CHAPTER I

. INTRODUCTORY.—EARLY HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

II. A GROUP OF ARCHÆOLOGISTS AND CLASSICAL EXPLORERS.

III. THE COLLECTORS OF THE CRACHERODE, LANSDOWNE, BURNEY, AND EGERTON LIBRARIES, AND OF THE APPENDANT COLLECTIONS.

IV. THE KING’S LIBRARY—ITS COLLECTOR AND ITS DONOR.

V. THE FOUNDER OF THE BANKSIAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY.

“The King made this Ordinance:—That there should be a mission of three of the brethren of Solomon’s House, whose errand was only to give us knowledge of the affairs and state of those countries to which they were designed, and especially of the Sciences ... and Inventions of all the World; and withal to bring us books, instruments, and patterns in every kind....

“We have also precious stones, of all kinds; many of them of great beauty.... Also, store of fossils.... But we do hate all impostures and lies, insomuch as we have severally forbidden it to all our fellows, under pain of ignominy or fines, that they do not show any natural work or thing adorned or swelling, but only pure as it is, without affectation of showing marvels....

“We have also those who take care to consider of the former labours and Collections, and out of them to direct new explorations ... more penetrating into Nature than the former.... Upon every invention of value we erect a statue to the inventor, and give him a liberal and honourable reward.

“We have hymns and services, which we say daily, of laud and thanks to GOD for His marvellous works, and forms of prayer imploring His blessing for the illumination of our labours.”—BACON, ‘_New Atlantis, a Work unfinished_.’

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