On Miner ctlogical Cabinets. 
27 
1831.] 
VIII. — Suggestions for the Improvement of Mineralogical Cabi- 
nets, in general , and those of the Asiatic Society, in particular. 
By J. Prinsep, Esq. F. R. S. Secy. Pkys. Class Soc. 
Although it may seem a very simple task to arrange a cabinet of geological or 
mineralogical specimens in glass cases or drawers, so as to preserve them, and render 
them accessible to inspection, still there is room for the exercise of some little 
judgment, in so combining the qualities of such a receptacle, as to adapt it to a par- 
ticular locality or climate, and to the class of visitors who will most frequently be 
invited to its inspection. Before, therefore, offering a recommendation to the Physi- 
cal Class to incur the expense of making up a set of mineral cases, without which it 
is useless to attempt any arrangement of the numerous stores of Indian specimens 
now buried at random in various boxes, or scattered on the floor of their museums, 
I shall beg leave to submit to their consideration, the points which I assume, as desi- 
derata, in an Indian cabinet. 
1 stly . — With regard to the Cabinet itself. 
It should be open to inspection, and not to touch : the specimens should be as near 
to the eye as possible, so as to admit even of examination with a microscope, without 
removal from their frames : — they should receive a full body of light on them ; and 
the inspector should view them without being in a constrained posture. 
Now all of these ends may be attained, by arranging the minerals on shelves near- 
ly vertical, covered by glass doors, so that the specimens shall absolutely touch the 
glass, and placing the cabinets, wliere it may be possible, standing out at right angles, 
and in juxtaposition to a window. 
Indian apartments are, from necessity, a good deal darkened, to keep out the heat, 
and what little light is admitted, generally comes by reflection from the terraced 
ground of a veranda: this throws into complete obscurity any objects lying 
horizontally upon tables away from the windows, and the constrained attitude of 
leaning over, with straining eyes, to behold them, renders it quite a labour to un- 
dertake the inspection of a collection. The vertical cabinet, on the contrary, 
preserves the head erect, and offers quite a gratification to the eyesight, unallowed 
by pain or fatigue. It should have a height of not more than 6 or feet and 
there should be no shelves below 2 feet 9 inches from the ground : two or thiee 
horizontal drawers below may, however, be conveniently introduced, for the purpose 
of holding unarranged specimens. 
2 ndlij . — With respect to the Specimens. 
It should be a maxim to convey as much information as possible, on the spot, 
without reference to books or catalogues : — but again, the specimens should not be 
half hidden by paper labels. — These objects may be attained, by merely attaching a 
small numbered ticket to the specimen, (for reference, where necessary,) and setting 
forth the name, composition, locality, and donor’s name, of each mineral, upon a 
tablet of paper, placed upright behind it : from the vertical position, the li„ it wi 
fall sufficiently upon this, and it will not be liable to be rendered illegible y a coa 
of dust, as is very soon the fate of tickets horizontally placed. 
Another maxim should be, to discard, at once, from the selected cabinet of the mu- 
seum, all duplicates from the same locality, though presented by diffeient donors , 
and again, to arrange the specimens according to their habitats onl) , and not as 
the separate contributions of individuals, (the donor’s name being always inscribe 
as above stated). This will contract the geological illustration of India into a rea 
sonable and convenient compass, and save an immense deal of labour to the curators 
of the museum. 
