34 



seum, flourishing as a Museum of Natural History, will rally 

 around ns Antiquarians also, whereby the benefit will be much 

 increased and much public advantage gained. I have to 

 tender the grateful thanks of the town to the members of the 

 Natural History Society and the other gentlemen for their 

 great labours, and especially to the President (Dr. Fitzgerald), 

 the Rev. Mr. Acland and the Secretary (Mr. Ullyett), and I 

 trust that their exertions will long be appreciated and enjoyed. 

 It is gratifying also to see the collections of several of our 

 townspeople and friends, and a careful inspection of the col- 

 lection of Mr. Robinson, which is before us, will be well 

 repaid — much honour is due to all and richly are all deserving 

 of the best thanks of the town. I do thank you all, and with 

 best and hearty wishes for success, I declare this Public Mu- 

 seum for the town of Folkestone to be duly opened. 



Dr. FitzGerald said on looking round the room he could 

 do no less than congratulate the whole town on the formal 

 opening of the Museum, and he could do so the more heartily 

 because he knew the heap of dirty rubbish which had been 

 brought into the shape they saw before them ; he had nothing 

 to do with the work himself. In the first place he thought 

 the thanks of the town were due to the Mayor and Corpora- 

 tion, who had made a very liberal grant of money to prepare 

 the place for the reception of the articles ; the Town Clerk 

 had also made his best exertions in the matter, in fact he had 

 been indefatigable ; to Mr. Springall, the Town Surveyor, 

 they also owed a deep debt of thanks, and they were under a 

 very heavy obligation to Mr. Acland, who had used his utmost 

 exertions, and with the able assistance of thei- excellent 

 Secretary (Mr. Ullyett), had been able so far to complete the 

 work. They had also a great deal of assistance from several 

 other members, amongst whom were several ladies. He 

 might mention that they hoped in time to have room to add 

 an antiquarian branch to the Museum, which was a study that 

 greatly interested many, and would increase the attractions of 

 the place. (Applause). 



Mr. W. G. S. Harrison (the Town Clerk) said he had 

 been asked by the Mayor to give the Meeting a little idea of 

 how they became possessed of a Town Museum. In the town, 

 lived some years ago a gentleman of the name of Samuel J. 

 Mackie, who devoted the greater portion of his time to making 



