In the second case the visitor will particularly notice the beautiful threads of native Silver from the Hartz Mountains; and the various forms in which pure silver is found; native Mercury, and combinations of mercury and silver called native amalgam, some moulded into figures by Mexican miners; native Platinum from Siberia; and Palladium.

The third case of the series is resplendent with samples of native Gold—­a metal that plays so powerful a part in the affairs of men—­that has roused the fiercest passions of mankind, and been coveted by human beings from the remote times when the Phoenicians dreamt of golden lands in the east.  Half of this table case is covered with native gold and alloys.  Pure gold is generally found in separate crystals or grains, but the metal is mostly found combined with other substances.  It is alloyed, for manufacturing purposes, with copper and silver.

Half of the third case, and cases 4, 5, and 6 in this room, are covered with various electro-negative metals and metalloids, classed according to the system laid down by Berzelius.  In the third case are Tellurium and Tellurets.  In the fourth are samples of native Arsenic, and its combinations with nickel and cobalt; Carbon in its various forms, pure as in the diamonds, which the visitor will notice attentively, some imbedded in the earth in which they were discovered, and models of celebrated diamonds; Black Lead in porcelain earth, for which Cumberland is celebrated; Selenium in its combinations with lead, mercury, sulphur, and other metals; and a medallion, in selenium, of Berzelius, who discovered this metal in 1818.  The sixth case is covered with Sulphurets, chiefly of iron, these being commonly known as iron pyrites.  These specimens of the commonest of metallic ores are from various parts of the world.  Upon this table also are deposited Lord Greenock’s sulphuret of cadmium, commonly called greenockite; and sulphurets of nickel.  Having examined the first six cases of the series ranged along the southern side of the room, the visitor should turn to the six last cases of the series (55-60).  The first northern case (55) is covered with various Sulphates, or metals in combination with sulphuric acid, exhibiting beautiful crystals and colours, including sulphate of magnesia from Oregon; sulphate of zinc, or white vitriol; sulphate of iron, or green vitriol; and the splendid blue sulphates of copper from Hungary; beautiful sulphates of lead from Anglesea; sulphates of alumina; common alum; and the splendid specimens of lazurite, or lapis-lazuli,—­

     “Blue as the veins o’er the Madonna’s breast,”