This grand national collection of antiquities, books and natural
curiosities, is placed in the noble house formerly belonging to the Duke
of Montagu, in Great Russell street, Bloomsbury. It is a stately
edifice, in the French style of the reign of Louis XIV., and on the plan
of the Tuilleries. The celebrated French architect, Peter Paget, was
sent over from Paris, by Ralph, first Duke of Montagu, expressly to
construct this splendid mansion, which is, perhaps, better calculated
for its present purpose than for a private residence.
The British museum was established by act of parliament, in 1753, in
consequence of the will of Sir Hans Sloane, who left his museum to the
nation, which he declared in his will, cost him upward of fifty thousand
pounds, on condition that parliament should pay twenty thousand pounds
to his executors, and purchase a house sufficiently commodious for it.
The parliament acted with great liberality on this occasion; several
other valuable collections were united to this of Sir Hans Sloane, and
the whole establishment completed for the sum of eighty-five thousand
pounds, which was raised by the way of a lottery. Parliament afterward
added, at various times, to the Sloanean museum, the Cottonian library;
that of Major Edwards; the Harleian collection of manuscripts; Sir
William Hamilton’s invaluable collection of Greek vases; the Townleian
collection of antique marbles; the manuscripts of the Marquis of
Lansdowne; and, lastly, the celebrated Elgin marbles, which comprise
what are considered as the finest specimens of ancient sculpture. The
whole of the important library of printed books and manuscripts which
had been gradually collected by the kings of England from Henry VIII. to
William III., was presented to the museum by George II.; and George III.
bestowed on it a numerous collection of valuable pamphlets, which had
been published in the interval between 1640 and 1660. His majesty
likewise contributed the two finest mummies in Europe; the sum of eleven
hundred and twenty-three pounds, arising from lottery prizes, which had
belonged to his royal predecessor; and, in 1772, a complete set of the
journals of the lords and commons. To these contributions he afterward
added a collection of natural and artificial curiosities, sent to him,
in 1796, by Mr. Menzies, from the north-west coast of America, and
several single books of great value and utility. The trustees have at
various times added Greenwood’s collection of stuffed birds; Hatchet’s
minerals; Halhed’s oriental manuscripts; Tyssen’s collection of Saxon
coins; Doctor Bentley’s classics; and the Greville collection of
minerals. To these may be added numerous donations from several of the
sovereigns of Europe, as well as from learned bodies and private
individuals, including the splendid monuments from Nineveh, and other
wonderful and curious contributions that will be mentioned.
The building itself is a spacious quadrangle of some two thousand feet,
or nearly two-fifths of a mile in circuit, occupying a large part of
Great Russel square; and even now, greatly enlarged as it has been, it
is quite inadequate for the growing demands for space in all
departments. The ground-floor consists of twelve main rooms, and
contains the library of printed books. The first room of the upper story
contains modern works of art from all parts of the world, arranged in
cases. In the one in the center are several beautiful miniatures, among
which are those of Sir Thomas More, Charles I., and Oliver Cromwell, the
latter having his watch placed by its side. Two curious portraits of
William III. and Queen Mary, are carved on two walnut-shells. In the
presses are arranged, in geographical order, some fine specimens of
China, and a variety of implements of war from different quarters of the
globe. Here is to be seen the rich collection of curiosities from the
South Pacific ocean, brought by Captain Cook. In the left corner is the
mourning dress of an Otaheitan lady, in which taste and barbarity are
singularly blended; and opposite, are the rich cloaks and helmets of
feathers from the Sandwich islands. Among these is one, which, in
elegance of form, vies even with the Grecian helmets. In another case
are the cava bowls, and above them battoons, and other weapons of war.
The next objects of attention are the idols of the different islands,
presenting in their hideous rudeness, a singular contrast with many of
the works of art formed by the same people; near these are the drums and
other instruments of music, and a breast-plate from the Friendly
islands. The ceiling of this room, or vestibule, represents the fall of
Phæton.
