THE MUSEUM AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION SCHEMES. 235
ing on, and efficiently supervising, the kind of local museum which should be
found in every county. The specimens already in possession of the two Societies
will be a foundation, and the efforts of the many experienced collectors in the
ranks of the Club will soon build up a really useful series.
In itself, the educational value of such work, properly directed, is undoubted.
Dr. Gunther, at the British Association meeting at Swansea in 1880, said : "The
pursuit of collecting and studying Natural History objects gives to the persons
who are inclined to devote their leisure hours to it a beneficial training for whatever
their real calling in life may be ; they acquire a sense of order and method ; they
develop their powers of observation ; they are stimulated to healthy exercise.
Nothing encourages them in this pursuit more than a well-named and easily accessible
collection." And Prof. Flower, in his Presidential Address to the British Associa-
tion (1889) speaking of the value of local museums, referred especially to that
"numerous class, and one which it may be hoped will year by year bear a greater
relative proportion to the general population of the country, who, without having
the time, the opportunities, or the abilities to make a profound study of any branch
of science, yet take a general interest in its progress, and wish to possess some
knowledge of the world around them. . . . For such persons museums may be,
when well organised and arranged, of benefit to a degree that at present can scarcely
be realised."
Of the scientific value of local museums nothing need be said—their importance
is fully recognised by all competent to judge. Mr. F. T. Mott, Secretary of the
B.A. Committee on Provincial Museums, has well said : "Every provincial museum
which undertakes to do its proper work for the nation at large must set itself to
collect and record every natural fact in every branch of science within the area of
its own special district. It must waste no energy upon anything outside of this
district, but within it everything must be done as completely and rapidly as
possible. The museum must be a scientific monograph of the district, illustrated by
actual specimens of the natural and artificial products of that district.....If every
district in the kingdom were thus worked up, many scientific problems which are
now insoluble would become plain, and the local museums are the institutions most
capable of accomplishing this important object." The Essex Field Club, with its large
body of expert naturalists and its serial publications, is quite capable of carrying
on such a work.
The sphere of educational usefulness of the Museum would be much enlarged,
and the energies of the members generally greatly stimulated, if the Club were
delegated by the County Council to carry on the central and peripatetic system of
scientific and technical education set out in the scheme (No. IV.). This is
now under the consideration of the County Council, and it remains for that body
to adopt or reject it. The merits of the proposal, and the claims of the Club to
undertake such an important work, were well put by the deputation which waited
upon the Parliamentary Committee on February 2nd (vide article from "Nature"
(No. V.), which also gives some particulars of the Technical Instruction Acts).
The proposals have been very carefully considered, and the managers of the Club
are confident that a successful system of elementary technical training could be
initiated under the scheme.
Considerable funds will, of course, be needed for the establishment and main-
tenance of the Museum and Laboratory, &c., but the Council appeals for pecuniary
aid with some confidence, firmly believing that the institution, if once founded
on a firm basis, will be one of great interest and usefulness to the inhabitants,
and one well worthy of the support of the county.