A catalogue of the printed books, in 7 octavo volumes, was published in 1813-19. So great have been the additions to the collection since the publication of that catalogue, that the interleaved copy of it. in which the new entries were made, had expanded in 1846 into 82 folio volumes. This is now superseded by one general MS. catalogue, con tained in upwards of 1600 folio volumes. There are separate catalogues of the Gren ville library, in 6 volumes; of music, in 126 volumes; of newspapers, in 4 volumes; of the pamphlets in the king's library, in 9 volumes; and of the pamphlets published during the civil war and commonwealth, called the "Thomason collection," in 12 volumes, all folio. These various catalogues are placed in the central circular stands in the reading room, for consultation by readers. Here also are copies of the catalogue of the books of reference, arranged around the wall of the room, to which the readers have free access without the intervention of an official. These books, forming a library of 20,000 vol umes, have been carefully selected to represent all the different branches of knowledge. The facility of consultation has been increased by the employment of different colors in the binding, corresponding to the colors of a hand catalogue scattered throughout the room. Thus theological works are bound in blue, historical in red, philosophical in green, and so on.
The right of access to the library is easily obtained. Any person desiring it, is "to apply in writing, addressed "ro the principal librarian of the British museum,' and not otherwise, specifying his description and place of abode, and accompanying his letter with a written recommendation, satisfactory to an officer of the museum." Formerly, the right of admission was granted only for six months at a time, and had then to be renewed. Under the new regulations, the ticket, once granted, does not require renewal; it can, of course, be withdrawn, and is not granted to persons under 21 years of age. When the reader has become well known to the officials, he is not even asked to show his ticket.
Maps.—The maps, charts, plans, and topographical drawings were separated from the library, to form a distinct department, in 1867. There are over 50,000 published and 20,000 manuscript maps in the museum. Many of the latter have thrown much light on the history of early geographical discovery.
manuscripts are contained in several rooms in the s.e. angle of the building. The work of the department is carried on by a keeper, assistant-keeper, a keeper of oriental manuscripts, and nine assistants. The manuscripts are for the most part bound in volumes, and placed in cases around the rooms. The collection consists of: 1. The Sloanean manuscripts, relating chiefly to medical and natural history sub jects. 2. The Cottonian manuscripts, rich in documents referring to the history of Britain, including two of the originals of Magna Charta, in registers of English mon asteries, and in original letters of royal and illustrious personages. This collection
contains the Durham Book—a copy of the Latin Gospels, with an interlineary Saxon gloss, finished in the year 720. 3. The Harleian manuscripts, a collection rich in illu minated manuscripts, in ancient, civil, and ecclesiastical records, in manuscripts of the classics, among which is one of the earliest kuown copies of the Odyssey, and in early English poetry. 4. The manuscripts of the ancient royal library. These were collected by our kings, from Richard II. to George II. ; many of them were obtained from the monasteries, on their destruction. Amongst the most valuable treasures here are the Codex Alexandrinus, a manuscript of the Bible written in uncial Greek, before the close of the 5th c. ; and the Basilieon Doron of James I., in his own handwriting. 5. The Lansdowne manuscripts. This collection comprises the Burghley and Cxsar papers, the manuscripts of bishop Kennett, and numerous valuable historical documents and state papers. 6. The Hargrave manuscripts, almost exclusively connected with law. 7. The Burney manuscripts, containing a large collection of the Greek and Latin clas sics. Among them is a copy of the _MO, answering that of the Odyssey in the Harleian collection. 8. The Howard-Arundel manuscripts, obtained from the royal society. This collection is singularly rich in materials for the history of our own country and language. 9. The Oriental manuscripts, a collection composed of several purchases and bequests. It includes the manuscripts acquired by Mr. Rich while consul at Bag dad, and consists of numerous Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, and other oriental codices. A. large series of Ethiopic manuscripts was obtained at Magdala, on the occasion of the Abyssinian war. 10. Additional manuscripts. This collection consists of innumerable bequests, donations, and purchases, which from the establishment of the museum have been and are still being acquired. Among recent additions may be specified a charter of William the Conqueror; the original mortgage-deed of a house in Blackfriars, dated 11th Mar., 1612, and signed by William Shakespeare; the holograph manuscript of Scott's Kenilworth, and of many of Burns's poems, including the Cotter's Saturday _Night, and the songs published in Johnson's Scots _Musical Museum; an extensive series of papal bulls; several Books of Hours, including the famous Bedford Missal; and a large collec tion of original letters and papers relating to the affairs of Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries. Catalogues of the complete collections have at different times been pub lished. The additions to the ever-increasing oriental and additional collections are at intervals published in supplements to each of the original catalogues. Copies of all these, with manuscript lists of the annual additions, are placed in the reading-room for consultation.