The native American., 1840-05-23
WASHINGTON MUSEU Nj.

In looking over the collection of curiosies
formed by the enterprise and unceasng in
dustry of Mr. Warden, of our city, was agree
ably surprised at the magnitude to which it
had attained from the short time which lie
had devoted TO it, and the small means within
his reach Mr.. Warden IS an enthusiastic adj
uirer of all that is curious III Nature and Art,
and seems to have devoted a large portion of
MS life to the indulgence of his flvorite and
audable propensity. Some Of his specimens
are not only curious, but extraordinary, and
every mind must be more or less gratihed
and surprised at the singular and wonderful
productions of Nature, he has collected, deposit
ted and arranged in his Museum. Their ar
rangement displays great deal of taste, and
the classification is judlclous and satisfactory.
look upon this comparatively small but very
admirable collection as the nucleus of great
national museum, which / hope 10 sec in a
few years, established in this city by the Gov
eminent. Nothing could be more gratifying
than to see the Government lending its aid
to the accomplishment OF a great public object
like this. The first step towards the attain
ment Of this end should be the purchase Of
that most complete and interesting colechonof
Indian curosil!es, &c. formed by the indetatl
gable and cntcrp.sjng collector, Mr.. George
Catlin, to whose perseverance,, energy, and
devotion to the subject, posterty will owe
! large debt OF gratitude. A spacious and mag
uifcenl cdifce should be erected, on some of
( the public reservations Of our city and Mr..
Varden's collection, as Il toundatlon and Mr..
Catlin's Indian Gallery, should be purchased
and deposited in it, In this building, also,
should be gallery of soul pture and painting,
| in which all the finest productions of Amerl-
can art should be placed and preserved This,
connected with geological, botanical and eX-
detrimental garden, would give great interest
to the national metropolis, and DE productive
of immense advantage to science and to the
country. Some safe and appropriated dcpos-
tory should be prepared for The reception of
the collections of natural history which, it is
hoped, will be made by those who have en-
banked in the Exploring Expedition, and,
while doing this, an institution like the one
have suggested might be divsed, and the plan
carried out by Congress. Every lover of sci
ence and his country must desire to see such
an object effected.
Among the curiosties in Mr.. Varden's Mu-
scum are two Egyptian mun,nics OF great
though said to be about three thousand wears
old, are toerably perfect. The one is entirely
black, and the other taWney. The latter has a
full set of teeth, aud, what is singular, those in
front are double. The sensation produced in
contemplating these dried specimens of NOR
tallty, that stand before you after IA lapse OF 3OE
centuries, and three thousand miles from the
places OF their lnterment, stiff, stony or like |
figures rudely cut out of wood and dsfgured
by time, cannot easily be defined. The loss Of
the art of embalmlng known to the Egyptians,
has sometimes beer regretted; but surely the
los oi al at which has only served 10
expos those subjected 10 It's opuIailou 10 lie
rude gaze OF the Public, or to render them