22 ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS.
Previously to the foundation of the British museum, the great
museum in London was that of the Royal Society. The
formation of a Museum has generally been considered to be
legitimately included in the work of any society devoted to the
advancement of science ; and the Essex Field Club has con-
sequently been simply a humble follower in this direction.
Bishop Sprat, in describing the early doings of the founders of
the Royal Society after the Oxford Meetings were broken up and
they had settled in London, tells us that :—
" As soon as they were reduc'd into a Fix'd Assembly, one of the Principal
Intentions they propos'd to accomplish, was a General Collection of all the
Effects of Arts, and the Common, or Monstrous Works of Nature. This they at
first began by the casual Presents, which either Strangers, or any of their own
Members bestow'd upon them. And in short time it has increas'd so fast, by a
contribution from all Parts, and chiefly by the bounty of Mr. Colwal, that they
have already drawn together into one Room, the greatest part of all the several
kinds of things, that are scatter'd throughout the Universe (!). The Keeping,
and Ranging of these into order, is committed to Mr. Hook, who had also the
honour of being made the first Curator of the Royal Society by election." 23
Writing to Mr. Boyle on February 3, 1666, Hooke, the
Secretary of the Royal Society, says "I am now making a
collection of natural rarities, and hope within a short time to get
as good as any that have yet been made in any part of the
world." About this time, the Council resolved "that the
donation of £100, presented by Mr. Colwall, should be expended
in purchasing the collection of rarities formerly belonging to
Mr. Hubbard."
Dr. David Murray in his recently published work on
museums,23* suggests with much plausibility that this "Mr.
Hubbard" was really Robert Hubert alias Forges, who is known
to have had a large collection of rarities, which he exhibited
publicly in 1664 at "the place called the Musick House, at the
Miter near the west end of St. Paul's Church." Of this
collection a catalogue exists, and many of the objects are
23 The History of the Royal Society of London, for the improving of Natural Knowledge.
By Tho. Sprat, D.D., Lord Bishop of Rochester. London: 2nd ed. 1702. P. 251.
The "Curator" of the Royal Society was an officer who attended to the experiments, etc.
23* Museums: their History and their Use. By David Murray, LL.D., F.S.A. 3 vols.
Glasgow. 1904.
It was not until after this Address had practically been finished that I had an opportunity
of consulting this valuable work. Had I seen it earlier I should have used it more freely.
In working up the history of the subject I was familiar with the chapter on "Collections of
Natural Curiosities" in Beckmann's History of Inventions, and with Prof. Newton's paper
and a few other short notes; but struck with the scarcity of information on the subject, I
had said, in the draft of the address, "The history of museums has yet to be written."
Before the time came, however, to deliver the address Dr. Murray's comprehensive volume
had made its appearance