Entrance of the British Museum, from Russel Street.
S. Wale delin. Garden Front. J. Green sc. Oxon.
It happened very fortunately soon after, whilst the Trustees were at a loss where to purchase or build a proper repository, an offer was made them of Montague House in Great Russel street, Bloomsbury, a large and magnificent building, finely ornamented with paintings, situated in the most convenient part of the whole town, and having an extensive garden of near eight acres. This they purchased for the sum of 10000l. Repairs, alterations, book-cases, cabinets, and all other conveniences for placing the whole collection properly, and the making apartments for the officers, have cost 15000l. more. And every part is now so excellently contrived for holding this noble collection, and the disposition of it in the several rooms is so orderly and well designed, that the British Museum may justly be esteemed an honour and ornament to this nation. His Majesty, in consideration of its great usefulness, has also been graciously pleased to add thereto the royal libraries of books and manuscripts collected by the several Kings of England.
The Sloanian collection consists of an amazing number of curiosities, among which are,
| The library, including books of drawings, manuscripts and prints, amounting to about volumes | 50000 |
| Medals and coins ancient and modern | 23000 |
| Cameo’s and intaglio’s, about | 700 |
| Seals | 268 |
| Vessels, &c. of agate, jasper, &c. | 542 |
| Antiquities | 1125 |
| Precious stones, agates, jaspers, &c. | 2256 |
| Metals, minerals, ores, &c. | 2725 |
| Crystals, spars, &c. | 1864 |
| Fossils, flints, stones | 1275 |
| Earths, sands, salts | 1035 |
| Bitumens, sulphurs, ambers, &c. | 399 |
| Talcs, micæ, &c. | 388 |
| Corals, spunges, &c. | 1421 |
| Testacea, or shells, &c. | 5843 |
| Echini, echinitæ, &c. | 659 |
| Asteriæ, trochi, entrochi, &c. | 241 |
| Crustaceæ, crabs, lobsters, &c. | 363 |
| Stellæ marinæ, star fishes, &c. | 173 |
| Fishes and their parts, &c. | 1555 |
| Birds and their parts, eggs and nests of different species | 1172 |
| Quadrupedes, &c. | 1886 |
| Vipers, serpents, &c. | 521 |
| Insects, &c. | 5439 |
| Vegetables | 12506 |
| Hortus siccus, or volumes of dried plants | 334 |
| Humana, as calculi, anatomical preparations, &c. | 756 |
| Miscellaneous things, natural | 2098 |
| Mathematical instruments | 55 |
A catalogue of all the above is written in 38 volumes in folio and 8 in quarto.
As this noble collection of curiosities, and these excellent libraries are now chiefly designed for the use of learned and studious men, both natives and foreigners, in their researches into the several parts of knowledge, the Trustees have thought fit to ordain the following statutes, with respect to the use of the Museum.
I. That the Museum be kept open every day in the week except Saturday and Sunday in each week; and likewise except Christmas day and one week after; one week after Easter day and Whitsunday respectively, Good Friday, and all days which shall hereafter be appointed for Thanksgivings and Fasts by publick Authority.