Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-14
pubic attention.-Mcst of them now iron,
abler heads than that of
AN ENTHUSIAST.
A MUSEUM.


VIC learn, that proposition is to be
submitted to the legislature, for u corner
of the Public Square fer the erect cn of a
Public Museum. 1t VIII not be asked of
them to give the ground away, to part with
the fee simple right, bat merely to grve
ne use OF it for particular purpose,
torevcrs to the COnmonwe ilth whene YER
that purpose ceases. The Museum may
change hands /; it may pass, for instance, 70
the children Of the founder, to any compe-
tent person To whom he may please to sell
but II ever 1t changes It's us s, 1t passes at
cnce out OF his'own HANDS, or these of the
occupant, INTO the possession ofthe statc--Se
with ailthe improys nents which nay have
been erected upon it. The times ght al
so to be specified within which iie build MP
must be begun and completed.
The Legislature will, OF course, guard
most str city the rights Of the State. They
viii lay down such provisogs, AZ no srphis-
try can evate, 10 cunning e,uie. 1t Shall
be To ali intents and purposes Museum,
and nothing elsc--when it becomes anu
thing else, it reverts to the Common
wealth.
With these provisocs and Limitations.
what injury can it TO the State, to loan q
Corner of the Square? lIhGt injury !?
oay rather, how strong are the in luce
ments, which would lead to this measure /!
Virginia is behindhor Northern sisters in
the career OF the elegant or the useful
'4rfs. Yet her sons. if we may lis en- to
the whispers of vanity or the voice of ex-
perence. are not inferior TO any others in
point Of genius. Whence, then, this I'M
worthy delay? Why do We not cherish
the Aits-for patronage is as essential to
their prosperity, as the Sun to vegetation ?
A Museum-a litrc world IN itself-a
depot of ali the curiosities of nature and OF
art-where the minerals. Astounding III our
state, can be collected * arranged-where
the remains OF animal matter may be pre-
scrvec-whcre Natural History, & Min
| eraiagy, may repair for materials Of infor-
maticn-wherc the productions of the pen
Gil may also be exhi.ited-Suc is the
Institution, which pettions for "a pittance, a
small Corner of ground to stand Gil, at the
hands of the Legislature. VIII they DENY
the boon? How agreeable VIII it be to
have such an Exhibition! for every citi
zen OF the State, who visits the MetroDo-
us. to repair to such a Building for recrea-
ton and instruction.
Pennsylvan has set us a noble EXAMPLE
LOOK at Peale's Museum It was branch
OF the otate HoHse-worth from 9 to 500
600 doliars-But Pennsylvania gave him
the use of it, without compensation. or E.
ven rent.--All thst is wished of Virginia,
is, a few feet of ground in the most rugged
corner of the Public Square, in an insight
~ ravine, withouta single building upon
II.
But throw aside all liberal ideas; every
wish tor the progress OF the Arts; what we
ASK, IS better calculated to enhance the va
lue OF the Public Property, and to einbel-
lish the Public Square, than an institution
OF ,hls sort building which is erected
with taste, and whose interior is enriched
WIN elegant curiosties-A building which
is intended as Public Museum for the CT
tizens of the State atlarge