BPJTISH MUSEUM (XATUEAL HISTORY). 
15 
OBJECTS OF THE MUSEUM A^s^D GEXERAL AEEAXGE- 
MEXT OF ITS CONTEXTS. 
Xatueal History is an old term, used to describe tlie study of ^se of the 
all the processes or laws of the Universe, and the results History, 
of the action of those processes or laws upon the materials of 
which it is composed, loliicli are inclcpeiiclent of the agency of 
man.^- 
It is thus contrasted with the history of Man and of his 
works, and the changes which have been wrought in the 
Universe by his intervention. 
This distinction has afforded a convenient and rational 
division of the numerous and multifarious objects collected 
to£{ether in the old building of the Museum at Bloomsburv. 
When it was decided, for the causes described in the previous 
chapter, to effect a separation of the collections, those that were 
XDurely the products of what are commonly called " natural " 
forces were removed to the new building at South Kensington, 
while all those wdiich showed in any way the impress of that 
powerful agency introduced into the world at a comparatively 
late period of its history, the intelligence of Man, remained at 
Bloomsbury. 
Processes or laws cannot, however, be satisfactorily demon- 
strated in a Museum ; therefore such branches of knowledge as 
deal chiefly with them, as Astronomy, Geology (in the stricter 
sense of the word), Chemistry and Physiology, still less the 
more abstract sciences of Physics and Mathematics, though 
essentially belonging to the domain of Xatural History, do not 
find a place here. It is only the results of the working of these 
processes or laws as shown in the modifications of the arrrange- 
ment of the elementary substances of which the material of the 
Universe is composed, wliich can be fully illustrated by speci- 
mens admitting of being readily preserved and permanently 
exhibited in a museum. It will be readily understood that as 
the study of such specimens is one of the principal means by 
* " Natural history — is the history of such fVicts or effects of nature as 
have DO dependence on man's will." — Jlohhes, 1651. 
