TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 867 
The last sentence has, perhaps, given an indication of my solution of the 
question. The Imperial Institute at South Kensington has now been in existence 
for some time, and has passed through various phases. But its most enthusiastic 
supporters will scarcely claim for it entire success in its mission. Whatever may 
be the underlying causes, it must be admitted that such popular support as it 
possesses is scarcely founded on the performance of its functions as an Imperial 
Institute. It would seem, therefore, that something more is wanted—a more 
definite raison d’étre—than it has at present, and this [ think it will find in being 
converted into such a museum of anthropology as [ have indicated, but, of course, 
as a Government institution I am by no means an advocate of the creation of 
new institutions, if the old ones can adequately do their work, nor do I think that 
anything but ill would result from a general partition of the contents of the British 
Museum. The separation of the natural history from the other collections was 
ainful, though inevitable, and no such severe operation can be performed without 
oss in some direction. But the removal of the ethnographical and anthropological 
collections from the British Museum to the galleries of the Imperial Institute 
would possess so many manifest advantages that the disadvantages need scarcely 
be considered. The Government has already taken over a portion of the building 
for the benefit of the University of London. The remaining portion would provide 
ample accommodation for the anthropological museum, as well as for the com- 
mercial side, that might properly and usefully be continued ; its proximity to the 
natural history branch of the British Museum would render control by the trustees 
easy ; the Indian collections, which formed so important a feature in the scheme 
of 1877, are at this moment under the same roof; and finally the University of 
London has but to found a chair of anthropology, and the whole of the necessary 
conditions of success are fulfilled. 
I have but little doubt that, wherever it might be placed, the creation of a 
distinct department of anthropology would of itself tend to the enrichment of the 
collections. It must be remembered that it is only since 1883, when the Christy 
collection was removed to the British Museum, that the ethnographical collections 
there can claim any kind of completeness. Until then one small room contained 
the few important objects of this kind that had survived from the voyages of 
Cook, Wallis, and the other early voyagers. The public did not expect to find 
ethnography in the British Museum, and it is, in fact, only within the last few 
years that it has been generally realised that a gallery of ethnography exists there. 
If it were placed in such a building as the Imperial Institute, it would still remain 
part of the British Museum, and be under the guardianship of its Trustees; but it 
would obviously command more attention and support from the public than can 
be expected while it remains an integral part of a large institution which has as 
many aims as it has departments. 
I began this address by stating that it would have a practical application. I 
trust that to others it may seem that what I have ventured to suggest is not only 
possible of achievement, but would also be beneficial to the branch of science 
that we represent. I should like to add that, as far as possible, I have tried to 
state the case as it would appear to one who regarded the situation from an 
entirely independent standpoint, and wishing only to discover the most practical 
solution of what must be admitted to be a difficult question. My allegiance to 
the British Museum, however, may well have tinged my views, unnoticed by 
myself. There are many other subjects that might well have formed the subject 
of an address at the present time. On such occasions as these, however, it is, I 
think, advisable to select a subject with especial reference to the needs of the 
time, and I know of nothing that is at the present moment more urgent. in this 
particular direction, and in my judgment it will tend greatly towards the true 
advancement of science, the object we all have at heart. 
