Page:Notes on the Present and Future of the Archaeological Collections of the University of Oxford.djvu/16

 is, moreover, little likely to conciliate further gifts to the University in future.

The above slight sketch conveys but a feeble idea of the wretched state of the Archæological Collections at Oxford,—a condition of things disgraceful, not only to the University, but to England itself. And why should Oxford, in this not unimportant matter, be so far behind Cambridge? The keepership of the Ashmolean seems to have had, until recently, no endowment at all, but by the munificence of the present keeper, Mr. John H. Parker, it has been permanently endowed with £100 a year. This sum, however, is barely sufficient to provide a salary for the assistant-keeper and a boy, and leaves nothing over for current expenses, much less for the purchase of additional antiquities. What is really wanted is an assistant-keeper who is an educated man, a Member of the University, and one possessed of a fair amount of taste and archæological knowledge. Instances of false spelling in the labels, and the destruction of ancient objects by polishing would not then occur, and such an one would be able to give to inquiring students the information they require. Of course, a sufficient salary would be necessary, but if the University intends to continue to possess Antiquities, such a salary must be forthcoming. Probably, when the next vacancy occurs, it would be desirable to join the office of Keeper of the Ashmolean to that of a Professor of Archæology, and then to commit to the holder of those combined offices the charge of all the Archæological Collections belonging to the University. One responsible Head being thus obtained, the various collections should be assembled in a single building, and for this purpose the venerable Ashmolean, restored to its original use, would probably for the present be