INTRODUCTION. 
The Harleian 
Collection of 
Manuscripts. 
preservation of the two joint libraries. This 
addition, of course, became likewise a part of the 
new foundation ; and, the necessity of erecting 
a building being thus superseded by the transfer 
of the libraries to the Museum, the above legacy 
of *£7,000, when it devolved in the year >769. 
was placed in the public funds : and the interest 
accruing from it was, conformably to the inten¬ 
tion of the testator, and the provisions of the Act 
of Parliament, ordered to be expended in the pur¬ 
chase of books, manuscripts, coins, and other 
curiosities; by which means considerable addi¬ 
tions have from time to time been made, and 
continue to be made to the general Repository. 
Parliament also, with the same liberal spirit 
of promoting the purposes of literature, caused 
an offer to be made to the Countess of Oxford, 
relict of Edward Earl of Oxford, and the Duchess 
of Portland, their only daughter, for the purchase 
of the numerous and valuable Library of manu¬ 
scripts collected by the said Earl, and by Robert 
Earl of Oxford, his father. The sum offered was 
*£10,000; and the condition was annexed, that 
the Library, under the name of the Harleian 
Collection of Manuscripts, should be kept toge¬ 
ther. 
