Notes and Comments, 53 



SIR HENRY H. HOWORTH. 



In his letter Sir Henry writes : — ' It was an act of un- 

 paralleled impertinence and absurdity when the Chief Officer 

 of Works, who did not come himself, sent his myrmidons to 

 inspect and to claim to initiate the taking over of the place, 

 the movement of its contents, and the alteration of the building 

 without the permission of the Trustees, which has never been 

 given. I ought to know, for I am one of them. It would be, 

 in fact, a gross breach of trust (not the first that some of them 

 have committed) if they were to consent. Their Act of Parlia- 

 ment behind which they stand absolutely forbids the removal 

 of any of the contents of the Museum, and if they consent it 

 will be at their peril. I am speaking by the book. It is to 

 be hoped that at the earliest moment after Parliament meets 

 the whole question will be raised in* the House of Commons 

 and a vote taken. If it were to be followed by some resignations 

 the skies would not weep.' 



THE SCIENCE MUSEUM. 



As a contrast, we have the news that the Science Museum 

 at South Kensington, which was closed some time ago, has 

 again been opened to the public. It will be remembered that 

 the then Prime Minister, for some reason best known to himself, 

 closed, or partially closed, some of the London Museums. It 

 was also hinted that this action might be followed in the 

 provinces. The suggestion was so much respected that we 

 believe not a single provincial museum has closed its doors, 

 though most of them are working with a minimum staff. The 

 reopening of the Science Museum seems to be an indication 

 that the provinces were right, and that our London leaders .vere 

 wrong. 



SORBY SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 



From the first of January, two old established societies — -the 

 Sheffield Naturalists' Club (founded 1870) and the Sheffield 

 Microscopical Society (founded 1877) — cease to be as separate 

 societies. The members have joined forces, and, under the 

 title of ' The Sorby Scientific Society,' the work of the two 

 societies will be carried out, but on broader lines, which modern 

 developments have made desirable. We should like to con- 

 gratulate our friends on adopting the name of Sheffield's 

 greatest scientist for the amalgamated society, and we believe 

 the members of the new Society will aspire to the standard 

 of excellence which the name of Sorby warrants. 



NORTHUMBERLAND FISHES. 



From Mr. George Bolam we have received the first part of a 

 memoir on the ' Fishes of Northumberland and the Eastern 

 Borders,' reprinted from Vol. XXIII. of the ' History of the 



1918 Feb. 1. 



