by side, analogous 

 objects from all parts of the world, and often he was 

 enabled to demonstrate the origin and modifications of 

 modern weapons, utensils, and the like. This system 

 has its dangers ; analogy may often be mistaken for 

 homogeny, and it must be admitted that mistakes were 

 occasionally made or wrong inferences suggested ; but 

 with care these may be greatly reduced, and this system 

 of studying human productions appeals alike to the 

 general public and to scientific men. We believe that 

 the collections exhibited in 1874 were first offered to the 

 University of Cambridge, but now they find a final 

 resting-place in the museum at Oxford, where they have 

 since been greatly added to and further elaborated. 



Owing to the death of the sixth Baron Rivers in 1880, 

 Mr. Lane-Fox succeeded to large estates in Wiltshire and 

 Dorsetshire, and he assumed the name of Pitt-Rivers. 

 This gave him his chance ; many years previously his 

 keen eye had noted the numerous earthworks and tumuli 

 on Cranborne Chase, but he little thought that fortune 

 would hand them over to his keeping. 



In 1 88 1 the General commenced excavating, and in 

 1887 he published the first of his four quarto memoirs on 

 the results of his digging. Many burrows had been rifled 

 before by antiquaries, but never had excavations been so 

 systematically and thoroughly studied in this country. 

 These memoirs are monuments to the princely liberality, 

 technical skill, and conscientious attention to details that 

 characterised General Pitt- Rivers. 



In order to display the finds obtained in his excava- 

 tions, Pitt-Rivers built a new museum at Farnham in 

 Dorsetshire, and once more he gave rein to his passion 

 for collecting, and soon an extensive and valuable 

 ethnographical museum sprang up in this remote 

 country village. Here, systematically arranged 

 and described, may be seen models of the sites and 

 excavations, and every specimen and fragment thence 

 obtained. In order to illustrate the pottery which is 

 found in various diggings, a comparative collection of 

 pottery and ceramics was started which now forms a 

 very valuable epitome of this industry in all ages and 

 climes. In the same manner, a large comparative 

 collection of agricultural implements has been collected. 

 Here also is the collection of locks, upon which he based 

 the memoir he published in 1883 The collections of 

 general ethnography are surprisingly rich, and his well 

 selected specimens of Benin metal work constitute per- 

 haps the most representative series extant. Words fail 

 to express one's surprise at finding this wonderful 

 museum buried in the depth of the country. 



At Tollard Royal, near Farnham, the General very 

 carefully restored a thirteenth century house, which is 

 known as King John's House — this he converted into 

 a museum mainly designed to illustrate the rise of the 

 art of painting ; and with characteristic thoroughness 

 he began with paintings of the twentieth and twenty- 

 sixth dynasties. 



Not far off are the Larmer Grounds, a park which has 

 been beautifully laid out and provided with numerous 

 picturesque large summer-houses for the use of ex- 

 cursionists. During the warm weather a band plays on 

 Sunday afternoons, and large numbers of people avail 

 themselves of the General's hospitality. In this effort 

 to provide free and innocent enjoyment to the multitude. 

 General Pitt-Rivers received much opposition from 

 well-meaning but misguided Sabbatarians ; but in this 

 as in SO many other matters, he pursued what he con- 

 sidered to be his duty without being influenced by 

 the opinions or opposition of others. He was very 

 fond of joining the happy throngs, and he was never 

 more pleased than when many thousands assembled on 



NO. 1594, VOL. 62] 



great occasions, such as the annual raczes. It is gratifying 

 to know that his liberality was never abused by unseemly 

 conduct. 



(General Pitt Rivers' written contributions to anthropo- 

 logical literature were very numerous, and in his time he 

 took an active part in the work of various societies. 



General Pitt-Rivers was a Fellow of the Royal Society ; 

 on more than one occasion he was President of the 

 .A^nthropological Institute ; and he was a Vice-President 

 of the Society of Antiquaries. His last public appearance 

 was when he read an address as Vice-President of the 

 Royal Arch;eological Institute at Dorchester in 1893. He 

 was Inspector under the Ancient Monuments Protection 

 Act of 1882, and in this capacity he visited the scheduled 

 monuments ; but even his energy was powerless to 

 counteract the restricted powers and scope of the Act. 



It would be difficult to detail the wide range of 

 subjects that interested General Pitt Rivers, and the 

 remarkable knowledge he had on so many subjects. He 

 was by no means a man whose sympathies narrowed 

 with age. His strong physique, indomitable energy and 

 imperious will enabled him to accomplish an immense 

 amount of work, and his trained mind, combined with 

 wide knowledge and sympathy, rendered that work of 

 especial merit. Possessed of an abundance of means, 

 he spent lavishly on his beloved science. His strenuous 

 life was devoted to the advancement of knowledge and 

 to the instruction and recreation of the populace. 



A. C. H. 



NOTES. 



The council of the Society of Arts attended at Marlborough 

 House, on May 8, when his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 

 K.G., President of the Society, presented the Albert medal of 

 the Society to Sir William Crookes, F.R.S., " for his extensive 

 and laborious researches in chemistry and in physics ; researches 

 which have, in many instances, developed into useful practical 

 applications in the arts and manufactures." 



The Paris correspondent of the Times states that the com- 

 mittee of the Paris Academy of Sciences has selected as 

 candidates for election as permanent secretary, in place of the 

 late M. Joseph Bertrand, M. Cornu, professor at the ficole 

 Polytechnique, and M. Darboux Jean, of the Faculty of Sciences 

 in Paris. 



By the will of the late Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., a valuable 

 bequest is made to the Royal Meteorological Society. Mr. 

 Symons was a great lover of old books, and had succeeded 

 in getting together an extensive meteorological library. He 

 bequeathed to the Society all his books, pamphlets, maps and 

 photographs a copy of which is not already in its library. 

 He also bequeathed his Cross of the Legion of Honour, this 

 Albert medal, and other decorations, as well as the testimonial 

 album presented to him by the Fellows of the Society in 1879. 

 In addition to the above he also bequeathed the sum of 200/. 



Mr. Goschen made an important announcement at the 

 annual dinner of the Iron and Steel Institute last week. He 

 said that, with a view to developing the power of English guns 

 by means of improving the propellant agent, a committee has 

 been appointed, with Lord Rayleigh as chairman, to investigate 

 the whole subject. The reference to the committee is to carry 

 out trials to ascertain what are the best smokeless propellants 

 for use in existing guns of all natures and in existing small arms, 

 and to report as to whether any modification in the existing 

 designs of guns is desirable with a view to developing to the full 

 the powers of any propellant which may be proposed. 



