BRITISH MUSEUM. constitution of these realms. It now consists Major Edwards' Library. We have on several occasions availed ourselves of opportunities to state the present condition, regulations, &c. of this truly noble National establishment. A Synopsis of its There was likewise at the disposal of Parhistory and contents having been lately comliament a collection of about 2,000 volumeş posed by the officers of the institution, we of English, French, and Italian books, formare enabled to give its history, in our presented by Major Arthur Edwards, late of St. number, with well merited commemorations of benefactors to whom science, the nation, and the literary public at large, are under great obligations. A succinct view of the contents of this magnificent Repository, may be expected in a future communication. FOUNDATION BY PARLIAMENT. The Slonean Museum. The project of a public establishment of this nature was first suggested by the will of Sir Hans Sloane, late of Chelsea, in the county of Middlesex, bart. who, during a long period of eminent practice in physic, had accumulated a very large collection of natural and artificial curiosities, together with a numerous library of printed books as well as manuscripts; and who, being well aware how much science is benefited by the opportunities which large aggregates of objects afford for comparing them together, and marking their less obvious differences, was very solicitous that his sumptuous Museum, which he declared in his will had cost him upwards of £50,000, should, if possible, be preserved entire, and permanently dedicated to public utility. With this view he directed that the whole of his Muscum should be offered to the British Parliament for the moderate sum of £20,000; that should this tender not be accepted, the offer should be then made to certain foreign academies named in the will; and that, should these also decline the offer, his executors should be at liberty to dispose of it in the manner that should appear to them most eligible. George, Hanover Square, and by him, in 1738, bequeathed to the Trustees of the sion of £7,000, for erecting a building Cottonian Library, together with the reveradapted for the effective preservation of the two joint libraries. This capital, which originally purchased £7,933 Old South Sea Annuities, is now, by accumulation, and the addition of the tickets granted by his present Majesty, insum of £1,123, being the amount of lottery creased to £12,440. 6s. 9d. of the same fund. Harleian Collection of Manuscripts. Parliament also, with the same liberal spirit of promoting the purposes of literature, offered £10,000 to the Countess of Oxford, relict of Edward, Earl of Oxford, and the Duchess of Portland, their only daughter, for the purchase of the numerous and valuable library of manuscripts collected by the said Earl, and by Robert, Earl of Oxford, his father. The sum was accepted, and this collection is now kept together, as an addition to the Cottonian Library. This Library, consisting of upwards of 7,600 volumes, many of them, as is usual in ail MS. collections, containing a great number of separate articles, and upwards of 40,000, original rolls, charters, and other instruments, an.org which there are many of great antiquity, the whole chiefly relating to the political, parliamentary, and ecclesiastical history of Great Britain and Ireland, is now placed according to its destination. In order to defray the expences necessarily Sir Hans Sioane died in the beginning of implied by these purchases, and to provide a 1793. The offer directed in his will was improper repository for the preservation of mediately made to Parliament, and accepted without hesitation. The Coltonian Library. A beginning having thus been made of a public scientific Repository, it was deemed expedient to enlarge its extent, and increase its importance, by adding the library of manuscripts collected by Sir Robert Cotton, in the times of Queen Elizabeth and James I., and increased by his son, Sir Thomas Cotton, in the subsequent reign. This is an inestimable treasure, chiefly abounding in authentic documents relating to the history, the antiquities, the laws, and thein, as well as a fund for the permanent support of the establishment, Parliament resolved to raise the sum of £100,000 by way of lottery; which having been drawn according to the provisions laid down in the act, netted the sum of £95,194. 83. 2d. This sum, together with the several collections purchased and granted as above stated, Parliament vested in an incorporate body of Trustees, consisting of the first characters in the kingdom for rank, station, and literary fame; and it was now determined that the institution should bear the name of the British Museum. Montague House. These Trustees fixed on the noble mansion, built about 1680, by Ralph, first Duke of Montagu, who being at that time Ambassador at Paris, sent over French artists for erecting and adorning the edifice he had in contemplation. This palace, together with its gardens and appurtenances, occupying in the whole an area of seven acres and twenty perches of land, was ceded by the representatives of the Montagu family for the moderate sum of £10,000. The Museum was opened for study and public inspection Jan. 15, 1759. Beside the £20,000 paid for the Sloanean, and the £10,000 for the Harleian, collections, and £10,000 for Montagu-house, the sum of £28,663. 