Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-09


troy or make them immortal The re.
suit was the enfranchisement of mil
lions, and the creation Of the "foresI
nationon earth"
For many years the Hall was much
neglected, but through the energy and
perseverance, Of the present patriotic
council, more American and enligh
tened policy has been adopted; and. il
is now, without being changed in is
local features rendered u perfect mu.
scum Of National History.
On entering the door, principle
feature Is seen in the noble stature ol
Washington, about two feet high, car
we'd from wood by w. Rush, mem.
Der of washington's army. tits can.
opied by large gilt eagle. also by
Rush.
In front Of this, is a square piece oil
granite. part Of the step on which the
Secretary stood when he read the Dec.
laration Of independence to the people
To the left OF the entrance, stands
an old-fashioned seat, which is part ol
the pew in Christ Church, used by
Washington, Franklin. Lafayette and
Bishop White.
In the centre of the Han, is sus.
pended the identical chandelier, whose
antiquated cut-glass drops. probably
reflected a prismatic halo. upon the
immortal document that was receiving
mighty signatures; in aflixing the
most legible Of which, John Hancocf
rising from his seat said, "There; John
Bull can read my name without spec
tacles, and may double his reward Of
5oof for my head. That is my de,
| fance.
Near the center OF the room, eleva.
ted upon beautiful and appropria to.
ly designed pedestal, is the old Inde,
pendence bell. The first to sound the
glad tidings OF national redemption
or in the words Of its own prophetic
inscription TO proclaim Liberty
throughout the land. and to all the
people thereof" 49,
Besides numerous other exceedingly
interesting relics, the gallery contain.
one hundred and six original portraits
Of statesmen and heroes, who eithe,
took part in the undying event which
transpired in that very Hall, or shared
in those collateral actions which to.
gether conspired to the birth end free
dom Of our country.
The next object of particular inter
est, especially the student Of nature,
is the Academy Of natural Sciences
a vast collection of created things
which have been accumulating by va.
rious contributions, from hundreds ol
scientific men. during the past forty
years. In this Achademy are to be
seen representations from every de-
partment Of the earthly creation, col
lected from every accessible region
from mountain, and valley, and plain;
from rivers, and lakes, and seas, and
the burial places, far down beneath the
surface whereon man dwells, are made
to yield from their stony embrace,
those petriied relics of past, which
have no history except what they re-
cord. Thismuseum is indeed an Office
filled with natures patents, in which
all may behold the wonders, il has
pleased an all-wise Creator TO devise
for the benefit and instruction Of man.
The collections are tastefully arran-
ged under a number Of heads or clas-
es. l can but barely mention them.
There are 636 specimens Of NAM
mails, or those animals that give suck,
This collection contains most Of the
American, and many foreign, among
them an albius deer. a giant wolf, the
sacred monkey of Siam, and Esquimax
dog, and Polar bear.
There are $1,000 specimens Of
birds. This is the largest ornitholog-
ical collection in the world. Some Of
them are very rare. and ofgreat beau
| ty. And Ella birds nests, and 5,056
birds eggs. Ichthyology, containing
1900 specimens of fishes. Herpetol-
ogy. containing 1000 specimens Of
reptiles. Conchology, numbering 25,
90 shells and mollusks. Entomology,
this collection numbering 5000 insects
Crustaceans. or crabsnumbering 2 900.
Besides host of fAunellidans, or worms
star fishes, centipedes, spiders and!sea
eggs. The Botanical collection is one
among the finest in the world; contain
ing 10000 specimens Of plants. The
department of Ethnology, contains
1000 human craniums. besides num-
Der Of mummies Of man, and some Of
the lower animals, from Egypt and
Peru.
The department in comparative An.
atomy is verv fine, containing a great
many skeletons. Some Of them ex-
ceedingly rare. The tusk alone Of a
narwhal skeleton, measures near feet.
The departments,of minerology and
geology are rich with numerous and
fine specimens. The Fossils include a
large variety, and number 10000
specimens. Of chemical and philoso-
phical apparatus, 1900. OF volumes
composing the library, $4,000 contri-
button are being made almost daily;
and it promises soon to be one Of the
largest Historical Cabinets in the
World. The next great department
which claims our attention. and which
particularly interests me, is,
To know how to ease pain,
And make the sick well again.
Philadelphia afford such knowledge
superior to any other place perhaps in
America.
The spirit of investigation, of deep
research, and Of careful experiments,
slumbers not here. Having at an
early period in her republican history
established school of medical learn
ing, which shed but a feeble ray Of
light, like the north star of the firma
ment rejecting dimly on the rufIled
waters, beneath; for poverty and po-
litical commotions were embarrass-
ments to surmount; but like that star,
she was firm to her place. for a JEFF
1 ferson, and Franklin and Rush were
her guardians; and soon a halo o.