The ground-floor consists of twelve rooms, and contains the library of printed books. The decorations of the staircase have lately been restored, and are worthy of admiration. The ceiling, which represents Phaeton petitioning Apollo for permission to drive his chariot, was painted by Charles de la Fosse, who was reckoned one of the best colourists of the French school, and who painted the cupola of the dome of the Invalids at Paris. The landscape and decorations are by James Rousseau, an artist justly admired for his skill in perspective.

The first room on the upper story contains modern works of art from all parts of the world, arranged in cases. In the one in the centre are several beautiful miniatures, among which are those of Sir Thomas More, King Charles I. and Oliver Cromwell, the latter having his watch placed by its side. Two curious portraits of King William III. and Queen Mary, are carved on two walnut-shells. In the presses are arranged, in geographical order, some fine specimens of China, and a variety of implements of war from different quarters of the globe. Here is to be seen the rich collection of curiosities from the South Pacific Ocean, brought by Captain Cooke. In the left corner is the mourning dress of an Otaheitan lady, in which taste and barbarity are singularly blended; and opposite, are the rich cloaks and helmets of feathers from the Sandwich Islands. Among these is one, which, in elegance of form, vies even with the Grecian helmets. In another case are the cava bowls, and above them battoons, and other weapons of war. The next objects of attention are the idols of the different islands, presenting in their hideous rudeness, a singular contrast with many of the works of art, formed by the same people; near these are the drums and other instruments of music, and a breast-plate from the Friendly Islands. The ceiling of this room, or vestibule, represents the fall of Phæton.

The second room consists of similar objects. The third is devoted to the Lansdowne collection of manuscripts, which have been handsomely bound and lettered. In the fourth are the Sloanean and Birchean collectious of manuscripts. The fifth contains part of the Harleian library of manuscripts: and the sixth the first part of the same, and additions made since the establishment of the Museum.

The seventh is appropriated to the Royal and Cottonian library of manuscripts. On a table, in a glazed frame, is the original of the Magna Charta, belonging to the Cottonian library. Against the press, No 21, of the Cottonian collection, is the original of the Articles preparatory to the signing of the Great Charter, perfect, with the seal.

The magnificent saloon is filled with the Greville collection of minerals, the finest in the world, admirably arranged, and luminously coloured. The dome of this saloon merits notice. It was painted by La Fosse, and has been described as the apotheosis of Iris, or birth of Minerva.— In the middle of the window stands a table, composed of a variety of lavas from Mount Vesuvius presented by the Earl of Exeter.

The eighth room contains a department of natural history, part of which is the valuable donation of Mr. Cracherode, disposed in two tables, nearly in the Lionæan order; and a much more extensive series, arranged according to the Wernerian system. The principal productions are very valuable, consisting of minerals from Derbyshire, Siberia, the South Seas, volcanic and rock stones from Germany. One very curious specimen of natural history is pointed out in the fifth division of the Cracherodean collection, an egg-shaped piece of calcedony, containing water, (enhydros,) which may be seen by gently shaking the vase. Here also, in a glass-case, is the famous fossil skeleton from Gaudaloupe, which has been the object of much interesting controversy among eminent naturalists in the Monthly Magazine. The ninth is appropriated to petrifactions and shells. In the first division of the cases in the middle of the room is a valuable univalve shell, of the species called the paper nautilus, or argonaut shells, remarkable for the slightness of its fabric, and the elegance of its shape. It is inhabited by an animal not unlike a cuttle-fish, which by extending a pair of membranes, adhering to the top of its longest arms, has the power of sailing on the surface of the sea. Under the tables are deposited, in this and the next room, a great number of volumes and parcels, containing collections of dried plants; which, from the fragile nature of their contents, are shewn only on particular leave. The tenth room is entirely filled with vegetable productions, zoophites, sponges, &c. The contents of the eleventh

room are birds, and arranged, as far as convenience would admit, according to the Linnæan system. Among the curious specimens of ornithology is a humming-bird, scarcely larger than a bee; and another beautiful little creature called the harlequin humming-bird, from the variety of its colours. In this room there is a curious picture, executed maBy years ago in Holland, of that extremely rare and curious bird, the dodo, belonging to the tribe gallinæ. In the table in the middle are preserved the nests of several birds, among the most curious of which are several hanging nests, chiefly formed by birds of the oriole tribe; nests of a substance resembling isinglass, which the Chinese make into a rich soup; scarce feathers, &c. In the second table are deposited a variety of eggs and nests: among the former may be noticed the eggs of the ostrich, the cassowary, the crocodile, &c. In the cases between the windows are several of the rarer quadrupeds; among these the most curious are, two ourang-outangs, in a young state, a long-tailed macauci, ermine, &c; in cases under the tables are an armadillo, or porcupine, several young sloths, and a fine specimen of the two-toed ant-eater. The twelfth room contains a general and extensive arrangement of fishes, serpents, lizards, frogs, &c.

