13 
THE SALOON. 
The dome of this grand apartment painted by 
the above-mentioned La Fosse represents the birth 
of Minerva. The landscapes and architectural de¬ 
corations are by the same J. Rousseau who painted 
in the staircase ; and the garlands of flowers are by 
John Baptist Monoyer^ the most eminent flower 
painter of his time. Over the chimney is a full 
length portrait of King George II., by Shackleton. 
This apartment contains the principal collection 
of Minerals of the Museum, systematically arranged, 
the more characteristic specimens being exhibited 
in the tables, and the remainder in the draw'ers un¬ 
derneath. In the arrangement of this collection a 
natural order founded on external characters has 
been followed; not, however, without consulting 
the ehemical composition of the substances, so far 
as convenience would admit. Each of the glazed 
table-cases has its number inscribed on the upper 
part of the middle square of glass. 
{Case 1.) contains the combustible substances, 
among which may be particularized the different 
varieties of bitumen^ from the fluid naphtha^ to 
the solid jet (pitch coal of Werner) and the 
mineral Caoutchouc from Derbyshire (See British 
collec- 
SALOON. 
