Scientific Reviews. 270 
But this condition of things cannot be of long duration. Weare 
aware that it has not been submitted to till now without com- 
plaint ; but the authorities have avoided an unpleasant duty by 
continual delay. The Senatus Acadamicus have acted in a man- 
ner which can only be explained by observing that a brother Pro- 
fessor is the aggressor ; the Town Council could not bring themselves 
to believe that any difficulties were thrown in the way of the admis- 
sion of scientific men ; and the Royal Commissioners have felt a 
natural delicacy in such an extreme and obstinate case. The Com- 
missioners were, however, obliged, in one particular instance, to 
exert their authority, and they then proved their full power to or- 
der the doors to be thrown open when their will dictated. But, af- 
ter all, the gentleman, to whom they gave the unlimited use of the 
Museum, was driven from his occupations by all the vexatious tri- 
fling which determined opposition knows so well how to devise. 
The crisis, however, is now approaching ; the sittings of the Com- 
mission are about to terminate ; and, if the abuses are not soon re- 
‘moved, a permanent monopoly and prevention will ensue. 
We appear, therefore, in the name of the public, and in the name 
of scientific men, since the ties which arise from local connexion 
are too powerful to permit others who have been equally injured 
from advancing openly in the general cause; and we appeal to 
those ‘who have the power to remove the abuses which so heavily 
oppress us, to establish an open and liberal system, which may not 
be perverted by the interest or caprice of the individual in imme- 
diate authority. 
We know not in whom the control of the Museum is vested, nor 
to whom the property belongs ; but we address ourselves equally 
to his Majesty’s Commissioners, to the Senatus Academicus, and 
to the Town-Council, in making the following remarks and sug- 
gestions on the past and future regulation of the College Museum. 
It will at all times be necessary that a distinction be made be- 
tween those gentlemen who may have to visit the Collection for 
purposes of scientific labour, and the public at large, whose object 
does not extend beyond the pleasure to be derived from gratified 
curiosity. : 
And first, with respect to the latter: We have not been able to 
discover any other assignable reason for the heavy exaction which 
is levied on the people of half-a-crown for every visit to the Mu- 
seum, which they themselves have in a great measure contributed 
to form, than that the unassisted funds of the institution are not 
sufficient for its support. Government allows to the Museum L. 100 
a-year, and this, we believe, is the sole income, exclusive of the 
sums collected at the door. We are unable to say whether any 
share of the fees which the class of Natural History derives, as, in 
our instance, from those who are only induced to take out the ticket 
as a means of admission to the Museum, is appropriated to the aid 
of that establishment ; but we presume, as a matter of course, that 
the annual guineas which are paid by the perpetual pupils are at 
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