154 
THE MUSEUM OF THE SOCIETY. 
it of sufficient importance to ask my advice respecting the proposed 
museum, I rise willingly and respond immediately to his desire, 
though I may perhaps repeat what I have already stated to some in 
conversation. I have had a great deal to do with museums, and 
possess one w^hich is very copious ; and I will state to you what has 
occurred to me as being the most important in the formation of such 
a museum as will be best adapted to a society constituted like the 
present. Let your museum be strictly local. Do not mark out for 
yourselves more than you can conveniently compass. It is a common 
fault w^ith local societies that they set out by pretending to do too 
much, and they often end in doing little or nothing. By limiting 
your sphere your labours will become of much greater utility. The 
field of your exertions is the most interesting that can be found for a 
geologist ; it has hitherto been scarcely known, and is of the highest 
importance in a commercial point of view. If you attempt to get 
together a general collection, you wall find it attended with gTeat 
expense and labour, and you will get into an endless labyrinth ; 
whilst, if you confine and localise your object, your efforts will be of 
incalculable service both to geological science and to the district 
which is the scene of your operations. I cannot therefore too much 
press on your attention that you should form quite a local museum. 
I should recommend you to keep within the county at any rate, but 
in preference to the West Hiding ; and if you can well illustrate that 
portion, I mean the Coal Field and Lead Measures, you will accom- 
plish a very important work. There can be no difficulty in forming a 
museum. I am sure you will have specimens pouring in upon you 
in gTeater numbers than you want ; but let those you retain be good 
ones. Do not encumber yourselves with useless trash. Reject all 
imperfect specimens, and those whose locality is not accurately 
marked, or you will get into great confusion. Let every member 
send sections and illustrating series of specimens from his own 
immediate neighbourhood, and make interest with his friends that 
they may assist him and send him descriptions and illustrations of 
other parts, and you will in a short time have an excellent collection 
If, after you have explored and investigated this district, and got it 
as it were represented in your museum, you think of extending your 
