The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-21


e which discover have not the myself Of do
Ing by the enclosed circular will be that the col
lection was 20 have been sold the I'D OF this month but
by hard struggle aided by American friends the
sale has been postponed until the 18th Of july on The
appropriation enable pay my debts and to
the collection as the property OF the government Of the uni
The auctioneer's comments upon interest aud ma
tpre q the collection are wor, readng aud clearly show
lection In Enelsnd u they can get at sacrifice; and
am ashamed that my speculaons have not been better
under the necessity Of asking for help preserve my
works; but my desire to soc these memorials preserved
selfish feelings, And again pray, gentlemen, If IL be
E ha sa may o.s no e n ~
but % Pueaa,s the works OF my .9s9ne ,e' which
worth y sHanty asI 10y s% ~n0n 0''
The Joint Committees the Library in 1916 decided
their purchase since which tme encouraged in the belief
that the government would eventually buy them, have
dollars and continued the abor OF my brush and in my
last proposal have agreed take fifteen thousand dollars
Confident gentlemen, of your disposition to aid in Sc
curing these memorials to our country remain yDpr Sbo-
PARIS, June "a, 1852
MIR. Calin has also sent this advertisement Of the
auconeer by which the notice is given of this sale
will read an extract from that advertisement:
"Catlins Indian collection contains within itself unique
museum, fully representing the mariners customs spoits
INTERESTING es,aau bes Of Noh ndans consisting
a valuable and curious display male and female
head dresses. saecfiaoes cca.ns. belts pouohes war
clubs robes, manles, tobacco sacqpes wamPnms whis'
Knives oaps and scus psl,rais. q prois..sd
the Upper Missouri river spirited sporting
6s faithful dslneaons oa The and
singular religious ceremonies Of the Mandap tribe Is
roas tribes many Of them rare. curious and valuable
splendid crowodge or wgwam, brought from the loot OF
garnished and painted as feet high and capable Of
ing eighty persons beautiful models of the falls
large splendid collection Of North American quartz
curious collection Of pipes with carved "hiS Sow
for enumeration within the limits OF this par
ticular."
By this letter Of Mr. Cain il appears that he in
way obtained his liberty and that he was in Paris at the
time the letter written. l have not adopted Mr..
Cailns suggestion as TO the price OF that collection
Perhaps might have done If his letter had been placed
in my hands before the resolution was drawn up His
original price sos 000 have supposed that, under
the circumstances, 1t would be acceptable TO him to have
the of $4,000 provided for that purpose AT the
same time, would know the precise value and
condition OF the collection at this time, thought it would
be better have sent out TO purchase the cOec
ion al such price as should be deemed proper II it
be procured for $4,000 and that will be satisfactory TO
Mr. Catlin then we should secure IT. IL not, then We
shall have only made effort to secure II on terms OF
which certainly will complain who thinks that
the collection oughto be purchased at all 10 this mat
sT act only on grounds o. paos 0u Iad nIess hs
performed an agreeable duty in bringing The subject
under their consideration. and shall be content
fashionable TO resist exiravagan appropriations OF the
public money But this too bare faced for me to
permit TO pass without word OF opposition This reso-
luton is model in its way. There is but in
America that could have drawn il up: II says, Re
solved that the President OF the United States is author
lied to purchase collection of Indian scenes, etc. paint
ed BY George Catlin and then the President is ap-
point agent go and find out where this collection is
for the resolution does not tell us. The agent is to be
49, Iav farl fo,a
The resolution is entirely silent 10 where these things
are. They may be in London; they may be IN New
York The committee have reported this resolution
knowing nothing whatever about the subject The paint
ngs, however, supposed to be in London: we have
had opportunity TO examine them, do not know
how competent they may BE- to Judge OF these pahhns
all they know nothing about them yet they request us
to purchase from Geo Catlin this collection OF Indian
portraits and to do it upon the authority OF an English
auconeer Now, sir, am not very good Judge OF por,
traits of any SORT and think the English are very pad
adges Of Indian portraits Why sir was told the other
day that Engshman OF some celebrity and importance
landed here few days ago. and fanced that he could kill
buffalo within twenty miles OF Washington;
1 do not pretend 10 be Judge OF these matters,
but | have The testimony OF man who has examined
them And let it be remembered that at the time this
resolution is reported there is here in the Smithsonian
Institute collection OF Indian portraits which the COM
mee have entirely overlooked. II is not necessary TO
send agent TO London to examine hem and therefore
the committee report against them have here the ies-
timony of MIR. Eastman-whom everybody knows s
competent udgeA relation TO this collection OF Indian
portraits in the Smithsonian Institute. He says in note
which have here
WASHINGTON, d. c.. June 2s 1882.
DEAR Having been requested by you to express my
opaion the comparative merits of yours and Mr.
Cans paintings of the Indians Of this county, affords
consider the artistic merits OF
superior Mr. Cains, and they give better idea OIL
the Indian than any works in MIR. Cabins collection
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
Mr. STANLY.
Now, sir, there is the testimony OF a man who is a
iudge-tbe testimony of man who has examined both
collectionshe testimony OF man who is himself one
OF the best artists in the country. would rather have
collection OF portraits made by him than by either OF
these gentlemen. He tells that at own doors
there is collection OF portraits far superior to any OF
Mr. Cailins; and yet in the face OF all this, we are
called upon send agent London, at 50 day and
his expenses to give $4,000 for collection oil pictures
not equal to those have here for less sum.
conclude, as commenced with saying that think tins
is too bare faced case TO pass without word oil oppo-
ston.
Mr. BORLAND. am very sorry to occupy moment
OF the time Of the Senate upon this question am very
We have many of public Importance now press
ing upon the attention OF the Senaedelayed justice TO
individuals postponed public interests OF the greatest
importance and they be put one side-for what
Why, sir TO consider whether shall 60 into the busi
ness of buying pictures But will not occupy the Sen
ate with any remarks upon that aspect OF the question
Here comes this matter, an old acquaintance OF ours,
that has been here longer than have. met here four
years ago, and il has followed us ever snce-"M Cat
lin and his Indian portraits" "Mr Catn and his In
dian nortra,sunhl ID has become almost like certain