ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 17 



Rooms in the eastern basement, formerly occupied by the 

 binders, have been fitted with shelving for storage of news- 

 papers ; the available space, however, is unfortunately 

 .limited. 



The Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities exhibited in the 

 Babylonian Eoom (one of the rooms on the north side of the 

 upper floor, lately improved) have undergone a complete 

 re- arrangement, and many recent acquisitions of interest 

 have been incorporated. 



The Waddesdon Room, in which are exhibited the collec- 

 tions bequeathed to the Trustees by the late Baron Ferdinand 

 Rothschild, M.P., was opened to the public in April. 



Among the most noteworthy acquisitions in the several 

 Departments, the following may be mentioned : — 



The Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities has 

 continued to add to its earliest series many objects illustrat- 

 ing the condition of the remote inhabitants of Egypt in the 

 predynastic period ; and the great collection of very early 

 records of Babylonia has been further augmented. 



A valuable series of Greek papyri has been added to the 

 collection in the Department of Manuscripts by donation 

 from the Egypt Exploration Fund. 



For the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities a 

 number of gold objects have been purchased, supplementing 

 the great find made at Enkomi, in Cyprus, in 189G. 



Among the purchases for the Department of Printed Books 

 special attention has been given to the acquisition of incuna- 

 bula, the old collections of early printed books being now 

 brought together and kept in a special place in the North 

 Library. The. Department has also benefited by the bequest 

 made by the late Mr. H. S. Ashbee of his remarkable library 

 of more than 15,000 volumes, comprising special collections of 

 editions of the works of Cervantes, Moliere, Le Sage, Sterne, 

 and Fielding. 



The papers bequeathed by John Cam Hobhouse, Lord 

 Broughton, with the condition that they were not to be 

 opened until the year 1900, consist of general correspondence 

 between the years 1796 and 1867, and confidential despatches 

 and correspondence and other papers relating to Indian 

 public affairs while Lord Broughton held the office of Presi- 

 dent of the Board of Control. 



Among single volumes of interest acquired by the Depart- 

 ment of Manuscripts mention should be made of the Common- 

 place Book of John Milton. 



The same Department has this year completed the purchase 

 of a great collection of topographical interest, viz., the 

 architectural drawings made in all parts of England and 

 Wales by John Chessell Buckler and members of his family. 

 The purchase of the collection has been spread over three 

 years. 



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