314 President Bentham’s Address at the 
nual proceeds of a sufficiently large inalienable capital. In 
America, as in Europe, almost every Natural History Society, 
small or large, begins by contemplating the formation of a Mu- 
seum, undefined as to limits; contributions are invited and dona- 
tions thankfully received from every quarter, without reference 
to value or practical utility. At first, whilst the Librarian, See- 
retary, or other manager takes a personal interest in the arrange- 
ment and exhibition of the objects received, when donors can 
bring their friends to see their contributions displayed on shelves 
or in glass cases with their own names paraded on the cards, 
when most of the members of the Society have the new feeling 
of a personal share in the ownership of the collections, when 
the number of specimens received is blazoned fortb as a matter 
of pride and gratification, these incipient museums may have 
considerable influence in stimulating collectors and observers of 
nature. But r a time these collections outgrow the Societys 
means, the specimens which may required for study or com- 
parison are encumbered by a mass of trash presented by persons 
who do not know what else to do with it, or who have attached 
a false value to the fruits of their own labors, the permanent 
officer can no longer have time to select for exhibition what 18 
worthy of it, nor to arrange those which might be available for 
reference, and the Society cannot afford to maintain the neces: 
staff of keepers, even if they have a building large enough for 
the purpose. Packages and specimens ar 
of things, it may be felt that something must be done; the gr 
tuitous aid of patriotic members is called in, and the museum 
tous aid period; but when its present stores are doubled or — 
, When the thirteen or fourteen unpaid curators jr us 
only give their whole time to it, but require each of them ome 
‘oF more assistants to do the work usefully, it will not be done ® 
