388 



NA rURE 



[August i6, 1894 



ihe subject would be promoted by an amalgamation of the two 

 societies. Many dilncullies, chiefly, as is usual in suchcase°, of 

 a persotial nature, had lo be overcame, one of the principal 

 being the selection of a name for the united society. It was 

 generally felt that ".Anthropological" would be most appro- 

 priate, but the members of the old Ethnological Society could 

 not bring themselves absolutely to sink the fact of their priority 

 of existence, and all that they had done for science for so many 

 years, by merging their society into that of their younger and 

 active rivals ; so after much discussion a compromise 

 was effected, and the new organisation which arose 

 from the coalescence of the two societies adopted 

 the rather cumbrous title of "Anthropological Institute 

 of Great Britain and Ireland." This was in 1871, and 

 since that period, the Society, as it is to all intents 

 and purposes both in structure and function, has pur- 

 sued a peaceful and useful course of existence, holding meetings 

 at stated periods throughout the session, at which papers are 

 read and subjects of interest to anthropologists exhibited and 

 discussed. It has also published a quarterly journal, which has 

 been the principal means in this counlrv of communicating new 

 information upon such subjects. The Institute has for twenty- 

 three years ptrformed this duly in a business-like and unosten- 

 tatious manner, the only remarkable circumstance connected 

 with its history being the singular want of interest taken by the 

 outside world in its proceedings, considering their intrinsic im- 

 portance to society, especially in an empire like ours, which 

 more than any other affords a field for the study of man, under 

 almost every aspect of diversity of race, climate, and culture. 

 At the present time it numbers only 305 ordinary members, 

 whose subscriptions afford barely sufficient means lo maintain 

 the libiaiy and journal in a stale of tfficiency. The kindred 

 Geographical and Zoological Sucielies have lespectively 3775 

 and 29S5 fello»s, so far greater is the interest taken in the 

 surface of the eaith itself, and in the animals which dwell upon 

 it, than in its human inhabitants ! 



Societies similar in their olject to that the history of which 

 I have just .'kelched have sprung up, and are now in a more or 

 less flourishing condition, in every civilised country of the 

 world. But confining our retrospect to our own country, we 

 may take a glance at what has been done in recent years to 

 promote the organised study of Anlbropolngy otherwise than by 

 means of this .-Kssocialion (10 which I shall refer again later) or 

 the Socicly of which I have just spoken. 



One of the most potent means of registering facts, and making 

 them available for future study and reference, is to be found in 

 actual collections of tangible objects. To very considerable 

 branches of anthropolrgical science this method of fixing the 

 evidence upon which our knowledge of the subject is based is 

 particul.irly applicable. These branches ate mainly two, very 

 distinct from each other, and each representing one of Ihe prin- 

 cipal sides in which Anthropology presents itself. 



I. Collections illustrating the physical structure of man, and 

 its variations in the different races. 



II. Collections showing his characteristic customs and methods 

 of living, his arts, arms and costumes, as developed under different 

 circumstances and also modified by different racial conditions. 



It is very rarely that th<.se two are combined in one general 

 arrangemen', ami they are almost always studieil ai)art, the 

 characteristics of mind, Ihe general education and special 

 training which are required lor Ihe successful cultivation of 

 either being rarely combined in a single individual ; and yet 

 the complete history of any race of mankind, especially with 

 regard lo iis relation to other races, must be based upon a 

 knowlerlge both of lis physical and psychical characteristics, 

 and customi, habits, language, and tradition largely help, whco 

 anatomical characters fail lo separate and define. 



The anthropological museums of this country, as well as else- 

 where, are all of recent growth, and Ihey arc making progress 

 everywhere with steadily accelerating speed. This cannot be 

 better illustrated ihan in the place where we are at the present 

 time. Many of those who arc now in this room can remember 

 when the materials for the study of cilhcr branch of the subject 

 in Oxford were absolutely nonexistent. I can myself recall the 

 lime when the iilc of the handsome budding which now houses 

 the .scientific trcasurrs of the Universiiy was a bare field. All 

 who know ihc modern his'ory of Oxford must be aware ihat il 

 w : .; lo the enthusiastic zeal and steady perscvcr- 



.Ti f scientific cibicaiion of one who is happily 



sti s •■ ■ '■'; veteran Kegius Profcisor of Medicine, .Sir 



Henry Acland, that that building was eiecled. The possession 

 of a well-selected and representative collection illustrating the 

 anatomical characters of the human species is chiefly owing to 

 the energetic labours of Prof. Rolleslon, one of the brightest 

 and noblest of Oxford's sons, a man of whom I cannot speak 

 without feelings of Ihe strongest affection and most profound 

 regret for his untimely loss to the University and the world. 



