Jan. 13, 1887] 



NA TURE 



253 



Objects were gradually collected, and when the Depart- 

 ment was removed to South Kensington in 1S5S these 

 objects were, for the first time, arranged together in the 

 Museum for public inspection. They were mentioned by 

 a House of Commons Committee in i860 as "well worth 

 preserving.'' 



These collections, however, were not developed as 

 much as the Art collections. Some objects were sent 

 away to other establishments ; and for want of space in 

 the South Kensington Museum, the greater portion of the 

 remainder were removed to the galleries on the western 

 side of the Exhibition Road, where they have remained 

 till now. 



But public attention was frequently called to the subject. 



The Royal Commission on Scientific Instruction and 

 the Advancement of Science, in their Fourth Report 

 (1874), treated somewhat largely of these collections ; 

 they noticed many interesting objects which they con- 

 tained, but they pointed out the striking contrast between 

 them and other British National collections. They ex- 

 pressed their regret that there was no National collection 

 of the instruments used in the investigation of mechanical, 

 chemical, or physical laws, although such collections 

 were of great importance to persons interested in the 

 experimental sciences. This defect in our collections 

 was, they said, already keenly felt by teachers of science, 

 and high authorities had assured them that, on the Con- 

 tinent, collections of scientific apparatus, when combined 

 with lectures accessible to workmen, had exerted a very 

 beneficial influence on the development of the skill of 

 artisans. 



The Commission suggested, in conclusion, that the 

 collections should be completed and consolidated, and 

 placed under the authority of a Minister of State. 



In 1876 a. Loan Collection of Scientific Instruments and 

 Apparatus was exhibited in the galleries of the Horti- 

 cultural Gardens. It excited much attention, and a 

 memorial was presented to the Lord President, signed by 

 140 of the best known men of science in the country, 

 suggesting that it might be utilised in the formation of a 

 National Science Museum. Some of the objects were 

 left in the care of the Department, but no general action 

 was taken. 



The question of the development of the Science Col- 

 lections of the Department remained in abeyance till 

 1 88 1, when the Lord President, Earl Spencer, stating 

 that "' the importance of having a Museum for Scientific 

 Apparatus was amply established,' set on foot a series of 

 inquiries to which we proceed to refer. 



15. For the purpose of these inquiries, the existing col- 

 lections were divided into six heads : — Objects for the 

 illustration of Science generally ; Naval Models ; Objects 

 illustrating Building Construction ; Objects bearing on 

 Fish Culture ; Educational Objects ; and Mechanical 

 Objects. 



Committees, composed of persons having specific 

 knowledge in each of these branches, were appointed to 

 examine the several collections, and expressed opinions 

 on their condition, on the development which it would be 

 advisable to give to them, and on the space required. 



As copies of the Reports on each head are reprinted in 

 an Appendix (B), it will suffice to give here a general 

 outline of the opinions and recommendations they 

 contain. 



Collections of Objects for the Illustration of Scietice 

 generally 



16. The Committee consisted of Mr. Wm. Spottiswoode, 

 President of the Royal Society, Professors Frankland, 

 Goodeve, Guthrie, Huxley, Judd, Chandler Roberts, and 

 Warington Smyth, Mr. Norman Lockyer, and the chief 

 officers of the Science Department. They expressed the 

 opinion that this question was of great importance in 

 relation to the education, the industry, and the science of 



the country ; they reported that the present collection 

 was suitable for a nucleus of the contemplated Museum, 

 and they recommended an examination, by the several 

 Professors and other members of the Council of the 

 Norma! School, of the various classes of apparatus and 

 appliances relating to their own subjects respectively. 



This examination was afterwards undertaken by a 

 Committee of the various Professors, and the results, as 

 already stated, are given in the Reports. Recommenda- 

 tions were made as to the objects in each department of 

 science, and the following estimate was given of space 

 necessary to be provided : — 



Chemistry 



Physics ... 



Mechanics 



Metallurgy 



Geology and Mineralogy 



.\stronomy. Meteorology, and Geography 



Agriculture 



Biology ... 



Square feet 

 6000 

 6000 

 5000 

 2500 

 2500 

 7000 

 4000 

 4000 



37,000 



The Committee also estimated that a further space of 

 3000 square feet (making 40,000 in all) would probably 

 be sufficient for any reasonable increase within ten years. 



Naval Models 



17. A Committee consisting of Lord Ravensworth, Sir 

 E. J. Reed, K.C.B., M.P., Mr. W. Baskcomb, Mr. J. H. 

 Morrison, and Mr. Joseph D. A. Samuda, considered 

 this collection, and reported on it on March i, 1883. 

 They expressed a strong opinion as to the utility of such 

 a collection, gave some general suggestions upon it, and 

 proposed to have it carefully examined in detail. 



This examination was carried out, and on April 4, 1883, 

 the Committee based upon it a statement that a space of 

 10,500 square feet was at once required, and that 10,000 

 square feet additional should be provided for the increase 

 during the next ten years, making 20,500 square feet 

 in all. 



Structural Collection 



iS. The Committee for this consisted of Mr. (now Sir) 

 Charles Hutton Gregory, Past-President of the Institution 

 of Civil Engineers, Mr. G. E. Street, President of the 

 Royal Institute of British Architects, Mr. James .Aber- 

 nethy. President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 

 and Major H. C. Seddon, R.E., Examiner for the Science 

 and Art Department in Building Construction. They 

 reported, in 1881, that this collection was of great value 

 in many respects, and recommended its maintenance, 

 revision, and development. 



In July 1883 another Committee, consisting of Mr. C. 

 H. Gregory, Mr. Horace Jones, President of the Royal 

 Institute of British Architects, Mr. James Brunlees, Pre- 

 sident of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and Major 

 Seddon, took up the matter. They put forward detailed 

 proposals in regard to the constitution and arrangement 

 of the collection, and gave an estimate of 15,000 square 

 feet of floor-space for it, to be increased to 25,000 square 

 feet in ten years. 



Fish Culture 



ig. The Committee for this collection were Prof. Hu.xley 

 (Government Inspector of Fisheries), Sir J. R. G. Mait- 

 land, Bart., -Mr. E. Birkbeck, and Dr. Francis Day. 



They expressed the opinion that it was highly desirable 

 that the existing specimens should be developed into an 

 economic Fish .Museum, and they estimated about 5000 

 square feet as the space required. 



Educational Objects 

 20. The Committee for this were Dr. J. H. Gladstone, 

 Rev. J. W. Sharpe, Mr. J. S. Fitch, Mr. J. Iselin, and 

 Mr. H. A. Bowler. 



