London and its Environs Described, Volume II, Page 16 & 17

This page continues the article entitled British Museum, which started on Page 15.
The next article is entitled Briton's alley, and starts on Page 32.

This drawing faces page 17. The top half depicts "Entrance of the British Museum, from Russel Street". The bottom half depicts "Garden Front". Click the thumbnail for the full size version, which will open in a popup image viewer. (Size: 511Kb)

16	B R I
and the residue for providing a general repository, &c. In this act it is also or- dered, that Sir Hans Sloane's collection, the Cottonian library, the Harleian ma- nuscripts, and a collection of books given by the late Major Edwards, should be placed together in the general repo- sitory, which was to be called the British Museum: 7000l. left by the said Major Edwards, after the decease of Elizabeth Mills, are also given to the British Museum, for the purchasing of manu- scripts, books, medals, and other curio- sities. It happened very fortunately soon af- ter, whilst the Trustees were at a loss where to purchase or build a proper re- pository, an offer was made them of Montague House in Great Russel street, Bloomsbury, a large and magnificent building, finely ornamented with paint- ings, situated in the most convenient part of the whole town, and having an ex- tensive garden of near eight acres. This they purchased for the sum of 10000l. Repairs, alterations, book-cases, cabi- nets, and all other conveniences for placing the whole collection properly, and the making apartments for the of- ficers, have cost 15000l. more. And
		every

B R I

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 the nation.
His Majestly, in consideration of its great
usefulness, has also been graciously pleas-
ed 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 mo- dern - -	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
Tales, micæ, &c. - -	388
Corals, spunges, &c. - -	1421

VOL. II.

Testacea,