x INTRODUCTION. 



somewhat of the nature of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers in 

 Paris, and other similar institutions on the Continent, would tend 

 to the advancement of science, and be of great service to the 

 industrial progress of this country. While expressing their hope 

 that the Loan Collection might forward this desirable object, their 

 Lordships guarded themselves against committing Her Majesty's 

 Government, which had not yet fully considered the subject, to 

 any definite scheme. 



On the motion of the President of the Royal Society, Dr. 

 Hooker, it was unanimously resolved by the meeting that an 

 exhibition such as that proposed would be most instructive and 

 valuable. 



The question of the limits of the collection were discussed, and 

 Sub-Committees were appointed to consider the limitations it 

 might be desirable to place on the term " scientific apparatus " in 

 the respective sections, while bearing in mind the space disposable 

 for the exhibition in the Museum. As a provisional arrangement 

 five Sub-Committees of sections were appointed to whom it was 

 left to suggest such modifications in classification as might be 

 found advisable. 



The sections were 



1. Mechanics (including pure and applied mathematics). 



2. Physics. 



3. Chemistry (including metallurgy). 



4. Geology, Mineralogy, and Geography. 



5. Biology. 



The Committees for the several sections are given at page xxv. 



The question of classification, having been carefully considered 

 at numerous meetings of these Sub-Committees, was brought 

 before the general Committee on the i2th May, and the several 

 schemes were referred to a special Sub-Committee, formed of 

 three members from each sectional Sub-Committee. It was also 

 decided to postpone the exhibition, which it was originally in- 

 tended to open in June, 1875, to March, 1876. The large number 



