26 DECEMBER 1885, Page 3

If it be true, as a letter in Monday's Times

states, that the gardener of the British Museum, Mr. William Brightwell, has been dismissed by the Clerk of the Works after nine years' service there, following on sixteen years' service under the Woods and Forests in Regent's Park, solely on account of the evidence he gave with regard to the cruel poisoning of the British Museum pigeons, the case is one not only of great hardship but of gross injustice. Of course, there may be other reasons which Mr. Bright- well does not assign; but the authorities of the British Museum are bound to look into the case, and to see that one of their subordinates has not used his authority vindictively to punish a man in his employment simply for giving true evidence in a Court of Justice as duty and integrity required.