Printed Books-This is the largest department in the museum. It occupies the whole of the ground floor on the n. and e. sides, the new building erected in the quadrangle, and a considerable portion of the basement of the museum. The keeper of the department has the help of 3 assistant-keepers and 43 assistants. There are in addition 54 attendants.

The original bequest of sir Hans Sloane consisted of 50,000 volumes. When these were placed in Montague house, a small collection of 2000 volumes, bequeathed to the nation by maj. Edwards in 1738, was added to them. In 1757, George II. presented the library of printed books which had been collected by the kings of England since Henry VII., and which included the libraries of Cranmer and Casaubon. He also annexed the important privilege, which the royal library acquired in the reign of queen Anne, of being supplied with a copy of every publication entered at Stationers' hall. By this means the library has been supplied with the current British literature without expense or trouble, and the trustees have been able to devote the funds of the museum to the purchase of the earlier literature of the country and foreign publications. Among subsequent additions to the library may be mentioned the voluminous collection of pamphlets, etc., relating to the civil wars of England between 1640 and 1660, presented by George III.; the musical libraries of sir J. Hawkins and Dr. C. Burney; Garrick's collection of old English plays; Dr. Bentley's collection of the classics, annotated by his own hand; the law library of F. Hargrave; sir J. Banks's valuable and extensive collection on natural history; and a large mass of tracts and pamphlets relating to the French revolution, purchased from J. Wilson Croker, and of very great value. The most important addition was made in 1823, when George IV. presented the splendid library that had been collected by his father during his long reign, at an expense of little less than £200,000. This library, which, from the terms of the gift, cannot be mixed with the general collection, occupies a large and handsome hall, extending along the whole of the ground floor of the eastern side of the museum. It is undoubtedly the finest and most complete library ever formed by a single individual. "It contains," says sir H. Ellis, "selections of the rarest kind, more especially works of the first ages of printing; it is rich in the early editions of the classics; in books from the press of Caxton; in the history of the states of Europe; in the languages of the respective countries; in the transactions of academies; and in a grand geographical collection." The magnificent library of the right hon. Thomas Grenville, in importance second only to the king's library, was bequeathed to the museum in 1846. It consists of 20,240 volumes, which cost upwards of £54,000. In the same year was obtained also the extensive collection of Chinese works, amounting to 11,509 volumes, which belonged to Robert Morrison. By purchases, bequests, and donations, the library has become one of the first in the world, containing now over 1,300,000 printed volumes. See LIBRARIES. But even this figure, large though it is, does not represent the immense collection of separate and distinct articles in tracts, pamphlets, and manuscripts. The British museum library is (with the exception, perhaps, of the national library of Paris) the largest collection of printed literature in the world. Since the opening of the new reading-room, and the consequent acquisition of the book accommodation, the want of which long hindered the proper increase of the library, the rate of increase has been enormous. During the year 1880, there were added 27,543 volumes, including music and volumes of newspapers, of which 2379 were presented, 15,361 purchased, 8857 acquired by home copyright, and 941 by international copyright. The number of parts of volumes was 39,873. In addition, the library had accumulated numerous broadsides, and miscellaneous articles variously obtained. The numbers of the pieces of music alone added were 5911 complete works, besides 1790 parts and numbers of works in progress. The total number of articles received during the year amounted to 76,774. In 1874, 37,000 volumes were received; '80, 2000 sets newspapers. A catalogue of the printed books, in 7 octavo volumes, was published in 1813-19. So great have been the additions to the collection since the publication of that catalogue, that the interleaved copy of it, in which the new entries were made, had expanded in 1846 into 82 folio volumes. This is now superseded by one general MS. catalogue, con tained in upwards of 1600 folio volumes. There are separate catalogues of the Gren ville library, in 6 volumes; of music, in 126 volumes; of newspapers, in 4 volumes; of the pamphlets in the king's library, in 9 volumes; and of the pamphlets published during the civil war and commonwealth, called the "Thomason collection," in 12 volumes, all folio. These various catalogues are placed in the central circular stands in the readingroom, for consultation by readers. Here also are copies of the catalogue of the books of reference, arranged around the wall of the room, to which the readers have free access without the intervention of an official. These books, forming a library of 20,000 volumes, have been carefully selected to represent all the different branches of knowledge. The facility of consultation has been increased by the employment of different colors in the binding, corresponding to the colors of a hand catalogue scattered throughout the room. Thus theological works are bound in blue, historical in red, philosophical in green, and so on.