15s. was laid out in the purchase of £30,000 3 per cent reduced annuities, and appropriated to the maintenance of the establishment. The remaining £.0,531. 3s. 2d. raised by the lottery, scarcely sufficed to defray the expences of repairs, cases, furniture, removing the collections, and various other incidental charges. GRADUAL INCREASE.-ROYAL DONATIONS. George II.-The Royal Library. His late majesty, fully impressed with a conviction of the utility of this institution, was, in the year 1757, graciously pleased to make over to this trust the whole of the very choice and important library of printed books and manuscripts, which had been gradually collected by the sovereigns of these realms, from Henry VII. down to William III.; since whose time it has been continued, and is still annually increasing, by the privilege of being supplied with a copy of every publication entered in Stationers' Hall. Besides the books immediately collected by the sovereigns, and principally by Henry VIII. from the opportunities which offered at the dissolution of the monasteries, this collection, which at the time when the Museum act passed, consisted of about 2000 MSS. and upwards of 9000 printed books, contains the library of Archbishop Cranmer, and those of Henry Fitzalan Earl of Arundel, and his son-in-law Richard lord Lumley, of Sir John Morris, and of Isaac Casaubon, some of the volumes in the latter deriving considerable value from the MS. notes of the learned proprietor. This library also contains, among other most valuable articles, the venerable Alexandrian Codex of the Bible, several splendid MSS., chiefly biblical and chronicles; and among the printed books abundance of old and rare editions, many of them being presentation copies from their respective authors. George IH.-Collection of Pamphlets. A numerous collection of pamphlets and periodical papers, published in the convul sive interval between the years 1640 and 1660, [collected expressly for the service and information of Charles I.] after having passed through the hands of various persons, some of whom were at times obliged to secrete it with uncommon care and circumspection, was at length offered for sale in the year 1762; and his Majesty, being apprized of the circumstance, immediately ordered the same to be purchased, and to be deposited in the MuThe collection consists of upwards of 30,000 articles, bound in about 2,000 vols.; most of the tracts being now become uncommonly scarce, and many of them probably unique. seum. Antiquities, &c.-Chiefly Egyptian ; and among them one of the finest mummies perhaps now in Europe, which were sent to the late Earl of Bute by Edward Wortley Montagú, Esq. and presented by the former to his Majesty, who was pleased to transfer it to the Museum. Lottery Tickets-In 1761, a number of lottery tickets which belonged to his royal predecessor, contemning prizes £1,123. In 1772, a complete set of the Journals of the Lords and Commons, with their several indexes and reports, was sent to the Museum tion of natural and artificial curiosities, from by his Majesty's command. Also, a collecthe N. W, coast of America, brought home in 1796 by Mr. Menzies; and several single books of great value and utility. Our army in Egypt having acquired, by the capitulation of Alexandria in 1801, many articles of Egyptian Antiquities, which had been selected and shipped with a view of being transported to France; these acquisitions were sent to England in 1802, and were immediately ordered by his Majesty to be placed in the British Museum. Parliament.-Hamiltonian Collection. The number of antiquities contained in the Museum was originally inconsiderable; but this deficiency was amply supplied in 1772. Sir William Hamilton having, during a long residence at Naples as his Majesty's envoy, had many favourable opportunities of acquiring a great number of articles of Greek and Roman antiquity, particularly the largest store then known of ancient vases, usually, though erroneously, called Etruscan, caused the whole collection to be brought to England; in 1772 the House of Commons on report of a committee, voted £8,400 for the purchase thereof, in order to its being deposited in the Museum. The public is also largely indebted to Sir William Hamilton for many liberal and repeated donations to the Museum; especially abundance of articles of natural history, particularly of the volcanic productions of Mount Vesuvius, of which he has perhaps been the most careful observer since the days of Pliny. The Townleian Library. An opportunity having presented itself, in the year 1805, of acquiring a large and exquisite collection of Greek and Roman statues, busts, and other sculptured marbles, formed by Charles Townley, of Townley in the county of Lancaster, Esq. at a great expence, during a course of many years, and by frequent journies to Italy, parliament, cheerfully granted the sum of £20,000 for their purchase and also voted supplies for the purpose of erecting an additional edifice, which is now completed; and a magnificent collection of ancient sculptures is at Jength opened for the inspection of strangers, as well as for the improvement of artists. The Lansdowa Manuscripts. Parliament has recently accepted an offer, made by the executors of the late Marquis of Lansdown, for the purchase of his valuable collection of manuscripts, for the particulars of which vide Panorama, Vol. II. p. 983. 