But, however, it is with tlie fii'Pt room tliat onr hnax' 

 ness at pref>ent lies ; and here we find many objects to 

 arrest our attention. The ceiling of" this apartment is 

 ornamented in the same style as tliat of the staircase, 

 and is, indeed, a continuation of the same story, both 

 representing the fable of Phaeton "borrowing the Horses 

 of tlie Sun. The painter was Charles de Rosse, who 

 liad the reputation of being one of the bestcolourists of i 

 the French >chool. | 



In the first case, which chiefly contams the artificial 

 curiosities of uncivilized tribes and nations, we find some 

 singular Ksquimaux dresses, brought liome by Captain 

 Sii' Edward PaiTV, on his return from the arctic expe- 

 dition in 1822. it is to this enterprising gentleman, j 

 indeed, that we are indebted for various other articles in 

 this collection : amongst wliich we find n whalebone net 

 used by the Esquimaux to lay under their beds, to pro- 

 tect them from the snow ; a wooden bowl, remarkable, 

 as being fashioned witliout the aid of iron tools ; a cup 

 and spoon, made out of the horns of the musk ox ; some, 

 arms, of not very formidable appearance; and a culinary 

 vessel and lamp, hewn out of solid stone. But the most 

 interesting object here, as manifesting the early appli- 

 cation of scientific principles amongst a nation scarcely 

 one remove from barbarism, is that of a pair of eye- 

 shades, formed of bone, which is the simple yet eflFec- 

 tive instrument employed by tlie Esquimaux to defend 

 their eyes from the too intense light reflected by the 

 snow. As may be perceived, they have a small narrow 

 aperture in the centre, and are capable of being fixed 

 near tlie eyes by a thong, or strip of skin, passing round 

 the head; so that, when tliey are worn, no light can 

 possibly enter the pupil of either eye, excepting through 

 the small openings of these rude yet curiously con- 

 structed spectacles. Above the case is placed a sledge 

 brou°:ht from Baffin's Bay by Captain Pan-y. 



