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BOOK III,
Chap. II.
HISTORY

OF THE

MUSEUM
UNDER SIR
H. ELLIS.

One of the communications which my late friend published in that Mechanics' Magazine' contained two suggestions-made contingently, and by way of alternative plans -for the enlargement of the Museum buildings. Nearly eleven years afterwards (August, 1847), I unconsciously repeated those very suggestions, amongst many others, in a pamphlet, entitled Public Libraries in London and Paris. I was in complete ignorance that my suggestions of 1847 were otherwise than entirely original. I thought them wholly my own. Of the print which accompanied my pamphlet I give the reader an exact fac-simile, errors included, on the opposite plate. The print embodied very nearly the same thoughts, on the enlargement of the library, which had been expressed, so long before, in the pages of the Mechanics' Magazine.' The first presented copy of that pamphlet and print was given to my friend WATTS. I was then absent, far from London, and I had presently the pleasure of receiving from him a long letter, containing some criticisms and remarks on my publication. But such was his modest reticence about his own prior performance, that the letter contained no word or hint concerning the anticipation of my alternative suggestions for the enlargement of the Library in his prior publication. And, in the long interval between 1837 and 1847, I suppose we had conversed about the improvement of the Museum, and about its buildings, actual and prospective, some thirty or forty times, but (as I have said) those valuable and thoughtful articles of his, printed in 1836-7—and making complimentary mention of my own labours, and of my evidence given before Mr. HAWES' Committee-never came within my knowledge. No part of their contents was even mentioned to me. I saw them, for the first time, in January, 1870. Very few men-within my range of acquaintance

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SUGGESTIONS, MADE IN 1847.

FOR THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE LIBRARY OF THE
BRITISH MUSEUM

BEING THE FAC-SIMILE OF A PLAN INSERTED IN A PAMPHLET (WRITTEN IN 1846)

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Chap. II.

-had so much dislike to talk of their performances, as was Book III, manifested by Thomas WATTS. To this day, very much of HISTORY what he did for the Public is scarcely known even by those OF THE who (at one time or other) enjoyed the pleasure, and the honour, of his friendship. He was one of the men who 'did good by stealth,' and would have almost blushed to find it fame.

MUSEUM

UNDER SIR

H. ELLIS.

LABOURS
FOR THE
AUGMENTA-

TION OF THE
BRITISH

MUSEUM

When Thomas WATTS entered the Museum, the imme- WATTS' diate task entrusted to him, onerous as it was, did not (for any long time) engross his attention. In common with Mr. PANIZZI, his desire to increase the Library, and to make London surpass Paris- Paris must be surpassed,' LIBRARY. are the words which close the best of those articles, printed in 1837, to which I have just now referred-amounted to a positive passion. He did not talk very much about it; but I fancy it occupied, not only his waking thoughts, but his very dreams.

Mr. PANIZZI had not been at the head of his Department many weeks before he began a Special Report to the Trustees, recommending a systematic increase of the Collection of Printed Books.

In the autumn of 1837 he could hardly foresee that one of the attacks to be made, in the after-years, upon those who had appointed him, or who had promoted his appointment, for the crime of preferring a foreigner' to a high post in our National Museum, would be based upon the foreigner's neglect of English Literature. ‘An Italian Librarian,' said those profound logicians, ‘must, naturally and necessarily, swamp the Library with Italian books. He can't help doing it.' But, strange as it may have seemed to objectors of that calibre, this particular Italian happened to be, not only a scholar-a ripe and good one—

Воок III, Chap. II. HISTORY

OF THE MUSEUM

UNDER SIR

H. ELLIS.

SIR A.

PANIZZI'S
REPORT, IN
OCTOBER,

1837, ON THE

PROPER

CHARACTERISTICS OF A NATIONAL

LIBRARY FOR

GREAT
BRITAIN.

but a man of wide sympathies, and of catholic tastes in literature. He was able himself to enjoy SHAKESPEARE, not less thoroughly than he was able, by his critical acumen, to increase other men's enjoyment of ARIOSTO and of Dante. In October, 1837, he wrote thus:- With respect to the purchase of books, Mr. PANIZZı begs to lay before the Trustees the general principles by which he will be guided, if not otherwise directed, in endeavouring to answer the expectations and wishes of the Trustees and of the Public in this respect. First, the attention of the Keeper of this emphatically British Library ought to be directed, most particularly, to British works, and to works relating to the British Empire; its religious, political, and literary, as well as scientific history; its laws, institutions, description, commerce, arts, &c. The rarer and more expensive a work of this description is, the more indefatigable* efforts ought to be made to secure it for the Library. Secondly, the old and rare, as well as the critical, editions of ancient Classics, ought never to be sought for in vain in this Collection. Nor ought good comments, as also the best translations into modern languages, to be wanting. Thirdly, with respect to foreign literature, arts, and sciences, the Library ought to possess the best editions of standard works for critical purposes or for use. The Public have, moreover, a right to find, in their National Library, heavy as well as expensive foreign works, such as Literary Journals; Transactions of Societies; large Collections, historical or otherwise; complete series of Newspapers; Collections of Laws, and their best interpreters.' We have, in this brief passage, the germ

* In Minutes of Evidence (page 596) printed erroneously reasonable.' To the brief extract, for which alone I can here afford space, were appended, in the original Report, many pertinent amplifications and illustrations. Some of these are given in the Minutes of Evidence above referred to.

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