Page:Notes on the Present and Future of the Archaeological Collections of the University of Oxford.djvu/17

 found sufficient. "When the present apathy and utter disregard of Archæological subjects is overpast, and when, under improved managemant, the Collections become enlarged by further gifts, it will be time enough to discuss the question of a new Archæological Museum.

Several things, however, are of instant importance,

1. The immediate printing of a Catalogue to be sold in parts at the cheapest rate in the Ashmolean Museum. The Catalogue of the Greek and Etruscan objects prepared by Mr. Vaux and those of the Egyptian and Roman objects, compiled, in the absence of one more competent, by myself, with the kind assistance of Dr. S. Birch, of the British Museum, already exist in MS., and their publication in the University Press was only delayed and then finally abandoned in consequence of Mr. Rowell's delay in finishing the Mediæval Catalogue, with which, having nothing else to do, he had charged himself, and which, with all its errors uncorrected, he had sent to the Press without the knowledge of the Keeper. The Egyptian and Greek Catalogues are about to be printed privately at the expence of Mr. Parker, but surely the University ought to publish its own Catalogues in its own Printing Press, and not saddle the expense upon an individual to whom, in a pecuniary way, it already owes so much. In a collection wherein, from the multiplicity of small objects, it is difficult to affix a descriptive label to every article, the importance of a Catalogue can scarcely be exaggerated. The price of each Division of the Catalogue ought not to be more that a penny, a sum which would bring it within the means of every visitor, but it is noteworthy that the first edition of the Catalogue of the Egyptian Collection at Liverpool, compiled by Mr. C. T. Gatty, price one shilling, was almost immediately sold out. This was, however, illustrated. 2. More cases for the