The right of access to the library is easily obtained. Any person desiring it, is "to apply in writing, addressed To the principal librarian of the British museum,' and not otherwise, specifying his description and place of abode, and accompanying his letter with a written recommendation, satisfactory to an officer of the museum." Formerly,

the right of admission was granted only for six months at a time, and had then to be renewed. Under the new regulations, the ticket, once granted, does not require renewal; it can, of course, be withdrawn, and is not granted to persons under 21 years of age. When the reader has become well known to the officials, he is not even asked to show his ticket.

Maps.-The maps, charts, plans, and topographical drawings were separated from the library, to form a distinct department, in 1867. There are over 50,000 published and 20,000 manuscript maps in the museum. Many of the latter have thrown much light on the history of early geographical discovery.

Manuscripts.-The manuscripts are contained in several rooms in the s.e. angle of the building. The work of the department is carried on by a keeper, assistant-keeper, The collection consists a keeper of oriental manuscripts, and nine assistants. The manuscripts are for the most part bound in volumes, and placed in cases around the rooms.

of: 1. The Sloanean manuscripts, relating chiefly to medical and natural history subjects. 2. The Cottonian manuscripts, rich in documents referring to the history of This collection Britain, including two of the originals of Magna Charta, in registers of English mon asteries, and in original letters of royal and illustrious personages. contains the Durham Book-a copy of the Latin Gospels, with an interlineary Saxon 3. The Harleian manuscripts, a collection rich in illugloss, finished in the year 720. minated manuscripts, in ancient, civil, and ecclesiastical records, in manuscripts of the classics, among which is one of the earliest known copies of the Odyssey, and in early English poetry. 4. The manuscripts of the ancient royal library. These were collected by our kings, from Richard II. to George II.; many of them were obtained from the monasteries, on their destruction. Amongst the most valuable treasures here are the Codex Alexandrinus, a manuscript of the Bible written in uncial Greek, before the close of the 5th c.; and the Basilicon Doron of James I., in his own handwriting. 5. The Lansdowne manuscripts. This collection comprises the Burghley and Cæsar papers, the manuscripts of bishop Kennett, and numerous valuable historical documents and state papers. 6. The Hargrave manuscripts, almost exclusively connected with law. 7. The Burney manuscripts, containing a large collection of the Greek and Latin clas sics. Among them is a copy of the Iliad, answering that of the Odyssey in the Harleian collection. 8. The Howard-Arundel manuscripts, obtained from the royal society. This collection is singularly rich in materials for the history of our own country and language. 9. The Oriental manuscripts, a collection composed of several purchases and bequests. It includes the manuscripts acquired by Mr. Rich while consul at Bagdad, and consists of numerous Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, and other oriental codices. A large series of Ethiopic manuscripts was obtained at Magdala, on the occasion of the Abyssinian war. 10. Additional manuscripts. This collection consists of innumerable bequests, donations, and purchases, which from the establishment of the museum have been and are still being acquired. Among recent additions may be specified a charter of William the Conqueror; the original mortgage-deed of a house in Blackfriars, dated 11th Mar., 1612, and signed by William Shakespeare; the holograph manuscript of Scott's Kenilworth, and of many of Burns's poems, including the Cotter's Saturday Night, and the songs published in Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, an extensive series of papal bulls; several Books of Hours, including the famous Bedford Missal; and a large collection of original letters and papers relating to the affairs of Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries. Catalogues of the complete collections have at different times been published. The additions to the ever-increasing oriental and additional collections are at intervals published in supplements to each of the original catalogues. Copies of all these, with manuscript lists of the annual additions, are placed in the reading-room for consultation.

