1 EPARTMENT OF PRINTED BOOKS. : Library of Printed Books consists of at least 1,300,000 ames, acquired partly by copyright-the Trustees of the tish Museum having the right, dating from 1814, to a copy every book published in the United Kingdom-partly by chase, and partly by donation or bequest. The most portant of the collections which have been presented or queathed are: The Old Royal Library, presented by His jesty King George II, in the year 1757; the rare books ought together by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode, bequeathed 1799; the library of Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., consisting incipally of works on Natural History, bequeathed by him d received in 1820; the magnificent library formed by ing George III. and transferred to the Museum in 1823, hown as 'The King's Library;' and the choice collection queathed by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville, and added in 347. Amongst the additions of smaller extent received by onation or bequest may be mentioned: A collection of ebrew books, from Mr. Salomon Da Costa (1759); a large ›llection of books and pamphlets issued during the reign f Charles I. and the Commonwealth, formed by George 'homason, from King George III. (1762); biographical works, rom the Rev. Dr. T. Birch (1766); a series of Bibles from Ir. Speaker Onslow (1768); a collection of books, from Major Arthur Edwards (1769); works on Music, from Sir John Hawkins (1778); 900 volumes relating chiefly to the lassics, from Mr. Thomas Tyrwhitt (1786); a collection of biographical works, from Sir William Musgrave (1790 and 1799); works in Italian and Portuguese, from Mr. Methuen (1792); topographical books from Sir Richard Colt-Hoare, Bart. (1825); works on Natural History, from Major-General Hardwicke (1835); and Chinese books collected by B Mr. Robert Morrison, from the Secretary of State for the Foreign Department (1846). In the rooms containing the Grenville and the King's libraries, fourteen table-cases are arranged for the exhibition of some of the choicest objects of interest in the Library. The selection has been made with a view, first to place before the eyes of the visitor specimens of what are called Block-Books," or books printed from wooden blocks—those very rare productions which immediately preceded the invention of Printing with moveable metal types, and which, in all probability, led up to it. Next, to exhibit specimens of the earliest and most remarkable productions of the art of Printing, properly so called; in Germany commencing with what is usually regarded as the first Printed Book, namely, the Great Bible, printed at Mentz by Gutenberg and Fust, and believed to have been finished in the year 1455, although begun, no doubt, earlier. Further, to exhibit similar specimens of the productions of the Printing Press in Italy, France, the Low Countries and England. These are followed by examples of fine and sumptuous printing; of books with Illuminations, and with wood or copperplate Illustrations; of books containing remarkable Autographs; examples of "Broadsides;" of books which may be regarded as Typographical and Literary Curiosities; and, finally, by examples of rich, elegant and curious book-binding. The Block-Books are exhibited in Table-Cases I. and II. in the Grenville Library. The Block-Books were principally of a religious character, and were, no doubt, intended to aid in the instruction of the people according to the theology of the period. They were printed on one side of the leaf only, and were executed chiefly in Holland, Flanders and Germany during the first threequarters of the fifteenth century. The wood-cuts in some of these productions are exceedingly beautiful. In the series here exhibited attention is particularly directed to the following: CASE I. 1. Biblia Pauperum, or Bible of the Poor, once a popular manual of |