The collection illustrating the arts and customs of primitive 

 people the University owes lo the ingenuity and munificence of 

 General Pilt-Rivers, who not only provided thematerialon which 

 it is based, but also the original and unique scheme of arrange- 

 ment, which adds so greatly to its value as a means of educa- 

 tion, and is so admirably calculated to awaken an interest in 

 the subject, even in the minds of the most superficial visitor. In 

 speaking thus of the method of displaying the Pitt-Rivers col- 

 lection, I must not be supposed to imply any disparagement of 

 others arranged on different plans. Provided there is a de- 

 finite and consistent arrangement of some sort, it is well that 

 there should be a diversity in the treatment of different collec- 

 tions, and for such a vast and exhaustive collection as that 

 under the care of SirWollaston Franks, at the British Museum, 

 the geographical system which has been adopted is certainly 

 the best. In it every specimen of whatever nature at once 

 finds a place, in which it can at any lime be discovered and 

 recognised. 



In referring lo our great national collection, I cannot refrain 

 from saying that there seemed till lately to be only one element 

 wanting to make it all that could be desired, and that w.is 

 space, not only for the proper preservation and exhibition of 

 what it already contains, but also f r its inevitable future 

 expansion. The provisiun in this respect was totally inadequate 

 to do justice to the importance of the subjtct. Happily this 

 consideration will be no longer a bar to the development of ihe 

 collection. The provident action of the authorities of the 

 Museum, aided by Ihe liberality of the Duke of Bedford, and 

 the wisdom of Iler M.-ijesly's Government, has secured for many 

 years 10 come the necessary room for the expansion of the 

 grandest of our national institutions. 



More modem even than museums has been ihe intioduction 

 of any systematic teaching of Anthropology into this country. 

 This is certainly most remarkable, considering that there is no 

 nation to v\hich the subject is of such great iniporiance. Its 

 importance to those who have to rule — and there are few of us 

 now who are not called upon to bear our share of the responsi- 

 bilities of government — can scarcely be overestimated in an 

 Empire like this, the population of which, as I have just said, is 

 composed of examples of almost every diversity under which 

 the human body and mind can manifest itself. The physical 

 characteristics of race, so strongly marked in many cases, are 

 probably always associated with equally or m( re diverse charac- 

 teristics of temper and intellect. In fad, even when the physical 

 divergences are weakly shuwn, as in the different races which 

 contribute to make up the home portion of the Eniiiire, the 

 mental and moral characteristics are slill most strongly marked. 

 As the wise physician will not only study the particular kind of 

 disease under which his i).iiicnl is suffering before nclministering | 

 the approved remedies for such disease, but will also take 1 

 into careful account the peculiar idiosyncrasy and inheriied , 

 tendencies of the indiviilual, which so greatly modify both 

 Ihe course of the disease and the action of remedies, to I 

 it is absolutely necessary for the statesman who would | 

 govern successfully, not lo look upon human nature in Ihe 

 abstract and endeavour to apply universal lules, but to con- 

 sider the special moral, intellectual, and social capabilities, j 

 wants, and aspir.al ions of each particular race with which hci 

 has lo deal. A form of government uniicr which one race 

 would live happily an<l piospennisly may to another be the 

 cause of uncnduralile misery. All tliese questions then should i 

 be carefully studied by those who have any shore in the govern-; 

 ment of piople belonging to races alien to themselves. A| 

 knowledge of their special chnractcis and relations to onc«n-i 

 other has a more practical object than the mere satisfaction ofi 

 scientific curiosily; it is a knowledge upon which the happiness^ 

 and prosperity or the reverse of millions of our fcllow-cieatuiesi 

 may depend. The ignorance ollcn shown upon these subjects.^ 

 even in so select an assembly as ihc House ol Commons, wouli' 

 be luilicroHsif it were not liable lo lead to disastrous results. 



Now lei us consider what, amiil all the complex, diverse, am 

 costly machinery of education in this country, is being done l< 

 satisfy the demands for such knowledge. \Vc may say at once 



NO. 1294, VOL. 50] 



