12 
ROOM VII. In the press under No. XIX. of the Cottonian 
MSS. library are deposited ninety-four volumes of ex¬ 
tracts, transcripts, and notes, chiefly relating to 
the Exchequer, collected by Thomas Madox, 
Esq., historiographer to Queen Anne and King 
George L, and bequeathed by his widow, as an 
addition to the Cottonian library. 
On the table, in a glazed frame, is the original 
of the Magna Charta, belonging to the Cottonian 
library 5 and on the side of it is a fac-simile en¬ 
graving of it, by Pine.—Against press XXL of 
the Cottonian library is the original of the arti¬ 
cles preparatory to the signing of the Great 
Charter, perfect, with the seal: presented in 
1769 by Earl Stanhope. 
THE SALOON. 
SALOON. This apartment contains the principal Collec¬ 
tion of Minerals of the Museum, systematically 
arranged, the more characteristic specimens 
being deposited in the table-cases, and the re¬ 
mainder in the drawers underneath. In the ar¬ 
rangement of this collection, a natural order 
founded on external characters has been follow¬ 
ed : not, however, without consulting the che- 
brary, there are no less than three Catalogues extant: the first by Dr, 
Thomas Smith, printed 1696, folio ; the second, being an attempt to¬ 
wards a classical arrangement, printed in 1777, octavo 3 and the third, 
improved and considerably enlarged by Mr. Plauta, printed by His 
Majesty’s command in the year 1802, folio. 
mical 
