D. C. Danielssen. 



23 



having been replaced by new ones, remained leaders of the Museum 

 business till 1849. when they lost their two most active members 

 by the death of Christie and bishop Neumann. To replace them 

 and complete the number of managers, 4 new men were chosen in 

 1850. of whom Michael Sars, curate of a neighbouring country 

 parish. later professor at Kristiania, deserves to be mentioned. 

 Sars had already gained a European reputation by his exeellent 

 works on zoology. but was then living at Manger, and consequently 

 was only able to give assistance by sending in eontributions to 

 the natur al histoiy collections. Under the new regime there was no 

 natural head as Christie had been. Although the members were 

 energetic about the museum, still there was no one who by know- 

 ledge and authority could occupy the chief positron, and dissensions 

 soon sprang up. especially with Koren, partly caused by the new 

 president AV. ChristieV) somewbat pedantic interpretation of the cura- 

 tor's detailed instructions. These dissensions led to the appointment 

 of an assistant curator. Peter Hysing. who for a yearly salary of 

 8 £, was to take charge of the antiquities, and act as guide to 

 all visiting the museum on the days of admission now introduced; 

 On these days, however. only members and strangers were admitted, 

 whilst the townsfolk who were not members could only be admitted 

 by paying as large a sum as that annually paid by members, and 

 for which they obtained a certain number of tickets. 



Although from 1830 the museum had received state grants, at 

 first £ 22 a year out of the public education fund. afterwards the 

 same amount from the Treasury, and from 1844 — 45. £ 90 from the 

 government, still it went on till 1850 as a semi-private collection. 

 of which the chief benefit was that it acted as a place for the 

 safe storage of the remains of the past, which otherwise would 

 have been lost. as they were but little valued by the people 

 in town or country, where they were to be found. The great 

 importance of a museum — as a means of spreading knowledge 



Mv. W. Christie. Chief Customs-collector, was a brother of the 

 deceased County Sheriffs, and had heen for several years a memoer of 

 the board of directors. He Avas also. during the time Danielssen was presi- 

 dent, chairman of the antiquarian section. and did good service in the art 

 departmeut and the collection of coins. After the county-sheriff s death his 

 son AV. M. Christie was elected along with Sars. 