Supplementary catalogues were printed up till 1853; since then the additions bave been kept up in manuscript catalogues. A general class catalogue, embracing all the collections, has been commenced, and the printing of it has begun. The first part is a catalogue of ancient and illuminated manuscripts, illustrated with photographic fac-similes, of which several volumes are published.

The right of using the reading-room includes the privilege of consulting the manu scripts. During 1880, the number of deliveries of manuscripts to readers in the reading-room amounted to 29,239. To artists and others in the rooms of the department, 6000 deliveries were made. These numbers do not include the volumes exhibited to visitors on private days.

Prints and Drawings.-The collections of this department, managed by a keeper and two assistants, are kept in rooms in the n. w. angle of the building. They consist of prints and drawings bequeathed to the museum, in 1799, by the Rev. C. M. Čracherode; of those bequeathed in 1824 by Mr. Payne Knight; and of numerous smaller bequests and donations. No purchases were made for this department until about 1840, when a sum was first included in the estimates for this purpose. Since that time, the prints and drawings have been increasing at a rate equal to any of the other departments of the The collection is arranged in schools. 1. The Italian school, containing original drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Correggio, Tintoretto, Paul Veronese, Michael Angelo, Guido Reni, Salvator Rosa, and others. 2. The German school, containing drawings by Albert Dürer, Hans Holbein, Dietrich, Hollar, and others; and

museum.

engravings by Lucas Cranach, Martin Schon, Gauer, and others. 3. The Dutch school, containing several superb originals of Rubens, an extensive and nearly complete set of the works of Rembrandt, with many drawings by A. Cuyp, Teniers, Van Dyck, etc.; and engravings and etchings by Berghem, Lucas van Leyden, Rembrandt, Ostade, etc. 4. The French school, with drawings by Watteau, Claude Lorraine, etc., and etchings and engravings by Bourdon, Boisseaux, Le Prince, etc. 5. The Spanish school, represented by some drawings of Murillo, and others of less note. And, 6. The English school, containing drawings by R. Wilson, Wilkie, Stothard, Callcott, Gibson, etc.; a splendid collection of Hogarth's prints, and specimens of the works of Barlow, Gaywood, Raimbach, Finden, Worlidge, Geikie, etc.

This department contains also an extensive and very valuable collection of works in niello; a beautiful silver cup, designed and carved by Benvenuto Cellini, and a wonderful stone-carving in alto-relievo by Albert Dürer, representing the birth of St. John

Oriental Antiquities. Within the last ten years the objects in the museum, included under the name antiquities, have been divided into four departments. The first of them includes the Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities. The Egyptian monuments date from a period as remote as 2000 years before the Christian era, and come down to the Moham. medan invasion of Egypt, 640 A.D. The collection has been obtained chiefly from these Sources: the antiquities which fell into the hands of the British army at the capitulation of Alexandria, presented by George III.; presents from gen. Vyse, the duke of Northumberland, the marquis of Northampton, sir Gardner Wilkinson, and others; and acquisitions from the earl of Belmore, Mr. Salt, and M. Anastastie. The sculptures are formed of granite and basalt; they represent human and allegorical figures, sometimes of colossal size. There are several beautifully sculptured sarcophagi. Most of the monuments are inscribed with hieroglyphics (q.v.). The key to this dead and forgotten language was furnished by the celebrated Rosetta Stone (q.v.), which is placed in the center of the gallery. The smaller Egyptian remains are exhibited in a gallery on the upper floor; they consist of objects relating to religion, as representations of divinities and sacred animals, in wood, metal, stone, and porcelain; of objects relating to civil and domestic life, as dress, personal ornaments, household furniture, artistic and writing implements, armor, and weapons of war, etc.; and of objects relating to death and burial, as mummies and coffins, with the scarabæi, amulets, and other ornaments found with them. A collection of papyri is exhibited on the n.w. staircase, containing extracts from the ritual of the dead.

