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NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS

ALLOW me to give in my adhesion to the "platform" established by the signers of the Memorial concerning the Natural History Collections, reprinted in your last number, and at the same time to request you to reprint a second Memorial on the same subject, presented in 1866 to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. You will observe that this Memorial has likewise been signed by many distinguished men of science.

P. L. SCLATER

Copy of a Memorial presented to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer

SIR,—It having been stated that the scientific men of the Metropolis are, as a body, entirely opposed to the removal of the Natural History Collections from their present situation in the British Museum, we, the undersigned Fellows of the Royal, Linnean, Geological, and Zoological Societies of London, beg leave to offer to you the following expression of our opinion upon the subject.

We are of opinion that it is of fundamental importance to the progress of the Natural Sciences in this country, that the administration of the National Natural History Collections should be separated from that of the Library and Art Collections, and placed under one officer, who should be immediately responsible to one of the Queen's Ministers.

We regard the exact locality of the National Museum of Natural History as a question of comparatively minor importance, provided that it be conveniently accessible and within the Metropolitan district.

GEORGE BENTHAM, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
WM. B. CARPENTER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S.
W. S. DALLAS, F.L.S.
CHARLES DARWIN, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
F. DUCANE GODMAN, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
J. H. GURNEY, F.Z.S.
EDWARD HAMILTON, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
JOSEPH D. HOOKER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S.
THOS. H. HUXLEY, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., F.L.S., F.G.S.
JOHN KIRK, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S.
LILFORD, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
ALFRED NEWTON, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
W. KITCHEN PARKER, F.R.S., F.Z.S.
ANDREW RAMSAY, F.R.S., V.P.G.S.
ARTHUR RUSSELL, M.P., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S.
OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
P. L. SCLATER, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
G. SCLATER-BOOTH, M.P., F.Z.S.
S. JAMES A. SALTER, M.B., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
W. H. SIMPSON, M.A., F.Z.S.
J. EMERSON TENNENT, F.R.S., F.Z.S.
THOMAS THOMSON, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S.
H. B. TRISTRAM, M.A., F.L.S.
WALDEN, F.Z.S., F.L.S.
ALFRED R. WALLACE, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S.
London, May 14, 1866