1856 SCHEME FOR A MUSEUM I47 



Specimens of the Vertebrata, illustrations of Physical Geog- 

 raphy and Stratigraphical Geology, should be placed below. 



The Invertebrata, Botanical and Mineralogical specimens in 

 the galleries. 



The partition to be continued above the galleries to the roof, 

 thus excluding all the dust raised by the public. 



Space for students should be provided in the curators' 

 rooms. 



Storage should be ample. 



A museum of this size gives twice as much area for ex- 

 hibition purposes as that offered by all the cases in the present 

 museum. 



Athen^um Club, D^j:. 8, 1872. 



Dear Sir — I regret that your letter has but just come into 

 my hands, so that my reply cannot be in time for your meeting, 

 which, I understand you to say, was to be held yesterday. 



I have no hesitation whatever in expressing the opinion 

 that, except in the case of large and wealthy towns (and even 

 in their case primarily), a Local Museum should be exactly 

 what its name implies, viz. " Local " — illustrating local Geology, 

 local Botany, local Zoology, and local Archaeology. 



Such a museum, if residents who are interested in these 

 sciences take proper pains, may be brought to a great degree 

 of perfection and be unique of its kind. It will tell both natives 

 and strangers exactly what they want to know, and possess great 

 scientific interest and importance. Whereas the ordinary lum- 

 ber-room of clubs from New Zealand, Hindoo idols, sharks' 

 teeth, mangy monkeys, scorpions, and conch shells — who shall 

 describe the weary inutility of it ? It is really worse than noth- 

 ing, because it leads the unwary to look for the objects of sci- 

 ence elsewhere than under their noses. What they want to 

 know is that their " America is here," as Wilhelm Meister has 

 it— Yours faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Alfred Walker, Esq., Nant-y-GIyn, Colwyn Bay. 



To THE Rev. P. Brodie of Warwick 



Jermyn Street, Oci. 14, I859. 

 My dear Mr. Brodie — I am sorry to say that I can as yet 

 send you no catalogue of ours. The remodelling of our museum 

 is only just completed, and only the introductory part of my 

 catalogue is written. When it is printed you shall have an early 

 copy. 