THE TOWNLEY MARBLES and EGYPTIAN Antiquities, are deposited in a very elegant suite of rooms built purposely for them. The first room is devoted to a collection of bass-reliefs, in terra cotta, pronounced the finest in Europe. The second is a beautiful circular room, whence you have a fine view of the whole suite of apartments, bounded at the end by an exquisitely-wrought discobolon, or ancient quoitplayer. This room is devoted to Greek and Roman sculptures, among which may be pointed out a fine candelabrum, with several beautiful busts and statues. The third and fourth rooms are also filled with Greek and Roman sculptures in the latter are several fine bass-reliefs. The fifth contains a collection of Roman sepulchral monuments, and a beautiful mosaic pavement, recently discovered in digging the foundations for the new building at the bank of England. The sixth exhibits a miscellaneous collection of one hundred grand pieces of Roman and Greek sculpture. The seventh is devoted to Roman antiquities; and the eighth, on the left, to Egyptian antiquities, among which are the two

mummies before mentioned, with their coffins; a manuscript, or papyrus, taken from a mummy, &c. Among the Egyptian sculptures in the ninth room, is the celebrated sarcophagus, commonly called the tomb of Alexander the Great,-[See Plate, No. 73.]-an engraving and dissertation on which appeared in the Monthly Magazine for February, 1809. The tenth contains Greek and Roman sculptures of singular beauty.

Thence returning, and proceeding up stairs, the visitor is conducted to the eleventh room, containing ancient and modern coins and medals, arranged in geographical order, those of each country being kept separate. It is not shown unless by the permission of the trustees, or of the principal librarian. Not more than two persons are admitted at one time, without the presence of the principal librarian, or of some other officer. The twelfth room contains the collection of the late Sir William Hamilton, which has been removed from the saloon. It principally consists of penates, or household goods, bronze vessels, utensils, &c. specimens of ancient glass, necklaces, bullæ, fragments of relievos, and ancient armour, tripods, knives, patent lamps, seals, weights, sculpture in ivory, bracelets, bits, spurs, ancient paintings from Herculaneum, Babylonish bricks, and his unrivalled collection of Greek vases, the greater part of which were found in the sepulchres of Magna Grecia. The forms of the vases are much varied, and are equally simple and beautiful. In the thirteenth is deposited the extensive and valuable collection of prints and drawings, the most important part of which was bequeathed by the Rev. William Cracherode. The contents of this room can be seen only by a few persons at a time, by particular permission.

THE LINWOOD GALLERY, LEICESTER-Square.

IN viewing the beautiful specimens of female ingenuity displayed in this gallery, the mind naturally reverts to the best days of the Gobelin tapestry; and it is not paying any compliment to Miss Linwood to say, that as works of art, for truth and fidelity of colouring, expression and outline, they need not shun a comparison with the finest of the French performances. Considering them in another point of view, AS PRODUCTIONS OF THE NEEDLE, they are the most wonderful performances on record, and have opened

a new and beautiful road for the amusement of our females of every rank. Too much praise cannot, therefore, be bestowed on this lady for her invention of a new style of picturing "A Michael's grandeur and a Raphael's grace."

The exhibition consists of about seventy exquisite copies, in needle-work, of the finest pictures of the English and Foreign schools, possessing all the correct drawing, just colouring, light and shade, of the original pictures from which they are taken, and to which in point of effect, they are in no degree inferior. On entering the door from Leicestersquare, the visitor is shown into the principal room, a fine gallery of excellent proportions, hung with scarlet broadcloth, gold bullion tassels, and Greek borders. On one side of this room the pictures are hung, and have a guard in front to keep the company at the requisite distance, and for preserving them. In the piers and windows are sofas and settees, to match the hangings of the room, for the accommodation of the visitors; and at the upper-end a splendid seat and canopy of satin and silver. Turning to the left, through the door near the canopy, a long and obscure passage prepares the mind, and leads to the cell of a prison, on looking into which is seen the beautiful Lady Jane Gray, visited by the abbot and keeper of the tower, the night before her execution. The scenic deception of the whole is most beautiful. A little farther on is a cottage, the casement of which opens, and the hatch of the door is closed; on looking in at either, is seen a fine and exquisitely-finished copy of Gainsborough's cottage children, standing by the fire, with chimney-piece and cottage furniture complete. Near to this is Gainsborough's woodman, exhibited in the same scenic manner; and a little farther is a den with lionesses. Returning back into the gallery on the window side, the visitor finds a tasteful room, which is properly devoted to a single picture, Christ blessing the sacramental bread and wine, after Carlo Dolci; and this is without doubt, the most valuable copy of that fine original in existence, independently of its value being increased as the work of Miss Linwood.

BULLOCK'S MUSEUM, PICCADILLY.

THIS Collection may be reckoned one of the most complete of its kind, and contains upwards of ten thousand dif