The Assyrian antiquities are contained in a suite of rooms recently erected on the outside of the Egyptian gallery, and in a spacious room on the basement. The collection consists of sculptures excavated at Nimrud, Khorsabad, and Koyunjik by Layard, in 1847-50, and more recently by Rassam and Loftus, under the direction of sir H. C. Rawlinson. The Nimrud sculptures are the oldest, belonging to a period ranging from 930 B.C. to 747 B.C. Those obtained from Khorsabad seem to have been executed under a monarch who reigned about 747-721 B.C., while the collection from Koyunjik belong to the time of Sardanapalus, apparently 721 B.C. and 625 B. C. The monuments consist chiefly of slabs of gypsum, alabaster, and limestone sculptured in low relief, the subjects being the exploits of the king whose palace walls they ornamented. Many of the sculptures are covered with cuneiform (q.v.) writing, which, by the labors of Rawlinson, Hincks, and Smith, has been deciphered, giving us a history of this remarkable people, and corroborating the narrative of the sacred Scriptures whenever they refer to the same event. See ASSYRIA. Besides the series of sculptures, the Assyrian collection includes a variety of smaller but highly curious and instructive objects, discovered at Nimrud and Koyunjik.

Greek and Roman Antiquities.-This collection occupies four apartments, which run parallel to the Egyptian gallery. The Lycian gallery contains a series of architectural and sculptural remains from ancient cities in Lycia, obtained by sir C. Fellows in 1842-46. In the next gallery are the remains of the famous mausoleum (q.v.) at Halicarnassus, erected in honor of Mausolus by his widow Artemisia. These remains were discovered by C. T. Newton, esq., in 1857-59. In the same room are some remains of the temple of Athene Polias at Priene, including the stone on which its dedication by Alexander the great is inscribed. The Elgin gallery contains the sculptures from Athens and Attica, the greater portion of which were obtained by the earl of Elgin, and purchased from him by parliament in 1816 for £35,000. The most important series in the gallery is the decorations of the parthenon (q.v.), which, notwithstanding their dilapidated condition, form the most valuable monument of Greek art which has descended to modern times. The gallery contains also sculptures and casts from the temple of Wingless Victory, the temple of Theseus, and the erechtheum, at Athens. In an extension recently made to this gallery, are a colossal lion from Cnidus, and a drum of a sculptured column, and other remains, from the temple of Diana at Ephesus. The Helenic gallery contains a number of antiquities brought from Greece and its colonies at different times. The most important are 23 slabs of a frieze sculptured in mezzo-rilievo, which, from the locality where they were found, are called the "Phigalian marbles."

The gallery on the s. side of the building is occupied with the Roman and GræcoRoman sculptures. The bulk of the collection was formed by Charles Townley, esq., and purchased in 1805 for £20,000. Subsequent additions have been made by the bequest

of the collection of R. P. Knight, esq., in 1824, and by various purchases and donations. The collection contains an interesting series of Roman portrait sculptures, and a very extensive mythological series, amongst which are some of universal fame-the Venus, Clytie, the Discobolus, and many others. A room on the basement is appropriated to mosaics and miscellaneous monuments, such as representations of animals, architectural and decorative fragments, and sacred and domestic implements. A fine collection from southern Italy, exhibiting specimens of the arts of the Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans, was bequeathed to the museum by sir William Temple in 1856.

The collections of smaller remains are placed in a suite of rooms on the upper floor. They consist of-1. An extensive series of vases, commonly though not correctly known as Etruscan, formed from the collections of sir W. Hamilton and Mr. Burgon, from purchases at the sales of the prince of Canino, M. Durand, and others; and from excavations in Sicily, Rhodes, and on the sites of Greek colonies in Cyrene and elsewhere. 2. A miscellaneous collection of terra-cottas, mural paintings, and other objects. 3. Bronzes of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman workmanship; consisting of sculptures, and various domestic and other articles, as candelabra, lamps, vases, horse-trappings, armor, etc. 4. The collection of engraved gems and gold ornaments now, since the addition of the Blacas and Castellani collections, perhaps the richest in the world.

Coins and Medals.-The very large collection of these objects is arranged in chronological order under five great divisions, viz., Greek, Roman, Mediæval and Modern, English, and Oriental. The department is under the care of a keeper, assistant-keeper, and four assistants.

