The New York herald., 1872-12-26
AMERICAN AaCHloLOeY.
Tho Scientific Suggestions or PROPOSES
TyndslI-An American Mascum.
w n~n n

The Scientific Suggestions OF Prefcssor.
TyadslI-An American Museum.
-.s.g .,s-v-.rr wAsHnS0roN, Dec n, 1871.
To TIE EDrr0R OF TN. HsRALD:- ~~
your admirable article on the suggestions made
by Professor Tyndall in his closing lecture In this
city deserves the thanks OF all friends OF science.
Your recommendations for "Nationai PHYSICAL
observatory" are timely ana praiseworthy but
there II another movement that should con-
mend itself to all enlightened and cultivated
people. Professor Tyndall, while devoted to
physical sciences, Is not unmindful Of those less
positive sciences which so largely engage the at>
tenti0n Of his distinguished c0untrymen-Lyall,
Huxley. Lubbock, the Duke Of Argyle and many
others eminent In anthropclogical and srch1o-
logical researches. Professor Tyndal, Mr.. FrOuda
ana other distinguished foreign scientists among
us have expressed surprise that so little attention
Is shown mere for sciences which treat OF man ana
bis primordial relations. One OF these gentlemen
has desired to know what progress has been made
in American prehistoric acknowledgements sre
our museums of archaic art They look IN vain for
collections illustrating the earlier remains OF man
on the Western Continent. This fs discredftabie,
and we hope the earnest plea of Professor Tyntau
win result In some action Of Congress at its present
session for the exploration ana preservation OF
American monumental remains. 1t s duo to
SCIENCE to the past and the future that sonfe sJs
tematic effort should bemsde for securing ocrpre.
historc.monuments and collecting into nationaf
museum the iast.perishing memorials q q lsse
civilization at the West Nothing striker the cuxi
waited traveller from abroad with more force thgA
mains and the promotion OF science generally By
ss sS
tine research by governmental aid. A small
aas pancs for for
other %sasrs .apprSgTiasaSps; 81. these .rs
that we must be thankful and hope for sofncthn9
better1n future. For the credit OF the countrytt
toward advancing archaeological inquiry before tho
present Congress expires. We should have 6uI
'reau devoted to the work Of overlooking our Ono
ing minor rena&nB Of art, 80.
Some Of the most imposing monuments In tho
Mississippi Valley have been destroyed by the iX-
norance and cuptdity Of man. In the vicinity Of
st. Louis works OF great magnitude and interest
have recently been destroyed. Vsndaiism couid
we repeat, this Is all wrong. The enlightened
Care, their monuments OF ambiguity, and the Para-
ment Of Great Britain has recently decreed 1t An
t,anity. s Shall ALIVE we. the advanced T nasion Of the
West be less mindful of. our archaic tseasuresr
What we need is some custodian at the national
csptal for remains Of ancient art recov
erred from monuments at the West ana
South-a commissioner who shall see that
these hne monuments are not necdlessly destroyed.
or, II necessary to be removed that the work shalt
be superntended by proper person, competent To
describe the character Of the monument small
appropriation would secure these results, so vau-
able to science, and enaOle us t0sdirect the cultf
waited traveller to q National Museum or American
antiquities creditable to the country. At present
we have nothing. The only good collection offered
for sRle--that Of DR.. DAVIS, OrNew YOrk-was per-
mitted to pass out OF the country into q foreign
museum, and the inquirer from abroad seeks in
vain among our institutions for full and satisfac
tory exhibit Of the early stone age In Central North
America There are some private collections, but
they are not accessible to the, general inquirer.
The Museum Of Natural History located In Central
Park proposes adding q collection. OF American An
tiQ,itIes to its present nne cabinetS The other
great Museum OF Art In your city has just
secured the Cyprus collection at heavy
tile Abbott collection of Egyptian antiquities. Bus
before all these we should have complete colleo-
ton illustrating prehistoric art on the American
Continent. Remains Of the stone age In North
AmeSica-especally OF the NiOlithic type-aro
among the best specimens OF primal man ON
either hemisphere. vesJiges OF hctle art from
mounds and other ancient repositories are credit
able the potters skill OF any age. Metallic re-
mains are chiefly frOm copper, there being no
bronze age in American archaeology, but will Illus
trate the progress OF man at the period OF tho
stituting large and interesting class, should be
collected and embellish q national museum st
Washington. Like the mounds and other earthen
monuments Of the Mississippi Valley they are rap
idly passing TO destruction. Thousands or hno
specimens have been irretrieyably lost. Ere too
late the intelligence and national taste OF Congress
are invoked to protect the mOpuments and art
remains or prehistoric man LII Cealtral North
America.