The Ordway new era., 1919-05-16
Entrance Hall Of British Museum.

library, but originally sucn restrictions
were imposed as to make its use al
most inaccessible. In the first place,
1t was announced that the library
would be open except Saturday and
Sunday of each week, except Christ
mas day and one week after, except
the week after Easter Sunday and the
week after Whitsuntide, and except
Good Friday, and all days which now
or shall hereafter be specially ap-
pointed for Thanksgivings or feasts
by public authority"
If prospective student were able
to master the mathematics of these re-
strictions, he then presented himself
at the porter's lodge, where he was
obliged to give his name, condition and
address, to be entered in the register.
This accomplished, the volume was
laid before the librarian to decide
whether the person so applying was
entitled to admission. If the question
were settled in the affirmative, on a
second visit the applicant might re-
ceive his ticket. Having secured the
precious card, he would then present
himself for admission, but. as there
was a restriction that not more than
ten persons should be admitted for
each hour the museum was open, 1t
was still problematical whether he
would be successful. If so fortunate
as to be a member of one of these
groups of ten he was then escorted
around the library by guide, with
limit placed upon the time, and with
every element created to destroy the
pleasure of literary communion with
the volumes.
Later, important additions to the
Cottoninn, Harleian, and Sloane col
lections. include the. Royal library of
12.OOO volumes. which was eventually
turned over to the British museum by
George II: the Thomson collection of
"Kings' Pamphlets" the da Costa col
lection OF Hebrew books and manu-
scripts; the Birch collection of biog-
raphy; David Garrick's library of Eng
lish plays; Musgrave's collection of
biography and manuscripts; the
Cracherode collections of books and
prints. e3
Some Great Acquisitions.
All these collections were acquired
previous TO the year 1907 with no ex-
pense whatever to the government. but
at this time grant of approximately
$1,000 was made for the purchase of
the Lansdowne manuscripts. In 1913
another fS,00O was appropriated for
the Hargrave Legal library, and, in
1921, some f13.50O was granted to
secure the classical library of DR..
Charles Burney. Two years later the
splendid Royal library acquired by
George Ill became part of the British
museum. This necessitated larger
quarters, and was the beginning of the
reconstructed museum. George uTs<
library contained no less than S4,Oo
volumes. George ~ tried to disposo
of the collection to the emperor of /
Russia to enrich his own private cof-
fers. but this plan was frustrated, and
the volumes were saved to the British
nation.
Francis Egerton was later bene-
factor of the Museum library. He be-
queathed to it the famous Egerton
manuscripts. together with f12.OO0. the
interest on which to be devoted to in
creasing the collection and maintain
ing custodian. Three years later, in
1882, the autograph collection Of the
museum was enriched by the acquisi-
tion of the Arundel manuscripts; and,
in 1S47. the Rt. Hon. Thomas Gren-
vile presented to the museum his mag
nlficent library. which is still preserved
as unit under the donors name.
No library is geographically situ-
ated more fayorably to be available to
the world than the British museum. A
famous American collector some years
ago bequenthed to 1t an extraordinary
collection he himself had made, which
1t seemed from patriotic motives
should have been turned over to some
American institution. After having
worked in the British museum how
ever. and after seeing the cosmopoli-
tan nature of those who visit and make
use of its treasures, one is forced to
admit that this collection. will accom-
plish Its highest good by being where
1t is rather than consigned to the geo
graphical Limitation of any one of the
American libraries. In this case the
American donor considered his loyalty
to letters beyead the demand Of any