The British Museum | Susana's Parlour

published by Rudolph Ackermann in 3 volumes, 1808–1811.

or models in sculpture. But portraits, whether in large or in miniature, drawings in water colours, and architectural drawings, are inadmissible.”

The artists pay towards the fund two and a half per cent, on those pictures which are sold; and they have since gratuitously added another two and a half per cent, to Mr. V. Green, the keeper; a very proper compliment to his unremitting attention and gentlemanly conduct in his office.

The annexed print gives a correct and interesting view of this very fine suite of rooms, and the figures have great spirit and appropriate character.

The annexed print is a view of the grand staircase, taken from the first landing-place, and has a magnificence becoming the residence of a nobleman: it is drawn with great taste and knowledge; the figures are judiciously introduced, and relieve the eye from the unvarying lines of perspective, and the whole presents a coup d’oeil that fills and satisfies the mind.

Montague House was rebuilt for Ralph, Duke of Montague, at the expence of Louis XIV. King of France, in 1678*, by Pouget.

Walpole observes of it, that “what is wanted in beauty, is compensated by the spacious and lofty magnificence of the apartments ” How far this observation is founded in truth, must be in some degree determined by the taste of the reader. The principal parts of the house are decorated by three painters, the historical and allegorical parts by La Fosse, landscapes by Rousseau, and flowers by Jean Baptist Monoyer. The union of these discordant styles produces a kind of garish splendour, which, with the heavy carved and gilt furniture of that day, must have had a large portion of cumbrous magnificence.

The British Museum was established in the year 1753, in consequence of Sir Hans Sloane bequeathing his valuable collection and library, which cost him 50,000/. to Parliament, on condition that they paid his executors 20,000/. for it. The money was raised the same year, by a guinea lottery.

In 1756, the valuable legacy of Egyptian antiquities collected by the late Colonel Lethulier, together with that of his nephew, were added to it.

The Harleian MSS. collected by Lord Oxford’s family, were purchased for 10,000/.; a collection of books, and also 7000/. in cash, left by Major Edwards: in addition to the Cottonian, is the library of Mr. Maddox, historiographer to his majesty, given by his widow.

In 1757, George II. gave the royal library, which consists of about ten thousand books, with eighteen hundred MSS. all collected by the different kings of England. The Cracherode collection has also been since added.

In 1772, by a vote of the House of Commons for the purchase of Sir William Hamilton’s collection of Etruscan, Grecian, and Roman antiquities, the sum of 8410/. was granted, and 840/. to the trustees to provide a repository for them. In 1804, a grant of 8000/. was voted towards an additional building for the reception of the Egyptian antiquities brought over by the expedition under Sir Ralph Abercrombie; and in 1805, a further grant of 8000/. for the same purpose.

In 1805, a grant of 20,000/. was voted for the purchase of the Townleian collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.

A collection of MSS. which were in the possession of the late Marquis of Lansdown, has been purchased for 4800/.

It is impossible in our limits to convey an adequate idea of the immensity of this collection; we shall, therefore, merely give a cursory glance at the general contents of the apartments in the order they are shown to visitors.

The first room contains a vast number of curiosities brought by Captains Cook, Byron, & c. from New Zealand, Otaheite, the Friendly and Sandwich Islands, western coast of California, 8cc.; consisting of dresses, weapons, canoes, fishing tackle, idols, and a variety of matters, remarkable for their ingenuity and exquisite taste.

Second room is a miscellaneous collection of the Harleian curiosities: there are two mummies, various models of works of art, weapons of the ancient Britons, Mexican idols, Chinese and Indian models, &c. and the celebrated portrait of Oliver Cromwell by Cooper.

Third room contains the Lansdown collection.

Fourth room, MSS. Sloaniana.

Fifth, Harleian library: a very curious inscription taken from the breast of a mummy; and portraits of Oliver Cromwell, Charles XII. the Czar Peter, Andrew Marvell, Algernon Sydney, Sir H. Vane, Sir Anthony More, Sir P. P. Rubens, Ben Jonson, and M. S. Merian, celebrated for the exquisite collection of insects painted by her.

