Meanwhile, the example set by Lord BRIDGEWATER had incited one of those many liberal-minded Trustees of the British Museum who have become its benefactors by augmentation, as well as by faithful guardianship, to follow it in exactly the same track. [Sidenote: AUGMENTATION OF LORD BRIDGEWATER’S GIFT BY THAT OF LORD FARNBOROUGH, 1838.] Charles LONG, Lord Farnborough, bequeathed (in 1838) the sum of two thousand eight hundred and seventy-two pounds in Three per cent. Consols, specifically as an augmentation of the Bridgewater fund. Lord FARNBOROUGH’S bequest now produces eighty-six pounds a year; Lord BRIDGEWATER’S, about four hundred and ninety pounds a year. Together, therefore, they yield five hundred and seventy pounds, annually, for the improvement of the National Collection of Manuscripts. In 1850 and 1852, an extensive series of German _Albums_—many of them belonging to celebrated scholars—was acquired. These are now ‘Egerton MSS. 1179’ to ‘1499,’ inclusive, and ‘1540’ to ‘1607.’ A curious collection of papers relating to the Spanish Inquisition was also obtained in 1850. [Sidenote: _Egerton MSS._ 1704–1756.] [Sidenote: _Ib._ 1758–1772.] In 1857, the important historical collection, known as ‘the Bentinck Papers,’ was purchased from Tycho MOMMSEN, of Oldenburgh. In the following year, another series of Spanish State Papers, and also the Irish Manuscripts of Henry MONCK MASON;—in 1860, a further series of ‘Bentinck Papers,’—and in 1861, an extensive collection of the Correspondence of POPE and of Bishop WARBURTON, were successively acquired. To these large accumulations of the materials of history were added, in the succeeding years, other important collections of English correspondence, and of autograph MSS. of famous authors; and also a choice collection of Spanish and Portuguese Manuscripts brought together by Count DA PONTE, and abounding with historical information. [Sidenote: _Egerton MSS._ 2047–2064.] To this an addition was made last year (1869) of other like papers, amongst which are notable some Venetian _Relazioni_; papers of Cardinals Carlo CARAFFA and Flavio ORSINI; and some letters of Antonio PEREZ. [Sidenote: _Ib._ 2077–2084.] In 1869, there was also obtained, by means of the conjoined Egerton and Farnborough funds, [Sidenote: _Ib._ 2087–2099.] a curious parcel of papers relating to the early affairs of the Corporation and trade of Dover, from the year 1387 to 1678; [Sidenote: _Ib._ 2086; 2100.] together with some other papers illustrative of the cradle-years of our Indian empire.