1899.] on George the Third as a Collector. 67 



sale for many years, was bought by the King for the trifling sum of 

 300/. and given to the British Museum, where its contents are known 

 as " the King's Tracts or Pamphlets." This seems to have been the 

 first purchase made by the King, who now began to form that splendid 

 collection which has ultimately found its own resting place side by 

 side with the earlier Koyal Library in the great storehouse in Great 

 Russell Street. 



In 1762 the fine library of Consul Smith was bought for the King. 

 Joseph Smith had settled in early life at Venice as a merchant, but 

 he was principally a buyer and seller of works of art. He was 

 omnivorous in his tastes, and his library was a mass of bibliograph- 

 ical treasures, which he had obtained by scouring all Italy in search 

 of the rarest specimens of the early printers. For the collection 

 George III. gave about 10,000/., and he then proceeded to build upon 

 this foundation that collection which has hitherto remained as the 

 finest private library ever brought together. 



In the preface to the Catalogue of the King's Library, my prede- 

 cessor, Sir Frederick Barnard, gives an account of the manner in 

 which its increase was developed, and the sage advice which con- 

 tributed to its welfare. " Dr. Samuel Johnson was one of the earliest 

 and most zealous promotors of its success ; his visits to the library 

 were frequent, during which he appeared to take pleasure in instruct- 

 ing youth and inexperience by friendly advice and useful information. 

 At one of these visits he was surprised by the sudden and unexpected* 

 appearance of the King, and His Majesty was pleased to enter into a 

 long conversation with him upon the library and various other sub- 

 jects, which from recollection has been so frequently and minutely 

 detailed that it is only necessary to add that the forcible impression 

 which such a distinguished attention left upon his mind disposed him 

 readily to embrace an opportunity of manifesting his zeal for the 

 accomplishment of the plan upon which His Majesty had done him 

 the honour to consult him." A part of this plan was the despatch of 

 Mr. Barnard to the Continent to acquire further books, and he re- 

 ceived from Dr. Johnson an admirable letter, also printed in the same 

 preface, which may be read with advantage by every librarian. 



In the half century which passed between the date of this letter 

 and the death of the King, unremitting attention was paid to the in- 

 crease of the library. Nor did the long indisposition of His Majesty 

 suspend its progress ; many large and choice acquisitions were made 

 for it abroad, but perhaps the most valuable was that of the superb 

 series of examples of the press of Caxton, which was added to the 

 shelves by gift, bequest, or purchase. They numbered in all thirty- 

 nine, including one ' The Doctrinal of Sapience,' at that time, and 

 for many years after, the only book known printed by Caxton on 

 vellum. This and some other volumes, personal gifts to the King, 

 such as the sumptuous copy of the Mainz Psalter of 1437, the earliest 

 printed book with a date, are still preserved in the Eoyal Library at 

 Windsor. 



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