Sixth, Harleiana library; containing portraits of Cranmer, Usher, Burleigh, Salisbury, Spelman, Dugdale, Cosmo de Medicis, Duke of Marlborough, Louis XIV. and a beautiful portrait of the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth.

Seventh, The royal library; containing the original Magna Charta; the portraits of Edward III. Henry II. Henry V. Henry VI. Countess of Richmond, Henry VIII. Edward VI. Mary, Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, James I. Charles I. Henrietta, Charles II. William III. Speed, Camden, &c.

Eighth, Banqueting-room, contains only a portrait of George II. and a table made of various specimens of lava. In this room the three painters have exerted all their powers of decoration: it gives a perfect idea of the magnificence of that time, but it is heavy and incongruous; there are many good parts, but they do not unite.

Ninth, Sloane and Cracherode collection — volcanic minerals, spars, &c.

Tenth, Sloane and Cracherode — shells and petrifactions.

Eleventh, Sloane — marine productions and reptiles.

Twelfth, Sloane — birds and beasts.

Thirteenth, Fish and serpents.

Fourteenth, On the staircase is a crocodile 21 feet long.

The noble collections of Sir William Hamilton, Mr. Townley, and the Egyptian antiquities, are arranging in the new building, but not yet opened for public inspection.

The present establishment is as follows:

Forty-one trustees, twenty by virtue of their offices, six representing the Sloane, Cotton, and Harleian families, marked S. C. II. and fifteen chosen by the former twenty.

TRUSTEES BY OFFICE.

Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Lord Chancellor.
Lord President of the Council.
First Lord of the Treasury.
Lord Privy Seal.
First Lord of the Admiralty.
Lord Steward.
Lord Chamberlain.
Three Secretaries of State.
Bishop of London.
Speaker of the House of Commons.
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.
Master of the Rolls.
Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
Attorney General.
Solicitor General.
President of the Royal Society.
President of the College of Physicians.

FAMILY TRUSTEES.

C. Sir George Cornwall, Bart. LL. D.
H. Marquis of Tichfield.
C. Francis Annesley, Esq.
S. Hans Sloane, Esq. F. R. S.
H. Duke of Portland, F. R. and A. S. LL. D. K. G.

TRUSTEES ELECTED.

Dean of Lincoln.
Henry Cavendish, Esq. F. R. S.
Marquis Townshend, P. S. A. LL. D. and F. R. S.
Earl Aylesford.
Earl Spencer, K. G.
Duke of Grafton, K. G.
Lord Frederic Campbell.
Marquis Bute.
Bishop of Durham.
Earl of Hardwicke, K. G.
Right Hon. Sir William Scott.
Right Hon. George Rose.
Lord St. Helen’s.

Principal librarian, Joseph Planta, Esq.

Librarian of the MSS. department, F. Douce, Esq. and his assistant, the Rev. T. Maurice.

Printed books, Henry Ellis, Esq. and the Rev. H. Harvey Baber.

Natural history, Dr. Shaw and Charles Konig, Esq.

Coins and medals, Taylor Combe, Esq.

Secretary, Mr. Edward Bray.

The Museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, except Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun-week, on Thanksgiving and Fast-days, and during August and September. Persons wishing admittance are to apply at the anti-room, between the hours of ten and two, and inscribe their names and residence in a book kept there. Five companies of not more than fifteen each are admitted, at ten, eleven, twelve, one, and two o’clock; but there is no necessity for fifteen going in one party, the first fifteen names on the book are admitted together, if they should happen to be all strangers to each other.

The reading-room is open, under certain regulations, from ten till four every day, except Saturdays and Sundays.

N. B. When the new rooms are opened for the inspection of visitors, it is understood that eight companies, instead of five, will be admitted.

* The Duke of Montague was at that time at the court of France, when receiving intelligence that his house was destroyed by fire, his spirits became greatly depressed, which induced Louis XIV. to send artists to London, to repair the losses the noble duke had sustained.