522 Revieics — Natural Hktory Dejjartments 



great. Tt not only furnishes an interesting record of the names 

 •of hundreds who have contributed to build up our science during 

 the nineteenth century', but it will prove to be of assistance to 

 investigators who are anxious to discover the present depository 

 of sj)ecitnens or collections referred to in old publications and to 

 conipaie them with later examples. It will also furnish to a very 

 large number of persons, who at present are not informed on the 

 subject, a correct idea of the variety, extent, and importance of the 

 immense series of collected specimens which are here carefully 

 guarded and kejot in ordei'ly arrangement, ' not only ' (according 

 to the terms of Sir Hans Sloane's will) 'for the inspection and 

 entertainment of the learned and curious, but for the general use 

 and benefit of the public to all posterity.' 



'• Mr. B. B. Woodward has written the history of the libraries ; 

 Mr. George Murray', assisted by Mr. Britten, that of the Department 

 of Botany ; Dr. Arthur Smith Woodward, with valuable help from 

 tlie late Keepei', Dr. Henry Woodward, and from the present 

 Assistant Keeper, Dr. Bather, that of the Department of Geology ; 

 and Mr. Fletcher, that of the Department of Minerals." 



The actual foundation of the British Museum dates from the year 

 1753, when an Act of Parliament was passed "for the purchase of 

 the Museum or Collection of Sir Hans Sloane, and of the Harleian 

 Collection of Manuscripts, and for providing one general repository 

 for the better reception and more convenient use of the said 

 Collections and of the Cottonian Library and the additions thereto." 



The collection of Sir Hans Sloane contained in his residence. The 

 Manor House, Chelsea, consisted of " books, drawings, manuscripts, 

 prints, medals and coins, ancient and modern antiquities, seals, 

 cameos and intnglios, jirecious stones, agates, jaspers, vessels of 

 agate and jasper, crystals, mathematical instruments, pictures, and 

 other things," which last included numerous zoological and geo- 

 logical specimens and an extensive herbarium of dried plants 

 preserved in 310 large folio volumes. 



The Cotton Manuscripts were already the property of the nation, 

 having been acquired by gift in 1700. The Harleian Collection 

 Avas obtained by purchase at the same time as the Sloane Collection, 

 and the three were brought together under the designation of " the 

 British Museum," placed under the care of a body of Trustees, and 

 lodged in Montagu House, Bloomsbury, purchased for their reception 

 in 1754. 



Admission to visit the Museum was limited by ticket, issued 

 only on application in writing, and to not more than ten persons 

 for each of three hours in the day ; the hours were subsequently 

 extended, but it was not until the year 1810 that the Museum was 

 accessible to the general public for three days in the week from 

 10 o'clock to 4. The present daily opening, with longer hours 

 in Summer, dates only from 1879. The collections soon outgrew 

 the limits of the original Montagu House and also its successor, the 

 present classical building, completed in 1845. The erection of the 

 magnificent reading-room in 1857 disposed for a time of the difficulty 



