INTRODUCTION, 
Persons who are desirous to obtain a general 
idea of the contents of this extensive Repository, 
will probably be gratified by having a brief state¬ 
ment previously laid before them;—I. Of the Cir¬ 
cumstances which gave rise to the Institution; — 
II. Of its Gradual Increase;—III. Ofits Constitu¬ 
tion, and the Regulations now' in force for its pre¬ 
servation and useful application;—and IV. Of the 
present distribution of its numerous contents, in 
the several Departments into which it is divided. 
I. 
FOUNDATION BY PARLIAMENT- 
The project of a public establishment of this Th ^)° a .^ 3n 
nature was first suggested by the will of Sir 
b Hans 
