BOOK THE FIRST.

EARLY COLLECTORS:

THE GATHERERS

OF THE FOUNDATION COLLECTIONS.

CONTENTS OF BOOK I

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.

II. THE FOUNDER OF THE COTTONIAN LIBRARY.

III. THE COLLECTORS AND AUGMENTORS OF THE OLD ROYAL

AND PUBLIC LIBRARY AT ST. JAMES'.

IV. THE COLLECTOR OF THe ArundeliaN MSS.

V. THE COLLECTOR OF THE HARLEIAN MANUSCRIPTS.

VI. THE FOUNDERS OF THE SLOANE MUSEUM.

"THE reverence and respect your Petitioners bear to the memory of the most learned Sir ROBERT COTTON are too great not to mention, in particular, that from the liberal use of his Library sprang (chiefly) most of the learned works of his time, for ever highly to be valued. The great men of that age constantly resorted to and consulted it to shew the errors and mistakes in government about that period. And, as this inestimable Library hath since been generously given and dedicated to the Public use for ever, to be a National Benefit, your Petitioners presume that no expression of gratitude can be too great for so valuable a treasure, or for doing honour to the Memory and Family of Sir ROBERT COTTON."'Petition to the Honourable House of Commons from the Cottonian Trustees' (drawn up antecedently to the Foundation Act of the British Museum); 1752.