1] 
sented, anno 1764, by the Earl of Exeter, and in 
another window is a large slab of shell marble 
from Derbyshire. 
An opportunity having presented itself, in the 
course of this year (l 810 ), of acquiring the extensive 
collection of Minerals formed by the late Right 
Hon. Charles Greville, the Trustees, in a petition 
to the House of Commons, recommended the 
purchase thereof, for the use of the public. A 
Committee was accordingly appointed, who having 
deliberated on the subject, and taken the deposi¬ 
tions of the most eminent mineralogists they had 
the means of consulting, reported the opinion of 
these referees, as follows: “ That they consi- 
“ dered the entire collection to be equal in most, 
“ and in many parts superior to any other similar 
u collection, which any of them have had oppor- 
(C tunities of viewing, in this and other countries ; 
“ and that, upon accurate examination, they had 
u estimated the value of it at £ 13,727.” 
This sum was accordingly voted; and the collec¬ 
tion is, for the present, deposited in this Saloon, 
in the mahogany cabinets that belonged to Mr. 
Greville, which are said to have cost upwards of 
<£1,600. 
SALOON, 
