INTRODUCTION. XXvii 
in their liberality, three gentlemen of the same 
family, viz. Colonel William, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. 
Smart Lethiullier, who, so early as the year 17 56, 
began their benefactions, and continued them for 
several years, thereby materially increasing the 
collection of Egyptian Antiquities, to which they 
added two mummies, and a great number of 
idols, utensils, and other implements. 
The name of Thomas Hollis, of Corscombe, 
in Dorsetshire, Esq. appears perhaps more fre¬ 
quently than any other in the list of Benefactors; 
he having, from the year IJ 56 , to the day of his 
death in 177 4 > been unremitted in his contri¬ 
butions, consisting chiefly of rare books, prints, 
a variety of bronze idols, and various other pro-* 
Auctions of the arts. 
The late Earl of Exeter ranks likewise very 
high in the register of Benefactors, not so much 
perhaps for the number of his gifts, as for their 
intrinsic value and importance. Among these 
are the bronze head of Homer, which he 
purchased at the sale of Dr. Mead's collection ; 
a large, if not complete, set of the Roman As, 
and its divisions, and of Cotorniate Medallions ; 
and a splendid collection of drawings by Mosman ; 
£ $ being 
Thomas Hollis^ 
Esq. 
The Earl of 
Exeter. 
