iii 
The increase of these collections soon rendered it necessary to pro- 
vide additional accommodation for them, Montague House proving too 
small. The present by George III. of Egyptian Antiquities, and the 
purchase of the Hamilton and To^wnley Antiquities, made it more- 
over imperative to create an additional department — that of Antiquities 
and Art — to which were united the Prints and Drawings, as well as the 
Medals and Coins, hitherto attached to the library of Printed Books 
and Manuscripts. The acquisition of the Elgin Marbles in 1816 made 
this department of the highest importance, and increased room being 
indispensable for their exhibition, a temporary shelter was prepared 
for them. This was the last addition to Montague House. 
When, in 1823, the library collected by George III. was presented 
to the nation by George IV. it became necessary to erect a building 
fit to receive this valuable and extensive collection. It was then 
decided lo have an entirely new edifice to contain the whole of the 
Museum collections, including the recently-acquired library. Sir R. 
Smirke was accordingly directed by the Trustees to prepare plans: 
the eastern side of the present structure was completed in 18"28. 
when the Royal Library was deposited in it. The northern, southeiT 
and western sides of the quadrangle enclosed by the new building 
were subsequently added, and in 1845 the whole of Montague House 
and its accessions had disappeared ; while the increasing collections had 
rendered it necessary to make various additions to the original design 
of Sir Pi. Smirke, some of them even before it had been carried out. 
The most extensive of these additions is that erected in the above- 
mentioned quadrangle under the superintendence of Mr. Sydney 
Smirke (who had some time previously succeeded his brother Sir 
Ptobert as architect to the Museum), consisting of the Reading Room 
and accommodation for the future increase of the collection of Printed 
Books.* 
In 1827 a fifth department — that of Botany — was created, in conse- 
quence of the bequest by Sir Joseph Banks of his botanical collections 
(besides his library consisting of about 16,000 volumes). 
In 1837 the Prints and Drawings were separated from the Depart- 
ment of Antiquities, and became an independent department, and at 
the same time the Department of Natural History was divided into 
two, one of Geology, including Palaeontology and Mineralogy, the other 
of Zoology. In 1857 Mineralogy was constituted a separate depart- 
ment. In 1856 the ofiSce of Superintendent of the Natural History 
Departments was created. At present the Museum is divided into 
eight departments, viz.. Printed Books, Manuscripts, Antiquities and 
Art, Botany, Prints and Drawings, Zoology, Palaeontology, Mineralogy, 
each under the immediate care of an " Under Librarian " as keeper. 
Admission is given to the several rooms open to visitors from the 
entrance hall, on the western side of which is the principal staircase 
to the upper floor. Against the wall to the left of the staircase is a 
* See the description of the Xew Heading Eoom and Libraries, sold in the 
Museum, price one penny. 
