TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 123 



On certain Brinciples to he observed in the Establishment of a National Museum 

 of Natural History. By P. L. Sclatee, M.A., F.R.S. 



It having been now finally determined that the natural-history collections of the 

 British Museum shall be removed from their present site to South Kensington, to 

 form the nucleus of a national museum of natural history *, it appears to me that 

 the principles upon which the proposed new institution are to be established and 

 conducted are well worthy of the special and most serious attention of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science. The inaugm-ation of a National Mu- 

 seum of Natural Plistory by one of the nations tliat have contributed most largely 

 to the advancement of the natural sciences is an event that is not likely to recm* 

 very often. If the opportunity thus presented be properly taken advantage of, and 

 the new institution started upon sound piinciples of administration and arrange- 

 ment, there can be no doubt that a most material impetus will be given to the pro- 

 gress of natural science in this country. 



Under these circumstances I think I need hardly apologize for troubling the Sec- 

 tion with a few remarks upon certain points which appear to me to be most essen- 

 tial to be observed in the establishment of a National Museum of Natural History. 

 These, I trust, will at all events provoke discussion, and induce some of the many 

 distinguished natvu-alists present at this_Meeting to turn theif attention to this most 

 important subject. 



The energies of our rulers, especially in these troubled times, are too fully occu- 

 pied with ordinary politics to allow them to bestow much care on such a matter, 

 and unless it be forced on their attention by the British Association, or in some 

 other authoritative manner, the result will be, I fear, that the sj'stem of adminis- 

 tration now followed in the British Museum as regards the Natural-History collec- 

 tions will be transplanted along -with the collections themselves, and the excellent 

 opportunity of a grand reform, which may never again present itself, will be utterly 

 wasted f. 



The remarks which I propose to offer to the Section on this subject may be 

 divided into three heads. First, I will say a few words concerning what appears 

 to me to be the best mode of government of the proposed National Museum of 

 Natural History ; secondly, I will speak of the form of building which in my 

 opinion ought to be adopted ; and lastly of the arrangement of the collections 

 within that building. 



I. Of the form of Government of the National Museum of Natural History. 

 On this part of my subject I shall make but few remarks, having regard to the 

 fact that, in common with many other of my fellow naturalists, I strongly com- 

 mitted myself on this point some years ago, and have in nowise changed my views 

 since that period. In the memorial, of which I hold a copy in my hands, and which 

 was presented to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1866, having been sig-ned by 

 25 leading members of the Royal, Linuean, Geological, and Zoological Societies, it 

 wiU be found to be stated that in our opinion the chief administration of the Na- 

 tional Museum of Natm-al History should be entrusted to one officer, who shall be 

 immediately responsible to some member of the Government. Those who are ac- 

 quainted with the present mode of administration of the natural-history collections 

 in the British Museum wiU, I am sure, readily agree to this proposed reform. It 

 Avill be recollected that the govei-mnent of the British Museum is vested by Act of 



* On the 3rd of August last year a vote of £6000 was proposed in the House of Com- 

 mons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to clear the ground '' for the erection of a Natural- 

 History Museum " on the site of the International Exhibition at South Kensington, and 

 carried, after a division. 



t In the ' ' bill to enable the Trustees of the British Museum to remove portions of their 

 collections," prepared and brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1862, it was 

 proposed to be enacted that the trustees might remove the natural-history collections to 

 Sovith Kensington and certain pictures to the National Gallery. But, in a subsequent 

 clause, it was proposed to be added that " except in so far as was therein before expressed, Clo- 

 thing therein contained should affect the rights, 'powers, duties, or obligations of the trustees of 

 the British Museum.'" At that time, therefore, it was clearly intended to continue the rule 

 of the trustees over the natural-history collections when removed to South Kensington, 



