The British Museum: Its History and Treasures; a View of the Origins of that Great Institution, Sketches of Its Early Benefactors and Principal Officers, and a Survey of the Priceless Objects Preserved Within Its Walls |
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adorned ancient animals Anthony Panizzi antiquities artists Ashur Ashur-bani-pal Assyrian bays beauty Bêlit belong Bible British Museum bronze carved century civilization coins collection Cotton Cottonian countless decoration displayed dynasty earliest early Egypt Egyptian Elgin Elgin Marbles England English evidence examples exhibited fact famous feet figures flint frieze gallery George III Greek Grenville Harley human hundred illustrated implements inscribed inscription interest Julius Cæsar Khafra Khufu kind king king of Assyria land learned letters manu manuscripts marbles ment Montagu House monuments nature neolithic Nimroud notable numerous objects ornaments Panizzi period Permission Principal Librarian printed books Queen Charlotte Islands Reading-Room reign relics relief remarkable represent Rosetta Stone royal Saloon savage sculptures Shalmaneser II show-cases side Sloane specimens statues table-cases tablets temple thou thousand pounds tion tomb treasures Trustees vases vellum visitor volumes wall-cases weapons wooden writing
Popular passages
Page 140 - But where a book is at once both good and rare, where the individual is almost the species, and, when that perishes, We know not where is that Promethean torch That can its light relumine — such a book, for instance, as the Life of the Duke of Newcastle by his Duchess — no casket is rich enough, no casing sufficiently durable, to honour and keep safe such a jewel.
Page 164 - tis haunted, holy ground ;' No earth of thine is lost in vulgar mould, But one vast realm of wonder spreads around. And all the Muse's tales seem truly told, Till the sense aches with gazing to behold The scenes our earliest dreams have dwelt upon...
Page 294 - There methinks would be enjoyment more than in this march of mind, In the steamship, in the railway, in the thoughts that shake mankind.
Page 295 - The astonishment which I felt on first seeing a party of Fuegians on a wild and broken shore will never be forgotten by me, for the reflection at once rushed into my mind — such were our ancestors. These men were absolutely naked and bedaubed with paint, their long hair was tangled, their mouths frothed with excitement, and their expression was wild, startled, and distrustful.
Page 108 - I want a poor student to have the same means of indulging his learned curiosity, of following his rational pursuits, of consulting the same authorities, of fathoming the most intricate inquiry, as the richest man in the kingdom, as far as books go, and I contend that Government is bound to give him the most liberal and unlimited assistance in this respect.
Page 52 - For the purchase of the museum or collection of Sir Hans Sloane, and of the Harleian collection of manuscripts, and for providing one general repository for the better reception and more convenient use of the said collections, and of the famous Cotton library, and of the additions made and to be made thereto.
Page 64 - We were, — a man that writes for Lord Royston ; a man that writes for Dr. Burton of York ; a third that writes for the Emperor of Germany, or Dr. Pocock, for he speaks the worst English I ever heard ; Dr.
Page 131 - It is a very striking circumstance, that the high-minded inventors of this great art tried at the very outset so bold a flight as the printing an entire Bible, and executed it with astonishing success. It was Minerva leaping on earth in her divine strength and radiant armor, ready at the moment of her nativity to subdue and destroy her enemies.
Page 38 - How his eyes languish ! how his thoughts adore That painted coat, which Joseph never wore ! He shows, on holidays, a sacred pin, That touched the ruff, that touched Queen Bess's chin.
Page 9 - ... far less would this luxurious generation be content with their internal accommodations. A gentleman's house containing three or four beds was extraordinarily well provided; few probably had more than two. The walls were commonly bare, without wainscot, or even plaster, except that some great houses were furnished with hangings, and that, perhaps, hardly so soon as the reign of Edward IV.