3 
GROUND FLOOR. 
This floor, formerly consisting of sixteen rooms, contained the Li¬ 
brary of Printed Books *, now removed to the North side of the New 
Square. The Northern half of this floor has given way to the con¬ 
struction of new Buildings. 
The Entrance Hall contains 
A statue in marble of Shakspeare, by Roubilliac. Bequeathed to the 
British Museum, after the death of his Widow, hy David Garrick, Esq. 
A statue of the Hon. Anne Seymour Damer, holding in her hands a 
small figure of the Genius of the Thames. Presented hy the late Lord 
Frederick Campbell. 
A gilt figure of Gaudma, a Burmese idol; and the symbolical repre¬ 
sentation of his foot. Both presented hy Capt. Marry at, R.N. 
Against the pier between the iron Gates which lead to the staircase, 
is a statue of the late Sir Joseph Banks, by Chantrey. It represents him 
seated in an arm-chair, holding a scroll in his left hand. The figure is 
raised upon a marble pedestal. Presented hy the personal Friends, at 
whose expense the statue was made. 
On the other side of the pier, is a specimen of Hindoo sculpture, dis¬ 
covered in 1809, near the banks of the sacred river Nerbudda ; a frag¬ 
ment, probably of an ancient temple. Presented hy D. D. Inglis, Esq. 
Before a window on the left, beyond the messenger’s small room, 
is a Hippopotamus. Presented hy the Trustees of the Hunterian Col¬ 
lection of the Royal College of Surgeons . 
By the side of the staircase, in the passage leading to the Gallery of 
Antiquities, are three specimens of the genus Rhinoceros, from Southern 
Africa,—viz., R. Ketloa—R. Africanus, young—and R. Simus. 
The landscapes and architectural decorations of the Great Staircase 
are by Jacques Rousseau, whose skill in perspective was held in high 
estimation. The paintings on the ceiling, representing Phaeton peti¬ 
tioning 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. 
On the first landing-place, is a Llama from South America, where it 
is used as a beast of burthen. Presented hy Charles Darwin, Esq. 
Above the Llama is a specimen of the Stag ( Cervus elaphus, Linn.). 
Presented hy the Eosl of Derby. 
On the second landing-place are a Musk Ox, from Melville Island, 
and a Polar Bear; procured during the Arctic expeditions, and pre¬ 
sented hy the Lords of the Admiralty. 
Over the Musk Ox is a specimen of the Striped Antelope of Pen¬ 
nant, from the Cape of Good Hope; and on the Polar Bear’s case, the 
Elk from Sweden. Both presented hy the Trustees of the Hunterian 
Collection. 
* An Alphabetical Catalogue of this Library was printed in the year 1787, in two 
volumes folio; and another published, in seven volumes 8vo, *1813—1819, con¬ 
taining, as far as possible, the accessions to the latter year. A Catalogue of the 
Royal Library, given to the Museum in 1823, was printed in five volumes folio, 
and privately distributed, by order of his Majesty King George the Fourth. A new 
and more comprehensive Catalogue of the whole Library is preparing. One vo¬ 
lume, comprising the Works under the letter A, has been published. 
B 2 
