Chap. V. DER OF THE AND The Library of Sir Joseph BANKS comprised the finest BOOK II, collection of books on natural history which had ever been THE FOUN gathered into one whole in England. It was also pre-emi- BANAN nently rich in the transactions, generally, of learned MUSEUM societies in all parts of the world; and there is a masterly LIBRARY. Catalogue of the Collection, by Jonas DRYANDER, which was THE printed, at Sir Joseph's cost, in the years 1798-1800. That Catalogue, I venture to hope, will, some day, become—with due modification-the precedent for a printed Catalogue of the whole Museum Library-vast as it already is, and vaster as it must needs become before that day shall have arrived. BANKSIAN LIBRARY. BANKSIAN The Banksian Herbaria comprise BANKS' own botanical THE collections in his travels, and those of CLIFFORT, HER- HERBARIA. MANN, CLAYTON, AUBLET, MILLER, JACQUIER, and LOUREIRO, together with part of those made by TOURNEFORT, the friend and fellow-botanizer of SLOANE, and the author of the Corollarium. They also include many valuable plants gathered during those many English Voyages of Discovery which, from time to time, BANKS' example and his liberal encouragement so largely fostered. From the Collections now seen in the Botanical Room of the British Museum not a few of the great works of LINNAEUS, GRONOVIUS, and other famous botanists, derived some of their best materials. These Collections are at present under the zealous and faithful care of Mr. John Joseph BENNETT, long the assistant and the friend of BROWN. NOTICE OF Among nearly contemporaneous accessions which would Brief well merit some detailed notice, were the space for it available, are a valuable assemblage of Marbles from Persepolis, which had been collected by Sir Gore OUSELEY, and were given to the Museum by the Collector, and a small but RANEOUS BOOK II, THE FOUN BANKSIAN AND LIBRARY. choice Collection of Minerals from the Hartz Mountains, 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. CONTENTS OF BOOK III:- CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION :-SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM DURING THE PRINCIPAL- LIBRARIANSHIP OF JOSEPH PLANTA. II. INTRODUCTION (CONTINUED) :-SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM DURING THE PRINCIPAL-LIBRARIANSHIP OF SIR HENRY ELLIS. III. INTRODUCTION (CONTINUED) :-SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM DURING THE PRINCIPAL-LIBRARIANSHIP OF SIR ANTONIO PANIZZI. IV. ANOTHER GROUP OF ARCHEOLOGISTS AND CLASSICAL V. THE FOUNDER OF THE GRENVILLE LIBRARY. THE Comprehensive character of the British Museumthe 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. |