I 
DEPARTMENT OF PRINTED BOOKS. 
The Library of Printed Books consists of at least 1,300,000 
volumes, acquired partly by copyright — the Trustees of the 
British Museum having the right, dating from 1814, to a copy 
of every book published in the United Kingdom — partly by 
purchase, and partly by donation or bequest. The most 
important of the collections which have been presented or 
bequeathed are : The Old Royal Library, presented by His 
Majesty King George II., in the year 1757; the rare books 
brought together by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode, bequeathed 
in 1799 ; the library of Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., consisting 
principally of works on Natural History, bequeathed by him 
and received in 1820; the magnificent library formed by 
King George III. and transferred to the Museum in 1 823, 
known as 1 The King's Library ; ' and the choice collection 
bequeathed by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville, and added in 
1847. Amongst the additions of smaller extent received by 
donation or bequest may be mentioned : A collection of 
Hebrew books, from Mr. Salomon Da Costa (1759) ; a 
number of pamphlets issued during the reign of Charles I. 
and the Commonwealth, from King George III. (1762) ; 
biographical works, from the Rev. Dr. T. Birch (1766); a 
series of Bibles from Mr. Speaker Onslow (1768) ; a collec- 
tion of books, from Major Arthur Edwards (1 769) ; works 
"ii Music, from Sir John Hawkins (1778); 900 volumes 
relating chiefly to the Classics, from Mr. Thomas Tvrwhitt 
(1786) ; collection of biographical works, from Sir William 
Musgrave (1790 and 1799); works in Italian and Portu- 
guese, from Mr. Methuen (1792) ; topographical books from 
■Sir Richard Colt-Hoare, Bart. (J 825); works on Natural 
History, from Major-General Hardwicke (1 835) ; and Chinese 