2.-ADDITIONS MADE BY THE TRUST. Greenwood's Birds. The Trustees being, in the year 1769, informed that a large collection of stuffed birds, in uncommon preservation, had been brought over from Holland by a person of the name of Greenwood, who having for a time exhibited them to the public, became desirous to dispose of them at a reasonable price, they readily availed themselves of the opportunity, and purchased the whole for the sum of £460. Many additions were afterwards made by purchase and donation, and the agregate soon formed, not indeed a complete, but as extensive and curious a collection as any perhaps at that time extant. Hatchett's Minerals. the translator of the Hedaya, and the four Vedas in the Shanskrit language presented by Col. Polier; besides thirty-two volumes which came with the trophies of our Egyptian expedition, and various other curious and valuable articles. Tyssen's Saxon Coins. Samuel Tyssen, Esq. who during a short but active life had spared neither labour nor expence in accumulating a collection of coins, died in 1802. This collection comprised the most complete series of Saxon coins perhaps in the kingdom: for this the Trustees offered £620 which was accepted. Dr. Bentley's Classics. In the year 1807, an offer was made to the Trustees to purchase [for £400] a collection of ancient classics, which had been in the possession of the celebrated Dr. Bentley, and contained a great number of his truly learned notes. It consists of eighty-four volumes, among which is Dr. Bentley's copy of the plays of Aristophanes, with his copious and profound illustrations, a commentary much prized by the first critics in Greek literature. For the history of this discovery, and other particulars, Vidé Panorama, Vol. III. p. 84. 3. DONATIONS BY TRUSTEES. The Rev. Thomas Birch, D.D. many years secretary of the Royal Society, and one of the fifteen elected Trustees of the first nomination, after having rendered great services to the institution, while in its infancy, by his unwearied assiduity and exertions, closed a meritorious life in the year 1766, bequeathing his whole, not indeed very numerous, yet truly valuable library, to the Museum; and the annual produce of all his property in the funds, amounting to £522. 18s. New South Sea Annuities, to be equally shared In 1798, a favourable opportunity presented itself for supplying the deficiency in the Mi-among the three under librarians for the time neralogical part of the repository. Charles Hatchett, now of Roehampton, Esq. having during his travels in various parts of Europe, formed a large and well chosen collection of minerals of every class, the Trustees acquired it at the price of £700; and all that was valuable of the Sloanean collection having been incorporated with this ample accession, the whole, with the addition of what Mr. Cracherode's bequest has since supplied, new forms very copious and useful mineralogical collection. Halhed's Oriental MSS. being. This learned divine having chiefly distinguished himself as a biographical writer, his library excels particularly in books relating to that branch of literature; and among his manuscripts are several collections of historical documents, correspondences of men of note, and copies of various state papers, which he obtained from persons in high stations, with whom he lived in habits of familiar intercourse. Gustavus Brander, of Christ Church, in Hampshire, Esq., in 1765, made a considerable addition to the Museum, by the doThe Trustees having received intelligence nation of his fossils, chiefly collected by himthat the Oriental library of Nathaniel Brassey self in Hampshire, of which a classical cataHalhed, Esq. might be obtained at a reason-logue was drawn up and published by his able price, in the year 1796, obtained the whole of it for the sum of £550. It consists of ninety-three volumes, fourteen of which are in the Shanskrit language, and the rest chiefly Persian: and to these have been added twenty-six volumes recently purchased of the executors of the late Col. Hamilton, friend and countryman, Dr. Solander: he afterwards added many valuable donations. Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq. a gentleman whose name will ever be revered, as long as true taste and learning are held in estimation, was pleased to bequeath to the Museum all the books in his select library, which were not already in that repository; by which means gitude, and the East-India-Company: and about nine hundred volumes, chiefly classics, as to the Literary Societies which regularly were, in the year 1796, added to the collection. send in their various periodical and other pubSir William Musgrave, Bart. in 1800, by lications, we are bound to make honourable a similar bequest enriched the Museum library mention of the Royal Society, the Society of with nearly two thousand volumes of Antiquaries, the Society for the encourage ment of Arts and Manufactures, the Univerprinted books, among which are a great number of biographical tracts, many of them of sities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Leyden, great rarity and curiosity; and about forty the Imperial Academy of Brussels, the Royal volumes of manuscripts, the greater number Academy of Lisbon, the Colleges of Physiof them being an obituary kept by himself, cians of London and Edinburgh, the Faculty during the whole period of his active career. Advocates of Edinburgh, and several other The Rev. Clayton Mordaunt Cracherode, learned bodies, whose donations have been no less frequent than valuable, Among the M. A. a gentleman equally eminent for knowledge, taste, and urbanity, had, employ-here select, as being foremost in their liberality multitude of private individua's, we must el his whole time, talents, and ample fortune, in forming numerous and choice collections three gentlemen of the same family, viz. Coof printed books, prints, coins, and medals, lonel William, Mr. Pitt, and Air. Smart minerals, and shells. This treasure, he, Lethiullier, who, so early as the year 1756, was pleased to bequeath to the Museum, began their benefactions, and continued them where, due prepations having been made for several years, thereby materially increasing the collection of Egyptian Antiquities, to for its reception, it was actually deposited in 1799. Some idea may be formed of their which they added two mummies, and a great number of idols, utensils, and other impleimportance, by the value set upon them by ments. Thomas Hollis, of Coscombe, in experienced dealers in the different branches, when the House of Commons called for such Dorsetshire, Esq. appears perhaps more fre an estimate, with a view to remit the legacy-tors; from the year 1756, to the day of his quently than any other in the list of Benefac tax upon the whole bequest. Printed books Coins and Medals.. Prints Shell and Minerals... Total........... death in 1774. The late Earl of Exeter ranks £10,000 likewise very high in the register of Benefac6,000 tors. He presented the bronze head of Homer 5,000 which he purchased at the sale of Dr. Mead's 2,000 collection; a large, if not a complete, set of 500 the Roman As, and its divisions, and of Contorniate Medallions; and a splendid col£23,500lection of drawings by Mosman, being highly finished copies in black chalk of many of the The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. after his return from his circumnavi-ing to a moderate computation, could not most capital pictures at Rome, which, accordgation, deposited at different times in the have cost his lordship less than £3,000. Museum numerous collections of natural and artificial curiosities from the newly discovered islands in the South Seas, which, with considerable additions since made by the Admiralty, Cipt. Cook, and other officers who have performed similar distant and perilous voyages, forms now one of the most conspicuous parts of the Museum. Sir Joseph added a large set of Icelandic books, both printed and in manuscript, which he collected in a voyage he made, in 1772, to that island. 4.-BENEFACTORS, NOT TRUSTEES. The Museum may boast of various benefactions, from several crowned heads on the continent, and many political as well as literary bodies, chiefly in books. From the Emperors Francis I. and II. and the Empress Maria Theresa, from Catherine II. Empress of Russia, and their Majesties Charles III, King of Spain, and Frederick V. King of Denmark. Among our own public offices, it has repeatedly received additions from the Admiralty, the board of Lon the care of forty-three Trustees: 21 Official This extensive Repository is committed to Trustees; 7 nominated by the representatives of the Sloane, Cotton, Harley, and Townley Families; and 15 elected by the above Official and Family Trustees. These hold regular quarterly General Meetings, monthly Com mittees, and annual Visitations, besides extra-meetings of each description, according as exigencies may require. In these meetings are framed and enforced the by-laws and the regulations for the government and preserva tion of the Institution. They are from time to time, called upon by Parliament to lay before them statements of their accounts and various proceedings. For the Constitutions and Regulations of this Establishment, especially so far as concerns the Public, Vide PANORAMA, Vol. IV. page 925. * In the year 1781 this Society presented, the greatest part of its collection of Natural and Artificial Curiosities to this Museum. PROPOSITA PHILANTHROPICA. -Homo sum: Humani nihil a me alienum puto. SWEDISH PATRIOTIC FUND IN LONDON. We are sorry to learn that the