36 Biographical Memoir of 
one whole day to the industrious artizans of the city only, ° 
which gave him much delight. 
The following extracts from his evidence before the Royal 
Commission, the one on the History of the Museum, the other 
on the funds, confirm what has just been said :— 
History of the Museum from the year 1804 to 1826. 
** On my appointment to the chair of Natural History in this Uni- 
versity, in the year 1804, the Museum was so inconsiderable, that 
the whole of the articles were contained in a few eases. The speci- 
mens were of birds, serpents, minerals, and dresses and weapons of 
savage nations. ‘The birds were in so decayed a state, that I was 
forced very soon to throw them out, and thus the original collection 
was reduced to a few glasses of serpents, a small collection of mine- 
rals, and the arms and dresses already mentioned. The collection 
of natural history of my predecessor, Dr Walker, which contained 
many interesting objects of natural history, was removed from the 
college by Dr Walker’s trustees. I placed my own collection of 
natural history in the Museum, and continued collecting in always, 
as far as my influence, and the funds in my possession, would admit 
of, from 1804 to 1819. I even found the accommodation too small, 
and therefore applied to the Town-Council for further accommoda- 
tion. This was granted to me, and a very spacious and handsome 
Museum was fitted up for the reception of the articles of natural 
history. During this period the Museum was also materially en- 
riched by the addition of a collection of minerals and books (the 
latter of which have since been placed in the College Library), left 
to the University by the late Dr Thomson of Palermo, and by the 
collection of minerals of the late celebrated Dr Hutton of Edinburgh. 
In the year 1807, on my suggestion, an application was made to the 
King for His Majesty’s permission to have circulated from the dif- 
ferent public offices, printed instructions for collecting objects of na- 
tural history for the Museum, This request was graciously granted, 
and those instructions were speedily widely circulated, and have 
proved most beneficial to the Museum. The collection towards the 
close of this period had increased so much that I was forced, as before 
the fitting up of the second Museum by the Town-Council, to pack 
up the articles of natural history, and stow them away in cellars and 
garrets, every case being literally crammed with specimens. It was 
now necessary to look out for another Museum, and fortunately the 
buildings in the New College, intended for the Natural History de- 
partment, were in progress. I stated to the Commissioners for the 
College Buildings my wants, and the certainty of the destruction of 
many of the specimens, if kept much longer packed up in the man- 
ner already mentioned. The Commissioners being convinced of the 
urgency of my demands, gave orders for the speedy finishing of the 
splendid halls and galleries of the New Museum. During the fitting 
