Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-05-05

ing filed its place among mankind, il has
been placed here to tell to after ages, how
great a consequence car. grow from so
small a beginning This press Is BY far
the most interesting relic in the whole
building or at least, thus IregaFd it.
/ saw no less than four Inummies, one
or two of them taken from the catacombs
ofEgypt. They are disgusting sight,
and the beholder shudders at the thought
that perhaps his body may be one day like
these-all deformity. . There is stuffed
specimen ofthe walrus, the fippopotamus,
the alligator or crocodile. and of many
other equally large and interesting ami
mails. They are all preserved in cases,
and are placed here with great care. In
this-the eastern portion ofthe hall, you
see little else but animals. The natural
ist can here see that which would other
wise require thousands of miles of travel
to behold. Animals from all parts of the
world greet the eye, and be is poor be-
ing indeed, who, among so many interest
ing objects, cannot single out some that
'pleases him.
{ Passing from the eastern portion of the
hall, towards the western, the visitor
comes upon number of relics, that, while
he is an American, cannot fail to be in-
teresting. !. In q glass case, and surrouded
by other interesting objects, was pleased
to notice 'the staff of Franklin and the
sword of Washington about which so
much was said and sung at the time OF
their presentation to Congress. In an
other case saw the original declaration
of independence, the original treaty with
Great Britain, in which she acknowledges
the independence of the sold thirteen
and the great Chinese letter, which, you
will remember, Mr.. Gushing brought
home with him from China. This latter
curiosity is about the size of an ordinary
table cloth. Near these interesting OBJ
jects are also preserved the suit of clothes
which Washington wore when he re-
ceived his commission at Annapolis, Md.
|. [ also saw his sword-the one thatthrough
all the perils of the Revolution was ever
at his side. His cane is also preserved,
and there are but few men of the present
day who would require one so large. /
also saw his old camp chest, several cook
ing utensils, set of knives and forks,
piece of his field tent, and chain. All
these were with him constantly, when
commander-in-chicf and in fact through
the whole war of the Revolution. The
fragment of his tent, though but a faded
piece of canyass-duek sail CLOTH re-
garded as being very interesting relic.
1t had sheltered the "Father of his Coun.
try" through many o night of storm and
perhaps of suffering. Beneath its folds,
after the tolls of the day, he laid his wea-
ry head, and sought new strength to go
forward and fight the battles Of his coun-
try. The old chest bore undoubted marks
ofgreat age. There are many other things
here preserved that are connected in
greater or less degree with the memory
of Washington. Among other things ]
noticed a lock ofhis hair, preserved with
great care, and many original letters in
his own hand writing. What patriot can
look upon these things without feeling his
bosom thrill with pleasing emotions. Let
them be treasured up for after ages, so
that our children's children can come and
gaze, and as they gaze catch portion of
the spirit of the ''days gone BY"
saw some of the best finished speci-
mems. of warlike weapons that are to be
found in the whole country, perhaps in the
world. There is here preserved a
whole assortment of such articles, from
the short, thick sabre, to the magnificent
broadsword. presents from some distin-
lgaished chief of.the east. One of the
scabbards1nf-i the sHefdsiis of solid gold,
the sword is ofthe finest Damascus steel,
and the hilt fairly covered with diamonds.
know nothing Of its cost, butait must
have been immense. also beheld one
Iofthe largest rifles that had ever before
fallenunder my observation. twouldhave
made the mouth of a western man fairly
water, and | do not know but in the hands
OF such an one, it would be more appro-
lpriately located than at present. There
Is also jars the otto of Roses, which,
when pure, is three times the value of
gold. There was nearly or quite a pint of
the LIQUID. and musthe worth unite a nret.