INTRODUCTION. 
XX i 
HansSloane, which, when it was purchased, was 
deemed of the first magnitude, would insensi¬ 
bly become retrograde in its comparative value ; 
and this in fact was found to be particularly the 
case in the classes of Ornithology and Minera¬ 
logy. Accordingly, in order to supply the for¬ 
mer of these deficiencies, the Trustees being, in 
the year 1769 * informed that a large collection 
of stuffed Birds, in uncommon preservation, had 
been brought over from Holland by a person of 
the name of Greenwood, who, having for a time 
exhibited them to the public, became desirous 
to dispose of them at a reasonable price, they 
readily availed themselves of the opportunity 
and purchased the whole for the sum of e £'46o. 
Many additions were afterwards made by pur¬ 
chase and donation: and the aggregate soon 
formed, not indeed a complete, but as extensive 
and curious a collection as any perhaps at that 
time extant. 
In the year 1798 , a favourable opportunity 
presented itself for supplying the deficiency in the 
Mineralogical part of the Repository. Charles 
Hatchett, now of Roehampton, Esq., having, 
during his travels in various parts of Europe, 
formed a large and well chosen collection of Mi¬ 
nerals of every class, which the Trustees learnt 
that 
Greenwood** 
Birds, 
Hatchett's 
Minerals. 
