72 
MEMOIR OF 
articles it contained, was read by Mr James 
Empson, who had taken care of the museum for 
many years past, and was then appointed secre- 
tary to the trustees. Sir George Lyttleton then 
moved, and Mr West seconded, that a memorial 
should be presented to his Majesty relating to 
this matter ; and a committee was appointed to 
draw up the same.”* 
The result was, that Parliament immediately 
closed with the offer; and, in 1753, an act was 
passed, entitled, “ An Act for the purchase of the 
Museum or Collection of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart, 
and of the Harleian collection of MSS. and for 
procuring one general repository for the better 
reception and more convenient use of the said 
collection, and of the Cottonian library in addi- 
tion thereto.” 
By this act, the sum of £ 100,000 was ordered 
to be raised by a lottery, and certain great officers 
of state, together with private individuals as 
representatives of the families of the principal 
contributors, and others, were incorporated by 
the name of “ Trustees for the British Museum.”f 
* Gentleman’s Magazine, January, 1753. 
t The Government of the British Museum is at present 
rested in forty-eight trustees, of whom twenty-three are 
ex-officio, nine are representatives of the families of Sloane, 
Cotton, Harley, Townlev, Iilgin, and Knight ; one is 
appointed by the King, and iifteen are elected. The 
