The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-13
Sham Antiquities-New Revelations.

The London ReUjeto says:-
"Inquiring of the hall porter at the British
Museum the other day If forged antiquities were
ever offered there A gave grim smile:-'Lord
bless ye, sir, never day passes over without our
being brought them sort of tackle and suiting
the action to the word, he pulled out box from
under his desk containing miscellaneous assort-
ment of daggers, vases with confused inscriptions
upon them, knives and other articles that had
evidently not been long cast in lead subjected to
an acid, aud smeared with mud. The gent as
brought these very important ancient relics"
was quite mad because we told him they was
forged-went away in pet, and we never saw
him again. In all probability this credulous
individual had boasted TO his friends that these
things which he had purchased as they were
dug up, as he said, by some navigators in the
excavations going on at Shadwell, were very
valuable, and finding out his mistake, thought
1t best to leave them, and cover his retreat by
say ing they were now in the Museum.
1--WE understand the art of manufacturing
relics has become in the metropolis regular
occupation. No sooner is some great work de-
cided upon--some dock to be excayated, some
ancient building to be demolished-than these
gentry prepare for the occasion. Their game
has long ceased to be the genuine collectors, VINO
are well versed in the matter; these they avoid.
The casual passer-by, however, is sure to tall
into the snare prepared before with rare art. 1t
is as necessary for these knaves to have the ap-
propriate scenery for the little play they have
In hand, as it is for the actor. The actual
fabricator, however, never appears upon the
scene. The ancient relics are beforehand given
to the navigators, who share in the plunder;
and just as the stranger passes by they
That's curious thing, MASTER the
rogue remarks; the other navvies crowd
round, and the mise en- scsne Is complete. AS
seeing is believing there are very few that are
able to resist the bait; 1t Is gorged, In fact, for
fear of another purchaser appearing as COM
petitor The river Thames Is at the same time
the conservator of many genuine relics OF past
age, and the prolific mother OF many bastards.
The shorerakers, as they are termed, are we'll
versed in the art Of getting out OF thls river
articles that were never legltlmately deposited
there. In the celebrated trial or EastWick
against the Athen9un., some years since, two of
these worthies-Bllly and Chhrley-proVed how
lucrative the game is in experienced hands.
These cunning fellows, put up, In the ID after oy
no less than two thousand pilgrims signs' in
the mud of the dock then being dug at Shad-
well and what was more cunning still, they
managed to sell them to the extent OF t4OO, to
one of the largest dealers In curlosltles in
London.
'In Quentin Durward' We all remember the
leaden image Louis XI placed III MS cap; these
images, 1t was asserted, were OF similar ma
ture, used by pilgrims when visiting any paTti-
cular shrine. In what manner upwards OF two
thousand of them could have fairly got into
the Thames, in one conhnseu. -, spot near tne ne
present swing bridge, puzzled the members OF
the British Archaeological Society," and upon an
examination the whole OF them were pro-
nounced TO be forgerieS, apparently cast In
chalk moulds, the craving tools beng nails and
penknves. Bishops were equipped in mitres
of different forms, some Of them dating back to
the twelfth century. The military figures were
relics were of the fourteenth and fifteenth CEN
turtles, hence they bore upon their own face the
proof of their having been forged. How many
OF these signs have found there way into private
collections we know noti some oil them were
purchased by MIR. Franks for the British Mu-
scum, but they have never been exhibited.
"our country friends, however cannot afford
which they are imposed upon. They should re-
member the exploits in the same liue of the
celebrated Flint Jack, by whom Yorkshire and
the northern counties have been Hooded with
fraudulent flint instruments. This celebrated
individual, who has not long since come out of
prison, manages, witha piece Of bent iron rod,