Lives of the Founders of the British Museum, Part 2 of 2: With Notices of Its Chief Augmentors and Other Benefactors, 1570-1870.Edwards, Edward
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Lives of the Founders of the British Museum, Part 2 of 2: With Notices of Its Chief Augmentors and Other Benefactors, 1570-1870.
Edwards, Edward
Book collectors -- Great Britain; British Museum
LIVES OF
THE FOUNDERS
OF THE
BRITISH MUSEUM;
WITH
NOTICES OF ITS CHIEF AUGMENTORS
AND OTHER BENEFACTORS.
1570–1870.
BY EDWARD EDWARDS.
PART II.
LONDON:
TRÜBNER AND CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1870.
(_All rights reserved._)
PRINTED BY J. E. ADLARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.
CHAPTER III.
A GROUP OF BOOK-LOVERS AND PUBLIC BENEFACTORS.
‘If we were to take away from the Museum Collection [of Books] the
King’s Library, and the collection which George the Third gave before
that, and then the magnificent collection of Mr. Cracherode, as well
as those of Sir William Musgrave, Sir Joseph Banks, Sir Richard Colt
Hoare, and many others,—and also all the books received under the
Copyright Act,—if we were to take away all the books so given, I am
satisfied not one half of the books [in 1836], nor one third of the
_value_ of the Library, has been procured with money voted by the
Nation. The Nation has done almost nothing for the Library....
‘Considering the British Museum to be a National Library for research,
its utility increases in proportion with the very rare and costly
books, in preference to modern books.... I think that scholars have a
right to look, for these expensive works, to the Government of the
Country....
‘I want a poor student to have the same means of indulging his learned
curiosity,—of following his rational pursuits,—of consulting the same
authorities,—of fathoming the most intricate inquiry,—as the richest
man in the kingdom, as far as books go. And I contend that Government
is bound to give him the most liberal and unlimited assistance in this
respect. I want the Library of the British Museum to have books of
both descriptions....
‘When you have given a hundred thousand pounds,—in ten or twelve
years,—you will begin to have a library worthy of the British
Nation.’—
ANTONIO PANIZZI—_Evidence before Select Committee on British Museum_,
7th June, 1836. (Q. 4785–4795.)
_Notices of some early Donors of Books.—The Life and Collections of
Clayton Mordaunt_ CRACHERODE.—_William_ PETTY, _first Marquess of
Lansdowne, and his Library of Manuscripts.—The Literary Life and
Collections of Dr. Charles_ BURNEY.—_Francis_ HARGRAVE _and his
Manuscripts.—The Life and Testamentary Foundations of Francis
Henry_ EGERTON, _Ninth Earl of Bridgewater_.
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