56 PHYSIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



PHYSIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



PUBLIC NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS. 



The following corrc spondence has recently passed with the British Chancellor 

 of the Exchequer : — 



" Sir, — As one of a body of working Naturalists deeply interested in the fate of 

 the Natural H story Collections now in the British Museum, I am requested to 

 transmit for your consideration the enclosed Memorial, which we believe to express 

 the views of a large number of persons engaged in the pursuit of science, although 

 it has not been considered necessary to send it round for general signature. "We 

 also understand that it has the full concurrence of Sir William Hooker and others 

 whose official situation prevents their actually joining in it. 



" Should you desire to receive any personal explanation of our views we shall 

 be happy to form a deputation to wait upon you at whatever time you may be 

 pleased to appoint. 



"I have the honour, &o., 

 (Signed) "John Lindlkt." 



To the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 



Sir, — The necessity of the removal of the Natural History Departments frona 

 the British Museum having been recently brought prominently before the Public, 

 and it being understood that the question of their reorganisation in another locality 

 is under consideration, the undersigned Zoologists and Botanists, professionally or 

 otherwise engaged in the pursuit of Natural Science, feel it their duty to lay be- 

 fore Her Majesty's Government the views they entertain as to the arrangements 

 by which National Collections in Natural History can be the best adapted to the 

 twofold object of the advancement of Science, and its general diffusion among the 

 Public— to show how far the Scientific Museums of the Metropolis and its vicinity, 

 in their present condition, answer these purposes, — and to suggest such modifi- 

 cation or additional arrangements as appear requisite to render them more tho- 

 roughly efficient. 



The Sciertific Collections or Museums, whether Zoological or Botanical, required 

 for the objects above stated, may be arranged under the following heads : — 



1. A general and comprehensive Typical or Popular Museum, in which all pro- 

 minent forms or types of Animals and Plants, recent or fossil, should be so dis- 

 played as to give the Public an idea of the vast extent and variety of natural 

 objects, to diffuse a general knowledge of the results obtained by Science in their 

 investigation and classification, and to serve as a general introduction to the 

 Student of Natural History, 



2. A complete Scientific Museum, in which Collections of all obtainable Animals 

 and plants, and their rarts, whether recent or fossil, and of a sufficient number of 

 specimens, should be disposed conveniently for study ; and to which should be ex- 

 clusively attached an appropriate Library, or Collection of Books and Illustrations 

 relating to Science, wholly independent of any general Library. 



S. A comprehensive Economic Museum, in which Economic Products, whether 



