British Museum
the great Naowes its tional Museum in London owes its London foundation to Sir Hans Sloane, who, in 1753, bequeathed his various collections, including 50,000 books and manuscripts, to the nation, on the condition of £20,sphere of British influence, by agree- 000-less by £30,000 than the original ment with Germany and Italy. The Brit- cost-being paid to his heirs. Montague ish East Africa Company is rapidly opening up the country, constructing roads and telegraphs, and taking steps to suppress slavery and the slave trade.
The seat of administration is at MoMis at Mom- BASA (q. v.). The coast is unhealthy for Europeans, but most of the interior plateaus are salubrious. Consult Playne's Consult onsult Playne's "British East Africa" (1910).
House, which was bought for the purpose for £10,250, was appropriated for the museum, which was first opened on Jan. 15, 1759. The original edifice having become inadequate, a new building in Great Russell street was resolved upon in 1823, the architect being Sir R.
Smirke, whose building was not completed till 1847. In 1857, a new library building was completed and opened at a cost of £150,000. It contains a circular reading room 140 feet in diameter, with a dome 106 feet in height. This room contains accommodations for 300 readers comfortably seated at separate desks. The accommodation having become again inadequate the natural history department was Iodged in a new Natural History Museum at South Kensington.
Further additions to the Great Russell street buildings were made in 1882. The British Museum is under the management of 48 trustees. It is open daily, free of charge. Admission to the read-