ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM 
xi 
and the Eoyal Library was then placed in it. The northern, southern, 
and western sides of the building were subsequently added, and in 
1845 the whole of Montague House and its additions had disap- 
peared ; while the increasing collections had rendered it necessary to 
make various additions to the original design of Sir E. Smirke, some 
of them even before it had been fully carried out. The most extensive 
addition, however, is that erected in the inner quadrangle *Under the 
superintendence of Mr. Sydney Smirke (who had some time previously 
succeeded his brother Sir Robert as architect to the Museum). 
This new building contains 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 of about 16,000 volumes). 
In 1837 the Prints and Drawings were separated from the 
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 office of Superintendent of the Natural History 
Departments was created. At the beginning of the year 1861, the 
Department of Antiquities was divided' into three, viz., (1) Egyptian 
and other Oriental Antiquities with the Medieval and British Anti- 
quities and Ethnography; (2) Greek and Roman Antiquities; and 
(3) Coins and Medals. In the year 1866 the British and Medieval 
Antiquities and Ethnography were separated from the Oriental Anti- 
quities, and constituted an independent department; and in 1867 the 
Maps, Charts, Plans, and Topographical Drawings were separated 
from the Printed Books,- and made to form a distinct department. 
The Museum at the present time is divided into twelve departments, 
viz., Printed Books ; Maps, Charts, Plans, and Topographical Draw T - 
ings ; Manuscripts (with the sub-division " Oriental Manuscripts," 
placed under a separate keeper at the end of the year 1866) ; Prints 
and Drawings ; Orienial Antiquities ; Greek and Roman Antiquities ; 
British and Medieval Antiquities, and Ethnography ; Coins and 
Medals ; Zoology ; Geology ; Mineralogy ; and Botany : each depart- 
ment being under the care of an '* Under Librarian " or Keeper. 
Visitors proceed to the several rooms herein described from the 
entrance hall, on the western side of which is the principal staircase 
to the upper floor. Against the wall to the south of the staircase is a 
statue by Westmacott of the Hon. Mrs. Seymour Damer, holding in 
her hands a small figure of the genius of the Thames, sculptured 
by herself. By the side of this statue is the doorway to the sculpture 
galleries. On the eastern side of the Hall are two marble statues : 
Shakspere by Roubilliac, and Sir Joseph Banks by Chantrey ; between 
these is the doorway to the Grenville Library. 
To inspect the several collections in the order in which they are de- 
scribed in the present Guide, the visitor will ascend to the upper floor 
* See the description of the Heading Room and Libraries, sold in tbe Museum, 
price one penny. 
