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id of is handed over to the Mnsenm and duly stuck up,
labelled with the name of ita donor. A Roman altar dug up
in a neighbouring farm supports a helmet of one of Gromwell's
soldiers ; above hange a glass-case full of butterflies, ‘surmounted
by poisoned arrows and javelins from the hill tribes
of India. A large cork model of D Chinese temple blocks up
one comer of the room, while other parts are obstructed by a
brass gun of unknown history and no interest, a model of an
old three-decker, an Egyptian mummy, and possibly the embalmed
remains of Borne person who declined to be laid under
the turf.* Elsowhero in the valuable collection will probably
be found tho cups which a great cricketer of the county won,
R figuro of a distinguished racehorse, the stuffed favourite pugdog
of B lady bcnefnctor, and EO forth. Them is really no
exsggcrat,ion in this fancy sketch of a county Museum, and it
is far better to hnve such a Museum than none at all. Indeed,
for children such a collection is not unsuit‘able, and is better
than a large collection. But it is to be hoped that when local
Muscums am multiplied and improved, their contents may bo
so exchanged and selected and armngod, as to produce an
orderly and sensible, if not a very scientific, result.
I vonturc to suggest that as a general rule a local
Museum should consist of four principal departments; there
may bo one or two more, but there should not be many
more nor many less. In tho first place every local Museum
should hnve its archaeological department devoted to the preservation
of any antique articles connected with the neighbourhood.
Not only are valuable relics thus preserved, but
they are preserved at the place where they have special
significance, and may lead to special researches. Such relics
will be of dl ages, from the flint knives of the pala3olithic age
to the tinder-box which the town clerk’s father used. W e
cannot help t.he mixture of times, which, after 811, is not without
its lessons. But then we must not mix up wit,h such local relics
those of other places and nntions. These should bo exchanged
with some other collection to which they will be appropriate.
* AS ww formerly the w e in the Natural History Museum, Peter
Btreet, Manchester.