XXII 
INTRODUCTION. 
Dr. Birch's 
Library. 
besides gratuitously bestowing much of their time 
and attention to the concerns of the Museum as 
Trustees, have likewise enriched it by repeated 
and valuable gifts, which they have from time to 
time presented, either singly, or in collective, and 
in some instances, in considerable numbers. 
The Rev. Thorrias Birch, D.D. many years 
Secretary to the Royal Society, and one of the 
fifteen elected Trustees of the first nomination, 
after having rendered great services to the Insti¬ 
tution, while in its infancy, by his unwearied 
assiduity and exertions, closed a meritorious life 
in the year IT'bd, bequeathing his whole, not 
indeed very numerous, but yet truly valuable, 
library, to the Museum; and the annual pro¬ 
duce of all his property in the funds, amount¬ 
ing to ,£ 522 . 18 ^. New South Sea Annuities, 
to be equally shared among the three Under 
Librarians for the time being. This learned 
divine having chiefly distinguished himself 
as a biographical writer, his library excels 
particularly in books relating to that branch of 
literature; and among his manuscripts are several 
collections of historical documents, correspon¬ 
dences of men of note, and copies of various 
State Papers, which he obtained from persons in 
high 
