By his will Sir Hans Sloane bequeathed his natural history collections, antiquities of all sorts, manuscripts, and printed books to the British Nation, conditional on the payment to his family of £20,000, and after considerable negotiation the offer was accepted. In 1753 an Act (25th George II., chap. 22) was passed "for the purchase of the Museum or Collection of Sir Hans Sloane," and the collections were in time, with others, removed to Montagu House, which was opened to the public in 1759. The Sloane family is represented among the Family Trustees of the British Museum. [Illustration] SMITH, JOSEPH, CONSUL _Arms._--Arg., 2 chevrons sa., each charged with 3 fleurs-de-lys of the first; on a chief gu., a lion passant or. _Smith._ _Crest._--A dexter arm erect, vested chequy, vert and or, holding in the hand a sheaf of 3 arrows of the last. [PETRARCH. _Canzoniere._ Venetiis, 1533.] Joseph Smith (born circ. 1682, died 6th November 1770) went as a young man to Venice, and quickly became known as an ardent collector of books and objects of art generally. In 1740 he was appointed British Consul at Venice. In 1762 Smith's library was bought for George III., and formed the first important nucleus of His Majesty's splendid collection. It contained especially choice editions of the classics, and also many incunabula. Mr. Smith continued to collect books after the king had made his purchase, and these were eventually sold by auction in 1773. George III. also acquired a fine collection of pictures, coins, and gems that had been brought together by Consul Smith. [Illustration] SMITH, SIR THOMAS, KNIGHT, OF HILL HALL, ESSEX _Arms._--Quarterly. 1st and 4th; sa., a fess dancetty arg., between 3 lioncels rampant of the second, each supporting an altar or, flaming ppr. _Smith._ 2nd and 3rd; arg., on a bend sa., 3 crosses of the first, a martlet for difference. _Charnock._ In the centre point a crescent for difference. _Crest._--A Phœnix arg., issuing from flames ppr. _Helmet._--That of an Esquire. [_Short Introduction to Latin Grammar._ London, 1609.] Thomas Smith (born 23rd December 1513, died 12th August 1577) was the second son of John Smith of Saffron Walden, and Agnes Charnock.