X 
ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 
In the year 1753 an Act of Parliament was passed (26 Geo. II. cap. 
2*2), 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 Bkitish Museum," with 
power to make such regulations as they might deem fit for the preserva- 
tion and inspection of the collections, the care and custody of which 
Vv-ere committed chiefly to the " Principal Librarian," who was to he 
continually aided in the execution of bis 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, 3 759, the British 
Museum was opened for the inspection and use of the public. Ai: 
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- 
sufhcient. The present by George III. of Egyptian Antiquities, and 
the purchase of the Hamilton and Townley 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, previously attached to the library of Printed Books 
and Manuscripts. The acquisition of the Elgin Marbles in 1816 made 
the Department of Antiquities of the hrghest importance, and increased 
room being indispensable for tlie exhibition of those marbles, 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 to liave 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. 
'J'lic eaHtern side of the present structure was completed in 1828, 
