1^0 MEMOIR OF 



tongestarum thesaurum, ipse plurimum adauxit 

 et in Museo Lambethiano amicis visendum 

 exhibet." 



In a very short time after this, the family 

 became extinct, for the son who inherited the 

 museum died in 1662. He, by a deed of gift, 

 dated December 16, 1659, had bestowed the 

 collection on Elias Ashmole, who lodged in his 

 house, and had obtained great celebrity by the 

 publication of his " Theatrum Chymicum Britan- 

 nicum." Mrs Tradescant, however, the donor's 

 widow, contested Ashmole's right to the Museum, 

 which obliged him to prefer a bill in Chancery 

 against her; and it was not till 1674, that, 

 pursuant to a decree of the court, she delivered 

 up the property. 



Ashmole materially increased the collection in 

 various departments, but more particularly in 

 coins, medals, and manuscripts. In October, 

 1677, he offered to give the whole to the 

 University of Oxford, provided they would erect 

 a building fit to receive them, to which propo- 

 sition the University willingly assented. On 

 Thursday, May 15, 1678, the first stone of the 

 Ashmolean Museum was laid ; and being finished 

 in March, 1682, the collection was transferred 

 there, and the articles arranged by Dr Plot. On 

 the 21st of May following, the building was 

 opened for public inspection, and was visited by 