The second room consists of similar objects. The third is devoted to the
Lansdowne collection of manuscripts, which have been handsomely bound
and lettered. In the fourth are the Sloanean and Birchean collections of
manuscripts. The fifth contains part of the Harleian library of
manuscripts, and the sixth, the first part of the same, and additions
made since the establishment of the museum. The seventh is appropriated
to the royal and Cottonian library of manuscripts. On a table, in a
glazed frame, is the original of the Magna Charta, belonging to the
Cottonian library. Against the press, number twenty-one, of the
Cottonian collection, is the original of the articles preparatory to the
signing of the great charter, perfect, with the seal. The magnificent
saloon is filled with the Greville collection of minerals, the finest in
the world, admirably arranged, and luminously colored. The dome of this
saloon merits notice. It was painted by La Fosse, and has been described
as the apotheosis of Iris, or birth of Minerva. In the middle of the
window stands a table, composed of a variety of lavas from Mount
Vesuvius, presented by the Earl of Exeter. The eighth room contains a
department of natural history, part of which is the valuable donation of
Mr. Cracherode, disposed in two tables, nearly in the Linnæan order; and
a much more extensive series, arranged according to the Wernerian
system. The principal productions are very valuable, consisting of
minerals from Derbyshire, Siberia, the South seas, volcanic and rock
stones from Germany, &c. One very curious specimen of natural history is
pointed out in the fifth division of the Cracherodean collection, an
egg-shaped piece of chalcedony, containing water, which may be seen by
gently shaking the vase. Here, also, in a glass case, is the famous
fossil skeleton from Gaudaloupe, which has been the object of much
interesting controversy among eminent naturalists. The ninth is
appropriated to petrifactions and shells. In the first division of the
cases in the middle of the room, is a valuable univalve shell, of the
species called the paper nautilus, or argonaut shells, remarkable for
the slightness of its fabric, and the elegance of its shape. It is
inhabited by an animal not unlike a cuttle-fish, which by extending a
pair of membranes, adhering to the top of its longest arms, has the
power of sailing on the surface of the sea. Under the tables are
deposited, in this and the next room, a great number of volumes and
parcels, containing collections of dried plants; which, from the fragile
nature of their contents, are shown only on particular leave. The tenth
room is entirely filled with vegetable productions, zoöphytes, sponges,
&c. The contents of the eleventh room are birds, and arranged as far as
convenience would admit, according to the Linnæan system. Among the
curious specimens of ornithology is a humming-bird, scarcely larger than
a bee; also another beautiful little creature called the harlequin
humming-bird, from the variety of its colors. In this room there is a
curious picture, executed many years ago in Holland, of that extremely
rare and curious bird, the dodo, belonging to the tribe _gallinæ_. In
the table in the middle are preserved the nests of several birds, among
the most curious of which are several hanging nests, chiefly formed by
birds of the oriole tribe; nests of a substance resembling isinglass,
which the Chinese make into a rich soup; scarce feathers, &c. In the
second table are deposited a variety of eggs and nests: among the former
may be noticed the eggs of the ostrich, the cassowary, the crocodile,
&c. In the cases between the windows are several of the rarer
quadrupeds; among these the most curious are, two orang-outangs, in a
young state, a long-tailed macauco, ermine, &c.; in cases under the
tables are an armadillo, or porcupine, several young sloths, and a fine
specimen of the two-toed ant-eater. The twelfth room contains a general
and extensive arrangement of fishes, serpents, lizards, frogs, &c.
The Townley marbles and Egyptian antiquities, are deposited in a very
elegant suite of rooms built purposely for them. The first room is
devoted to a collection of bass-reliefs, in _terra cotta_, pronounced
the finest in Europe. The second is a beautiful circular room, whence
you have a fine view of the whole suite of apartments, bounded at the
end by an exquisitely-wrought _discobolon_, or ancient quoit-player.
This room is devoted to Greek and Roman sculptures, among which may be
pointed out a fine candelabrum, with several beautiful busts and
statues. The third and fourth rooms are also filled with Greek and Roman
sculptures: in the latter are several fine bass-reliefs. The fifth
contains a collection of Roman sepulchral monuments, and a beautiful
mosaic pavement, discovered in digging the foundations for a new
building at the bank of England. The sixth exhibits a miscellaneous
collection of one hundred grand pieces of Roman and Greek sculpture. The
seventh is devoted to Roman antiquities, and the eighth, on the left, to
Egyptian antiquities, among which are the two mummies before mentioned,
with their coffins; a manuscript, or papyrus, taken from a mummy, &c.
Among the Egyptian sculptures in the ninth room, is the celebrated
sarcophagus, commonly called the tomb of Alexander the Great, an
engraving and dissertation on which appeared in the Monthly Magazine for
February, 1809. The tenth contains Greek and Roman sculptures of
singular beauty.