Russian troops in Finland have treated the Swedish peasantry with uncommon severity. War has evils enough in his train, evils inseparable from his career: and to diminish them, or to render them less ruinous to unopposing individuals, will ever be the truly honourable study of an exalted mind, however determined on discharging military duty. War on the part of Russia, with intent to force Sweden to adopt any line of political conduct was unjust; but the injustice is augmented incalculably by the consideration that the object was no less than to oblige her, against her determination, to become an enemy to her former friend, and a friend to her former enemy, to change, without reserve, her whole system, under which she had long flourished. For, how is this consistent with national independence? If, however war, war on such grounds, must break out, at least, it ought to be conducted with every possible mitigation, and all those alleviations of its miseries that can be practised ought to be devised and enforced. This, if our information be correct, has not been the fact. Barbarity has disgraced the Russian arms. The distresses of their countrymen induced the Swedles, settled in London, to attempt the assistance of their brethren, among themselves; but finding their powers not equal to their wishes, or their object, they have made a more extensive appeal to the feelings of humanity, and to the generous commiseration of Britons. The following paper has lately been circulated by these Swedish Patriots. "While the King of Sweden, amidst all the misfortunes and changes of the Continental States, still continues firm in his exertions to oppose the desolating tyranny of the French, and adheres with magnanimous fidelity to his engagements with the British Nation; his loyal Subjects at home have not been deficient, in testifying their allegiance and attachment to a beloved Monarch, and in seconding his generous purposes by their endeavours to encourage the minds, and to support the spirits of their gallant Countrymen in Arms, by providing for the wounded in battle, and for the relatives of the slain: following herein the noble example of this great and liberal Metropolis, who with enlightened patriotism, and acting upon a just knowledge of the principles of human nature, have, in the establishment of a Patriotic Fund, procured for their Country a source of incalculable advantage, and added to its noblest triumphs. 46 For, certain it is, that no consideration can more directly tend to solace and encourage the Soldier in the day of battle, than the convic tion, that should himself be wounded in the execution of his duty, he will not be left by his Country, to drag out a miserable existence in poverty and privations; and, that should he fall, those who are near and dear to him, will be comforted and provided for. "It was with this view that collections and subscriptions have been made in Sweden; and his Swedish Majesty's subjects, now resident in London, feeling themselves strongly called upon to join in this work of patriotism, met at Batson's Coffee-House, the 20th of August, 1807, where having been joined by several respectable English friends, and the chair having been taken by His Excellency Chevalier d'Adlerberg the Swedish Ambassador ; the following Resolutions were agreed to: 66 "That a subscription for the relief of the wounded Soldiers and Sailors serving under the King of Sweden, and for the Widows, Orphans, and Relatives of the slain, be iminediately opened among the Natives of Sweden, who reside or are visitants in this country. lent Englishnien for their contributions; who, That applications also be made to benevoit is hoped, will evince by their generosity, both the interest they feel for their brave and faithful allies, and their high approbation of that noble and undaunted spirit, which animates the gallant King of Sweden in the Common Cause." For the Literary Panorama. Recent Information from Swedish Finland. As soon as the Swedish troops were known to approach Wasa, June 25, the civil Governor Emine, and the commandant of the town, Major-Gen. Kniper, fled so that Major Gen. Demidoff had the command there during the engagement. When the Swedish corps bad retreated, the inhabitants, (who had been exposed to all the horrors and mischief of a constant fire of musquetry and cannon, which killed and wounded many in their houses,) expected some respite: but, almost immediately after, Gen. Demidoff gave orders to plunder the town, which orders were executed in the most cruel manner, under his personal direction. These scenes of murder, wanton cruelty, and devastation, continued until the 30th without intermission, except for a few hours, while Lieut.Gen. Rajewski happened to stop in his way through the town, who expressed his detestation of this conduct, and ordered the plundering should cease. But he had no sooner left the town, than these murderous proceedings recommenced, and the soldiers divided themselves into larger and smaller bodies, and thus occupied the whole town. The usual mode of proceeding was, first to fire a volley. |