344 On the Educational Uses of Museums. 
Theirs, no more than ours, in this museum and school, are not 
mere duties of routine, office, clerkship, or limited hours. There 
is no off-duty ; the head must work whilst the eyes are open if 
our task is to be well and thoroughly done. 
Whilst the collections here displayed are mainly confined to 
the mineral products of the British islands, there is one depart- 
ment in this building, represented at present by three or four wall- 
cases, that I cannot refer to without the deepest interest, insignifi- 
cant though it may now seem. I allude to that of Colonial Ge- 
ology. ‘The idea of it is to exhibit the mineral products of each 
of our colonies separately, the evidences of their geological con- 
stitution, and the indications of their mineral wealth. Sucha dis- 
play would be more than a curious and interesting illustration of 
though not worthless display, and endeavored to make it the text 
of conversation and advice. Surely it would be worthy of a 
