1839.] Memoranda on the Museum of the Asiatic Society. 415 



Art. IX. — Memoranda on the Museum of the Asiatic Society. By 

 Dr. M'Clelland. 



A Museum may be considered in the light of a philosophical book, in 

 which language is represented by works of nature and art. If system 

 be important in common undertakings, in a Museum it is every thing ; 

 and not only should every object be placed according to the position it 

 occupies in the history of art, or in the system of nature, but the 

 very apartments in which the collections are placed, and the cabinets, 

 and even the glasses in which they are contained, should be con- 

 formable to some general plan, as much as possible in imitation of 

 the simplicity of nature. To be able to adopt a plan, requires that we 

 should have something to work upon ; and in proposing a plan for 

 the guidance of future operations in the Museum, we cannot be 

 too grateful to those who have by their exertions, within a compara- 

 tively short space of time, put us in possession of our present instruc- 

 tive and respectable collections. 



To Captain Herbert and Mr. Calder we are not only indebted for ex- 

 tensive geological and mineralogical collections, but as being among the 

 first contributors to the Society's collection of natural objects, which 

 may be said to have commenced in 1828 with the revival of the Phy- 

 sical Committee. 



Although a brief space of ten years has only elapsed since our 

 Museum of Natural History was first formed, yet more changes have 

 taken place in that short period among those who have taken an active 

 part in its management, than in any similar European establishment in 

 half a century. 



This is one reason why a set of rules should be adopted by which the 

 steady advancement of the Museum may be secured ; and another rea- 

 son for such rules, is the growing importance of the collection itself; 

 which requires on the part of the Society a stricter surveillance over the 

 establishment entrusted with its management than formerly. 



Before proposing rules it is necessary to explain the different pur- 

 poses they are required to answer. 



On the subject of Cabinets, it is necessary that they should be 

 chosen with strict attention to the appearance and convenience of 

 the Museum. They should be of two kinds, namely, glass cases for 

 walls, and tables with glazed covers for the centre of the rooms, of 

 the pattern proposed by Mr. Jameson, in imitation of the Edinburgh 

 Museum. 



The first description of cases fitted up with shelves will answer for 



