INTRODUCTION. 
19 
Advancement of Learning if our officers were seduced from 
their legitimate work of extending the boundaries of know¬ 
ledge. ' 
Again, it is unquestionably our duty to do our best 
for the culture of the public, through the display of attrac¬ 
tive exhibition-series, well-planned, complete, and accurately 
labelled; and thus to stimulate and broaden the minds of 
those who are not engaged in scholarly research. 
Here also, for lack of funds, we have not been able to 
arrange our public galleries as effectively as those of the 
great Museums of England, America and other civilized 
countries. But I am bound to observe that the extent of 
our effort in this direction has not always been correctly 
appreciated, and the numerous guide-books which have been 
prepared from time to time with considerable labour, have 
not very often received the recognition they deserve. I 
desire, consequently, to emphasize the urgent need for the 
improvement of our public galleries, and, generally, for the 
adoption of all necessary means to enable us to fulfil ade¬ 
quately our function as one of the most powerful agencies for 
the culture of the public and for the instruction of the 
advanced or professional student. For this purpose, we can 
confidently claim the assistance, not merely of the Govern¬ 
ment, but also of the generous and enlightened aristocracy 
throughout the country. It is not creditable to us that the 
Indian Museum should occupy the singular position of a 
great institution of which the paramount claims upon the 
community at large should scarcely if ever have been duly 
recognized. We have never lacked a constant succession of 
distinguished workers, and it is a matter of legitimate pride 
and satisfaction to all of us that the interests of the Museum 
are entrusted to a band of devoted and enthusiastic investi¬ 
gators, amongst whom we are at present able to count 
scholars of the stamp of Mr. Hayden, Mr. Hooper, Dr. 
Spooner, Mr. Percy Brown, Major Gage, and last but not 
least Dr. Annandale, who has been most unfalteringly jeal¬ 
ous to maintain the high tradition of the institution. 
The accomplishment of our work is safe in their hands; 
what they require is adequate funds for the full development 
