24 MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 



there are frequent references to the condition of the 

 Museum, which was always in the perfection of order 

 and cleanliness, MacGillivray's predominating views 

 as to museums being that the order should be 

 strictly scientific, and that everything should be kept 

 scrupulously clean. During his whole tenure of office 

 he seems to have been allowed an almost autocratic 

 privilege in having his views carried out, the result 

 always being the entire satisfaction of the College. 



At last the termination of his career as Conservator 

 of the Museum seems to have come about rather 

 abruptly. It is recorded in a minute of the College of 

 16th March 1841 that the President had received a 

 letter from MacGillivray, informing him that he had 

 heard from the Marquis of Normanby that he had been 

 appointed to the professorship of " Civil and Natural 

 History " in Marischal College, Aberdeen, and that he 

 accordingly resigned the conservatorship of the Museum, 

 as from the last day of April following, by which time 

 he said he hoped it would be in perfect order for a 

 successor. 



The minute of the College of 21st April following 

 bears that, on the motion of the President, Dr. Huie, 

 seconded by Dr. Maclagan, the College " unanimously 

 resolved to put on record the high sense which they 

 entertain of the value and efficiency of Mr. MacGilli- 

 vray's services as Conservator of the Museum of the 

 College for the last ten years, and to convey to him 

 through their President their sincere congratulations 

 on his appointment to the professorship of Civil and 



