Lives of the Founders of the British Museum, Part 2 of 2 / With Notices of Its Chief Augmentors and Other Benefactors, 1570-1870.

Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
By EDWARD EDWARDS.
LONDON:
TRÜBNER AND CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1870.
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PRINTED BY J. E. ADLARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.
‘Considering the British Museum to be a National Library for research, its utility increases in proportion with the very rare and costly books, in preference to modern books.... I think that scholars have a right to look, for these expensive works, to the Government of the Country....
‘I want a poor student to have the same means of indulging his learned curiosity,—of following his rational pursuits,—of consulting the same authorities,—of fathoming the most intricate inquiry,—as the richest man in the kingdom, as far as books go. And I contend that Government is bound to give him the most liberal and unlimited assistance in this respect. I want the Library of the British Museum to have books of both descriptions....
‘When you have given a hundred thousand pounds,—in ten or twelve years,—you will begin to have a library worthy of the British Nation.’—
Antonio Panizzi— Evidence before Select Committee on British Museum , 7th June, 1836. (Q. 4785–4795.)