British and Mediæval Antiquities and Ethnography.-The British collection is arranged in chronological order. The oldest series contains the antiquities of the stone and bronze periods, consisting of celts, daggers, swords, shields, and early pottery. The BritishRoman antiquities comprise specimens of earthenware, lamps, and miscellaneous articles. A small collection of sepulchral urns, weapons, and personal ornaments represents the Anglo-Saxon period. The antiquities found in London, and belonging to the late C. R. Smith, have been recently added to this collection. The ethnographical collection_contains antiquities, as well as objects of modern use, belonging to all nations not of European race.

In 1855, the extensive collections of antiquities and ethnography, belonging to Henry Christy, became the property of the museum, having been bequeathed by their proprietor. From the want of space, they are at present accommodated in a house rented for the purpose in Victoria street, Westminster. Felix Slade bequeathed his valuable col lection of glass to the museum, and it is now arrayed so as to show the different phases through which the art of glass-blowing has passed, as well as the history of glass in all its branches.

Natural History.-In 1856 the trustees united the natural history departments under prof. Owen, who was then appointed superintendent of natural history. The new building recently erected at Kensington is intended to accommodate this section of the pres

ent museum.

Zoological Department.—To give an idea of the contents of this and the other natural history departments, would be to write an epitome of the various sciences they illustrate. This department contains a collection of animals arranged in systematic order in the galleries, comprising stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes, and the hard portions of radiate, molluscan, and articulate animals. A room is specially devoted to the fauna of Britain. In rooms on the ground and basement floors are arranged the collections of insects, of osteology, and of specimens preserved in spirits. An idea of the extent of the collection may be formed from the fact that 142 separate publications, illustrative of the contents of the department, in the shape of catalogues, lists, etc., have been issued under the superintendence of the present indefatigable keeper, Dr. Gray. During the year 1874, there were added to this collection, 7524 specimens of animals, of which 2964 were vertebrata, 2886 mollusca and radiata, and 1674 annulosa. In 1873, the unique and extensive collection of birds formed in the eastern archipelago by Wallace, was acquired by purchase. '80, 24,283 specimens of animals were added.

Botanical Department.-The herbarium of sir H. Sloane, the nucleus of this collection, consisted of about 8000 species, bound in 262 volumes. In 1820, the magnificent herba rium of sir Joseph Banks was bequeathed to the museum, and under the superintendence of the late Robert Brown, was transferred to two rooms prepared for it in the s.e. angle of the building. The collection has since been rapidly increasing: during the year 1872, 12,030 species of plants were added; and in the year 1873, the late William Wilson's herbarium of British and foreign mosses was acquired by purchase. The collection contains an extraordinary number of typical specimens-the identical plants from which the original descriptions were taken by Linnæus, Aublet, Jacquin, Brown, Bentham, Bennett, and others. The exhibition rooms contain a series of specimens illustrating the most striking characteristics of the great divisions of the vegetable kingdom, arranged in order; and a series of fossil plants, the value of which is increased by the transparent sections showing their structure, which are placed beside them.

Geological Department.-This collection occupies the wall-cases of the principal gal lery on the n. side of the museum. It contains an extensive series of the fossil remains of plants and animals from the various fossiliferous strata; it is especially rich in the

Brixen.

fossils of the secondary formations. Amongst its more valuable contents may be men. tioned the collections of Dr. Mantell, the tertiary fossils collected by Dr. Falconer in India, and the remarkable fossil birds from New Zealand.

Mineralogical Department.-The minerals are contained in the table-cases in the geological gallery. They are arranged according to a chemical classification. Many valuable and unique specimens exist in the collection, which is rapidly increasing. In the year 1872, the number of specimens added was 1499; '80, 324.

The expenses of the museum are paid by grants of public money. According to the estimates, £110,949 were required during 1879-80; £136,432 during 1881-82.

Admission to the museum was at first obtained by printed tickets, which were delivered by the porter to persons making a written application. There could be no more than 45 visitors, at the utmost, per day, under the regulations then in force. Now, all who present themselves are freely admitted; and every week-day the museum is visited by large numbers: as many as 43,000 holiday-folk have passed through the building in one day.

