THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
183 
lately for persons occupying the position I now do, from whom an 
inaugural address is expected, to confine their attention to one 
special subject with which they may be more or less intimately 
acquainted. I regret that on this occasion I am unable to follow 
such good examples, even at a considerable distance, and the re- 
marks I propose to trouble you with this evening will be of a very 
desultory nature. 
Plymouth is still without its public Museum. The Museum be- 
longing to us does not by any means provide for the need. It is 
in many respects a valuable one, but want of space prevents the 
proper display of the collections ; and the finances of the Society 
do not allow us to make the most of what we have, or to place the 
Museum at the disposal of the general public, as we should wish to 
do. I do not think that it is at all creditable to our town that it 
rests satisfied with the present position, and that it makes no at- 
tempt whatever to provide what would not only add to the enjoy- 
ment of the people, but be productive of the greatest benefit to all 
classes of the community. We want here a Museum which will 
illustrate, not only the natural history and antiquities, but also the 
art and manufacturing industries of the district. I need not point 
out to this audience what an ample field there is to draw upon for 
the formation of such a Museum. I go into towns with populations 
not a half, nay, sometimes not a quarter, as large as ours, and I find 
Museums provided, well cared for, and very popular among all 
classes. Of course I cannot compare Plymouth with the great 
towns of the north, with, for instance, Birmingham, nor would it 
be necessary to provide here the annual sum that Birmingham con- 
tributes for the support of its Museum, for there I understand the 
private subscriptions for this object amount to some thousands a 
year. And with what results 1 The average number of visitors to 
the Birmingham Museum is 300,000 per annum. And it is the 
same elsewhere. Wherever a Museum is established it becomes a 
source of profit and interest to numbers. No matter how careless 
the observer may be, no one can leave a Museum without carrying 
away something, without being benefited to some extent. And 
then the assistance to the sincere earnest worker ! Think of James 
Whittaker, of Oldham. He once saw a piece of coal shale, and 
was told there was a fish scale in it. This he did not understand, 
and did not believe ; but instead of continuing in his unbelief 
