The New York herald., 1873-01-29
How General di CesnOla Managed to Raise
Corner Of the HOmeric Veil.
Forty Centuries Unmasked and Awaiting In
spection at the Custom House.
sCesnola To Be rendered Reception at
tho Metropolitan Museum of Art
Next Monday Night.
Sketch of His Life and Resume of
the Collection.

Napoleon L once electrified an army with the
Intelligence that from the SUBMITS Of yonder
Pyramids forty centuries looked down upon 1t. II
the knowledge that we being contemplate by
antiquity Ia enough to sting into heroism there
need no longer be an excuse for 50 many OF US re-
naming commonplace. General di Cesnola, of
whom every enc who has a reverence for arch9o-
logy has heard with admiration, arrived at this
port only few days ago, and in his company came
the numberless Cyprian antiquities which he dis
'entombed, and which, during the last few months
have attracted such vast attention IN London.
Within few weeks at most New York will have
the opportunity Of examining them to her hearts
content and we think we are doing only Justice
to the advancing culture OF our times
to predict that not New York alone, but
the entire United States will appreciate
the value Of the collection, and reach at least an
approximate estimate Of the immense advantage
the shrewdness and practical common sense Of
General di Cesnola enabled US to wrest from the
British Museum and the envious arch9ologists
across the water. The opportunity OF inspecting
these antiquities was lately enjoyed in London by
the writer OF the present article, whs hastens to
aay before the reader an ampiifcaton of notes and
memoranda made while the exhibition was under
way, at 81 Great Russell street, London. Before
beginning IN enumeration, however, 1t will be
necessary to give some account OF the discovery
of these valuables and OF the circumstances under
which the discovery made
GENERAL DI CEsNOLA
Luigi Talma di Cesnola, whose name has so re-
peatedy appeared during the past few months in
every publication which pretended to foster the In
terests Of arts and archaeology, was born in Turin,
In the year 1888, and is consequently about
forty years Of age. He was educated
at the Turin Military Academy, and in
ls4s. when fifteen years Of age, became volunteer
against Austria, fought the field OF Novara,
where the Sandman army was cut to pieces, and
was made second lieutenant on the field. Thence
he returned to the Turin Military Academy, and,
in 1851, graduated second among $50 competitors.
In 1858 he went to the Crimea and fought there
with the French and English. In November, 1850,
he came to this country, and, owing to fortunate
juncture of circumstances, resolved TO make the
United States his home True to his military In
stncts and education, he became colonel Of the
Fourth New York Cavalry took part in every bat.
tie In which the Army of the Potomac shared; was
placed in command OF brigade Of cavalry by Burn
side and continued in this position until
June II. 1868, when he was taken pris-
oner and immured in Libby Prison. In his ter
rtble dungeon he remained for nearly one year,
when ne was exchanged for Colonel Brown, brother
of tho then Governor Of Georgia. When the war
closed, Cesnola, enjoying a brigader generalship.
was made Consul to Cyprus by Lincoln, in
April, 1866. His commission was on Mr.. Lincoln's
table on the evening the President was assass
mated, and subsequently received the signature OF
Johnson. General di Cesnola reached Cyprus in
November Of 1865, and has been discharging the
duties of the Consulate ever since. Independent
OF the interest Of his archaeological researches,
do not know that his position has been particu-
iarly onvlable one. Cyprus Is not exactly para
disc. An epicure would starve there unless his ap-
petite lay In the direction Of butter and milk and
the sybarite would find himself longing for the
neshpots OF the Maison Doree. The late Mr.. Seward
was not entirely ignorant Of this fact for on his
recent visit to Cyprus he heard to say that Ces
nola would be almost justified In sueing him for
seven years. false Imprisonment.
FIRST DISCOVERIES.
Physical courage and prowess were not the only
qualities necessary to success In General di Ces-
the kind Of acumen known as ''mother w.t." and
strong infusion ofantiquarian genius were among
the first essentials. The jealousy Of Cesnola's
value OF his work~labor on which they had Law.
tshed unmtigated rdicule at first-awoke some op-
which il required ali Cesnoias adroisness to oyer
come. Mr.. Lang, OF the British Embassy, and M.
had made G 1ae
lions, but both missed the point.-the position Of
which csnoa Ssve sSe rt - 50 2 yoge
taese 4. dns
ground, and afterwards on its side. But
here his labors, alter keeping q line,
and sSanaonea the search with worthless resufts
Meanwhile Cesnea, living al Larnaca, the place Of
the consular residences at Cyprus, archaoiogcally
tthe diminution OF idalinm) began digging .
trench, and while doing 50, on the 10th OF April,
1869, struck against the stone Of an antique tomb.
This discovery was the key to all future ones. In
striking that tomb his spade hit against the
schemsnS mn afrms @ ' he @ exhumed % on the ' site Of
ancient Troy could look with greater amaZement
upon ms century world than tnat Win
to light.
Three months after, while gathering the mate
rails for Typographical map of cyprus, the
excavations made over an area OF two miles would
disentome metropolis almost as interest
ns prssent movemsnts Of e cysasion ns shs con 1
tribute to centuries after this teeming age shall
have been nufied and swept away. Continuing
his explorations with ever greatentng ardOr, he
unearthed not less than 5000 tombs in three years.
to the envy Of the other Consus and the chagrn OF
the Turkish government. Not that the Turkish
government or people desired any OF these antiqui
ties for themselves, but, beleaguered by the par
tial representations Of the various Consus at Dali
the island lands passing into the possession OF the
American Consul, who, TO hts suspicious, bade fair
Ccsnola's method OF leasing these grounds was es
sentiay Yankee, and he owns 10 having borrowed
wrinkle from American shrewsness .a,v aware tnas
Turkish land by a foreigner, Cesnola had all his
leases effected In the name OF his chief dragoman
The title deeds thus made out were lndis-
putabIe, and the Pacha himself had nothing
~ say. Secure OF his ground. Cesnola continued
his digglngs unlnterruptedy ;Or years, uuearthing
nrst Galgos and then Tapbos spending at least
10000 In work in which he was animated solely
ny personal ambition and archaeological zest, and
npnU htC fVl Moi 70 n m
as as financial speculation by dsposing OF the en-
ere collection at sum which enabled him to
!eailze practically nothing. and accompanied with
the solitary condition that the antiquities should
Oe known as the "Ccsnola collection" forever
80, PRACTICAL DETAILS.
These antiquities are, to he arcnrate. 10000 In