BOOK II, DER OF THE choice Collection of Minerals from the Hartz Mountains, THE FOUN- given to the Public by King GEORGE THE FOURTH. The Persepolitan sculptures were received in the year 1825; the Minerals from the Hartzgebirge, in the year 1829. BANKSIAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY. CONTENTS OF BOOK III: CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION :-SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF II. INTRODUCTION (CONTINUED) :-SUMMARY VIEW OF THE V. THE FOUNDER OF THE GRENVILLE LIBRARY. VI. BENEFACTORS OF RECENT DAYS. VII. RECONSTRUCTORS AND PROJECTORS. THE Comprehensive character of the British Museum— the origin of which may be traced to the heterogeneous nature of Sir Hans SLOANE's bequest-doubtless makes it difficult to provide for the expansion of its various branches, according to their relative demands upon the space and light which can be applied to their accommodation. Any attempt, however, now to diminish that difficulty by segregating any portion, or by scattering in various localities the components of the vast aggregate, would involve a sacrifice. of great scientific advantages which are not the less inherent in their union because that union was, in its origin, fortuitous. 'Some passages of our evidence... illustrate the difficulty of drawing a line of separation, for purposes of management and superintendence, between certain Collections. Its occurrence [i. e. the occurrence of such a difficulty] indicates strongly the value to Science, of the accidents which have placed in near juxtaposition the Collections of mineralogy [and] of forms of existing and extinct animal and vegetable life. The immediate connexion of all alike with the Library of the Museum is too important to allow us to contemplate its dissolution.'-Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Constitution and Management of the British Museum (1850), p. 36. |