20 
MEMOIR OF 
congestarum thesaurum, ipse plurimum adauxit 
et in Museo Lambethiano amicis visendum 
exhibet.” 
In a very short time after this, the family 
became extinct, for the son who inherited the 
museum died in 1662. He, by a deed of gift, 
dated December 16, 1659, had bestowed the 
collection on Elias Ashmole, who lodged in his 
house, and had obtained great celebrity by the 
publication of his “ Theatrum Chymicum Britan- 
nicum.” Mrs Tradescant, however, the donor’s 
widow, contested Ashmole’s right to the Museum, 
which obliged him to prefer a bill in Chancery 
against her ; and it was not till 1674, that, 
pursuant to a decree of the court, she delivered 
up the property. 
Ashmole materially increased the collection in 
various departments, but more particularly in 
coins, medals, and manuscripts. In October, 
1677, he offered to give the whole to the 
University of Oxford, provided they would erect 
a building fit to receive them, to which propo- 
sition the University willingly assented. On 
Thursday, May 15, 1678, the first stone of the 
Ashmolean Museum was laid ; and being finished 
in March, 1682, the collection was transferred 
there, and the articles arranged by Dr Plot. On 
the 21st of May following, the building was 
opened for public inspection, and was visited by 
