XX 
INTRODUCTION* 
Dr. Bentley’s 
Classics. 
in accumulating a collection of Coins of uncom- 
mon magnitude, upon his death, in the year 
1802 , left this immense treasure to be disposed 
of by his executors, in any way they should 
deem most eligible. Among the rest was found 
in this collection the most complete series of 
Saxon Coins perhaps in the Kingdom, and for 
this the Trustees made an offer of <£ 620 , which 
was accepted, and the whole is now incorporated 
in, and adds no small importance to the very 
extensive numismatic collection, which was 
already deposited in the Museum. 
In the year I807, an offer was made to the 
Trustees to purchase a collection of ancient 
Classics, which had been in the possession of 
the celebrated Dr* Bentley, and contained a 
great number of his truly learned illustrations 
and remarks. The Trustees, well aware of the 
intrinsic value of this accession, ordered the pay- 
ment of <£* 400 , the sum demanded, and caused 
the collection to be added to their Library. It 
consists of eighty-four volumes, among which 
is Dr. Bentley’s copy of the Plays of Aristo¬ 
phanes, with his copious and profound illustra¬ 
tions, a commentary much prized by the first 
critics in Greek literature. 
3 .*—Donations 
