The Progress of the Loan Collection

Abstract

VARIOUS are the trains of thought suggested by a visit to those galleries in which the science of the past and the present is being represented by so goodly an array of its working implements. If one has been at all in sympathy with the movement which is now so near its goal (and who that has in the least appreciated the progress and benefits of science can be out of sympathy with it ?), it will, first of all, be truly gratifying to him to observe on every hand such manifest tokens of hearty co-operation in the movement. Even those who are engaged in marshalling the various treasures of the departments which have been entrusted to their charge seem to be animated with an unusual zeal (a zeal promising the best results), and, at first sight even, it is evident that the various museums and private collections in this country and on the Continent have been ransacked for some of their choicest contents to be sent to these South Kensington galleries, aiding the completion of an ideal which is true in its comprehensiveness. The nations of the Continent who were appealed to for their support of the scheme, have shown, many of them, by an activity which is beyond all praise, how warmly the proposal has been entertained. This is especially true of Germany. The Berlin Committee appointed a short time ago, and including some of the foremost names in science, while it gained also the useful accession of Imperial influence, promptly made application (the time was short) to the various Universities and Polytechnic Schools throughout the country, and they were met as promptly; so that soon quite a network of subordinate committees came into being, all working harmoniously towards the common end. The German contributions form a very considerable proportion of the whole; and they, in common with contributions from the Continent generally, are indeed surprising in their extent, if we consider the shortness of time allowed and the unique character of the exhibition. Both Germans and French have been doing all that they can up to the latest moment, and this has somewhat retarded the arrangements. The Russian contributions have not yet been received. The collection of instruments from Italy is, in many respects, of a peculiarly interesting character.