5y4 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



be expected that the collection in that branch 

 would be complete ; but circumstances since its 

 formation having prevented our procuring fo- 

 reign works, there are yet many gaps to fill up ; 

 that they will soon disappear, and that the library 

 may answer to the collections connected with it, 

 is to be earnestly hoped: it contains at present 

 fifteen thousand volumes. 



As the generality of the printed works are to 

 be met with in most public libraries, we shall 

 mention only some manuscripts, accompanied 

 with original designs, and the magnificent and 

 unrivalled collection of paintings upon vellum. 



Amongst the manuscripts is the work of Plu- 

 mier, entitled, Botanic um Americanum, seuHis- 

 toria Plantarum in Americanis insulis nascen- 

 tium; auctore R. P. Car. Plumier, ab anno 1689 

 usque ad annum 1697, 8 vols, folio. It consists 

 of one thousand two hundred and twenty figures 

 of plants, some of which are coloured, accom- 

 panied with a descriptive text. There is besides 

 a folio volume of American birds painted from 

 nature ; the drawings are not very finished, but 

 are exceedingly accurate. 



Amongst the plants figured in the manuscript 

 of Plumier, five hundred and forty-nine have been 

 published by himself or by Burmann, and the re- 

 mainder have been since noticed by botanists 



