THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 025 
ground-floor consists of twelve rooms, and contains 
library of printed books. Tlic decorations of the stair- 
^i have lately been restored, and are worthy of adraira- 
An'ii ceiling, which represents Phaeton petitioning 
^Pollo for permission to drive his chariot, M'as painted by 
tarles de la Fosse, who was reckoned one of the best co- 
uf'tS' French school, and who painted the cupola 
. the dome of the Invalids at Paris. The landscape and 
j. Corations are by James Rousseau, an artist justly admired 
c his skill ill penspective. 
File fii-st room on die upper stoij contains modern works 
art from all parts of the world, arranged in cases. In 
one in the centre are several beautiful miniatures, amono- 
l^hich are those of Sir I'homas More, King Charles I. and 
hver Cromwell., the latter having his watch placed by its 
ae. Two curious portraits of King William III. and 
Ueen Mary, are carved on two walnut-shells. In the 
J^i csses are arranged, in geographical order, some fine spe- 
ij, nens of China, and a variety of implements of war from 
j.««rent quarters of the globe. Here is to be seen the 
Wn collection ot curiosities from the South Pacific Ocean, 
Claptain Cooke, In the left corner is the 
hg-l ’c'ng dress of an Otaheitean lady, in M'hich taste and 
=^'■8 singularly blended; and opposite, are the 
ls| , and helmets of feathers from the Sandwich 
ands. Among these is one, which, in elegance of form, 
Uiu Grecian helmets. In another case are 
!k>n bowls, and above them battoons, and other wea- 
tlig war. The next object of attention are the idols of 
^ C'fterent islands, presenting, in their hideous rudeness, 
by contrast with many of the works of art, formed 
'Dstr ’ people ; near these are the drums and other 
ls| /^'’^ents of music, and a breast-plate from the Friendly 
'he f n’ vestibule, represents 
yhll of Phaeton. ^ 
Fhe second room consists of similar objects. The third 
Lansdowne collection of manuscripts. 
SrtK handsomely bound and lettered. In the 
SOfj ® *''c the Sloanean and Birchean collections of manu- 
. "FFs fifth contains pait of the Harleian library ot 
the first part of the same, and 
tons made since the establishment of the Museuii.. 
