American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-23

wT HAS become customary to start
the history Of the British Museum
library with Il transaction which
took place between the British
government and Sir Hans Sloane in
1853, but, as a matter of fact, the
genesis Of this library should be re-
corded 20 years earlier. The event
chronlCled upon this date of October
90. 1881, Is a fire at Ashburnham
house which partly destroyed the IA
nous Cottonian library, and empha-
sized In the minds Of influential pa
irons Of learning the absolute neces-
sity of properly housing the great col
lectlOns which as yet had escaped the
same fate, says the Christian Science
Monitor.
Tint portion Of the Cottonian col
lection which was saved from the
flames still exists as an important and
valuable part of the present British
museum. Sir Robert Cotton was n
real booklover and a natural collector.
When summoned by Queen Elizabeth
to Calais as royal commissioner In
Arranging n treaty between England
and Spain, It was with sincere regret
that he accepted the appointment, be-
cause il took him AWAY from his IL
brnry and from the research In which
he found the greatest delight of life.
Later Cotton's political activities
aroused the suspicious of Charles |,
and, as n result, his beloved library
wns sealed up and he himself arrested.
When later a royal messenger came
to 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 II came down to Sir
John Cotton, who presented the col
lection to the nation in 100. The
Cotton library. therefore, should he
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 nm extraordinary
collection of books, manuscripts,
drawings, prints, together with col
lectlons of natural and artificial curl
o%sities. Toward the end of his life
he offered them to the British nation,
provided the government paid his
executors some 100000, which he esti-
mated to he one-fourth 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 contribu-
ton Of Sir Hans Il princely one under
any circumstances.
To persuade King George II, so in
different to the importance OF letters
and so mlscrly regarding the expendi-
ture OF money save for his WI pleas
ures, that so large a sum should be
paid was no easy task, and when the
memorial was first presented TO him he
remarked II do not think there are
r20.OOO In the treasury" Fortunately,
however. there was influence enough
among those favoNng the acquisition
of this Important collection to push
the matter to a conclusion. AS n re
suit. an act was passed through parlia.
ment authorizing the holding of n lot.
terry Ia raise f300, 900. out Of which
e3O,0 M should be paid to the executors
OF Sir Hans and the countess of OK,
ford, and an additional fS0,0OO invest
ed mt Interest In the public funds Il
provide for salaries and other cN
penses. Beyond this. an adequate sun
was to- be devoted 70 a suitable build
Ing Cor the collections, This nc,
passed parliament In 1853, aud mark,
the definite foundation of the British
museum.
Early Restrictions on Users,
, The records show that the first build
ing containing the collections which
went TO make up the British museum
was thrown open To the public OF
January 10, 1888; but the word:
thrown open" require some explana
ton. Today there is no library in tn,
world where the visitor or student 1:
able TO inspect and make use OF ia
wonderful contents with greater cas-
or freedom than the British Museum