Excerpt from A Handbook for Readers at the British Museum Thyo years after the royal donation, on the 15th of January 1759, by which time the preliminary arrangements were settled, the British Museum, composed of the three divisions - Printed Books, Manuscripts, and Natural History - was Opened to the public, accommodation having been provided for a small number of students. Of the original Reading-room there appear to exist no detailed accounts; but that it differed very materially in size, in general convenience, and mode Of admission to the present one, there is not the slightest doubt. Comparison, we should think, could not be drawn between them, nor, perhaps, ought it. But from what we can picture of the first national Salle de lecture we should say that it was not very unlike the little Educational Reading-room with its windows opening on a fine lawn studded with majestic elms - attached, at the present time, to the Science and Art Department at the South Kensington Museum? In the reign of James I. This library is said to have been in a flourishing condition, well stored with all sorts of good books from the beginning of printing; but in succeeding reigns it was sadly neglected, and disgracefully housed. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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Excerpt from A Catalogue of Books Placed in the Galleries in the Reading Room of the British Museum The present collection is not to be regarded as a Library of Reference. The chief object in forming it has been to bring together in a convenient position the books in general demand, and thus to save time in supplying books to the readers. Many books therefore which would not otherwise have found a place in it have been included, because they were found to be often asked for, and others because they form parts of collections, desirable as a whole, from which it was impossible to separate them. As far as possible, the new works and new editions have been included up to the time of going to press. It is proposed for the future that new books of importance should be incorporated into this collection as they appear, and that those which may have become obsolete, should, from time to time, be removed. It is hoped that when the plan is in full operation, there may be, within the walls of the Reading Room, a Library of some sixty thousand volumes, comprising the most useful books upon all subjects, kept up to date by the constant addition of new publications, and freely and quickly available at all hours at which the Reading Room is open to the public. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.