2 
ROOM I. 
mere sight of the outside of books cannot con¬ 
vey either instruction or amusement*. 
The decorations of the great staircase have 
been lately restored. The paintings on the ceil¬ 
ing, representing 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 Invalids, which are 
ranked among the admlranda of Paris. The 
landscapes and architectural decorations are by 
James Rousseau, whose particular skill in per¬ 
spective has at all times been held in high es¬ 
timation. 
UPPER FLOOR. 
FIRST ROOM. 
This room, in its present state of arrangement, 
contains Miscellaneous Collections. 
In the table-cases are deposited objects rela¬ 
tive to technical mineralogy, or mineral sub¬ 
stances in a wrought state, with the scientific and 
familiar names affixed to them. 
Case 1. Esquimaux dresses, implements, and 
utensils, brought to England by Capt. Parry in 
1823 . 
* An Alphabetical Catalogue of this Library was printed in the year 
1787, in two volumes folio; but as great accessions have been obtained 
since that time, a new Edition is now published, in seven volumes 8vo. 
Cases 
