626 WONDERS OP A8T. 
The seventh is appropriated to tlie Royal and Cottoi>'^.^ 
library of manuscripts. On a table, in a glazed fratoe> 
the original of the Magna Charta, belonging to tire ^ ^ 
Ionian libiaiy. Against the press, No. 21, of the 
nian collection, is the original of the Articles prepaiai® 1 
to the signing of the Great Charter, perfect, with the se*' • 
The magnificent saloon is filled with the Greville 
tion of minerals, the finest in the w orld, admirably arranS®. j 
and luminously coloured. The dome of this saloon ® j 
notice. It was painted by La Fosse, and has been descrw^_ 
as the apotheosis of Iris, or birth of Minerva. In the 
dl'c of the window stands a table, composed of a va^elf j 
lavas from Mount Vesuvius mesented by the 
Exeter. . -j. 
The eighth room contains a department ot uatura* •' 
tory, part of which is the valuable donation of jn 
cherode, disposed in two tables, nearly in the Einn^^, 
order ; and a much more extensive series, arranged 
ing to the Wernerian system. The principal pr^^ducu 
are very valuable, consisting of minerals from Derbysj^j, 
Siberia, the South Seas, volcanic and rock stones from 
many. One very curious specimen of natural hisWdL- 
jwinted out in the fifth division of the Cracherodeau 
lion, an egg-shaped piece of calcedony, containing 
(enhydros,) which may be seen by gently shaking the 
Here also, in a glass-case, is the famous fossil skeleton 
Guadaloupe, which has been the object of mucli intet*^jj. 
controversy among eminent naturalists in the Monthly 
at 
gazine. The ninth is appropriated to petrifactions ‘ 
shells. In the first division of the cases in tlie 
the room is a valuable univalve shell, of the specie^ 5 (he 
the paper nautilus, or argonaut shells, remarkable js 
slightness of its fabric, and tire elegance of its shape; |jy 
inhabited by an animal not unlike a cuttle-fish. 
ap°r . by 
wha-”^ i,s 
extending a pair of membranes, adhering to the top 
longest arms, has the power of sailing on the surface n 
sea. Under the tables are deposited, in tliis and 
room, a great number of volumes and parcels, codW* 
collections of dried plants j which, from the fragJ'^ 
of their contents, are shewn only on particular leave, 
tenth room is entirely filled with vegetable 
zoophytes, sponge*^ &c. The contents of th** 
