The Newark journal., 1919-05-29

-wH HAS become customary t0 start \ the history of the British Museum
 library with transaction which
 took place between the British government and Sir Hans Sloane in 1753, but, as q matter of fact the genesis of this library should be re- corded 20 years earlier. The event ehronlcled upon this date of October g. 1731. is fire at Ashburniam house which partly destroyed the fa- nous Gottonian library, and empha- sized in the minds of influential pa- irons of learning the absolute ncees- sty of properly housing the great col leetioHs which as yet had escaped the same fate, says the Christian Science Monitor
 That portion of the Cottonian col lection which was saved from the flames still exists as m important and valuable part of the present British museum Sir Robert Cotton was real boaklover and q natural collector. When summoned by Queen Elizabeth to Calais as royal commissioner in arranging q treaty between England and Spain, 1t was with sincere regret that he accepted the appointment. be cause it took him away from his li- brary and from the research in which he found the greatest delight of life. Later Cofton's political activities aroused the suspicious of Charles I. and. as q result. his beloved library was sealed up and he himself arrested. lot 10 him with the message that under certain conditions he might be re- stored to court favor. Cotton replied You come too late. my heart is broken"
 The famous library was restored years later to Sir Roberts son and successor. Sir Thomas Cotton. who in- herlted, also. his fathers love of books From Sir Thomas 1t came down to Sir John Cotton, who presented the col lection to the nation in l7oo. The Cotton library, therefore, should be considered the nucleus to which the other collections were added
 Money Raised by Lottery.
 This brings Us to Sir Hans Sloane, where the chronicle usually begins. Sir Hans was physician naturalist, and antlquary, and during his life time accumulated an extraordinary collection of books. manuscripts, drawings, prints, together with col lectons if natural and artificial euri- osities Toward the end of his life he offered fhem to the British nation, provided the government paid his executors some f20000. which he esH- mated tn he one-fourlh of the intrinsic value of his collections. The real value was probably somewhat less than his estimate but the price at which the British nation acquired his treasures was surely less than half their value. which made the eontribu- ton of Sir Hans princely one under any circumstances.
 To persuade King George H, so in- different to the importance of letters and so miserly regarding the eXpendi- ture of money save for his own pleas ures. that so large a sum should he paid was no easy task, and when the memorial was first presented to him he remarked "I do not think there are E goo OOO in the treasury" Fortunately, however. there was influence enough among those favoring the acquisition of this important collection to ptSa tho matter to q conclusion As re- snIt an net was passed through parlia- ment authorizing the holding Of lot tarv to raise f30O.000, out of which f3o GOO should be paid to the executors of Sir Hans and the countess of OK ford and an additional f30,00o invest cd ot interest in the public funds to nrovide for salaries and other eX- penses. Beyond this, an adequate sum wos to he devoted to a suitable bulid- inc for the collections. This act passed parliament in 1753, and marks the definite foundation of the British museum.
 Early Restrictions on Users.
 The records show that the first build inc containing the collections which went to make up the British museum was thrown open 10 the pubic on January b. 1759; bat the words "thrown open" require some eXp'ana- tion. Today there IS no library ln the world where the visitor or student is able to inspect and make use or us wonderful contents with greater ease or freedom than the British Museum