98 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The accumulation of valuable objects in the Museum, far 

 exceeding the space available for their preservation, to say- 

 nothing of display, caused the Council a good deal of anxiety. 

 In 1841 the lease of the house in Leicester Square was given 

 up, the collections were stored in a warehouse in Dufour's Place» 

 Broad Street, Golden Square, and the offices were transferred to 

 57, Pall MalL The collections were valued by J. 0. Westwood 

 and John Gould, the former taking the insects, and the latter all 

 the rest. In round numbers the valuation came out at £11,000, 

 of which the insects counted for £1,000. Gould appended a 

 short report, to the effect that the prices affixed were those of 

 the various objects or groups from a scientific point of view; 

 adding : 



Their value is of course greatly enhanced by the many nearly complete 

 series of interesting and rare animals, and from their being in numerous- 

 instances the originals of the species characterised in the Society's Trans- 

 actions and Proceedings, besides comprising the entire collections of the 

 founders of the Society, Sir Thomas Stamford Raflfles and Mr. Vigors, 

 to which have been added the invaluable collections formed by Mr. Darwin 

 and others. 



This report, together with a statement of the history of the 

 Museum, was presented to a Special General Meeting at Willis's 

 Rooms on May 20, 1841, convened " to take the whole subject of 

 the Museum into consideration, for the purpose of determining 

 upon its ultimate destination." The attendance was very large,. 

 and the subject was fully discussed. Several resolutions were 

 passed by an overwhelming majority; the principal were: 



That the Society cannot divest itself of its scientific character, sa 

 essential to its dignity and respectability, without violating the Charter 

 of Incorporation. 



That the Museum is a necessary and intrinsic part of the Scientific 

 Establishment, which it is essential should be perpetuated, the origin of 

 which is contemporary with that of the Society itself, which was formed by 

 the munificence of our original founders,* enlarged by the donations of 

 numerous correspondents in all parts of the world, and heretofore invari- 

 ably recognised by every successive Council as an indispensable object of 

 the Institution. 



A committee was appointed, which reported to a Special 

 Meeting on July 10, and the recommendations were published 

 in the Council's Report of April 29, 1842. Their purport may 



* Sir Stamford Raffles and Mr. Vigors, See Gould's report, ante. 



