Xvi 
INTRODUCTION. 
Greville's 
Minerals. 
stitution, has recently accepted an offer, made by 
the executors of the late Marquis of Lansdown, 
for the purchase of his valuable collection of ma¬ 
nuscripts, and to add it to the several copious 
libraries of the same nature already in the Mu¬ 
seum. The vote, for this purpose, passed in the 
year ISO/; and the sum granted, according To 
the best valuation that could be made, amount¬ 
ed to ^4,925. Its merit, very similar to that of 
the Cottonian Library, consists chiefly in original 
and authentic documents relating to the history 
of England, particularly during the reigns of the 
Tudors; besides a number of Collectanea of a 
miscellaneous nature, made by several eminent 
statesmen and learned antiquaries. 
An opportunity having presented itself in the 
course of the year IS 10, of acquiring the 
extensive Collection of Minerals formed by the 
late Eight Hon. Charles Greville, the Trustees, 
in a Petition to the House of Commons, recom¬ 
mended the purchase thereof, for the use of the 
public. A committee was accordingly appointed, 
who having deliberated on the subject, and taken 
the depositions of the most eminent Mine¬ 
ralogists they had the means of consulting, 
reported the opinion of these referees as follows. 
“ That they considered the entire Collection to be 
“ equal 
