1846-47 NATIONAL MUSEUM PROPOSED 273 
brought up to the present state of comparative 
anatomy, so as to fulfil the objects and merit 
the character of the natural exposition of those 
Works of the Creator which are the subjects of 
that science. 
‘ Should the Trustees deem the subject one 
Worthy the attention of Government and meriting 
a repetition of the aid it formerly received, the 
following are the dates and sums voted for the 
establishment of the actual museum : — 
‘In 1799 Parliament voted 15,000/. for the 
purchase of the Hunterian Collection of Compa- 
rative Anatomy. 
‘ In 1806 Parliament voted a further sum of 
15,000/., in aid of the erection of an edifice for its 
proper display and arrangement. 
‘ In 1808 or 9 a third grant, of 12,500/., was 
Voted in aid of the completion of that edifice. 
‘ Since that period comparative anatomy 
has received no further pecuniary aid from the 
State. 
‘ The experience of the last six years has 
Convinced me that a national collection of the 
Organic mechanism of animals (if the Hunterian 
hluseum is to represent and fulfil the purposes 
of such collection) can only keep pace with the 
■Science, and with the required applications of such 
■viuseum to physiology, zoology, and geology, 
hy the aid of an annual grant from Government 
Analogous to that which has been made in aid of 
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