The generous gift of Mr. Jacob Schiff will be, we hope, the first step toward the formation of such a valuable museum in the university that Harvard may become a centre in America for research in the Semitic language and history. With the funds now promised a collection can be made of casts from relics in other museums, and these will serve for study until the university is rich enough to undertake excavations on her own account. It is here that the greater field for advancement is open for original work. There will be ample opportunity among the buried ruins which must be so rich in results that scarcely any other department of the university has a more brilliant prospect before it than the Semitic, which will have the task in charge. Now that Harvard has made a beginning in this direction, it is the duty of those interested in her welfare, to see that she is not brought to a standstill the by exhaustion of her funds. If any benefactor intends to make a gift to the university he could hardly devote his funds to a more valuable specific purpose than to add to Mr. Schiff's endowment. It is needless to say that the sum received through his generosity is not in itself large enough to place the university in the position he hope to see it hold-that of an acknowledged leader in Semitic research. Besides the value of such achievements to religion, art, philology, history, and general culture, the university itself would be greatly benefited by the many students who would be attracted to work in the museum. The heartfelt gratitude of the university is due to Mr. Schiff for his recognition of this great possibility, and his contribution toward such a valuable object.