The British Museum Explained and Illustrated. 



BY p. H. RICHARDSON, ESQ. 



CHAPTER I^— THE QUADRANGLE AND HALL. 



The object of the articles in tliis publication relating 

 to the British Museum, is an attempt to introduce the . 

 o-eneral visitor to a more ready and intimate knowledge 

 of its treasures, natural, antiquarian, scientific, and 

 barbaric, than can be otherwise obtained, except by 

 study and a devotion of life and time, which few are able 

 to afford. As the spectator passes through the mi- 

 mense collection with the synopsian guide m his hand, 

 which however well it is designed, is necessarily but a 

 I catalogue of its contents, his imagination becomes con- 

 fused "with the multiplicity and gi-andeur of the objects 

 presented to his sight. On referring to his g-uide he in 

 vain seeks for insti-uction, for some explanation ot tlie 

 objects he sees, and of the gTeater part of which he is 

 entirely uaacguainted ; all he finds are the names o f the 



(Vinigmas; and though he may admire the wonderful 

 Creations of nature, the primeval attempts of barbarian 

 genius, or the unequalled perfection of antiquarian art, 

 i yet in general lie sees them but as the j)assive dreams 

 , of imagination ; their volubility is diminished or lost. 

 Jt will in this attempt be our endeavour, in some mea- 

 |ure, to remedy this, not only by giving a passing de- 

 gcription of the entire contents of this unrivalled esta- 

 blishment, but by selecting some excelling portion of 

 every class, by which a general yet more perfect know- 

 ledge of the whole may be obtained, and thus tliat which 

 for the reasons alleged is noAv in general seen but as a 

 strange yet interesting show, may become better com- 

 prehended and known. Of those subjects in the collec- 

 ? tion wliich more particularly excite notice and mark each 

 class, engravings are given, in whicli all meritorious 

 ornament or attempt at effect is avoided, and only triJe" 

 and exact representations are given. 



