Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26
no AnVERTIsERs,
MUSEUM on NATURAL HISTORY.

A movement has been initiated at Boston, in
ranging and preserving the splendid cabinet of
Professor Agassiz, with such additions as may
be made to it, from whatever source, and open
ing the same to the public, under proper restric-
tons and regulations. We look upon this as
one of the most important movements of a
scientific nature that has been agitated in Mass
achusetts, for long time, and cannot but hope
that it will be successfully and speedily car
ried out 1t would secure to Boston and to
Massachusetts, Museum of Natural History,
almost if not quite unrivalled in all the world
beside,-an ACQUISITION, the value of which
cannot be estimated in dollars, because it is
one of those things, the worth of which tran
sends mere pecuniary considerations, by the
aid which it gives to scientific investigations
and to educational pursuits.
Some idea of the extent and value of the
collection may be formed, from the fact, that
Professor Agassiz, who stands confessedly, on
both continents, at the head of the scientific
men of the world, without peer or a rival,
has devoted twelve years of the best portion of
his life, with all the aid that his wide acquain-
lance, his physical power and endurance, and
his enthusiasm for the pursuit give him, to
the making of it. After asserting and arrang.
ing all that he has room for, there now remain
upwards of one hundred barrels of specimens;
unpacked, for the want of place to put
them. Professor Agassiz thinks, that, for the
present, brick building two hundred feet
long, forty feet wide, and two stories high,
which may be built of brick, fire proof for
.ffy thousand dollars, would answer the purpose,
to be enlarged as occasion requires, but, in the
end, he looks at nothing less than building
which shall have cost not short of t,oo hundred
thousand dollars, and which shall then contain
a collection, not inferior in magnitude, COM
pleteness and value, of any in the world.
What field is here opened for a wise and
benefcent liberality! Will not the wealthy
men of Boston and vicinity, be prompt to en-
brace it? Is there not some one among them,
ready to associate his own name with the
deathless one of Agassiz, in furnishing the
means, from his own abundance, to make the
thing sure, and place it, at once, beyond the
reach of doubt or contingency? Such, we
should hope, might be the case, but if such an
one does not appear, prompt action should not
be delayed as the collection is now in an ex-
posed situation, subject to the danger of fire.
which, if the building should take, would cause
its inevitable destruction.
i,1o Of &c
from the Boston Courier, was held on Friday
evening" at which Ex-Governor Clifford pre-
sided, and Abbott Lawrence was secretary
At this meeting Prof. Agassiz stated that un-
der the will of the late Francis C. Gray, the
sum of fifty thousand dollars had been set
aside as a fund for the maintenance and sup
port of such a museum of natural history, as
he contemplated, but not to be invested in
buildings-the income only to be applied to
the salaries of the necessary assistants, and the
purchase and preservation of specimens. AT
ter a free conversational discussion, in which
DR.. Bigelow, Judge Hoar, President Walker,
Governor Banks, and others took part-the
latter expressing belief that the aid of the
State, if needed, would not be wanting, and
resolution was adopted, that it is expedient to
solicitpublic subscriptions, for the purpose of
erecting fre-proof buildings at Cambridge, to
contain Prof Agassiz's collection, that it may
be opened to the public, and that committee
be appointed to carry out the vote, in such
manner as they may deem expedient.
The following gentlemen were nominated
by the Chair to constitute the committee:
Jacob Bigelow, George Ticknor, James
Lawrence, w. w. Greenough, Samuel Hoop
er, Thomas G. Cary, Samuel G. Ward, John
M. Forbes, VIM. S. Bullard James M. Bar
nard, Ezra Lincoln, Theodore Lyman, Martin
Brimmer, Franklin Haven Gardner Brewer.