VI 
INTRODUCTION 
The Harleian 
collection of 
Manuscripts, 
£ 7 , 000 } when it devolved in the year 1773, was 
placed in the public funds * : and the interest ac¬ 
cruing 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 
purchase 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 Duch¬ 
ess of Portland, their only daughter, for the 
purchase of the numerous and valuable Library 
of manuscripts 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 
* This capital, which originally purchased «i€ 7>933 Old South 
Sea Annuities, is now, by accumulation, and the addition of the 
sum of ^1,123, being the amount of lottery tickets granted by his 
present Majesty {vide. p. xii.), increased to ,£12,440. 6s. Qd. of the 
same fund. 
