XVlil INTRODUCTION. 



them, will reward them for the labours which they have 

 ungrudgingly devoted to it. 



In order to make the Collection as useful and interesting 

 as possible, a Handbook containing introductory notices to 

 the several sections has been prepared. For writing these 

 notices the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education 

 have been fortunate in securing the services of gentlemen 

 the mention of whose names will be a sufficient indication 

 of the character of the work. These gentlemen are 



Capt. W. de W. Abuey, R.E. ; Mr. N. Story Maskelync, M.A., 

 Professor W. Kingdon Clifford, M. A., I F.R.S. 



F.R.S. i Professor J. Clerk Maxwell, M.A., 



Capt. J. E. Davis. F.R.S. 



Professor G. Carey Foster, B.A., Mr. R. H. Scott, M.A., F.R.S. 



F.R.S. J Professor H. J. S. Smith, M.A., 

 Professor Geikie, F.R.S. 

 Professor Goodeve, M.A. 



Professor Guthrie, F.R.S. 

 Professor T. H. Huxley, LL.D., 



F.R.S. 

 Mr. W. Warington Smyth, M.A., 



F.R.S. 

 Mr. H. C. Sorby, F.R.S. 



Secretary of the Royal Society^ | Mr. W. Spottiswoode, M.A., LL.D., 



Mr. J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S. F.R.S. 



Professor MacLeod. j Dr. W. H. Stone. 



Mr. Clements Markham, C.B., j Professor P. G. Tait, M.A. 



F.R.S. | 



It had been originally proposed to exhibit the Collection 

 of Scientific Apparatus in the South Kensington Museum ; 

 but various circumstances, which could not be foreseen, 

 having rendered it necessary to abandon this intention, 

 Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, 

 most liberally placed the galleries on the western side of the 

 Horticultural Gardens at the disposal of the Science and 

 Art Department. Though, unfortunately, these galleries 

 are disconnected from the Kensington Museum, they are 

 admirably adapted to the present purpose, and afford an 

 accommodation which could not otherwise have been ob- 

 tained. 



By order, 



F. R. SANDFORD, 



Secretary, Committee of Council 

 on Education. 



