Museums. 341 



Note on the Sudbury Mechanics* Museum. By T. B. Hall, Esq. 



The foundation of Museums of Natural History in provincial towns 

 cannot fail of being a source of interest to all lovers of science ; and 

 I have great pleasure in being able to record the formation of two ve- 

 ry creditable museums in the counties of Suffolk and Essex. They 

 each occupy very handsome buildings, erected expressly for the pur- 

 pose. The one of which I intend to give a short account in the pre- 

 sent article, is the Sudbury Mechanics' Museum ; the other is situated 

 at Chelmsford, a notice of which I shall reserve for a future number 

 of 'The Zoologist' 



Having been applied to on behalf of the Chelmsford Museum, to 

 present a series of land and fresh-water shells, and feeling a strong 

 desire to assist the Sudbury Museum, on account of the hospitality 

 and kindness which I have experienced from the members on various 

 occasions ; I made a point of visiting the museums for the purpose 

 of seeing whether donations would be duly appreciated, and proper 

 care taken of them; and I have much pleasure in being able to state, 

 that from the zeal with which they are carried on, I am confident 

 that any donations would be gratefully received and acknowledged, 

 and cases w^ould be provided for them, so that they might be suitably 

 exhibited. * 



I cannot here help giving an extract from a letter which I have 

 received from Mr. W. D. King, the President of the Sudbury Mecha- 

 nics' Museum, as it fully explains the motives that prompted those 

 who were most active in the formation of it. This gentleman, in a 

 letter to me dated the 20th of September, states that " its founders 

 were actuated by a wish to excite amongst all classes (and the work- 

 ing classes in particular) habits of attention to the works of Nature, 

 which might afford them rational and instructive amusement. They 

 considered that whilst in the present day a strong and just feeling of 

 regret prevails, that the working man's leisure hours should be spent 

 in the depraved but exciting pleasures of the ale-house, too little at- 

 tention is given to the very important object of providing for those 

 leisure hours employment at once instructive to the man, and in which 

 his wife and his family may participate. Nor were they without a 

 hope that the collections might gradually acquire a local interest and 

 value, which would render them additionally attractive. Encouraged 



* Subscriptions and donations will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, \V. 

 Warner, Friars' Street, or by W. D. King, at the Bank of Alexander and Co. 



