43 
countrymen, although we are worse off than Liverpool, and 
man}^ other places which I could mention. We ought to he 
much better off. I trust that in no far distant future this 
need may be satisfied by the raising of buildings worthy of 
the dignity of Manchester, and by the placing in them of 
our valuable collections, arranged not merely for the advan- 
tage of the student but of the general public. 
9. Collections made by the German Government. 
There is one point in which the British Government may 
learn a lesson from the German. When I was in Berlin 
this autumn I had the pleasure of meeting gentlemen who 
had been sent by the latter to make collections in the Ame- 
ricas, in India, and in the China seas, and I saw a valuable 
collection made by German cruisers in the Pacific. Why 
should not our ships of war, which are to be found in every 
sea, have orders also to bring home collections from distant 
stations, and why should not we send out travellers with 
the same object ? With our navy and our wandering in- 
stincts, we ought rapidly to outstrip any rivals, and that at 
a comparatively small expenditure of money. 
10. The Work of Scientific Societies in General 
Education. 
In conclusion I would merely allude to the endowment of 
original research, which has been before the notice of the public 
for the last three years. In the discussion of this most difiicult 
question the influence of societies such as our own has been for 
the most part ignored. The endowment, which, to my mind 
is the most important for the promotion of original research^ 
is not the gift of monej’’, but that approbation of good work 
done by any worker, which is afibrded by the learned 
societies. In this particular they are doing incalculable 
good in the general work of education, good which will be 
