The Tomahawk., 1919-05-15

-T HAS become customary to start
the history of the British Museum
library with transaction which
took place between the British
government and Sir Hans Sloane in
1853, but, as matter of fact, the
genesis of this library should be re-
corded 20 years earlier. The event
chronicled upon this date Of October
%, 1871, is fire at Ashburnham
house which partly destroyed the fa-
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
lectiOns 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 an important and
valuable part of the present British
museum. Sir Robert Cotton was a
real booklover and natural collector.
When summoned by Queen Elizabeth
to Calais as royal commissioner in
arranging a treaty between England
and Spain, it was with sincere regret
that he accepted the appointment, be-
cause it took him away from his H.
brary and from the research in which
he found the greatest delight of life.
Later Cotton's political activities
aroused the suspicious of Charles l,
and, as a result, his beloved library
was sealed up and he himself arrested.
When later 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
herited, also, his fathers love of books.
From Sir Thomas it came down to Sir
John Cotton, who presented the COL
lection to the nation in 100. 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 antiquary, and during his life
time accumulated an extraordinary
collection of books, manuscripts,
drawings, prints, together with COL
lectiOns of natural and artificial curl
osities. Toward the end of his life
he offered them to the British nation,
provided the government paid his
executors some 10000, which he esti-
mated to be 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 c0ntribu-
ton of Sir Hans a princely one under
any circumstances.
To persuade King George II, so in
different to the Importance of letters
and so miserly regarding the expendt-
ture of money save for his own 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
100000 in the treasury" Fortunately,
however, there was influence enough
among those favoring the acquisition
of this important collection to push
the matter to a conclusion, AS re-
suit, an act was passed through parlia-
ment authorizing the holding Of a lot
terry to raise 100000 out Of which
f3O, 900 should be paid to the executors
of Sir Hans and the countess Of Ok
ford. and an additional 10000 invest
ed at interest in the public funds to
provide for salaries and other ex-
penses. Beyond this, an adequate sum
was to be devoted to a suitable build
ing for the collections. This act
passed parliament in 1853. and marks
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 on
January Is, 1850; but the words
thrown open" require some explaDa-
ton. Today there Is no library in the
world where the visitor or student Is
able to inspect and make use Of its
wonderful contents with greater ease
>r freedom than the British Museum