vi 
The present "Guide" gives a concise account of the con- 
tents of the exhibition rooms in the several departments of 
Zoology, Minerals, Fossils, Botany, and Antiquities, in the 
British Museum, and is intended to supply such information 
as is necessary for the generality of visitors to the collections, 
in addition to that which is furnished by the labels attached 
to the various objects. 
A Synopsis, which is to be published hereafter, will 
give a fuller description of these collections, accompanied 
by scientific and literary notes, and illustrated by wood- 
engravings.* 
J. WINTER JONES, 
Principal Librarian. 
British Museum, 
June 22nd, 1874. 
In the year 1753 an Act of Parliament was passed (26 Geo. II. cap. 
22), enacting that the collections formed by Sir Hans Sloane, as well 
as the Cottonian and Harleian collections of Manuscripts, should be 
vested in certain Trustees, and, together with such additions as might 
be made to them, placed in one general repository, to be there 
preserved for public use to all posterity. The Trustees were incor- 
porated under the name of " Trustees of the British Museum," with 
power to make such regulations as they deemed fit for the preservation 
and inspection of the collections, the care and custody of which were 
chiefly committed to the " Principal Librarian," who was to be con- 
tinually aided in the execution of his duty by such officers as should 
be appointed for that purpose. 
Montague House was purchased by the Trustees in 1754 for a gene- 
ral repository, and the collections were removed to it under the above 
Act of Parliament. On the 15th of January, ]759, the British 
Museum was opened for the inspection and use of the public. At 
first the Museum was divided into three departments, viz., Printed 
Books, Manuscripts, and Natural History ; at the head of each of them 
was placed an officer designated an " Under Librarian." 
The increase of the collections soon rendered it necessary to pro- 
vide additional accommodation for them, Montague House proving in- 
* Sec the parts relating to the Elgyptian Galleries, Northern Vestibule; the First 
find Second iigyptian Ilooms, and the Grajco-Kninan Sculptures (price Ad. each), the 
First and Second Vase-lloorns (price 2d. each), the Bronze Iloom (3:?.), and the 
Select Greek Coins exhibited in lUectrotype iu the Gold Ornament Boom (3c^.), 
already published. 
