It happened very fortunately soon after, whilst the Trustees were at a loss where to purchase or build a proper repository, an offer was made them of Montague House in Great Russel street, Bloomsbury, a large and magnificent building, finely ornamented with paintings, situated in the most convenient part of the whole town, and having an extensive garden of near eight acres. This they purchased for the sum of 10000_l._ Repairs, alterations, book-cases, cabinets, and all other conveniences for placing the whole collection properly, and the making apartments for the officers, have cost 15000_l._ more. And every part is now so excellently contrived for holding this noble collection, and the disposition of it in the several rooms is so orderly and well designed, that the British Museum may justly be esteemed an honour and ornament to this nation. His Majesty, in consideration of its great usefulness, has also been graciously pleased to add thereto the royal libraries of books and manuscripts collected by the several Kings of England. The Sloanian collection consists of an amazing number of curiosities, among which are, The library, including books of 50000 drawings, manuscripts and prints, amounting to about volumes Medals and coins ancient and modern 23000 Cameo’s and intaglio’s, about 700 Seals 268 Vessels, &c. of agate, jasper, &c. 542 Antiquities 1125 Precious stones, agates, jaspers, &c. 2256 Metals, minerals, ores, &c. 2725 Crystals, spars, &c. 1864 Fossils, flints, stones 1275 Earths, sands, salts 1035 Bitumens, sulphurs, ambers, &c. 399 Talcs, micæ, &c. 388 Corals, spunges, &c. 1421 Testacea, or shells, &c. 5843 Echini, echinitæ, &c. 659 Asteriæ, trochi, entrochi, &c. 241 Crustaceæ, crabs, lobsters, &c. 363 Stellæ marinæ, star fishes, &c. 173 Fishes and their parts, &c. 1555 Birds and their parts, eggs and nests 1172 of different species Quadrupedes, &c. 1886 Vipers, serpents, &c. 521 Insects, &c. 5439 Vegetables 12506 Hortus siccus, or volumes of dried 334 plants