— if it should assist my fellow labourers and enlist others — if- it 

 should contribute to the advancement of truth, I shall not repent 

 having devoted the best years of my life to its execution. During 

 all this time I have had the great advantage of the assistance and 

 experience of Mr. Edward Gerrard, to whom is due the excellent 

 state in which I found the collection, and who has relieved me from 

 the work connected with its registration and preservation. If cir- 

 cumstances permit, the numerous recent additions to the collection 

 and to the literature generally, with a general Index, will be em- 

 bodied in a supplementary volume. It may also be hoped that the 

 illustrations alluded to in the first volume will soon be added." 



JOHN EDWAED GEAY. 



British Museum, 

 May 20, 1870. 



