7 



quired to produce a recommendation from some indivi- 

 dual of respectability, and send such with their own 

 name, rank, or profession, and residence, to the princi- 

 pal Librarian ; which office is at present filled by Sir 

 Henry Ellis. 



In this spacious room, which is well lighted and lofty, 

 he may sit and study, undisturbed by any noise, save 

 the scratchings of pens and the rustling of book leaves ; 

 and he may walk unnoticed to his place through rows 

 of pale-faced authors, translators, compilers, and trans- 

 cribers ; all too abstracted, and bending too intently 

 over their black-letter books and illegible manuscripts, 

 to observe any approach save the loaded porter bringing 

 the fresh piles of books, or any other sound save the 

 thrilling notes of the clock which, as it wains them of 

 departing time, serves to increase the anxiety of their 

 countenances and quicken the motion of their pens. 



There are seats in this room for about one hundred 

 and twenty ; but on an average it is, perhaps, frequented 

 each day by nearly three hundred persons : one is giving 

 place to the other ; while some are there during the 

 whole time the doors are open, and even then close their 

 books with reluctance. The shelves in this apartment 

 contain Encyclopaedias, Lexicons, Grammars, Bio- 

 graphical Dictionaries, Commercial Histories, and Pa- 

 pers printed by order of the House of Commons ; as 

 well as the general catalogue of books comprising about 

 fourteen folio tomes, each one of which is sufficiently 

 heavy to require no little effort to raise it. 



The Medal Room, 



which is also on the same floor, is not open to the pub- 

 lic generally ; but admission is to be obtained on the 

 same terms as to the Reading Room. It contains a 

 large collection of Ancient and Modern Coins and 

 Medals ; many of which are from the cabinets of Sir 

 Hans Sloane and Sir Robert Cotton. His late Majesty, 

 George the Fourth, made a splendid donation to this 

 room. 



