CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 31 



6. Museum Lectures and Demonstrations. — While the great value of 

 case-to-case explanations was invariably admitted, the difficulty attending 

 any attempt to make a museum demonstration useful to any large number 

 of persons was equally obvious. One most experienced demonstrator had 

 stated tliat the largest number that can receive real benefit from a case- 

 to-case demonstration is about a dozen, and had recommended that the 

 lecture, illustrated by specimens and lantern slides, should be given in an 

 ordinary lecture-room, and a demonstration afterwards in the museum to 

 the smaller number seeking further information. In any case it was most 

 desirable that the demonstrator should be placed on a temporary stand, so 

 that he might see and be seen by his audience. 



7. Tlie Relations between Museums and County Councils. — It having 

 always appeared to him that demonstrations in museums should take a 

 very prominent part in technical education, especially in rural districts, 

 he had been surprised that so little assistance had been given in aid of 

 local collections by County Councils. In order to ascertain what had been 

 done in that direction he had sent out a circular to county council 

 technical education committees, and found that local museums and free 

 libraries had been assisted only in nine cases. The County Council of 

 Cunilierland had been the most liberal, having made a grant of 600^. per 

 annum during the last three years for the purpose of aiding the Corpora- 

 tion of Carlisle to erect a museum, free library, and art school. A grant 

 had also been made to a free library at Whitehaven for the purchase of 

 text-books for the use of students at technical instruction classes, and a 

 grant of 200Z. per annum had been given to the local board of Millom in 

 aid of the free library and technical school at that town. In Westmor- 

 land a grant of 100^. had been made to the Kendal Free Library, and a 

 similar sum had been given for the purchase of books on scientific sub- 

 jects at other centres in the county. In Northumberland 50 per cent, of 

 the cost of technical books for village and other libraries had (under 

 certain conditions) been defrayed. At Leeds grants had been made to 

 the Free Public Libi-ary Committee of the Corporation for the purchase 

 of pictures and books. In Hertfordshire money had been given to free 

 libraries for the purchase of technical books, and in Montgomery grants 

 had been made in two cases. In Surrey no aid had been given to free 

 libraries, but it was proposed to found a museum in connection with 

 buildings for technical education and a reference library. The London 

 County Council had a proposal to aid a certain museum under con- 

 sideration ; and in Dorsetshire the museums at Poole, Dorchester, and 

 Sherborne had all received aid. From some counties no information had 

 yet been received, but enough had been stated to show that there was no 

 insuperable obstacle to the application of money intended for technical 

 education to the development of museums. A leading object with the 

 Government was the development of local activity, and he felt convinced 

 that any grants made to local museums and free libraries would tend more 

 than anything else to further that object. 



In conclusion Mr. Peek drew attention to the magnificent museum 

 founded at Oxford by General Pitt-Rivers, the arrangement of which was 

 unique. 



The Chairman thought they were much indebted to Mr. Peek for his 

 paper, and invited remarks thereon. 



Sir John Evans said that Mr. Peek had left little for anyone to add. 

 The card catalogue would commend itself to everyone on account of the 