Thence returning, and proceeding up stairs, the visitor is conducted to
the eleventh room, containing ancient and modern coins and medals,
arranged in geographical order, those of each country being kept
separate. It is not shown unless by the permission of the trustees, or
of the principal librarian. Not more than two persons are admitted at
one time, without the presence of the principal librarian, or of some
other officer. The twelfth room contains the collection of the late Sir
William Hamilton, which has been removed from the saloon. It principally
consists of penates, or household gods, bronze vessels, utensils, &c.,
specimens of ancient glass, necklaces, bullæ, fragments of relievos, and
ancient armor, tripods, knives, patent lamps, seals, weights, sculpture
in ivory, bracelets, bits, spurs, ancient paintings from Herculaneum,
Babylonish bricks, and his unrivaled collection of Greek vases, the
greater part of which were found in the sepulchers of Magna Grecia. The
forms of the vases are much varied, and are equally simple and
beautiful. In the thirteenth is deposited the extensive and valuable
collection of prints and drawings, the most important part of which was
bequeathed by the Rev. William Cracherode. The contents of this room can
be seen only by a few persons at a time, by particular permission.
In addition to the various curiosities enumerated above, Professor
Silliman mentions many others which have been contributed to the museum
more recently; and more fully describes some already noticed. “Here,” he
says, “is a rich collection of Etruscan vases, from the cemeteries of
the ancient inhabitants of Italy, who preceded the Roman empire. A part
of this collection was deposited by the Prince de Canino, son of Lucien
Bonaparte. The Maltese are now the only people who fabricate ware like
the ancient Etruscan. Through the kindness of a gentleman attached to
the museum, we were permitted to see the original Portland vase. It is
of moderate dimensions. The material, contrary to my former impression,
is glass, and not earthen-ware. The basis was dark blue, almost black,
and in the manner of the modern Bohemian glass, it appears to have been
dipped into a semi-transparent white enamel, which gave it an exterior
coating of that color. This was then cut away, so as to leave the
exquisitely wrought figures of the human form by which it is adorned. It
was successfully imitated by the late Mr. Wedgwood, in his peculiar
porcelain, but it has never been surpassed in beauty of model, or in the
perfection of its decorations. Mr. Wedgwood’s copies cost fifty pounds
each, which, even with a large subscription, did not reimburse him. Mr.
Webber, the artist, received fifty pounds for modeling it. The original
was discovered in the tomb of Alexander Severus, who died as early as
the year 235, and the Duchess of Portland paid one thousand guineas for
it; hence it was called the Portland vase. It will appear incredible
that any one should be willing to destroy such a gem of art; still, a
few years ago, a man who was believed to be either drunk or insane,
(very probably both,) hurled a stone at it, and shivered the beautiful
antique into fragments. A fac-simile of the vase, as it lay in ruins, is
preserved in a glazed frame in the room. But by great care and skill,
the fragments have been reunited, and cemented together, so that the
joinings can be perceived only by a near approach. The culprit was
imprisoned for two years; and a law being afterward made to fit such
cases, (_ex post facto_, perhaps,) he is, I believe, not yet liberated,
and, certainly, ought not to be, without satisfactory evidence of a
sounder state of mind. In the same room with the Portland vase is a rich
collection of antique ornaments in gold. They are personal ornaments,
Etruscan, Roman, British, Saxon, Norman, Scotch and Irish. Among them
are elegant forms, rings, bracelets, girdles, tiaras, brooches, &c. They
are in appearance as rich and bright as if made yesterday; and evince
that in ages long past, both the value of gold and the manner of working
it were well understood. Some of these things were found in graves, some
in morasses, and, probably, some on battle-fields.
