XXX 
INTRODUCTION. 
The Reading 
Room. 
new catalogues of their contents, to pay proper 
attention to visitors of distinction either for rank 
or learning, and some of them, in rotation, to 
attend the Reading-Room, which it is strictly or¬ 
dered should never be left without an inspecting 
officer. Resides these, a Secretary, a Surveyor, 
five Attendants, three Warders, a Messenger, a 
Porter, a Gardener, and a few inferior servants, 
complete the Establishment. 
The chief use of the Museum consists, no 
doubt, in the means it affords to men of letters 
and artists to recur to such materials as they may 
want in the prosecution of their studies or la¬ 
bours. For this purpose a spacious, and very 
commodious apartment, has been set aside, by 
the name of the Reading-Room, which is open 
every day, Saturdays and Sundays excepted, 
and to which persons, not wholly strangers, are 
freely admitted, and there readily supplied with 
whatever books, or manuscripts, they may 
desire to consult: as also with such productions 
of art or nature, of which they may wish to 
have a closer inspection than can be had in 
the cursory manner allowed to ordinary visitors. 
The regulations made for the proper use of this 
privilege are found fully adequate for the intended 
purpose ; ami the intentions of the Trustees, 
that. 
