MUSEUMS. 311 



the rare and valuable productions which are found 

 in far distant parts of the globe. 



When I visit Leeds, I generally spend an hour in 

 Calvert's Museum, where I never fail to be highly 

 gratified. Mr. Calvert is a gun-maker of the first 

 order. I am always lost in admiration when I cast 

 my eyes on the vast collection of treasure which 

 this lover of the arts has brought into the spacious 

 and well-proportioned apartment, built at his own 

 expense, and arranged after his own plan. In con- 

 versing with him on the habits of those animals 

 which have come under his own immediate notice, 

 I perceive something so true, so pertinent, and so 

 straightforward in his observations, that I always 

 feel regret when I see by my watch it is time for 

 me to depart. 



It has been remarked by some, who have con- 

 versed with me on this new process of preparing 

 specimens for museums, that it would take up too 

 much time. I am not aware that this would be the 

 case ; for he who is solely occupied in preparing 

 specimens would always contrive to have several on 

 hand at one and the same time. But, even granting 

 that a great portion of his time were spent upon a 

 single animal ; is not one good specimen worth 

 twenty bad ones? Who would fill his gallery full 

 of Holland toys, when he has it in his power to 

 place there statues of the first workmanship ? ' 



Indifferent specimens are admitted into museums 

 only because better cannot be procured : and better 

 will never be procured, until a radical change be 



