Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-09-19

al selection should be on scale Whlch
may shew that nothing is zoo Hftie or too
great, for the proper notice due to form
ing into regular classes the articles In
grand museum, for the purpose ofteach-
ing an admiring world what patriotism Is
capable of ehecting for a country like
yours.
The PRINCIPAL object in such institu-
tons should be domestic resources, but
THO mouia noe preclude Groisn- addi-
tons as branch Of tie muSeum-du-
plicates of natural treasures being col
Iected, would serve, in many cases, as
mediums of exchange with foreign coun-
tries, SO as 10 render an intercourse
which should be a mutual beneft--a
means of adding the specimens Of the
worlds resources, to those of the nation.
Every ship that sails from the ports
OF the United States, may be made liable
70 small extra duty, unless some ma
tural curiosities, according to required
general notices, be presented by the cap
tain or merchants. This duty should
be small, but sufficient to induce desire
20 avoid il, on the easy terms OF bringing
such foreign specimens as might easily
be accessible, which in every case,
should be deposited at the custom house,
prior to the clearance of the cargo. The
inhabitants of Salem, New England, al
ford an instance oil museum, formed
on small but respectable scale, by
voluntary contributions from the sea
captains bound TO the East Indies. The
&c ,.nr,i,,- 10 ~,+ E
we'll known to be alive to any thing good
or useful But, as the national scale
will be extensive, the levying of tri-
fling duty in case of no specimen being
produced, would add to the fund am
however, inclined to doubt the propriety
even of any taration except on patriot
ism, and that | would wish to see, most
noble, as being altogether free and I'M
shackled.
The names of doners who render i'm
portant benefits, to be registered in the
institution, in a record Of honorable
services those who render the most i'm
portant benefits, TO be annually reported
20 the Legislative bodies and their names
published as an example.
Whenever an American citizen, goes
10 foreign country, as passenger, and
returns without specimen or deposit at
the custom house, small duty levied
IN such case would be paid with plea,
sure--averse as | am to any taxation on
this subject. If money is to be raised
for national building by public duties,
such as bear on foreign pursuits appear
the most natural objects.
Before / close this communication al
low me TO make one more suggestion.
There is not a finer country in the
world for landscape scenery than Ameri-
Ga.
Abundance OF persons can be found
capable OF drawing an outline, in a ma
ton which Is yet in infancy, when to find
the same number able to make perfect
drawing, would be difficulty.
Bat The collection of great number of
outlines may be nursery of the art of
design. Let patriotism call on the
daughters as we'll as the sons of the coun-
try, to present sketches in the rough
state-aimhiy of correct sketches of
scenery from nature let these outlines
be forwarded, post free, to proper Of
flee at the national museum; and, with
out expense, gallery of outlines may
be formed Of all the landscape scenery
Of the United States, on such an extern
sive scale as to CRAFTY and astonish. A
book Of references may be kept of the
names OF the authors, but not published
or exhibited without their consent.-In
all cases reference to be expected for
the correctness of the design. The
young artist might thus have access to
ell the beauties of scenery which natural
landscapes in outline can furnish. More
perfect and finished specimens need not
be rejected as patriotic presents; but
gallery of outlines would gradually pre-
pare the way for perfect school of de-
sign.
Engravcrs should be requested to for
ward specimens of all their engravings
to the same depository, as affording a
criterion and record, Of the progress of
the arts of design and engraving in this
nation.
These hints may appear to bear only
on the genteel accomplishments of draw
ing and painting, but they equally apply
to the arts of design for manufactures y
and, ultimately, domestic manufactures,
requiring the arts of design, must grow
and flourish in this country. Were the
French art OF TYPOGRAPHY generally used,
copies Tor other museums might be null
tiplied at small expense, and without
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