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CHAPTER VII. 
THE MUSEUM OF THE SOCIETY. 
^rhe Committee of the Society was very actively engaged during 
the early part of the year 1838, in soliciting subscriptions for the 
erection of a Museum. Several meetings were held, and inquiries 
were instituted, as to the best method of gaining this object. At a 
meeting of the Committee, held at the Strafford Arms, Wakefield, on 
the loth of March, Mr. C. J. Brandling presiding, and Messrs. Thorpe, 
Wilson, Field, Briggs, and Embleton present, it was determined in 
the first place to apply to the Earl of Hare wood and Earl Fitzwilliam, 
to ascertain from them the amount of support that might be expected 
for the projected Museum of the Society, and then to send the list 
to Mr. Beaumont, and afterwards to the Vice-presidents, and lastly, 
after the amount had been ascertained, to print a prospectus with 
the subscribers' names attached for general circulation in the district. 
The result of the appeal was, that Earl Fitzwilliam promised £500 
in three items, viz. : £300 for himself, and £100 each for Lord 
Milton and Mr. Fitzwilliam. The Earl of Harewood deferred promising 
anything. The Vice-presidents were communicated with twice but 
without result. It was theii decided to issue a circular letter to all 
who were interested in the work proposed to be achieved, of which 
the following is a copy : — 
Wakefield, loth March, 1888. 
Sir, 
At a meeting of the Council, held this day, it was unanimously 
resolved " That to enable the Society fully to accomplish its objects, 
it IS desirable that it should immediately possess a museum, in which 
it might collect and arrange the Fossil Flora of the district, and that 
the proposals for a subscription to erect a museum, ike, which the 
