The British Museum, a repository un der the immediate care of government, and itself governed by fifteen trustees, selected from the highest and most ho nourable offices of the state, promisedko exceed every other national institution, which is not supported by the casual and unworthy plunder of others. However in ferior it may appear to those splendid col lections, which consist of the most exqui site productions of the chisel and the pen cil ever accomplished by man, we have the consolation to reflect, that, had it been possible to procure them by purchase, the liberality of the British nation is such, that Italy and many other countries would have long since been drained; but as the case is, each inhabitant of England may ex claim, as he views the vast collection he in commonwith all his countrymen possesses, and with his characteristic integrity, these are individually our own by fair purchase or gift. Sir Robert Cotton may be said to have laid the foundation of the British Museum, by his presenting his excellent collection of manuscripts to the public ; those, and the offer of Sir Hans Sloane's books, MSS., and curious articles in anti quity and natural history, for 20.0001. sug gested the propriety of accepting the latter, and providing a place for the re ception of both ; from this time govern ment proceeded rapidly in forming the. plan, and at length every interior regula tion for officers, trustees, &c. being made, Montague House, situated in Russell street, Bloomsbury, was purchased for 10,2501. and fitted for the reception of the articles then possessed, and to be bought, at the further expense of 14,4841. 6s. 4d. ; after which Lord Oxford's manu scripts were procured for 10,0014. to which the King added others; and since the above period vast numbers of inter esting things have been placed there, particularly Sir William Hamilton's dis coveries, a vast variety of valuable me dals, fossils, minerals, manuscripts, and printed books, together with several Egyptian antiquities, and the late Mr. Townley's marbles and bas reliefs from Italy. The latter were given to the pub lic, under the express condition that a proper place should be built for their re ception, which has been complied with, and they are now exhibited with the rest of the museum to an admiring multitude, amounting daily to upwards of ninety persons. Various alterations have taken place in the regulations adopted for the convenience of those who read at the museum, and the visitors, since 1757, when it was first opened for inspection and study, and it is but justice to say, each was intended well, though till lately it was generally thought that too many im pediments existed in the way of visiting that, which was solely intended for the use of the community ; at present, how ever no such complaint can be made with truth, as any decently dressed persons, presenting themselves at certain hours, are conducted, free of every kind of ex pense, through the suit of rooms, by civil and well-informed officers, who explain the uses and nature of each object. Ad
mission to the reading room is, besides,at. tended with no other difficulty than neces sarily follows ascertaining whether the ap plicant is deserving of the indulgence, or likely to injure the interests of the insti tution; when there, every facility is af forded him by commodious tables, with pens and ink for writing, and a messen ger waits to bring him any hooks he may think proper to select from the vast stores of literature submitted in this generous way to his use.
• The Museums in the United States are none of them as yet very extensive, with the exception of Peale's Museum in Phi ladelphia. This valuable institution was founded in the year 1785, by Mr. Charles Wilson Peale ; and by the industry and unremitted attention of this very meri torious individual, it has been raised to its present importance. The subjects of natural history are neatly prepared, and placed in their characteristic positions. Of these 212 are quadrupeds, upwards of twelve hundred birds, numerous fishes, reptiles, insects and shells, worms, zoo phytes, and minerals—some anatomical preparations, and a skeleton of the mam moth, the great American mastodont. Besides the very interesting assemblage of objects of nature, there is a con siderable collection of the costumes, implements of husbandry, warlike wea pons, &c. of various uncivilized nations ; also many monuments of antiquity, and mementos of departed nations, highly in teresting to the antiquary—an extensive gallery of the portraits of distinguished men, the production of the pencil of Mr. Peale, consisting chiefly of warriors and statesmen of the American Revolution, and some of philosophers and men of science.