3
the ideal set before us—the failure of the last attempt (although
most heartily supported with money and labour by many
members) clearly proved to the Council the necessity of securing
the support of some permanent public body to give stability to
the efforts of the Club. A scheme was formulated and put before
the Corporation of Chelmsford, but was promptly refused by the
Town Council. Then the proverbial " happy thought "
suggested an application to the Corporation of West Ham,
the magnificent Technical Institute and Library then being
reared at Stratford clearly proving their enlightened interest and
energy in matters of education.
AGREEMENT WITH THE CORPORATION OF
WEST HAM AND THE MUNIFICENT GIFT
OF MR. J. PASSMORE EDWARDS.
Accordingly, at the meeting of the Council of the Club on
June 1st, 1897, the Secretary was empowered to make a
proposal to the Corporation of West Ham in precisely the
same terms as that previously made to and refused by
Chelmsford. The Corporation through their Library and
Technical Instruction Committee received the proposal in a
very cordial way, and after obtaining detailed explanation of the
scheme, the Committee officially visited the Epping Forest
Museum at Chingford, on October 19th, 1897. On that occasion
the President, Mr. Howard, and the Secretary demonstrated the
principles of the arrangement of the Museum to the Committee
and gave information as to the plans which were proposed for
the County Museum at Stratford. As a result of these negotia-
tions the Technical Instruction Committee reported at the meet-
ing of the Town Council of West Ham, on the 26th of October,
that they " were decidedly of opinion that it would be
advantageous to the Borough if arrangements could be made for
the establishment of the County Museum at the Technical
Institute as proposed by the Club."
The original scheme was that rooms should be given in the
Technical Institute for the accommodation of the Museum, but
in the course of long conference with the Committee in the un-
finished building on October 25th, it was seen that considerable
difficulties would arise on the score of space available for the
purpose, and the final decision of the matter was deferred.