INTRODUCTION. 
Hans Sloane, which, when it was purchased, was 
deemed of the first magnitude, would insensi- 
bly become retrograde in its comparative value ; 
and this in fact was found to be particularly the 
case in the classes of Ornithology and Minera- 
logy. Accordingly, in o^der to supply the for- 
mer of these deficiencies, the Trustees being, in 
the year I/69, informed that a large collection 
of stuffed Birds, in uncommon preservation, had Greenwood^ 
been brought over from Holland by a person of 
the name of Greenwood, who, having for a time 
exhibited them to the public, became desirous 
to dispose of them at a reasonable price, they 
readily availed themselves of the opportunity 
and purchased the whole for the sum of ^£460. 
Many additions were afterwards made by pur- 
chase and donation : and the aggregate *oon 
formed, not indeed a complete, but as extensive 
and curious a collection as any perhaps at that 
time extant. 
In the year 1798, a favourable opportunity Hatched 
presented itself for supplying the deficiency in the Mmcrals> 
Mineralogical part of the Repository. Charles 
Hatchett, now of Roehampton, Esq., having, 
during his travels in various parts of Europe, 
formed a large and well chosen collection of Mi- 
nerals of every class, which the Trustees learnt 
that 
