The Library of Sir Joseph BANKS comprised the finest collection of books on natural history which had ever been gathered into one whole in England. It was also pre-eminently rich in the transactions, generally, of learned societies in all parts of the world; and there is a masterly Catalogue of the Collection, by Jonas DRYANDER, which was printed, at Sir Joseph’s cost, in the years 1798–1800. [Sidenote: THE BANKSIAN LIBRARY.] That Catalogue, I venture to hope, will, some day, become—with due modification—the precedent for a printed Catalogue of the whole Museum Library—vast as it already is, and vaster as it must needs become before that day shall have arrived. [Sidenote: THE BANKSIAN HERBARIA.] The Banksian Herbaria comprise BANKS’ own botanical collections in his travels, and those of CLIFFORT, HERMANN, CLAYTON, AUBLET, MILLER, JACQUIER, and LOUREIRO, together with part of those made by TOURNEFORT, the friend and fellow-botanizer of SLOANE, and the author of the _Corollarium_. They also include many valuable plants gathered during those many English Voyages of Discovery which, from time to time, BANKS’ example and his liberal encouragement so largely fostered. From the Collections now seen in the Botanical Room of the British Museum not a few of the great works of LINNÆUS, GRONOVIUS, and other famous botanists, derived some of their best materials. These Collections are at present under the zealous and faithful care of Mr. John Joseph BENNETT, long the assistant and the friend of BROWN. [Sidenote: BRIEF NOTICE OF SOME OTHER NEARLY CONTEMPORANEOUS ACCESSIONS.] Among nearly contemporaneous accessions which would well merit some detailed notice, were the space for it available, are a valuable assemblage of Marbles from Persepolis, which had been collected by Sir Gore OUSELEY, and were given to the Museum by the Collector, and a small but choice Collection of Minerals from the Hartz Mountains, given to the Public by King GEORGE THE FOURTH. The Persepolitan sculptures were received in the year 1825; the Minerals from the Hartzgebirge, in the year 1829. BOOK THE THIRD. _LATER AUGMENTORS AND BENEFACTORS._ 1829–1870. _CONTENTS OF BOOK III_:— CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION:—SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM DURING THE PRINCIPAL-LIBRARIANSHIP OF JOSEPH PLANTA. II. INTRODUCTION (CONTINUED):—SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM DURING THE PRINCIPAL-LIBRARIANSHIP OF SIR HENRY ELLIS. III. INTRODUCTION (CONTINUED):—SUMMARY VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM DURING THE PRINCIPAL-LIBRARIANSHIP OF SIR ANTONIO PANIZZI. IV. ANOTHER GROUP OF ARCHÆOLOGISTS AND CLASSICAL EXPLORERS. V. THE FOUNDER OF THE GRENVILLE LIBRARY. VI. BENEFACTORS OF RECENT DAYS.