not admitted into these apartments, as the mere 
sight of the outside of books cannot convey either 
instruction or amusement^^. 
The decorations of the great staircase have been 
lately restored. The paintings on the ceiling, re¬ 
presenting Phaeton petitioning Apollo for leave to 
drive his chariot, are by Charles de la Fosse, who^ 
in his time, was deemed one of the best colourists 
of the French school; and of whom there are many 
valuable performances in France, among which are 
the paintings on the cupola of the dome of the In¬ 
valids, which arc ranked among the admiranda of 
Paris. Tlie landscapes and architectural decora¬ 
tions are by James Rousseau, whose particular skill 
in perspective has at all times been held in high 
estimation. 
UPPER FLOOR. 
FIRST ROOM. 
This room, in its present state of arrangement, 
contains miscellaneous collections. 
On the tables are deposited objects relative to 
technical mineralogy, or mineral substances in a 
♦ An Alphabetical Catalogue of this Library was printed in the 
year 1787> in two volumes folio ; but as great accessions have been 
obtained of late, this Catalogue is now under revision, and a new 
. f i 
edition, greatly enlarged, is in the press. 
wrought 