BRITISH NAVY. Under NAVIES, MODERN, will be found a brief description of the chief navies belonging to the continent of Europe, and to the United States of America. The British navy is separately treated in this place.

While the Romans occupied Britain, they were obliged to maintain a fleet of war-vessels on the coasts, to protect it from the ravages of the Saxons, who were the pirates and buccaneers of those times. When the Romans had departed, and the Saxons became dominant, the coasts wese infested by another naval power-the Scandinavian vikings. It was Alfred the great who first established what may be called a navy in this island, consisting of efficient vessels well manned, for protection, and not aggression. Ethelred made the building of a ship a condition for holding a certain acreage of land. William the conqueror strengthened the navy by the institution of the Cinque ports (q.v.). During the first three centuries after the conquest, we read of British fleets of 240,400, and even 730 sail-a proof that the vessels must have been very small even if there were no exaggeration of numbers. Until 1485, the fleets were collected just as wanted; but in this year, Henry VII. conceived the idea of a permanent navy, to be ready at all times. He built the largest ship of the age, the Great Harry. Henry VIII. pursued the course established by his father, and still further strengthened the navy by instituting the admiralty, the navy-office, the Trinity house, and the dockyards at Woolwich, Portsmouth, and Deptford. The Henri Grace de Dieu, the largest ship built by him, was of 1000 tons burden; but most of the vessels were high, unwieldy, and narrow, with the guns nearly down to the water's edge. The ships of the navy presented an aggregate tonnage of 12,000 tons at the period of Henry's death. Elizabeth made a large increase in the navy; but they were not all royal ships which were sent to struggle against the Spanish Armada. James I. made many improvements in ship-building, by encouraging a distinguished naval architect, Phineas Pett. Charles I., who built the Sovereign of the Seas, of 100 guns, was the first to group the royal ships into rates and classes. Cromwell brought up the navy to the strength of 154 sail, including a large number of two-deckers. Charles II. allowed it to fall into decay for a time; but his brother, the duke of York, who afterwards became James II., not only restored it, but brought it to a higher state of efficiency and strength than ever. When William of Orange became king of England, he found a navy carrying 7000 guns and 42,000 seamen; he built many additional ships, some with as many as 80 guns, and established Plymouth dockyard. Queen Anne succeeded to the possession of a fine navy; which at her death had increased to 198 ships, mounting 10,600 guns, with a tonnage of 157,000 tons. George I. attended to the navy chiefly in repairing the ships after a period of war, and in supplying a new armament. George II. greatly added to the number of ships, established a naval uniform, and increased the renown of the British navy during the war against Spain.

The long and eventful reign of George III. was especially distinguished by the achievements of the navy. When he came to the crown in 1760, he found himself in possession of 127 ships of above 50 guns, and 198 of 50 guns and under, manned by 70,000 seamen. These numbers, by building and by capture, were increased to 174 and 203 respectively, by the end of the American war. Throughout the European struggle, from 1793 to 1815, the B. N. exhibited a spectacle for vastness and achievements which had never before been equaled in any country. In the first nine years of this period, between 1793 and 1802, England lost by war 5 ships of the line and 46 smaller vessels; but she captured from the French, Dutch, Spaniards, and Danes, in various battles, 74 ships of the line and 519 smaller vessels; or rather, four fifths of this number were captured, and one fifth destroyed. Besides these, more than 800 privateers were taken and destroyed by the English. Of the total number of captures, 144 ships of war were at once converted into British ships, and added to our navy. When war recommenced in 1803, England had 189 ships of the line, and 781 smaller ships of war; during the next seven years, the seamen varied from 100,000 to 120,000, and in 1810 the number was raised to 140,000. At all times, many of the ships of the royal navy are unemployed or out of commission; but it frequently happened during that great war, that England had 450 liners, frigates, and sloops, besides smaller armed vessels, employed simultaneously. The conquered vessels added to the navy between 1803 and 1815 were upwards of 100 in number.