“Here, also, we saw the colossal monuments of stone, disinterred by the
labors of Mr. Layard, and brought from ancient Nineveh. The bull and the
lion, each with the wings of an eagle, and the face of a man, symbolical
of strength, courage, speed and intelligence, are at present in the
lower room, along with the two gigantic figures in human form, each
being originally divided transversely above the waist. It is now
intended to reunite them, when the Nineveh figures receive their final
position in the museum. These stupendous pieces of primeval sculpture
fill the observer with astonishment, both that they could ever have been
constructed, and that they should ever have been extricated from their
long-forgotten sepulchers, and transported, without the slightest
injury, from a position far inland, across wide oceans, to this distant
country, which did not begin to emerge from barbarism until ages after
the very site of Nineveh had passed into oblivion. These colossal forms
are so vast in their dimensions, that man, by the side of them, appears
a pigmy; and still they were shaped by human hands, which for thousands
of years have crumbled into dust, while their works remain fresh and
perfect as when first finished by the chisel of the now long-forgotten
artist. Our polite conductor also accompanied us to a lower room, in
which are stored a great number of the alabaster panels of Nineveh. They
are very large, and are covered by figures in relief, bold and perfect;
scenes of war and of peace, figures of master and servant, of monarch
and subject, of warrior and soldier, and of victor and prisoner. In
fact, they are exactly such figures as are represented in the published
volumes of Mr. Layard, the illustrations in which are in no degree
exaggerated, but, on the contrary, the figures are copied with the most
scrupulous exactness. A hall is in preparation for these precious relics
of an age coeval with the dawn of art and civilization, and of which, as
extended to our time, the entire Christian era forms but an integral
part. At first view, it appears very surprising that they have escaped
through thirty or forty centuries without injury; and this is the more
remarkable, as they are composed of so soft a material as alabaster. It
would certainly have been worn and corroded by the hand of time had it
not been protected by the mildness of the climate, and still more by the
position of these sculptures, cut off from the atmosphere, and buried in
the crumbled and dry earth of the buildings when they were destroyed.”
The collection of minerals, &c., Silliman goes on to say, is arranged in
sixty cases in four rooms. And here is the fossil woman of Gaudaloupe, a
skeleton both headless and footless, but having ribs, spine, limbs, &c.,
so complete as to show beyond doubt that once it belonged to a living
woman; and with it there were found numerous other human bodies as well
as utensils, rude weapons, &c. Here, too, are the remains of the
enormous lizards of geological antiquity. “The _fossil saurians_, in the
collection of Mr. Hawkins,” says the writer just quoted, “purchased by
the museum, were skeletons of ichthyosauri, plesiosauri, and other forms
of reptilian life. There is a perfect fossil skeleton of the
ichthyosaurus, which I measured. It is fully twenty feet long; and there
is beneath it a series of vertebræ of another individual, doubly
cup-shaped, like the vertebræ of fishes. They seem to be all present,
and must have belonged to an animal still larger than the one which I
have named. The figures of these ancient distinct races are now familiar
in our elementary books, and I shall not enter into any minute details.
Most of the fossil saurians were marine. They appeared soon after the
period of the coal formation, and were continued to that of the chalk. A
miniature lizard has been recently found in the old-red-sandstone.
“The collection in the British museum is appalling. It fills one with
astonishment, as we here contemplate the indubitable remains of an age
gone by, never to return. Still more astonishing are the reptilian
remains, brought to light chiefly by the researches of Dr. Mantell,
aided by Dr. Buckland and other coadjutors. But to Dr. Mantell solely
belongs the credit of having established the existence of several
families of land lizards, whose magnitude far exceeds that of the marine
saurians. The bones of the iguanodon, of the hylæosaurus, and
pelorosaurus, are colossal—equal to those of the largest elephants, and
in some individuals even surpassing them, while their length, in some
instances, was equal to that of the longest whales. The form of their
teeth, and the hollow condition of their bones, with a large canal for
marrow, prove that their habits were those of terrestrial animals; while
the form of the teeth, and the solid condition of the bones of the
saurians, before named, adapt them to a marine life; since the buoyancy
derived from the sustaining power of the water would enable them to swim
with this additional weight. The bones of these land lizards discovered
by Dr. Mantell, and now in the museum, with those in his own house,
studied and disposed of anatomically, by his skill in comparative
anatomy, and in the general principles of physiology, prove the
existence of these giants of antiquity, which were not carnivorous, but
were vegetable eaters, in a climate capable of producing a tropical
vegetation, which then existed both in England and on the European
continent, and probably pervaded, more or less, the entire planet. Dr.
Mantell’s original memoirs and published volumes must be consulted for
the proofs of these positions, and for the details of anatomical
structure. He was with me in my last visit to the museum, and gave
additional explanations on the grand fossils deposited there, especially
those of his own gathering, and also on those obtained by Mr. Hawkins,
of Gloucester. Both collections relate chiefly to the extinct colossal
lizards of the gone-by geological ages. The immense collection of
fossils from the Himalaya mountains also passed under review. They have
added much to our knowledge of zoölogical antiquity. Dr. Buckland
discovered near Oxford the bones of a large carnivorous reptile, the
megalosaurus, which approximated toward the magnitude of the lizards of
Dr. Mantell.”