The next and last room of the manuscript department is appropriated to the ancient royal library of manuscripts, and Sir Robert Cotton's, with a few-later donations.

On the table, in the middle of the room, is the famous Magna Charta of King John; it is written on a large roll of parchment, and was much damaged in the year 1738, when the Cotton library took fire at Westminster, but a part of the broad seal is yet annexed.
We next reach the great saloon, which is finely ornamented with fresco paintings by Baptiste.

Here are a variety of Roman remains, such as dice, tickets for the Roman theatres, mirrors, seals for the wine casks, lamps, &c.

and a beautiful bronze head of Homer, which was found near Constantinople.
The mineral room is the next object of attention.

Here are fossils of a thousand kinds, and precious stones, of various colours and splendours, composing a collection of astonishing beauty and magnificence.
Next follows the bird room; and the last apartment contains animals in spirits, in endless variety.